"Settle with Dan? I'll settle with Alick first, Bella, and if he has given that scoundrel the whip hand of me I'll break every bone in his body."
"But it may not be true. It cannot be true. Unless Alick tells me so himself I'll never believe a word of it."
They were at tea in the dining-room, country fashion, the Speaker at the head of the table with a plate of fish before him, and his wife and daughters at either side, when Alick entered.
"Helloa!" he cried, with a forced gaiety. But only his mother responded to his greeting and made room for him by her side. She saw that he was paler and thinner, and that his hand trembled when he took his cup.
The Speaker, who had turned his rough shoulder to his son, tried to restrain himself from breaking out on him until the meal would be over and he could take him into his own room, but before long his impatience overcame him.
"What's this we're hearing about you—that you are carrying on with a girl?"
"Do you mean Bessie Collister, Sir?" said Alick.
"Certainly I mean Bessie Collister. And I thought you gave me your word that you would see no more of her."
"But that was the promise of a boy, Sir. Did you expect it to bind the man also?"
"The man? The man!" said the Speaker, mimicking his son's voice in a mincing treble. "Do you call yourself a man, bringing disgrace on your name and family."