Chapter 30. The Word of a Gentleman

           WhenMrandMrsFlintwinchpanteduptothedooroftheoldhouseinthetwilight,JeremiahwithinasecondofAffery,thestrangerstartedback.‘Deathofmysoul!’heexclaimed.‘Why,howdidyougethere?’

           MrFlintwinch,towhomthesewordswerespoken,repaidthestranger’swonderinfull.Hegazedathimwithblankastonishment;helookedoverhisownshoulder,asexpectingtoseesomeonehehadnotbeenawareofstandingbehindhim;hegazedatthestrangeragain,speechlessly,atalosstoknowwhathemeant;helookedtohiswifeforexplanation;receivingnone,hepounceduponher,andshookherwithsuchheartinessthatheshookhercapoffherhead,sayingbetweenhisteeth,withgrimraillery,ashedidit,‘Affery,mywoman,youmusthaveadose,mywoman!Thisissomeofyourtricks!Youhavebeendreamingagain,mistress.What’sitabout?Whoisit?Whatdoesitmean!Speakoutorbechoked!It’stheonlychoiceI’llgiveyou.’

           SupposingMistressAfferytohaveanypowerofelectionatthemoment,herchoicewasdecidedlytobechoked;forsheanswerednotasyllabletothisadjuration,but,withherbareheadwaggingviolentlybackwardsandforwards,resignedherselftoherpunishment.Thestranger,however,pickinguphercapwithanairofgallantry,interposed.

           ‘Permitme,’saidhe,layinghishandontheshoulderofJeremiah,whostoppedandreleasedhisvictim.‘Thankyou.Excuseme.HusbandandwifeIknow,fromthisplayfulness.Haha!Alwaysagreeabletoseethatrelationplayfullymaintained.