Russell, ferociously.
"Taking the pledge is 'ard enough to bear without having remarks from
you."
"I didn't mean them to be remarks, Bill," said the other, mildly. "But
if you tell about me, you know, Selina'll see through your little game."
"I'm about sick o' the whole thing," said Mr. Russell, desperately.
"I ain't 'ad a drink outside o' my own house for pretty near a fortnight.
I shall ask Selina to-morrow night, and settle it."
"Ask her?" said the amazed Mr. Vickers. "Ask 'er what?"
"Ask 'er to marry me," said the other, doggedly.
Mr. Vickers, thoroughly alarmed, argued with him in vain, the utmost
concession he could wring from the determined Mr. Russell being a promise
to give him a hint to get out of the way.
"I'll do that for my own sake," he said, frankly. "I can do it better
alone, and if your old woman is in you get her out too. Ask 'er to go
for a walk; that'll please Selina. I don't know what the gal does want.
I thought turning teetotaler and setting a good example to you would do
the trick, if anything would."
Mrs. Vickers's utter astonishment next evening, when her husband asked
her to go for a walk, irritated that gentleman almost beyond endurance.
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