“No, sir,” said Mr. Wilks, hastily; “sit down, sir.”
He pushed forward a chair and, almost pulling his visitor into it, stood over him attentively and took his hat.
“Are you quite sure I'm not interrupting you?” inquired the thoughtful Mr. Nugent.
“Certain sure, sir,” said Mr. Wilks, eagerly. “I was just 'aving a bit of a chat with my neighbour, Mrs. Silk, 'ere, that's all.”
The lady in question removed her handkerchief from her eyes and gazed at him with reproachful tenderness. Mr. Wilks plunged hastily into conversation.
“She came over 'ere to tell me a bit o' news,” he said, eyeing the young man doubtfully. “It seems that Teddy——”
Mr. Nugent fetched a mighty sigh and shook his head; Mrs. Silk gazed at him earnestly.
“Life is full of surprises, sir,” she remarked.
“And sadness,” added Mr. Nugent. “I hope that they will be happy.”
“It struck me all of a 'eap,” said Mrs. Silk, rolling her handkerchief into a ball and placing it in her lap. “I was doing a bit of ironing when in walks Teddy with Amelia Kybird, and says they was married last Friday. I was that shaken I didn't know what I did or what I said. Then I came over as soon as I could, because I thought Mr. Wilks ought to know about it.”