He turned smilingly to Dora. “And if, Mrs. Stroud, they do appeal and you go into the witness-box, when their lordships see you”—he laughed merrily—“what price the depravity of Mr. Stroud in wanting to marry you?”
Things happened very much as Jackson had said, for a few days later Mr. Litchfield rang him up with the information that of course they were intending to appeal, but at the same time suggesting it might perhaps be possible to avoid further proceedings in the courts by a just and reasonable compromise. He added that he would like Jackson to come up to Town upon the following Thursday when he would be free to have a talk with him.
Jackson, however, did not appear to be too anxious to make the journey and said he certainly could not manage Thursday as he was occupied in the local
