And again followed another example of the Irish jig that well-nigh made the clerks forget they were on duty, and that it was no less a personage than Lady Mary Murray that was provoking their laughter.
This interview at her lawyer's office took place the same day that Arthur and Molly met Adrian in the evening, and she went home from that interview determined that no further time should be lost, and recalling all the legal phraseology she could to her aid, she wrote to Mr. Andrews as she imagined the lawyer would have done. At any rate she made her meaning clear enough, which was this: that she now held all the mortgages on the Murray property, and she intended to foreclose at once unless the money was paid with interest up to date, and paid within ten days.
To her utter astonishment and dismay, she received a letter from Mr. Andrews the next day, saying that the money was ready to be paid over when Mr. Simmons was well enough to transact business.
"Adrian! What do you think of the impudence of that lawyer Andrews? He has actually written to say that I can have my money as soon as Simmons is well enough to settle the business!"
"What money is that?" asked Adrian, rousing himself from his sleepy lethargy to look across at his mother. "What money is that?" he repeated. "You told me only yesterday that you were very short of cash just now."
"So I am, dreadfully short!" replied the lady.
"Then I suppose you will be glad to hear that you can get this money? And I know I am, for I want some, and you must let me have it too," said the young fellow in a sulky defiant tone.
"Adrian! What do you mean?" exclaimed his mother in a tone of astonishment.
"Well, Mother, you seem to forget that I am not a school-boy, and want money like other young men."
"What for? I am sure you have everything you can want at home here until you go to Oxford."