“I have, but it would strengthen my hand if you were to tell her all you know of my father. Tell her that he is very obstinate, pig-headed, and would certainly cut me off; tell her that he is sixty-six, that it is a hundred to one against his living till he is eighty, even if he did there would be only fourteen years to wait for fifteen hundred a year; tell her if she tells that I have married her it is just as if she threw fifteen hundred a year out of the window.”
“Now. We are going to have lunch at my offices, she'll be there. We'll talk the matter over after lunch.”
“Very well, let's start. Come along, Triss.”
With Triss tugging dangerously at the silk handkerchief whenever he saw a likely pair of legs or a dog that he fancied, the young men sauntered up West Street.
“But tell me: how do you manage to have so many people to lunch in your office; your premises must be pretty extensive?”
“I have the whole house; I was obliged to take it. I couldn't get another place that would suit me, and I thought I should be able to let the upper part; I did have a tenant for a little while, but he was obliged to leave. I believe I am the unluckiest fellow alive. Here's the place.”
“Agency for Artificial Manure” was printed over the door. Willy asked the office-boy if there were any letters, and they went upstairs. The windows of the front room were in view of a church spire, and overlooked a little shadowy cemetery; and at one window Cissy sat, the little crutches by her side, watching the children playing amid the tombs.
“In the back room cooking herrings, uncle.”
Mrs. Brookes was a homely, honest-eyed woman, with dingy yellow hair.
“Let me introduce you. This is my friend, Mr. Escott, you have often heard me speak of him.”
“You must excuse my shaking hands with you, sir, I have been cooking.”
“She is an excellent cook, too. Just you wait and see. What have we got?”
“I am glad of that, these are quite fresh; they were caught this morning. You must excuse me, I must go back; they want a deal of attending to.” Presently she appeared with a tray and a beer jug. Willy called to the office-boy. “We have no cheese,” said Mrs. Brookes.
Cissy begged to be allowed to fetch the cheese and beer.