And now what
was the injured husband doing with his demon wife? Doing! why, doing
the impassioned lover most vigorously; sustaining her steps most
tenderly; grasping her hand; pushing aside the bushes; assisting her
down the slope; overwhelming her, in short; hovering round her,
apparently unconscious that there was in all the wide world any other
being than Mrs. Willoughby. And as Hawbury looked upon all this his
eyes dilated and his lips parted involuntarily in utter wonder; and
finally, as Dacres reached the spot, the only greeting which he could
give his friend was,
"By Jove!"
And now, while Mrs. Willoughby and Ethel were embracing with tears of
joy, and overwhelming one another with questions, the Baron sought
information from Dacres.
Dacres then informed him all about Tozer's advent and departure.
"Tozer!" cried the Baron, in intense delight. "Good on his darned old
head! Hurrah for the parson! He shall marry us for this--he, and no
other, by thunder!"
Upon which Mrs. Willoughby and Ethel exchanged glances, but said not a
word. Not they.
But in about five minutes, when Mrs. Willoughby had Ethel apart a
little by herself, she said,
"Oh, Ethel dear, isn't it dreadful?"
"What?" asked Ethel.
"Why, poor Minnie."
"Poor Minnie?"
"Yes. Another horrid man. And he'll be claiming her too. And, oh dear!
what shall I do?"
"Why, you'll have to let her decide for herself. I think it will
be--this person."
Mrs. Willoughby clasped her hands, and looked up with a pretty little
expression of horror.
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