"She generally has a purpose—she doesn't act at random," I remarked.
"A purpose! Lord love you, half a dozen! And, what's more, I believe you generally know them. But, as she knows, you're devilish safe. There it is! I could make her a really rich woman if she'd let me—but with money thrown away like that, and her Institute, and what not—!" He looked as gloomy as if Jenny were on the verge of bankruptcy and all our livelihoods taking wings.
"I'll tell you one thing. I think you'll have to open the purse-strings wider still before many days are out."
He looked at me very sharply. "The marriage coming off? And a big settlement? Well, that'd be right enough. All the same, I can't say I like it, Austin. Fillingford's son! Doesn't it stick in your throat a bit?"
"I said I'd tell you one thing. I didn't say I'd tell you two or three more."
"All the town says it. My word, you should hear Mrs. Jepps! My wife says it's something terrible." He twinkled in amusement again. "Lord, it's sometimes worth being a bit staggered yourself just to see how much worse the thing takes other people!"
"Mrs. Jepps and the rest of the town had better wait a little. It's a pity to waste good indignation."
"Aye, and folks hate being cheated of a scandal they've made up their minds to."
"Scandal's a hard word in the case that you're thinking of."
"I've no great stock of words outside of a conveyance of land—there I can use as many as any man except counsel. But, to tell the truth, it goes against my stomach."