You're like an intoxicating drink yourself on the tradesmen of
our town. You think it fine--ha! ha! I daresay, Philip, I should be doing
the same if I were up to your mark at my banker's. We can't all of us be
lords, nor baronets."
Catching up his temper thus cleverly, he curbed that habitual runaway,
and retired from his old friend's presence to explode in the society of
the solitary Martha.
Annette's behaviour was as bitterly criticized by the sister as by the
brother.
"She has gone to those Fellingham people; and she may be thinking of
jilting us," Mrs. Cavely said.
"In that case, I have no mercy," cried her brother. "I have borne"--he
bowed with a professional spiritual humility--"as I should, but it may
get past endurance. I say I have borne enough; and if the worst comes to
the worst, and I hand him over to the authorities--I say I mean him no
harm, but he has struck me. He beat me as a boy and he has struck me as a
man, and I say I have no thought of revenge, but I cannot have him here;
and I say if I drive him out of the country back to his Gippsland!"
Martin Tinman quivered for speech, probably for that which feedeth
speech, as is the way with angry men.
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