"Damn him!" he cried, "he must ha' bewitched her in some infernal manner! That Betty should act so—'tis incredible! Yet 'twas none so dark! And I saw! 'Twas shameless—a vulgar country-wench would never——"
"Hush, Tom, hush!" cried the Major, flushing. "She's—after all she's so young, Tom, young and a little wilful—high-spirited—and—and—young, as 'twere——"
"Betty's no child, sir, and 'fore heaven——"
"'Tis strange I missed you, Tom," said the Major a little hastily.
"The lane makes a bend there sir, and when I saw I stopped——"
"So here's the true cause of your quarrel, Tom?"
"Nay, sir, I've known Betty from childhood, I've honoured and loved her but—'twas not so much on her account——"
"Then whose, Tom?"
"Why sir I—knew you loved her too——"
"God bless thee, lad!" said the Major and thereafter they sat awhile staring studiously away from each other.