But Le’s only answer was a profound sigh.
“I think the best and shortest way out of our difficulty will be to go back to America, have that man prosecuted for bigamy and robbery, and sent to the State prison, and then have him divorced, if, indeed, he has any claim whatever on Odalite. And I don’t see why you don’t take that way,” said Wynnette.
“Because, my dearest dear,” answered her father, “to prosecute the man would be to bring our darling Odalite’s name into too much publicity. And, as for divorce, the very word is an offense to right-minded people.”
“It is better than——”
But whatever Wynnette was about to say was cut short by the loud, harsh turning of a key, and the noisy opening of the great door of Anglewood Manor House.
Jonah Kirby appeared, accompanied by altogether the very largest woman our travelers had ever seen in their lives, even at a traveling circus.
She appeared to be about forty years old, and was dressed in a very full, light blue calico skirt, and loose basque of the same, that made her look even larger than she was. She wore a high-crowned, book-muslin cap, with a broad, blue ribbon around it. She carried in her hand a formidable bunch of keys.
“She’s ‘fearfully and wonderfully’ huge, papa. And she will expect a crown, and, maybe, half a guinea, for showing the house,” said Wynnette, in a low tone.
By this time Jonah Kirby had come down the steps and up to the side of the carriage.
“Mrs. Bolton, maister, and she’ll show t’ hoose with pleasure. She always loikes to oblige t’ gentlefolks, she bed me say.”