"But you have some customers?"
"Very few—the wrong sort. Mostly women, who don't value their own time or mine. They look at my stuff, and call it 'rather nice'; they try to pick up a few wrinkles about glass and porcelain, and then they drift out, promising to call again."
"We must try to alter this."
"It does me good to see your lordship's face again."
Lord Mel bought a table and some Irish glass. He shook Quinney's hand at parting genially.
"You've had a dose. Perhaps your system needed it. Pay my respects to Mrs. Quinney, and tell her not to worry."
Quinney ran upstairs to Susan.
"Lord Mel's been in. Sent his respects to you. You're not to worry—see?"
"I am not worrying much, Joe. Nobody escapes hard times."
"His lordship has faith in me. He ain't offended. Just the same as ever. I told him everything—more than I told you."