With merry nods and airy wavings of affirmation he sang back, rang back:
"Mighty little I espec's, O, my ladies!
But whaheveh--"
Suddenly he darkened imperiously and motioned Flora away. "Now! now's your time! go! now! this instant go!" he exclaimed, and sang on:
"--I is sent--"
"Ah!" she cried, "they'll h-ask me about her!"
"I don't believe it!" cried he, and sang again:
"--dey mus' un-deh-stan'--"
"Yes," she insisted, "--muz' undehstan', and they will surely h-ask me!"
"Well, let them ask their heads off! Go! at once! before you're further implicated!"
"And leave you to--?"