Chloe.  Awful head!

Hornblower:  Can ye attend a moment?  I’ve had a note from that woman.

     [Chloe sits up.]

Hornblower. [Reading] “I have something of the utmost importance to tell you in regard to your daughter-in-law.  I shall be waiting to see you at eleven o’clock to-morrow morning.  The matter is so utterly vital to the happiness of all your family, that I cannot imagine you will fail to come.”  Now, what’s the meaning of it?  Is it sheer impudence, or lunacy, or what?

Chloe.  I don’t know.

Hornblower. [Not unkindly] Chloe, if there’s anything—­ye’d better tell me.  Forewarned’s forearmed.

Chloe.  There’s nothing; unless it’s—­[With a quick took at him,]—­ Unless it’s that my father was a—­a bankrupt.

Hornblower.  Hech!  Many a man’s been that.  Ye’ve never told us much about your family.

Chloe.  I wasn’t very proud of him.

Hornblower.  Well, ye’re not responsible for your father.  If that’s all, it’s a relief.  The bitter snobs!  I’ll remember it in the account I’ve got with them.

Chloe.  Father, don’t say anything to Charlie; it’ll only worry him for nothing.

Hornblower.  No, no, I’ll not.  If I went bankrupt, it’d upset Chearlie, I’ve not a doubt. [He laugh.  Looking at her shrewdly] There’s nothing else, before I answer her?

     [Chloe shakes her head.]

Ye’re sure?

Chloe. [With an efort] She may invent things, of course.

Hornblower. [Lost in his feud feeling] Ah! but there’s such a thing as the laws o’ slander.  If they play pranks, I’ll have them up for it.

Chloe. [Timidly] Couldn’t you stop this quarrel; father?  You said it was on my account.  But I don’t want to know them.  And they do love their old home.  I like the girl.  You don’t really need to build just there, do you?  Couldn’t you stop it?  Do!

Hornblower.  Stop it?  Now I’ve bought?  Na, no!  The snobs defied me, and I’m going to show them.  I hate the lot of them, and I hate that little Dawker worst of all.

Chloe.  He’s only their agent.

Hornblower.  He’s a part of the whole dog-in-the-manger system that stands in my way.  Ye’re a woman, and ye don’t understand these things.  Ye wouldn’t believe the struggle I’ve had to make my money and get my position.  These county folk talk soft sawder, but to get anything from them’s like gettin’ butter out of a dog’s mouth.  If they could drive me out of here by fair means or foul, would they hesitate a moment?  Not they!  See what they’ve made me pay; and look at this letter.  Selfish, mean lot o’ hypocrites!

Chloe.  But they didn’t begin the quarrel.

Hornblower.  Not openly; but underneath they did—­that’s their way.  They began it by thwartin’ me here and there and everywhere, just because I’ve come into me own a bit later than they did.  I gave ’em their chance, and they wouldn’t take it.  Well, I’ll show ’em what a man like me can do when he sets his mind to it.  I’ll not leave much skin on them.