“Ah! that’s just it,” he said. “I may have to wait.”

I made sounds of encouragement.

“Or go alone,” he added.

“They’ve cut up rough, then?” I inquired.

“Young Frank has, anyway,” he said with a brave assumption of breaking away from servility.

“You didn’t see the old man?”

“Never a sight of him.”

“And young Frank…?”

“Shoved it home for all he was worth. Threatened me with the law and what not. Said if I tried to take Her with me they’d have us stopped and take an action against me for abduction. I suppose it’s all right that they can do that?”

“I’m afraid it is,” I said; “until she comes of age.”