Page:Possession (Roche, February 1923).pdf/159

 never. I hope I am not too late to turn you from the evil you have fallen into."

Derek extricated his hand. "I don't think you quite realize," he said, trying to keep his temper, "what you are taking upon yourself. You come into the house of a stranger and make an accusation against him without any other grounds for your suspicion than the stupid gossip of ignorant people."

"You can scarcely call Brother Chard stupid and ignorant," reproved Mr. Barker, "and he suspects the worst."

"What the devil do you suspect?" asked Derek turning on Chard.

"Well, Mr. Vale," said Chard, uncovering once more his neat rows of artificial teeth, "I've a pretty good idea who's the parent of that black baby with the white hair upstairs."

"It's not black," said Derek, testily. "It's bronze. And it doesn't concern you if it's all the colours of the rainbow. Now I'm trying to keep my temper, but I strongly advise you men to stick to your autoharp and plough, and leave me to manage my affairs in my own way."

"I have my wife and family to think of," said Chard. "This is putting the whole neighbourhood under a cloud. I have to try to keep my children's minds pure. They are hearing words they haven't any right to hear."

"It's terrible for their pure little minds to be sullied," murmured Mr. Barker.

"What sort of words?" asked Derek.

"Well, Mr. Vale," replied Chard, a yellowish flush creeping over his face, "concubine for one. My second youngest boy was saying that you have a concubine in here."

"Surely that touches you, Mr. Vale," said the minister.

"It makes me sick," said Derek. "In fact you both make me sick. You had better go."