"I'm afraid I shan't be here to see it, then. I'm leaving in an hour's time—for good and all."
Murkard sprang to his feet with a new face.
"Then that puts me right at once. God bless you, Ellison, you could not have given me better news! I knew you'd do what was right!"
"Have you been fretting about me, then?"
"A little. But more about that girl over yonder. Of course, whatever happened, I should stand by you—you know that, don't you? But—well, the long and the short of it is, I couldn't bear to see the poor child getting to care for you more and more every day, when I knew that your affection was not the kind to satisfy her craving. Poor little thing, it will be hard on her, devilish hard, but all the same I believe you're doing what is best and happiest for both of you."
"Do you think so, honour bright?"
"I don't think, I'm sure of it!"
"Then I'll go. But you don't know, old man, what a bitter fight it has been. Since you laughed at me a week ago I've been arguing it over, and the result is, I'm beginning to think I do care for her, after all."
"If you only think, you're still on the wrong side of the stream. No, no; we must go. There is no question about that. I'll put our few traps together after breakfast, and then we'll say farewell and adieu to respectability once more."
"But you are not coming too. I could never allow that!"