‘I shall tell your mother at once.’
‘Oh, don’t, don’t, please don’t do that! It would kill her if she knew. I’ll promise never to meet him again. Oh, Herbert, do not get me into such terrible trouble—you, of all people, to do it too! I didn’t think you could be so mean.’
Herbert was over-persuaded; at least, he was induced to spare Mrs. Larkins for the present and determined to try first an appeal to the other side.
He went to the colonel, Diggle, and told him all.
‘Really, my good fellow,’ said the colonel, ‘it’s no affair of mine. They don’t belong to the regiment, you see. I cannot interfere. I am not answerable for Mr. Farrington’s morals. I’m not indeed.’
Herbert was not to be done. He spoke next to Ernest, the first time he got a chance.
‘Damn it, sir, what business is it of yours?’ asked the officer hotly.
‘It’s very much my business. She is my sister—at least we were brought up together as such,’ the sergeant no less hotly replied.
‘Then why don’t you speak to her instead of to me?’