He replied to her raillery by asking her under which flag she stood. But there was little need to ask that, for anyone who was fighting a Walling became ipso facto a friend of Mrs. Billy’s. She told Montague that if he felt his social position was imperilled, all he had to do was to come to her. She would gird on her armour and take the field.
“But tell me how you came to do it,” she said.
He answered that there was very little to tell. He had taken up a case which was obviously just, but having no idea what a storm it would raise.
Then he noticed that his companion was looking at him sharply. “Do you really mean that’s all there is to it?” she asked.
“Of course I do,” said he, perplexed.
“Do you know,” was her unexpected response, “I hardly know what to make of you. I’m afraid to trust you, on account of your brother.”
Montague was embarrassed. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said.
“Everybody thinks there’s some trickery in that suit,” she answered.
“Oh,” said Montague, “I see. Well, they will find out. If it will help you any to know it, I’ve been having no end of scenes with my brother.”
“I’ll believe you,” said Mrs. Billy, genially. “But it seems strange that a man could have been so blind to a situation! I feel quite ashamed because I didn’t help you myself!”