“It’s a pity ’e didn’t leave it to young Nugent,” said that gentleman, noting with much pleasure the effect of his announcement, “but ’e can’t stand ’in:  at no price; ’e told me so ’imself.  I s’pose young Teddy’ll be quite the gentleman now, and ’e’ll be able to marry who ’e likes.”

Mr. Kybird thrust his handkerchief into his tail-pocket, and all the father awoke within him.  “Ho, will ’e?” he said, with fierce sarcasm.  “Ho, indeed!  And wot about my daughter?  I ’ave ’eard of such things as breach o’ promise.  Before Mr. Teddy gets married ’e’s got to ’ave a few words with me.”

“’E’s behaved very bad,” said Mrs. Kybird, nodding.

“’E come ’ere night after night,” said Mr. Kybird, working himself up into a fury; “’e walked out with my gal for months and months, and then ’e takes ’imself off as if we wasn’t good enough for’im.”

“The suppers ’e’s ’ad ’ere you wouldn’t believe,” said Mrs. Kybird, addressing the visitor.

“Takes ’imself off,” repeated her husband; “takes ’imself off as if we was dirt beneath ’is feet, and never been back to give a explanation from that day to this.”

“I’m not easy surprised,” said Mrs. Kybird, “I never was from a gal, but I must say Teddy’s been a surprise to me.  If anybody ’ad told me ’e’d ha’ behaved like that I wouldn’t ha’ believed it; I couldn’t.  I’ve never said much about it, becos my pride wouldn’t let me.  We all ’ave our faults, and mine is pride.”

“I shall bring a breach o’ promise action agin ’im for five thousand pounds,” said Mr. Kybird, with decision.

“Talk sense,” said Nathan Smith, shortly.

“Sense!” cried Mr. Kybird.  “Is my gal to be played fast and loose with like that?  Is my gal to be pitched over when ’e likes?  Is my gal—­”

“Wot’s the good o’ talking like that to me?” said the indignant Mr. Smith.  “The best thing you can do is to get ’er married to Teddy at once, afore ’e knows of ’is luck.”

“And when’ll that be?” inquired his friend, in a calmer voice.

“Any time,” said the boarding-master, shrugging his shoulders.  “The old gentleman might go out to-night, or again ’e might live on for a week or more.  ’E was so weak ’e couldn’t ’ardly sign ’is name.”

“I ’ope ’e ’as signed it all right,” said Mr. Kybird, starting.

“Safe as ’ouses,” said his friend.

“Well, why not wait till Teddy ’as got the money?” suggested Mrs. Kybird, with a knowing shake of her head.

“Becos,” said Mr. Smith, in a grating voice, “be-cos for one thing ’e’d be a rich man then and could ’ave ’is pick.  Teddy Silk on a pound or thereabouts a week and Teddy Silk with ten thousand pounds ’ud be two different people.  Besides that ’e’d think she was marrying ’im for ’is money.”

“If ’e thought that,” said Mrs. Kybird, firmly, “I’d never forgive ’im.”

“My advice to you,” said Nathan Smith, shaking his forefinger impressively, “is to get ’em married on the quiet and as soon as possible.  Once they’re tied up Teddy can’t ’elp ’imself.”