“But you said you would come with us, and if we were taken ill, where could we get a better nurse?”
“It’s very kind of you to say so, my dear, and of course I shouldn’t think of going without some camomiles, and poppy-heads, and a little castor-oil, and salts and senny, and jollop. Yes, and a roll of sticking-plaster. And that reminds me, how is your poor ear?”
“Oh, not very bad,” I said laughing. “But there, I’m afraid I cannot do what you wish, Mrs Dean, for if Esau does not come, I shall certainly go myself.”
“And he’d be sure to, then, my dear. He’d have been a soldier by this time, only you kind of held him back. He does think such a deal of—”
“Hallo, you two! Ketched you, have I, making plots and plans?”
“No, no, my dear.”
“Why, you’ve been coaxing him to get me not to go.”
“Well, my dear, it was something of that sort.”
“Yes, I know, mother. That’s just like you, trying to stop me when I’m going to make a big fortune.”
“But you don’t know that you are, my dear. Such lots of people go abroad to make fortunes, and I never knew one yet who brought a fortune back.”