“You see brother Jack is with me!” cries George.
“I must not be against you, Mr. Warrington,” says Jack Lambert.
“Mr. Warrington!” cries George, turning very red.
“Would you, a clergyman, have George break the Commandments, and commit murder, John?” asks Theo, aghast.
“I am a soldier's son, sister,” says the young divine, drily. “Besides, Mr. Warrington has committed no murder at all. We must soon be hearing from Canada, father. The great question of the supremacy of the two races must be tried there ere long!” He turned his back on George as he spoke, and the latter eyed him with wonder.
Hetty, looking rather pale at this original remark of brother Jack, is called out of the room by some artful pretext of her sister. George started up and followed the retreating girls to the door.
“Great powers, gentlemen!” says he, coming back, “I believe, on my honour, you are giving me the credit of shirking this affair with Mr. Esmond!” The clergyman and his father looked at one another.
“A man's nearest and dearest are always the first to insult him,” says George, flashing out.
“You mean to say, 'Not guilty?' God bless thee, my boy!” cries the General. “I told thee so, Jack.” And he rubbed his hand across his eyes, and blushed, and wrung George's hand with all his might.
“Not guilty of what, in heaven's name?” asks Mr. Warrington.