Mrs. Arnot's eyes turned questioningly to her husband, and she saw that his face was dark with anger and disgust.
"He is drunk," he said, turning to Pat, who stood in the door, cap in hand.
"Faix, sur, it looks moighty loike it. But it's not for a dacent sober man loike meself to spake sartainly o' sich matters."
"Few words and to the point, sir," said Mr. Arnot harshly; "your breath tells where you have been. But where did you find this--and how came you to find him?"
Either Mr. Arnot was at a loss for a term which would express his estimation of the young man, who had slowly and unsteadily risen, and was supporting himself by holding fast the hatrack, or he was restrained in his utterance by the presence of his wife.
"Well, sur," said Pat, with as ingenuous and candid an air as if he were telling the truth, "the wife o' a neighbor o' mine was taken on a suddint, and I went for the docther, and as I was a comin' home, who shud I see sittin' on a doorsthep but Misther Haldane, and I thought it me duty to bring him home to yees."
"You have done right. Was it on the doorstep of a drinking-place you found him?"
"I'm athinkin' it was, sur; it had that sort o' look."
Mr. Arnot turned to his wife and said coldly, "You now see how it works. But this is not a fit object for you and Laura to look upon; so please retire. I will see that he gets safely to his room. I suppose he must go there, though the station-house is the more proper place for him."
"He certainly must go to his own room," said Mrs. Arnot, firmly but quietly.
"Well, then, steady him along up the stairs, Pat. I will show you where to put the--" and Mr. Arnot again seemed to hesitate for a term, but the blank was more expressive of his contempt than any epithet could be, since his tone and manner suggested the worst.
Returning to the parlor, Mrs. Arnot found Laura's face expressive of the deepest alarm and distress.
"O auntie, what does all this mean? Am I in any way to blame? He said he would go to ruin if I didn't--but how could I?"
"No, my dear, you are not in the slightest degree to blame. Mr. Haldane seems both bad and foolish. I feel to-night that he is not worthy to speak to you; much less is he fit to be intrusted with that which you will eventually give, I hope, only to one who is pre-eminently noble and good. Come with me to your room, my child. I am very sorry I permitted you to stay up to-night."