human
Joe Brill! cried Mr. Thorold.
gpt
He is the very man I want. Where is he, Miss Vicky?
human
At the Moat House. I went to the kitchen for a moment; he was there--he had just come in. I thought he was a ghost, declared the little lady solemnly;
gpt
What explanation did he make?
human
None--to me. He said he was ready to explain his absence to Mr. Thorold.
gpt
Did he? Then he shall have the chance. Go back to the Moat House, Miss Parsh, and send on Joe to the Good Samaritan.
human
Why there of all places?
gpt
Because I am going to see Lestrange, and force the truth out of him. There shall be an end to all this devilment. He accuses me, does he! cried Thorold, with an ugly look.
human
Let him have a care lest I accuse him, and prove my accusation, too, with the help of Joe Brill.
gpt
Joseph! cried Miss Parsh, quite at sea.
human
What can he do?
gpt
He can prove if Lestrange's story is true or false.
human
Story, Mr. Alan! What story?
gpt
Never mind, Vicky, put in Sophy, catching Miss Parsh's arm. She saw that Alan was growing impatient.
human
Come back home, and we will send Joe on to the inn. Come, you look quite upset.
gpt
And I am upset, wailed the poor woman.
human
I ran all the way to tell you that Joseph had returned--like a thief in the night, she added.
gpt
Oh, dear me! and I'm so hot and untidy. I don't like these dreadful things! Miss Vicky suddenly caught sight of herself in an adjacent mirror, and made a hasty attempt to arrange her disordered dress.
human
Oh, what a spectacle for a genteel gentlewoman to present! A glass of wine, Mr. Phelps, I beg of you.
gpt
Shall I come with you!
human
No, sir. Joe and I are quite able to deal with this brace of blackguards.
gpt
Remember that Lestrange is a dangerous man, Alan.
human
So am I, retorted the other grimly.
gpt
If I happen to find a whip handy, I don't know what I might be tempted to do.
human
But if Joe declares that Lestrange is Sophy's father?
gpt
He is not my father! cried Sophy.
human
His story is a lie! I am the daughter of Richard Marlow.
gpt
Sophia! This man--your father! wailed Miss Vicky.
human
Oh dear, what is all this?
gpt
I'll tell you when we get home, said the girl.
human
Alan, I will send Joe to the inn at once.
gpt
Let me come, Alan. You will want a witness.
human
Joe will be witness enough, said the young man decisively.
gpt
No, sir; better let me see him alone; there may be rough work. Your cloth----
human
Deuce take my cloth! cried the Rector.
gpt
Bless me, may I be forgiven! My cloth might keep the peace.
human
I don't want the peace kept, retorted Thorold.
gpt
Unless that Creole Frenchman apologizes I'll thrash him!