It must be certainly owned that if she were to be calculated by the standard of refinement, it would have been necessary for her to hold her peace, as at the first words a considerable amount would have had to be taken from her value; but, all the same, there was very little trace left of the homely mechanic’s wife.
“Well, mother,” said Dick, smiling, as she entered, “what’s the best news?”
“Bad.”
“Isn’t Jessie any better?” he exclaimed anxiously.
Mrs Shingle shook her head.
“What does she say?”
“Nothing,” said Mrs Shingle sharply: “she’s like her father—has her secrets, and keeps them.”
“Don’t—don’t, mother! don’t go on like that!” cried Dick imploringly. “I’ve only got one secret from you.”
“One, indeed!” said Mrs Shingle, growing red in the face; “but it’s such a big one that it’s greater than all the things you’ve told me all your life.”
“Well, it is a big one, certainly,” said Dick, caressing his chin and smiling blandly. “But it’s been the making of us.”