“What respectable house?”—Wilfred again.
Harry went on without noticing the interruptions.
“It was natural that her vagrant instincts should get the better of her again, and she should take the first chance of going off on the tramp.”
“You infernal liar!” shouted William, too much excited to be careful. “She is no more a tramp than you are. And, as for her ‘vagrant instincts,’ you stupid ass, they have led her into much better society than she would ever have got into with you at her heels!”
All the others were startled, and William checked himself as he was going to say more. Harry brought a rough hand down on his shoulder.
“So you are in the secret, are you? Come now, out with it; where is she?”
“Out of your reach, luckily for her.”
“Yes, but you are not, unluckily for you!” said Harry, thickly, rising to his feet and standing threateningly over his brother, not heeding Sir George’s voice crying, “Sit down!”
“Now, then, where is she?”
William thrust away his chair and faced his tipsy brother steadily.