My father looked round at me and nodded, smiling sadly, and I could see that he was in great trouble.
“Here is our position, then, boys: Grandison and Company are waiting for our answer in Bermondsey. They’ll buy everything as it stands at a fair valuation; that’s one half. The other is: the agents at Arrowfield are waiting also for our answer about the works to let there.”
Here he paused for a few moments and then went on:
“We must look the matter full in the face. If we stay as we are the trade is so depreciating that we shall be ruined. If we go to Arrowfield we shall have to begin entirely afresh; to fight against a great many difficulties; the workmen there are ready to strike, to turn upon you and destroy.”
Uncle Dick made believe to spit in his hands.
“To commit outrages.”
Uncle Jack tucked up his sleeves.
“And ratten and blow up.”
Uncle Bob half took off his coat.
“In short, boys, we shall have a terribly hard fight; but there is ten times the opening there, and we may make a great success. That is our position, in short,” said my father. “What do you say?”