“And what I think is,” Dick went on, “that they had better be married as soon as possible, before Burgrave goes down to the river again, and the blow falls.” “But, Dick,” Georgia almost screamed, “you’re giving her no time to repent.” “Repent? I’m not proposing to kill her. Surely it would be better for her to be married from this house than from a Bombay hotel? Besides, we should have no further anxiety about her----” “No further anxiety? Dick, if she marries him I shall never know another happy moment. She doesn’t care a straw for him--it’s a kind of fascination, that’s all, a sort of deadly terror. I can’t tell you what it’s been like all day. She couldn’t bear me to leave them alone a moment, and there was he beaming at her, and not seeing it a bit. He thinks it’s all right for her to be shy and tongue-tied, and not dare to meet his eye--the pompous idiot! Mab shy--and with a man! She’s miserable--in fear of her life.” “No, no, Georgie, that’s a little too thick. Mab is not a school-girl, to let herself be coerced into an engagement, and it won’t do to stir her up to break it off. You mustn’t go and abuse him to her. Be satisfied with relieving your feelings to me.” “Now, Dick, is it likely? Am I the person to give her an extra reason for sticking to him? If I abused him she would feel bound to defend him, and might even end by caring for him. I can’t pretend to congratulate her on her choice, but she shall have every facility for seeing as much of him as she can possibly want.” “Vengeful creature!” “No, that’s not it. I have no patience with her.” “Ah, she has proved you a false prophet, hasn’t she? That’s unpardonable.” “She has done worse; I’m perfectly convinced that she refused the right man before accepting the wrong one. And though she doesn’t deserve it, I think she ought to have time to get things put right, if she can.” “Very well. Then the deluge will come first, that’s all.” “How soon do you expect it?” “Well, I gather from what the Commissioner says that his report is nearly drawn up. As it’s only a pretext for a predetermined move, they won’t take long to consider it. The decision will be intimated to me, and I shall submit my resignation in return.” “And then we shall fold our tents like the Arabs, and silently steal away?”