“If I’ve thrown the man over!” quoted Violet angrily, when they were alone in her father’s own private ‘den,’ “of course you are sure to take his part.”
“I must know what ‘his part’ is before taking it or not. You women always expect us to hang a man first and try him afterwards; or rather to hang him on your sweet evidence alone, and not try him at all.”
“Oh, father, please don’t talk to me in that horrid tone,” restraining with vast effort the paroxysm of sobbing which threatened, and which she knew would only irritate him. “I am not feeling so extra happy, I can tell you.”
“Well, get it over then. What has Lamont done?”
“I can’t marry a coward.”
“Eh? A coward? Lamont? Have you taken leave of your senses, girl?”
“Well, listen. You shall hear,” she said crisply. And then she gave him an account of the whole affair.
“Is that all?” he said when she had done.
“All?”
“Yes. All?”