“Give me the bills, and I’ll write a cheque—if it’s not more than I’ve got at the bank, which it very well may be.”
“I haven’t got the bills here. You’d better make the cheque out to me.”
“Cecil, do you take me for a fool?” said Rose, looking straight at him.
“If I pay in cash, there’s a considerable discount,” said Cecil with dignity. “That’s the only reason why I suggested it. But if you won’t help me, Mother, then I suppose I shall have to have it out with grandfather.”
“Yes, and I know what that means! The whole thing put into Ford’s hands, and him making a bad matter worse with his sarcasms.... I know. Ces, I’ll help you this once. How much is it?”
“Oh, Mummie darling! Twenty-five pounds. I’ll never be such an ass again....”
He kissed her.
Cecil was always affectionate.
“I wish to goodness you’d tell me, Ces, if there’s anything at the back of this. You ought to know by this time that I shouldn’t let you down, whatever it was.”
“I’ve told you all it is, Mother—on my word of honour I have,” said Cecil, lifting his eyes to hers.