“Have you got any pupils yet, Mr. Sutherland?”
“No—I am sorry to say. But how did you come to know I wanted any, Miss Talbot?”
“You shouldn’t have secrets at home, Mr. Sutherland. I like to know what concerns my own family, and I generally find out.”
“You saw my advertisement, perhaps?”
To this suggestion Miss Talbot made no other answer than the usual compression of her lips.
“You wouldn’t be above teaching a tradesman’s son to begin with?”
“Certainly not. I should be very happy. Do you know of such a pupil?”
“Well, I can’t exactly say I do know or I don’t know; but I happened to mention to my grocer round the corner that you wanted pupils. Don’t suppose, Mr. Sutherland, that I’m in the way of talking about any young men of mine; but it—”
“Not for a moment,” interrupted Hugh; and Miss Talbot resumed, evidently gratified.
“Well, if you wouldn’t mind stepping round the corner, I shouldn’t wonder if you might make an arrangement with Mr. Appleditch. He said you might call upon him if you liked.”