"Howard—please!"
In the cry there was the confession of the woman who has vowed and not paid, and yet begs to be spared the blame.
Jack Brokenshire sprang to his feet and hurried forward, laying his hand on his father's arm.
"Say, dad—"
But Mr. Brokenshire shook off the hand, refusing to be placated. He looked at his wife, who had risen, confusedly, from her chair and was backing away from him to the other side of the room.
"I said poor Hugh was being fooled by a woman; and he is. He's marrying some one who doesn't care a hang about him and who's in love with another man. He may not be the first in the family to do that, but I merely make the statement that he's doing it."
Hugh leaped forward.
"She's not in love with another man!"
"Ask her."
He clutched me by the wrist.