OF COURSE I'LL COME AND SEE YOU SPLICED, TOGS OR NO TOGS--TO TELL THE TRUTH MY KICKSIES ARE ON THEIR VERY LAST LEGS--AND THERE'S NOTHING DOING HERE--ALL THE LOOSE STUFF'S BEEN TURNED OVER.

THERE'S OCEANS OF QUARTZ, OF COURSE, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO POUND IT UP IN DOLLIES, BUT YOU COULD PUT ME TO BED WITH A PICK-AXE AND A SHOVEL BEFORE I'D GO IN FOR SUCH TOMFOOLERY AS THAT .-- DAMN IT ALL, DICK, TO THINK OF YOU BEING COTCHED AT LAST.

I CAN'T GET OVER IT, AND IT'S A BIT OF A RISK, TOO, BY DAD IT IS, FOR A GIRL OF THAT AGE IS A DARK HORSE IF EVER THERE WAS ONE.
Mahony's answer to this was a couple of pound-notes: SO THAT MY BEST MAN SHALL NOT DISGRACE ME! His heart went out to the writer.

Dear old Dickybird! pleased as Punch at the turn of events, yet quaking for fear of imaginary risks.

With all Purdy's respect for his friend's opinions, he had yet an odd distrust of that friend's ability to look after himself.