“It is hard to say. The other room looks on the green, but here there is a nice large wardrobe, and I don't see how I can get on without a wardrobe.”
“If you like the other room best, sir, I can turn out the chest of drawers.”
“Oh, that would be very nice if you can manage it, the room will do very well. I can have a bath every morning?”
“Yes, sir; there will be no difficulty about that.”
Maggie had taken off her hat and was settling her hair before the glass. Sally opened the wardrobe, revealing various petticoats and skirts, but she thought of it as full of Frank's light overcoats, the scarves he wore round his throat when he went out in evening clothes, the patent leather shoes in the corner. Suddenly the conversation dropped, and after a pause Frank said: “I think these rooms suit me very well, but I can do nothing; it is impossible for me to say if I can take them until I find out if there is any place in the immediate neighbourhood that I could convert into a studio. Do you know of any such place?”
“No, I do not, sir.”
“Mr. Escott was thinking of seeing the smith about his house. I wonder if Town would let it to Mr. Escott for a consideration,” said Maggie.
“Of course, I should have to get leave to make what alterations I pleased.”
“I don't suppose the house belongs to Town, sir; I don't think he is more than a weekly tenant.”
“If that's the case, we must see the landlord. Do you know who is the landlord?”