Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/163

Rh "Yes," answered the Colonel, gloomily, "and they may claim undue influence on your part, and then there may be a lawsuit and the devil to pay generally. Excuse my language, my dear."

The Colonel was completely shaken out of his usual composure, and expressed himself in what he was wont to call—"the vulgar—the excessively vulgar tongue." "I foresee a peck of trouble ahead," he continued.

"One thing is certain," said Letty, raising her eyes, "I feel that I hate Mr. Romaine—and with that feeling, I ought not in any event to take his money. And if, as you say, he is merely amusing himself at my expense, and trying to annoy his family, and—and—Ethel Maywood and the Chessinghams, I hate him worse than ever."

"If such is your feeling, you undoubtedly should protest against Romaine's action."

Then there was a commotion in the hall. Farebrother and Sir Archy and Tom Battercake had got home, and there was a rattle of guns on the rack, and Tom Battercake was guffawing over the contents of the game bags.

Both Letty and the Colonel had plenty of