"Well, Mater, what the devil's the use of all this? You know... By Jove!
you OUGHT to!"
"Hold on, young feller! I don't understand. Your wages ain't large
enough, you say? What do you mean? You was GOIN' to be married, wasn't
you?"
Mrs. Dunn plunged to the rescue, a forlorn hope, but desperate, and
fighting to the end.
"An outrage!" she blurted. "Malcolm, I forbid you to continue this
disgusting conversation. Caroline, my poor child, I don't blame you for
this, but I call on you to stop it at once. My dear, I--"
She advanced toward the girl with outstretched arms. Caroline recoiled.
"Don't! don't!" she gasped. Captain Elisha spoke up sharp and stern.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, "but I'll be obliged if you'll wait a
minute. Caroline, don't you say a word. You say--you--" addressing
Malcolm, "that you can't support a wife on your wages. You surprise me
some, considerin' the swath you've been cuttin' on 'em--but never mind
that. Maybe they won't keep automobiles and--er--other things I've heard
you was interested in, but if you cut them out and economize a little,
same as young married folks I've known have been glad to do, you could
scrape along, couldn't you? Hey? Couldn't you?"
Malcolm's answer was another scornful shrug.
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