Shortly, Mrs. Dumps released her hold, and turned paler than ever. "Take me out; get me brandy--Three Star," whispered the little woman, who had undoubtedly received a great shock.
Clarice saw that she was on the verge of fainting, so at once piloted her along the row of seats to the nearest bar, and procured her a glass of liqueur brandy. The flighty barmaid--no doubt a friend of Ferdy's--saluted Clarice with an engaging smile and a slangy greeting, finally remarking that the old girl--meaning Mrs. Dumps--looked chippy. The insult to her years, as well as the strong liquor, brought back the colour to Mrs. Dumps' cheeks, and the stiffness to her back. Replacing the glass on the counter with a bang, she frowned on the saucy girl.
"You are a bold, painted hussy," snapped Mrs. Dumps, aggressively.
"The brandy's gone to your aunt's head, Ferdy," giggled the barmaid, in no wise disturbed; "take her home, dear boy, else she's bound to be run in, for looking so pretty."
"You brazen bag-a-rags," sniffed Mrs. Dumps, "you Jezebel of the slums, how dare you insult a lady, you horrid--" here Clarice, fearing that there would be trouble, since the barmaid was losing her temper, dragged Mrs. Dumps hurriedly away. "If you keep company with such bold sluts, Mr. Ferdinand," she said, indignantly, "you shan't marry my daughter."
"I'm not so sure that I do want to marry her," said Clarice, artfully.
Mrs. Dumps tossed her head. "Oh, I know, Mr. Ferdinand, none better. You changed your mind about Zara once before, and wanted to marry that ugly girl of Parson Clarke's. I'd have let you go myself, but Zara, who is fairly crazy about you,--I don't know why, as you ain't my idea of what a husband should be--found means to bring you back again, and keep them vows, you wanted so lightheartedly to break."
"Did Zara tell you the means she employed?" asked Clarice, quickly.
"No, she didn't, though I begged her to make a clean breast of it, so you needn't think that she has betrayed you, whatever you have done--though I'm sure I don't know if you are bad, smiling there, as if butter wouldn't melt in your mouth."
This speech assured Clarice that, whatever power Zara possessed over Ferdy, certainly Mrs. Dumps did not know its source, and therefore she merely laughed. Then, to gain further information, Clarice carried the war into the enemy's camp. "It is very easy blaming me, Mrs. Dumps," she said, spiritedly, "but how can you expect me to marry a girl who associates with a man like Osip."