“In other words, give you the run of my house, and ample time for follies. You don’t want to come and live upon me?”
“No, sir,” said Geoffrey, sternly. “I am somewhat of a man of the world. I tell you that my declaration to Miss Penwynn took me by surprise; but there are times when we cannot command ourselves. All I ask now is your indulgence towards me, knowing what I do, and time. I shall come very rarely to your house, and our business relations I hope will continue the same. I mean to succeed, sir,” he cried, striding up and down the banker’s room—“here if you will let me stay, elsewhere if you say to me go.”
“If I say to you go?” said the banker, thoughtfully.
“Yes, I give you my word of honour, Mr Penwynn, that I will not attempt to see Miss Penwynn again, and I will leave every thing at the mine so that my successor can carry on without a hitch.”
“And if I say stay,” said the banker, coldly, “what then?”
“I am your manager, Mr Penwynn, and I shall remember that I am your servant until you bid me come to your house as a friend. You may trust me, sir,” he said, gazing frankly in the banker’s eyes. “I had ambition to spur me on before; I have a far greater incentive now.”
Mr Penwynn sat thinking for a few minutes, and then said quietly,—
“Mr Trethick, I ask you, as my manager, to stay.”
“And if I succeed, sir, what then?”
“Succeed first, and then we’ll talk.”