Part 26 (1/2)

_Harry._ No, by Jove, it proves that your father noticed what a confounded, cussed----

_Dolly._ Go on! Go on! Say it!

_Matt._ Shus.h.!.+ Shus.h.!.+ Well, Harry, what did you say?

_Harry._ Well, not wis.h.i.+ng to give Dolly away----

_Dolly._ Ha! ha! Not wis.h.i.+ng to give me away!

_Harry._ Not then! But, by Jove, if any decent chap were to come along now----

_Dolly._ [_Exploding._] There! There! [_To_ MATT.] And you sit there and hear my own husband insult me in my own house!

_Matt._ No! No!

_Dolly._ But there you sit! There you sit!

_Matt._ [_Jumps up fiercely._] Now, Harry!

_Harry._ [_Fiercely._] Well, now, Mr. Barron----

_Dolly._ Why don't you defend me? Why don't you demand an apology?

_Matt._ What for?

_Dolly._ For everything! For to-night! For that night at Folkestone!

_Harry._ That night at Folkestone! Why, your father was quite on my side----

_Matt._ What?

_Dolly._ He wasn't; were you, Dad?

_Matt._ No--no.

_Harry._ What? [_Fiercely._] Do you remember exactly what pa.s.sed between us in the smoking-room, Mr. Barron?

_Matt._ No.

_Harry._ Then I'll tell you----

_Matt._ [_Retreating towards door._] No--no--I don't want to know----

_Harry._ [_Following him up, shouting a little._] You said, ”I know what she's like in her high gales! I remember what the little devil was like at home.”

_Dolly._ [_Pursuing him up to door._] Father! You didn't say that!

_Matt._ No--no, my darling--quite a mistake--quite a mistake--altogether a mistake.

[_Gets thankfully off at back._