“Come; I shall hold myself neuter—will that satisfy you? You shall have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is enough.”
“Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out.”
“Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!”
“Curse them both! Will you promise this—to support me so far?”
“Egad, Hycy, that's a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot water, and that waited on us at dinner—eh?”
“Come, come, Master Harry, 'ware spring-guns there; keep quiet. You don't answer?”
“But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you—discard you—give you to the winds?—eh?”
“Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold myself bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a beggar.”
“What! as a beggar?”
“Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion.”