'
'What for?' said Dunsey, still in an artificial tone, but taking
a whip from the table and beating the butt-end of it on his palm.
'You've a very good chance. I'd advise you to creep up her sleeve
again: it 'ud be saving time if Molly should happen to take a drop too
much laudanum some day, and make a widower of you. Miss Nancy wouldn't
mind being a second, if she didn't know it. And you've got a
good-natured brother, who'll keep your secret well, because you'll
be so very obliging to him.'
'I'll tell you what it is,' said Godfrey, quivering, and pale
again. 'My patience is pretty near at an end. If you'd a little more
sharpness in you, you might know that you may urge a man a bit too
far, and make one leap as easy as another. I don't know but what it is
so now: I may as well tell the Squire everything myself- I should
get you off my back, if I got nothing else. And, after all, he'll know
some time. She's been threatening to come herself and tell him. So,
don't flatter yourself that your secrecy's worth any price you
choose to ask. You drain me of money till I've got nothing to pacify
her with, and she'll do as she threatens some day. It's all one.
I'll tell my father everything myself, and you may go to the devil.'
Dunsey perceived that he had overshot his mark, and that there
was a point at which even the hesitating Godfrey might be driven
into decision.
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