"Not she," replied her husband, "neither in this world nor the next. You go on and talk to her. You understand women. Open fire on ’em!" "May I say a few words, ma’am?" "Provided they are few, you may, Mr. Tomlin." Driven to the wall, she made no effort to conceal her dislike of this big fat man, whom she had ever regarded as an evil influence in her Joe’s life. Quinney exclaimed: "’Ark to Mrs. Don’t-care-a-damn!" Tomlin raised a protesting finger. "Tut, tut, Joe. You leave this to me." He continued majestically, picking his words: "I don’t think you can be aware, ma’am, that James Miggott is threatening your husband, and"—he turned to Posy—"your dear father." Susan snapped out: "Joe told me as much last night. I know well what James is threatening. He’s not the only man of his word in this house. He’s threatening to take the girl he loves as she is. He’s not thinking of anything else. He’s made it plain that he’s only to hold up his finger, and Posy’ll go to him gladly." "Just what I told you, Tom," remarked Quinney. "You’re under a misapprehension, ma’am. Miggott is threatening us—me and Joe." At this Posy became more alert, listening attentively to Tomlin, but keeping her clear eyes upon her sire. Susan betrayed astonishment. "Threatening you, Mr. Tomlin? Why should he threaten you, and why should you care tuppence whether he threatens you or not?" Very deprecatingly, Tomlin spread out his large hands, palm uppermost, as if he wished the ladies to infer that he came empty-handed into a fight not of his seeking. "I repeat, ma’am, he’s threatening us. He’s talking of trying to ruin us." "Talkin’ through his hat," murmured Quinney. Susan tossed her head impatiently. "You’ll have to speak more plainly, Mr. Tomlin, if you wish me to understand what you’re driving at." Tomlin, cornered by Susan’s direct methods in striking opposition to his own, fetched a compass, and began again more warily: "Is it possible that you contemplate leaving the most faithful husband in the world, ma’am?" Quinney chuckled, rubbing his hands. "That’s better. Now, Susie, you listen to Tom, if you won’t listen to me." "I’ve listened patiently to you, Joe, for just twenty years. It’s about time I did a bit of talking, and that you did the listening."