"Forgiven! Bless me, he is as spiteful as a Pequod!"
"Begging your pardon, Dr. Asbury, he is no such thing!" cried Beulah impetuously.
"Just what I might have expected. I am to understand, then, that you can abuse my partner sufficiently without any vituperative assistance from me?" He brushed the ashes from his cigar, and looked at her quizzically.
"Sir, it pains me to hear him spoken of so lightly."
"Lightly! Upon my word, I thought Indianic malice was rather a heavy charge. However, I can succeed better if you will allow—"
"Don't jest, sir. Please say no more about him."
His face became instantly grave, and he answered earnestly:
"Beulah, as a sincere friend, I would advise you not to alienate Hartwell. There are very few such men; I do not know his equal. He is interested in your welfare and happiness, and is the best friend you ever had or ever will have."
"I know it, and prize his friendship above all others."
"Then why did you return that watch? If he wished you to wear it, why should you refuse? Mark me, he said nothing about it to me; but I saw the watch, with your name engraved on the case, at the jewelry store where I bought one just like it for Georgia. I surmised it was that same watch, when you intrusted the package to me."