“Be quiet, Esau. I know you’re only teasing. But why not, my dear? I know I’m a very little woman, but I’m very strong.”
“It’s be quiet, mother, I think,” cried Esau angrily. “What do you mean by talking like that to Mr Gordon? I often calls him Gordon, ’cause he’s always been such a good chap to me; but I don’t forget he’s a gentleman’s son, and his mother was a born lady. I’m ashamed of you, mother, that I am.”
“But it’s so dreadful, my boy—worse than your being a soldier. I could come down to Woolwich to see you sometimes.”
“No, no, Mrs Dean,” I said; “don’t say that. It really would be wise for us to go. People do get on out there, and those friends of mine, Mr John Dempster and Mrs John, are going.”
“That’s it then,” cried the little lady angrily. “It’s their doing, and it’s a shame.”
“Here, hold hard, mother!” cried Esau. “I say, is that true?”
“Quite.”
“And now you’re trying to blind me, Esau,” cried Mrs Dean; “but you can’t cheat me.”
“Who’s trying to blind you?”
“You, sir. Just as if you didn’t know all the time.”