It seemed to me a very rummy thing that Tom should have any idea that I was supposed to have been what he called barmy.
"Who told you that?" I asked him.
"Oh, I heard them talking about it."
"Heard who talking about it?"
"Edward and old Blother. Old Blother said you seemed to be a very respectable young fellow, but he wasn't quite easy in his mind about your marrying Miriam, and he wanted to know more about you. He said you didn't talk like a Johnny from the Highlands. So then Edward said you didn't really remember where you had come from, and told him that you had been a bit touched in the upper story, but you were all right now."
"Well, I hope that satisfied Mr. Blother," I said, mentally confounding his impudence, and furious with Edward for publishing his silly idea, which I had only allowed him to hold because I thought he would keep it to himself.
"Oh, yes," said Tom. "He said if that was it, he supposed it was all right, and he shouldn't interfere unless he saw any further reason."
"Very kind of him indeed! Does anybody else know about this ridiculous idea of Edward's?"
"Oh, yes, everybody knows."