And he, after a time, began to pity "poor Richard," and to wonder how he could manage to exist all the year round in his country home. At any rate, his (Tom's) own pretty villa on the banks of the Thames had increasing charms and attractions for him, which threw all the glories of the Manor House into the shade; while "the house in the city was nothing to be ashamed of," Tom averred. In fact, every year added to the balance in his favour as a partner in the firm, while at least every other year added to the olive branches around his table.
And so the whirligig of time carried Tom on until we find him, some sixteen years after his marriage, on a summer evening with his eldest son (a boy of fifteen or thereabout) rowing in a pair-oar boat, with the Kate of early days acting as steerswoman, and looking almost as young as when Tom first made her acquaintance.
Presently the oarsmen rested on their oars to admire the bright hues of sunset, to which their attention had been called by the lady at the helm.
"It is very beautiful," said the elder. "It puts me in mind of an evening, some sixteen or seventeen years ago, Kate, when—do you remember when and where?"
The lady thought perhaps she did; but she wasn't sure. She had witnessed a good many lovely sunsets when her home was at the Mumbles.
"Yes, and since then, Kate. But the evening I mean was an especially lovely one. And the best of it is, that since that evening, there has been a long day of sunshine for us. By the way, a fellow was in our house to-day who had come over from Australia—he lives at Sydney when he is at home—and I happened to ask him if he knew young Wilson—Walter Wilson—you remember him, don't you?"
"I remember hearing enough about him and his cousin whom he was to have married, and didn't."
"Just so, because she married somebody else, and became—you know who."
"I never like to remember that when we go—you know where, for I think she didn't use her poor cousin well," said the lady.
"And I think," rejoined Tom Grigson, laughing, "that Walter didn't use his poor cousin well."