Waife's face was wild with the agony of his emotions, and his voice was so sharply terrible that it went like a knife into the heart of the men, who, thrust aside for the moment, now followed him, fearful, into the room.
"Mr.—Mr. Chapman, Sir," faltered the Mayor, striving hard to reccH'er dignity and self-possession, "I am astonished at your—your—"
"Audacity!" interposed Mr. Williams.
"My child—my Sophy—my child! answer me, man!"
"Sir," said the Mayor, drawing himself up, "have you not got the note which I left at my bailiff's cottage in case you called there?"
"Your note—this thing!" said Waife, striking a crumpled paper with his hand, and running his eye over its contents. "You have rendered up, you say, the child to her lawful protector? Gracious Heavens! did I trust her to you or not?"
"Leave the room all of you," said the Mayor, with a sudden return of his usual calm vigor.
"You go—you, Sirs; what the deuce do you do here?" growled Williams to the meaner throng. "Out!—I stay; never fear, men, I'll take care of him!"
The by-standers surlily slinked off, but none returned to their work; they stood within reach of call by the shut door. Williams tucked up his coat-sleeves, clenched his lists, hung his head doggedly on one side, and looked altogether so pugnacious and minatory, that Sir Isaac, who, though in a state of great excitement, had hitherto retained self-control, peered at him under his curls, stiffened his back, showed his teeth, and growled formidably.
"My good Williams, leave us," said the Mayor; "I would be alone with this person."
"Alone—you! out of the question. Now you have been once taken in, and you own it—it is my duty to protect you henceforth; and I will to the end of my days."
The Mayor sighed heavily—"Well, Williams, well!—take a chair, and be quiet. Now, Mr. Chapman, so to call you still; you have deceived me."
"I—how?"
The Mayor was puzzled. "Deceived me," he said at last, "in my knowledge of human nature. I thought you an honest man, Sir. And you are—but no matter."
Waife (impatiently). "My child, my child! you have giveo her up—to—to—"
Mayor. "Her own father, Sir."
