“My missus lives two story up, top of a ware’us, and I’ve been to the station for that ’ere box. She do take it out o’ me for all the wage. She do.”
Archie carried the box up the steep stairs, and Sarah’s mistress herself opened the door and held a candle. A thin, weary-looking body, with whom Sarah seemed to be on the best and most friendly terms.
“Brought my young man,” said Sarah. “Ain’t he a smartie? But, heigho! so green! You never!”
“Come in a minute, sir, and rest you. Never mind this silly girl.”
Archie did go in a minute; five, ten, ay fifteen, and by that time he had not only heard all this ex-policeman’s wife’s story, but taken a semi-attic belonging to her.
And he felt downright independent and happy when next day he took possession.
For now he would have time to really look round, and it was a relief to his mind that he would not be spending much money.
Archie could write home cheerfully now. He was sure that something would soon turn up, something he could accept, and which would not be derogatory to the son of a Northumbrian squire. More than one influential member of commercial society had promised “to communicate with him at the very earliest moment.”
But, alas! weeks flew by, and weeks went into months, and no more signs of the something were apparent than he had seen on the second day of his arrival.
Archie was undoubtedly “a game un,” as Sarah called him; but his heart began to feel very heavy indeed.