"What did he want to take her away for?" asked Henry.
"How the hell should I know? That's what I asked him. 'What do you want to take her away for?' I asked him. He called me dirty names, then, so I just called dirty names back. Two can play at that game. I hadn't been educated in Bristol for nothing. Then they went on interfering, so I just brought her over here."
Henry was longing to ask some more questions when the door opened and Christina came in.
"Well, deary," said her mother. "Here's Mr. Trenchard." Christina smiled, then stood there uncertainly.
"There's a man coming upstairs, mother, who said you'd asked him to call. He wouldn't give his name."
Steps were outside. There was a pause, a knock on the door. Mrs. Tenssen looked at them both uncertainly.
"What do you say to taking Christina out to tea, Mr. Trenchard? It won't do her any harm?"
Henry said he would be delighted, as for sure he would.
"Well, then, suppose you do—some nice tea-shop. I know you'll look after her."
The girl moved to the door. Henry opened it for her. On the other side was standing a large heavy man, some country-fellow he seemed, young, brown-faced, in rough blue clothes.