“I’m ill, man!” I cried. “If I stay here I’ll die! Mr. Rattray knows that, and he wanted me to go this morning; he’ll be only too thankful to find me gone.”
This argument appealed to him; indeed, I was proud of it.
“But I was to stop an’ look after you,” he mumbled; “it’ll get me into trooble, it will that!”
I took out three more sovereigns; not a penny higher durst I go.
“Will five pounds repay you? No need to tell your wife it was five, you know! I should keep four of them all to myself.”
or rather the expression which I caught her assuming naturally, and banishing with an effort for my benefit. To me she was strenuously civil in her uncouth way. But I saw her give her husband one look, as he staggered in with my comparatively light portmanteau, which she instantly snatched out of his