"I thought I'd remind you that it is past one, Sir Josiah, and you were to lunch with Mr. Cutler and Mr.——"
"Oh, bless my soul, yes, I'd clean forgotten—many thanks—Jarvis—quite right, sensible of you!"
Mr. Jarvis, the head clerk, bowed and would have retired.
"Oh, Jarvis, one moment, here, help me into my coat, there's a good feller! That young feller, young what's his name—Cope—Crope—eh?"
"Cope, sir, yes, sir!"
"What sort of a chap is he, good worker and all that?"
"A very attentive worker and a respectable young man!"
"Supports a widowed mother, I understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Bless me, well, well. I've been having a chat with him—where's my umbrella?—having a chat with him—a man can't support a widowed mother cheaply these days, eh, Jarvis?"