"It's disgraceful—terrible! The ingratitude of it! After all his father and I have done for him! To think how we've always guided and taught him! The callous selfishness! The moment he's out of our sight—this—this is what happens. He's picked up with some wicked, designing female, whose father's certain to be a—a—gaolbird—or, anyway, ought to be. Not a word to a soul. We—we don't know who she is—or—or what. He don't even say her name. Daughter-in-law! It's—it's—— Mr. Harker, I'm just wondering when I'll come over all crazy."
Mr. Harker welcomed the pause.
"You say Mr. Gordon's married?" he demanded incredulously.
"Yes—no. That is, he—he says 'your future daughter-in-law'!"
Mr. Harker breathed a deep relief and strove to smile confidence upon his chief's wife.
"Ah, yes. Mr. Gordon was always one for the girls. But he wouldn't make a fool of himself that way——"
In a moment the second round of the battle was raging.
"Fool? Fool? Every man's a fool, if some woman chooses!" cried Mrs. Carbhoy, and promptly hurled herself into a bitter tirade against her sex, sparing no race of monsters from likeness to it.
Mr. Harker was forced to submit from sheer inability to compete with the rapid flow of expression. But later on he had his opportunity at what he considered to be the termination of the "second round," while his opponent retired to her corner to be fanned by her seconds.
"Anyway, ma'am, if he's not yet married there's still hope. I guess Mr. Carbhoy's wise to what's doing with him. You see, he's been there with him."