“Ah, well,” he replied, “I can’t wear it while there is so much dirty work to do.”
“That will be done by the men. Roy, my boy, you must rise to your position, and give orders more for things to be done.”
“That’s what old Ben says, and I am trying; but it’s hard work while everything is so new, and—”
“And what?”
“It seems as if Master—Oh, no; it’s too paltry to be talked about.”
“Tell me what it is, and I will be the judge.”
“Well, you know how poor Master Pawson was upset with the firing?”
“Yes; and he ought to be very grateful to you for saving his life. Has he not thanked you?”
“No; unless looking sneeringly at everything I do is thanking me. That makes it seem so hard to put on a showy thing like that. He’ll only laugh at it.”
“Master Pawson is not behaving well,” said Lady Royland, coldly. “He actually had the impertinence to speak to me last night about the preparations, and objected to the men being taken from their work.”