With one vigorous blow of his heel Thurston burst open the door, and sprung forward and dashed the fatal weapon from his hand, and then confronted him, exclaiming:
"Good God, Cloudy! What does this mean?"
Cloudy looked at him wildly for a minute, and when Thurston repeated the question, he answered with a hollow laugh:
"That I am crazy, I guess! don't you think so?"
"Cloudy, my dear fellow, we have been like brothers all our lives; now won't you tell me what has brought you to this pass? What troubles you so much? Perhaps I can aid you in some way. Come, what is it now?"
"And you really don't know what it is? Don't you know that there is a wedding on hand?"
"A wedding!"
"Aye, man alive! A wedding! They are going to marry the child Jacquelina to old Grimshaw."
"Oh, yes, I know that; but, my dear boy, what of it? Surely you were never in love with little Jacko?"
"In love with her! ha! ha! no, not as you understand it! who take it to be that fantastical passion that may be inspired by the first sight of a pretty face. No! I am not in love with her, unless I could be in love with myself. For Lina was my other self. Oh, you who can talk so glibly of being 'in love,' little know that strength of attachment when two hearts have grown together from childhood."