"So fond he was of you, too, Jimmy," she said.
"Who's fond of me?" asked Gray.
"Why, Mr. Early. You didn't drink so much of that horrid stuff when he was here. He had such a good influence over you."
"I know he had," said Gray, filling his glass. "Now he's got somebody who'll have an influence over him. Poor old George!"
"Oh, Jimmy! Do you think she'll be cruel to him? Why ever did he marry her?"
"Couldn't help it, I suppose," said her husband. "Perhaps he's going to reform her. Poor old George!"
"Jimmy," said Mrs. Gray, severely, "it's a shame for you to laugh. You ought to have prevented the marriage, if she's a horrid creature who'll worry his life out. You know he's been a good friend to you."
"Has he?" said Gray. "I'd forgotten that. Then I'll be a good friend to him. I'll go and be his lodger. No, I won't; I'll go and tell Mrs. Early that he's one of the best."
Gray helped himself to a further supply and toasted the new governor as "one of the best," in which Mrs. Gray, although a temperate little body, joined.
"When do you go to the club again, Jimmy?" said Mrs. Gray.