‘I’ll help you!’ cried Miss Marjory eagerly—‘I’ll stand your friend. I’ll soon find something you can do. I like to see a man who wishes to be independent. Don’t be downhearted. Trust to me.’
‘And to me,’ said Tor, ‘if you take a step like that. I’ll try to ensure that you never repent it.’
Belassis looked daggers at his son, and would have spoken again, but that his wife, who had crossed the room during the confusion, laid a warning hand upon his arm.
‘Say no more now. Lewis is a mere baby; but he is obstinate, and will only commit himself deeper and deeper if you oppose him now. We will soon take the nonsense out of him when we have him alone.’
‘He must not do it—it would ruin us!’ gasped Belassis helplessly.
‘He shall not do it. I will take care of it. Now come, don’t give way, or play the fool. Quite enough odium and contempt has fallen to our share to-day, without your adding to the burden by your cowardice. We had better get away as fast as we can, or that hateful little yellow woman will be making fresh discoveries.’
‘I’m sure I don’t want to stay,’ groaned her husband, with evident sincerity. ‘It’s the most awful evening I’ve ever spent in my life. Let’s get up and go. I’ll tell them that I’ll not stay here to be insulted any longer.’
He tried to assume his dignified air, but was promptly snubbed by his wife.
‘You’ll do no such thing! You’ll just sit there till I make the move! We’ve had quite enough of your muddling for one evening!’
Mrs. Belassis spoke viciously, because she felt vicious, not because she had any special grudge against her husband at this particular moment.