"All right, Millikins," said Bindle, capturing her hand and placing it through his arm, "don't get 'uffy. Ole Mac's been makin' such a dead set at you, that I wanted to know 'ow things stood."
Bindle's remarks had opened the flood-gates of Millie's confidence. She told him that she had not liked to speak of it before because nothing had been said, although there had been some very obvious hints from Mr. Hearty.
"I hate him, Uncle Joe. He's always—always——" She paused, blushing.
"A-givin' of you the glad-eye," suggested Bindle. "I seen 'im."
"Oh, he's horrible, Uncle Joe. I'm sure he's a wicked man."
"'Course 'e is," replied Bindle with conviction, "or 'e wouldn't be a parson."
Bindle had spoken to Mr. Hearty about the matter. "Look 'ere, 'Earty, you ain't goin' back on them two love-birds, are you?" he enquired.
Mr. Hearty had regarded his brother-in-law with what he conceived to be reproving dignity.
"I do not understand, Joseph," he remarked in hollow, woolly tones.
"Well, there's ole Mac, always a-givin' the glad-eye to Millikins," explained Bindle.