"Sir!" said Ralph, starting to his feet with real passion at being so
addressed by "Wilkins the attorney."
"Yes," continued the latter, "I'll manage my own affairs, and allow of no
meddling and no questioning. I said so once before, and I was not minded
and bad came of it; and now I say it again. And if you're to come here
and put impertinent questions, and stare at me as you've been doing this
half-hour past, why, the sooner you leave this house the better!"
Ralph half turned to take him at his word, and go at once; but then he
"gave Ellinor another chance," as he worded it in his thoughts; but it
was in no spirit of conciliation that he said:
"You've taken too much of that stuff, sir. You don't know what you're
saying. If you did, I should leave your house at once, never to return."
"You think so, do you?" said Mr. Wilkins, trying to stand up, and look
dignified and sober. "I say, sir, that if you ever venture again to talk
and look as you have done to-night, why, sir, I will ring the bell and
have you shown the door by my servants. So now you're warned, my fine
fellow!" He sat down, laughing a foolish tipsy laugh of triumph. In
another minute his arm was held firmly but gently by Ralph.
"Listen, Mr. Wilkins," he said, in a low hoarse voice. "You shall never
have to say to me twice what you have said to-night.
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