“Oh! — fire into the air!”
“Well, George, indeed I am much obliged to you, but would it not be better not to meet Sherry at all?”
“Hang it, no! We must meet! He challenged me!”
“Yes, I know, but — George, if you mean to fire into the air, it seems to me that Sherry may very likely kill you!”
“Sherry? At twenty-five yards?” said George. “Wouldn’t hit a haystack at that range! That’s why I chose it. Not but what I don’t care if he does put a bullet through me,” he added, his brow clouding suddenly.
“Well, I care!” said Hero tartly. “He would have to fly the country, and what would become of me then?”
George’s gloom vanished in a grin. “Oh, Kitten, you horrid little wretch! Don’t tease yourself! He won’t hit me.”
“You don’t feel that I had better warn him you mean to fire in the air?” she asked anxiously.
He took her by the shoulders, and gave her a shake. “You dare tell Sherry one word about this!” he said. “If he knew what you’d done he’d be fit to murder the pair of us! Besides, you’ve no business to be mixed up in it! You must go home. And not a word to a soul, mind!”
“But I must tell Gil — ”