“I will be just as frank,” he replied, smiling. “I have always liked you because you do speak so plainly.”
“That’s kind of you to say so,” she replied. “Well, I will speak out. You see there are so few women in the colony.”
“Who are ladies,” said Bayle quietly.
“Look here,” said Otway, in a much ill-used tone, “am I expected to sit here and listen to my wife putting herself under the influence of the Church?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Jack!” said Mrs Otway sharply. “This is serious.”
“I’m dumb.”
“What I want to say, Mr Bayle, is this. Don’t you think you are making a mistake in staying away from your friends yonder?”
He sat without replying for some minutes.
“No,” he said slowly. “I did not give up my visits there till after I had weighed the matter very carefully.”
“But you seemed to come out with those two ladies as their guardian, and now, when they seem most to require your help and guidance, you leave them.”