She desired he might be acquainted that she wished to speak to him upon business, and would wait upon him again at any hour when he thought he should be able to see her.
The boy returned with an answer that she might call again the next week.
Cecilia, knowing that so long a delay would destroy all the kindness of her intention, determined to write to him for the money, and therefore went into the parlour, and desired to have pen and ink.
The boy, after making her wait some time in a room without any fire, brought her a pen and a little ink in a broken tea-cup, saying “Master begs you won't spirt it about, for he's got no more; and all our blacking's as good as gone.”
“Blacking?” repeated Cecilia.
“Yes, Miss; when Master's shoes are blacked, we commonly gets a little drap of fresh ink.”
Cecilia promised to be careful, but desired him to fetch her a sheet of paper.
“Law, Miss,” cried the boy, with a grin, “I dare say master'd as soon give you a bit of his nose! howsever, I'll go ax.”
In a few minutes he again returned, and brought in his hand a slate and a black lead pencil; “Miss,” cried he, “Master says how you may write upon this, for he supposes you've no great matters to say.”
Cecilia, much astonished at this extreme parsimony, was obliged to consent, but as the point of the pencil was very blunt, desired the boy to get her a knife that she might cut it. He obeyed, but said “Pray Miss, take care it ben't known, for master don't do such a thing once in a year, and if he know'd I'd got you the knife, he'd go nigh to give me a good polt of the head.”