“I don’t want any more of your sneering observations, and I’ve business to attend to.”
“Oh, that’s it, eh?” said the Smoucher—“we’ll be for making tracks then—come along, mate.”
And upon this the two men wished their superior good-day, and beat a retreat.
“You were very sharp with them, Alf,” observed Miss Stanbridge when the two had gone; “they meant no harm.”
“They are a pair of vulgar common brutes, and I don’t choose to give them too much latitude. I am glad to be rid of them.”
“And I suppose you will be glad to be rid of me?”
“I don’t say that, Lorry; you I can bear with, but I can’t bear those fellows when I am perplexed and troubled, which I happen to be just now.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?” said the deceitful woman, placing one arm round his neck in a loving manner.
“Yes, I tell you what you can do.”
“Out with it, then.”