"HOW WONDERFUL—THE WAY OF THINGS"
"Bless my soul!" Sir Josiah said, "Bless my soul!" He said it several times, there was a look of astonishment on his red round face, "Bless my soul, sir!"
He walked up and down the large and imposing room, his hands behind his back.
"And how about the drains, did you make any enquiry about the drains?
"No!" said Allan.
"No, you wouldn't, nor about the water! Is water laid on, eh, answer me that?"
"I—I don't know, father, I am afraid I—I was a bad representative!"
"It's enough to worry a man's head off," cried his father. "Here do I go trusting you to go and—and—not a thing do you know! Hand over my cheque for five hundred pounds like it was a bagatelle as the saying is. You don't know anythin' about the title deeds, nothing about the drains, nothing about the water, while you admit the state of repair of the house is somethin' disgraceful!"
"Father, I wish you had gone yourself, I told you——"
"Yes, I know, you told me I know, you did—told me you weren't no good at bargaining, and I'm afraid you were right! Here you go and—and—and——" Sir Josiah paused, a little breathlessly.