"I am
estranging you from your friends. There is still time, Alfred, to alter
your mind and let me go."
He put his arm round her with rough fondness. "I would sacrifice every
friend I have in the world rather than lose you. Come along!"
They left the cottage. At the entrance to the tent, Hardyman noticed
the dog at Isabel's heels, and vented his ill-temper, as usual with male
humanity, on the nearest unoffending creature that he could find. "Be
off, you mongrel brute!" he shouted. The tail of Tommie relaxed from its
customary tight curve over the small of his back; and the legs of Tommie
(with his tail between them) took him at full gallop to the friendly
shelter of the cupboard in the smoking-room. It was one of those
trifling circumstances which women notice seriously. Isabel said
nothing; she only thought to herself, "I wish he had shown his temper
when I first knew him!"
They entered the tent.
"I'll read the names," said Hardyman, "and you find the cards and tear
them up. Stop! I'll keep the cards. You're just the sort of woman my
father likes. He'll be reconciled to me when he sees you, after we are
married. If one of those men ever asks him for a place, I'll take
care, if it's years hence, to put an obstacle in his way! Here; take my
pencil, and make a mark on the cards to remind me; the same mark I set
against a horse in my book when I don't like him--a cross, inclosed in a
circle." He produced his pocketbook. His hands trembled with anger as
he gave the pencil to Isabel and laid the book on the table.
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