“Not a brass farden,” replied his friend, cheerfully. “Not to none of you. Why should 'e?
“He ain't left it to Jack, I s'pose?” said Miss Kybird, who had suspended her work to listen.
“No, my dear,” replied the boarding-master. “E's made 'is will all ship-shape and proper, and 'e's left everything—all that 'ouse property and other things, amounting to over ten thousand pounds—to a young man becos 'e was jilt—crossed in love a few months ago, and becos 'e's been a good and faithful servant to 'im for years.”
“Don't tell me,” said Mr. Kybird, desperately; “don't tell me that 'e's been and left all that money to young Teddy Silk.”
“Well, I won't if you don't want me to,” said the accommodating Mr. Smith, “but, mind, it's a dead secret.”
Mr. Kybird wiped his brow, and red patches, due to excitement, lent a little variety to an otherwise commonplace face; Mrs. Kybird's dazed inquiry. “Wot are we a-coming to?” fell on deaf ears; while Miss Kybird, leaning forward with lips parted, fixed her eyes intently on Mr. Smith's face.
“It's a pity 'e didn't leave it to young Nugent,” said that gentleman, noting with much pleasure the effect of his announcement, “but 'e can't stand 'in: at no price; 'e told me so 'imself. I s'pose young Teddy'll be quite the gentleman now, and 'e'll be able to marry who 'e likes.”
Mr. Kybird thrust his handkerchief into his tail-pocket, and all the father awoke within him. “Ho, will 'e?” he said, with fierce sarcasm. “Ho, indeed! And wot about my daughter? I 'ave 'eard of such things as breach o' promise. Before Mr. Teddy gets married 'e's got to 'ave a few words with me.”
“'E's behaved very bad,” said Mrs. Kybird, nodding.
“'E come 'ere night after night,” said Mr. Kybird, working himself up into a fury; “'e walked out with my gal for months and months, and then 'e takes 'imself off as if we wasn't good enough for'im.”