“What do you say?”
The little old lady laughed excitedly, and shook her head; the tears stood in her eyes.
“Do you want to leave Old Chester?” the Captain demanded.
“You know I don't,” she said, sighing.
“She'd take you away to-morrow,” he threatened, “if she knew I had—I had—”
“She sha'n't know it.”
“Well, then, we've got to get spliced to-morrow.”
“Oh, Alfred, no! I don't believe Dr. Lavendar would—”
“I'll have no dealings with Lavendar,” the Captain said, with sudden stiffness; “he's like all the rest of 'em. I'll get a license in Upper Chester, and we'll go to some parson there.”
Mrs. North's eyes snapped; “Oh, no, no!” she protested; but in another minute they were shaking hands on it.