The brawny fist again appeared from the cupboard door.
"I think I'll go now," said Miss Perkins, apparently aware at last that a flirtation was in progress, and that the landlady had ears.
"If there is anybody concealed here," said George, lifting up a corner of the tablecloth again, "I pity him when Mr. Parrott comes in. If there's one thing that he can't bear, it's deception of any sort. Goodness knows what he'd do to anybody who deceived him! I believe he'd kill him."
Miss Perkins put on her hat in silence, and with some haste. If her lover came in, matters might be awkward.
"You are going to Paddington, I think," said George; "we'd better have a cab."
"No, thank you," said the little milliner, doubtful how to act; "I'm not quite sure if Thomas would like it."
"Ah," said George, with a catch in his voice, "you don't know him as well as I do. It's the very thing he'd suggest. We're just like brothers, the two of us; we lend each other money, wear each other's clothes, go to each other's houses, and do everything we can for each other. If he wanted my girl, I——"
"What!" said Miss Perkins, sharply.
"If he wanted anything—anything——" said George.
"You said a girl," said Miss Perkins.