“But she could not think — she could not think — !” stammered Sherry.
“She!” said Mr Ringwood witheringly. “Seems to me it’s you who can’t think, Sherry! Damme if ever I knew such a fellow! It’s a very good thing I came down here, for a rare pucker you have got yourself into! What’s more, I’m not sure it ain’t too late to get you out of it.”
“What do you mean?” Sherry said quickly, fixing his eyes on his face.
Mr Ringwood met that look squarely. “Said I’d be frank with you, dear boy, didn’t I? Well, I’ve been hearing lately from my grandmother that there’s some fellow or other paying Kitten attentions.”
“There is!” Sherry said grimly.
“The old lady didn’t seem to think there was much to it yet, but she gave me a hint you’d do well to step in before it was too late. Matter of fact, I was about to write to Kitten to tell her I thought it was time she gave me leave to tell you the truth, when you went off in your mother’s train. From what I can make out, he’s a very tolerable sort of a fellow, with a nice little property, easy address, and that kind of thing. Devilish taken with Kitten, ready to do anything in his power to please her.”
Sherry was just about to favour him with his own impressions of Mr Tarleton when the justice of this description struck that innate honesty at the bottom of his nature. “Yes, damn him!” he said bitterly. “I suppose he is a tolerable sort of a fellow. Dare say he’d be a dashed sight kinder to Kitten than ever I was.”
Mr Ringwood rose from his chair. “Best thing for me to do now is to go round to Camden Place and see Kitten,” he said. “Do what I may to unravel this curst tangle you’ve made!”
Sherry grasped his hand. “Gil, you’re the best friend a man ever had!” he declared. “You’ll tell her it was to find her I came here, won’t you? Tell her I’ve been fit to blow my brains out any time since she left me! Beg her only to see me! Tell her — ”
“Don’t put yourself about! I’ll tell her everything!” promised Mr Ringwood.