any of you! Do you hear me? I came back here, thinking this my home; now you want to cast me out again. I hate you all! I wish I had stayed in the country!''
I looked from face to face. Dainty had begun to cry. John sat, open-mouthed and astonished. Mr Ibbs had his hand at his cheek. Maud nursed her bleeding fingers. Charles shook. Mrs Sucksby said,
''Sue, put down the knife. Cast you out? The idea! I—''
Then she stopped. Charley Wag had lifted his head. From Mr
Ibbs''s shop there came the sound of a key, turning in a lock. Then came the kicking of boots; then whistling.
''Gentleman!'' she said. She looked at Maud, at Mr Ibbs, at me. She got up, and leaned to catch at my arm. ''Sue,'' she said, as she did it. She spoke in a voice that was almost a whisper. ''Susie, sweetheart, will you come upstairs . . .?''
But I did not answer, only gripped the knife more firmly. Charley Wag gave a feeble bark, and Gentleman heard him, and barked in reply. Then he whistled again, a lazy waltz tune, and we heard him stumbling along the passage and watched as he pushed at the door. I think he was drunk. His hat was crooked, his cheek quite pink, his mouth a perfect O. He stood, and slightly swayed, and looked about the room, squinting into the shadows. The whistle died. His lips grew straight, and he licked them.
''Hallo,'' he said, ''here''s Charles.'' He winked. Then he looked at me, and at my knife. ''Hallo, here''s Sue.'' He took off his hat and began to unwind the scarlet cloth from his throat. ''I supposed you might come. Had you left it another day, I should have been ready. I have just now collected a letter, from that fool Christie. He certainly dragged his heels, in letting me know of your escape! I think he planned to recapture you before he should have to. Bad publicity, when one''s lady lunatics run.''