"That is so," Kit agreed. "The last time I went for them I got rather damaged and they tore my clothes. Don Erminio's excitable and Macallister is big. All the same, somebody must go. Don Ramon at the office is patient, but I've known him firm. After all, he's accountable, and we carry the Spanish mail."
He went off and Mrs. Austin laughed. "Kit's naïve, but I like him. He's a good sort."
Olivia sent off the young men and stopped for a moment by her sister's chair.
"Kit Musgrave is a very good sort, but his luck is to get a knock-about part."
"One's luck turns," said Jefferson. "If Musgrave gets another part, I reckon he'll play up."
Olivia went into the house and Mrs. Austin said to Jefferson: "If Harry has finished his writing, bring him to me."
When Jefferson went for Austin she knitted her brows. Kit was obviously attracted by Olivia and Mrs. Austin did not approve, although in other ways she meant to be his friend. She had married a poor man, and rousing him to use his talent, had helped him to get rich; but she doubted if Kit had much talent. Moreover, she had qualities Olivia had not, and Kit was not like Harry.
Mrs. Austin did not know about Olivia. She thought her sister saw Kit's drawbacks, but the tourists only stopped for a few months in the winter, and for the most part, the coaling and banana men were dull. In fact, Mrs. Austin resolved to run no risk.
When Jefferson returned with Austin she said, "You work too long, Harry. You began this morning as soon as you got up."
"I'm forced to work," Austin replied. "Since Jake and I started the African business I'm pretty closely occupied. For one thing, he won't write the English letters, and my Spanish clerks can't."