'Well, 'appen she says I am—does she?' replied Dudley.
'Is she your wife, sir?'
'Mayhap she so considers it, after a fashion,' he replied, with an impudent swagger, seating himself as he did so.
'What do you think, sir?' persisted Uncle Silas.
'I don't think nout about it,' replied Dudley, surlily.
'Is that account true?' said my uncle, handing him the paper.
'They wishes us to believe so, at any rate.'
'Answer directly, sir. We have our thoughts upon it. If it be true, it is capable of every proof. For expedition's sake I ask you. There is no use in prevaricating.'
'Who wants to deny it? It is true—there!'
'There! I knew he would,' screamed the young woman, hysterically, with a laugh of strange joy.