“That remains to be seen. I may be sorry, but you will get your bills, my girl, I promise you.”
“It will be quite your own fault if you catch a cold do, here,” she said. “And I dare say you will, for it may be damp!”
“I have an excellent constitution. If you mean to leave me now, do me the favour of allowing me to keep the candle!”
“Why should you want a candle?” she asked suspiciously,
“To frighten away the rats,” he replied.
She cast an involuntary glance around the cellar. “Good God are there rats here?” she said nervously.
“Of course there are—dozens of ’em!”
“How horrible!” she shuddered. “I will leave you the candle but do not think by that I shall relent!”
“I won’t,” he promised.
Miss Grantham withdrew, feeling baffled.