'Who are you?' asked Mrs. Pettican in alarm, and Timothy swaggered forward to her defence.
'Never mind who I am. I have waited here some hours to warn you. Was there a girl, a handsome girl, a glorious girl, here to see that man, your husband, a month ago? You need not answer. I know there was. She is his cousin. He lent her money.'
'No, he did not. I stopped that, didn't I, Tim?'
'He lent her money. You think you stopped that, but you did not. He let her have the money, twenty pounds, how I know not. She had his money, and she will have more, all, unless you keep a sharp watch on him.'
'Tim! do you hear this?' asked Admonition.
'He will send for his cousin to live in the house with him, and to support him against you.'
'Oh, oh! That's fine, isn't it, Tim?'
'If they come, your reign is at an end. That girl, Glory, has a head of iron and the heart of a lion. No one can stand against her but one. There is only one in all the world has dared to conquer her, and he will do it yet. Don't you think you will be able to lift a little finger against her will. She will be too strong for you and a hundred of your Timothys.'
Admonition laughed. 'My little mannikin daren't do it. He is under my thumb.'
'The flag is flying,' sneered Elijah.