“You’re playing such a double game, Robert Hallam, that either I shall have to take the reins in my own hands, or we shall come to a breakdown.”
“Nonsense! What’s the use of talking like that?”
“What’s the use of a man setting his mind upon something, and then letting a weak thing like you play with him? I’ll have no more of it. Now you have to do as I say or break, and that means—”
“Hush, Steve!” cried Hallam, looking sharply round; but Crellock paid no heed to his words, and swung out of the study to walk straight into the room where Julia was kneeling by Eaton, with Thisbe on the other side.
“Come here, Julia,” he said roughly; “I want you.”
“Hush! Not so loud,” she whispered, raising her hand.
“Come here!” he cried, with a stamp of the foot, “at once.”
Julia started to her feet with an angry look flashing from her eyes; and as she faced him, her countenance full of resentment, Thisbe rose, thinking of her mistress in bygone days.
“What do you want?” she said firmly.
“Your father wants you in the study at once.”