Mrs Hallam’s eyes were full of despair as she listened.
“I hate Sir Gordon coming here. He and Bayle have between them made that girl despise me, and look down upon me every time we speak, while I am lavishing money upon her, and she has horses and carriage, jewels and dress equal to any girl in the colony.”
“Robert, dear, you are not saying all this from your heart.”
“Indeed, but I am,” he cried angrily.
“No, no! And Julie—she loves you dearly. It is for her sake I ask this,” and she pointed to Crellock where he lay.
“Let sleeping dogs lie,” said Hallam, with a meaning laugh. “Poor Steve! I don’t like him, but he has been a faithful mate to me, and I’m not going to turn round upon him now.”
“But for Julie’s sake!”
“I’m thinking about Julie, my dear,” he said, nodding his head; “and as for Steve—there, just you make yourself comfortable about him. There’s no harm in him; he is faithful as a dog to me, and if I behaved badly he might bite.”
“You need not be unkind to Mr Crellock if he has been what you say. I only ask you for our child’s sake to let him leave here.”
“Impossible; he is my partner.”