“Well, you know a lot of the people about here think they’re engaged.”
“And if they do—isn’t it a thundering good thing they’re wrong?”
“No, it isn’t,” getting nettled. “If Lawrence has been trifling with Eileen I’ll kill him.”
“Eileen has too much sense to care for a man who would behave so.”
“You don’t know anything about it. You’re just a great, big, blundering baby,” and Paddy looked as if she were on the point of tears.
“Whew!” whistled Jack. “What have I been doing now?”
“Nothing, and that’s just it.—If I were a man—if I were Eileen’s brother, I’d shoot Lawrence. She hasn’t got a brother, but you’re the next best thing and you ought to do it.”
“I fail to see how I could benefit Eileen by getting myself hanged.”
“I don’t care,” exclaimed Paddy. “I don’t care for any of you. I’ll have it out with Lawrence some day, and make him pay for this.”
“My dear child! you’re making no end of a fuss about nothing,” sententiously.