"You have brought it all upon yourself, my lady," cried Major Carlen, coming forward from a dark corner.
She turned with a start. "So you are here, papa! Then I hope you have entered into sufficient explanation to spare it to me."
"I have told Ravensworth of your fine exploit, in going to Lord Level's rooms: and he agrees with me that no one except an inexperienced child would have done it."
"The truth, if you please, Major Carlen," struck in Mr. Ravensworth.
"And that what you heard or met with—though as to what it was I'm sure I'm all in a fog about—served you right for going," continued the unabashed Major.
Lady Level threw back her head, the haughty crimson dyeing her cheeks. "I went there expecting to find my husband; was that an inexperienced or a childish action?"
"Yes, it was," roared the Major, completely losing his temper, and showing his fierce teeth. "When men are away from their wives, they fall back into bachelor habits. If they please to turn their sanctums into smoking dens, or boxing dens, or what not, are you to come hunting them up, as I say, with a spyglass that magnifies at both ends?"
"Good men have no need to keep their wives away from them."
The Major gave his nose a twist. "Good men?—bad men?—where's the difference? The good have their wives under their thumb, and the bad haven't, that's all."
"For shame, papa!"