Solitary Island, Part III, Chapter XI-XII [pp. 788-802]

i88~.] SOHTARYISiAND. 793
public for what he is," said Peter, with the usual flourish, "an'
I'm doin' it. Those letters aren't half of it, either. I've given
him only the first an' mildest dose. Two weeks before election
day I'll publish a selection of his sayings for the past six years.
If he doesn't go sailin' up Salt River after the 4th of November,
don't blame me."
Madame glared at him in a dangerous way.
"You may look, mother-in-law," said he jauntily, "but the
days of looks are over. Ye are goin' to marry Frances, in spite
of all my remonstrances, to a man that's fit for nothing better
than the Brooklyn free.lance. I told ye I'd never permit it. I
tell ye so again. I'll be the ruin 0' the heartless politician. I'll
give him some blows that'll frighteii him, but the complete way in
which I'll leave him minus Frances will surprise ye. It'll please
him, too. Ye needn't look, madame. The days of looks are over.',
Frances was present at this tirade~ and felt, without knowing
its cause, a deadly sickness of heart. She looked at her mother
inquiringly, and it drove madame into a passion.
"You need not repeat your threats to me," she said, "but go
and execute them."
"That I will shortly, an' ye can get ready for it. Ye're a
queer mother to allow such a man to be connected with yer
daughter-a man that would give the whole of her for Barbara
Mernon's little finger, an' will be apt to do it before long, now
she's a widow. Annyhow, I'll do it for him-"
"How dare you," cried Frances, starting to her feet, pale with
rage-" how dare you talk so of a gentleman? 0 mamma! why
do you permit it?"
"How dare I?" snapped Peter pitilessly. "What daren't I
do? An' he's a gentleman, is he? Oh! he's a gentleman of the
new school, I suppose. But I'll teach him; an' if you don't give
him up of your own accord, you will of mine."
Frances burst into sobs and ran out of the room, which so
bered Peter.
"From this moment," said madame frigidly, although she was
terribly excited, "our relations cease. You must leave this
house for ever, and one penny of your allowance you will never
again receive."
"What a joke! But the days of jokes are over, too. I'll not
leave the house, an', by hook or crook, I'll have my allowance to
the last."
"Go, go!" cried madame, trembling. "Do not urge me to
bave you forcibly removed."