"Well, of all the meannesses!" said the dutiful nephew, pocketing the coin. "Still, it's decent of the old boy after my cheeking him like that. I have now one pound four. I'll go now and cheek aunt."
Miss Hancock was in; she had a handkerchief tied round her head, a duster in her hand; she had just given the cook warning and was in a debatable temper. She was also in a dusting mood. She had plenty of servants, yet the inspiration came on her at times to tie a handkerchief round her head and dust.
"Well?" she said, as she led the way into the dining-room, and continued an attack she was making on the sideboard with her duster.
Leavesley had scarcely the slightest hope of financial assistance from this quarter. Patience had given him half-a-crown for a birthday present once when he was a little boy, and then worried it back from him and popped it into a missionary box for the Wallibooboo Islanders.
He never forgot that half-crown.
"I've come round to borrow some money from you," he said.
Patience sniffed, and went on with her dusting. Then suddenly she stopped, and, duster in hand, addressed him.
"Are you never going to do anything for a living? Have you no idea of the responsibilities of life? What are you going to do?"
"I'm going for a holiday in the country if I can scrape up money enough."