“Well—er—we are as good as married, yes,” he stammered, taken somewhat off his guard by the suddenness of the question.
“As good as married? What do you mean?”
“I mean she has promised to be my—er—my bride as soon as we can obtain a—er—a minister to perform the ceremony.”
“You are forcing her into this marriage!”
“Not at all, young man, not at all! She is going to marry me of her own free will.”
“I do not believe it.”
“Ha! don’t dare to talk to me in this fashion, Rover!” stormed Josiah Crabtree, glaring at the helpless youth before him.
“Will you let me speak to Mrs. Stanhope?”
“And poison her mind against me? Indeed not!”
“Where is she?”