“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” cried Claud, angrily. “Who’s imposing on you? Who’s playing dishonourably? You behaved like a brute to me, and I went off to get out of it all, only I didn’t want to be hard on ma, and so I came back.”
“Oh, my darling boy! It was very, very good of you.”
“Be quiet, Maria. Let the shallow-brained young idiot speak,” growled Wilton. “Now, sir, answer me—have you gone through some form of marriage?”
“Who with?” said the young man, with a grin.
“Answer my question, sir. Have you gone through some form of marriage?”
“I? No. I’m free enough, guv’nor.”
“You have not?” cried Wilton, aghast. “You mean to tell me that you have taken that poor girl away somewhere, and have not married her?”
“No, I don’t mean to tell you anything of the sort. Here, mother, is the pater going mad?”
“Silence, Maria; don’t answer him.”
“Yes, do ma. What does it all mean? Has Kitty bolted?”