"Where were you thinking of taking one?"
"Well, miss, you see I'm a Westmorelandshire man; and somehow I've a hankerin' after the old place."
"And you're quite right, Roberts," said Hilda, in an encouraging tone. "A man is always happier in his native place among his own people. Have you heard of an opening there?"
Roberts, at this, looked more sheepish still, and did not answer until Hilda had repeated her question.
"Well, to be plain with you, miss," said he, "I had a letter this very week from my brother, telling me of a public in Keswick as was for sale--good-will, stock, and all, and a capital situation for business--towerists the whole summer through, and a little somethin' a-doin' in winter. Susan and me was a-regrettin' the limitation of our means, miss."
"That seems a capital opening, Roberts," said Hilda, very graciously. "It would be a pity to lose it. What is the price?"
"Well, miss, it's a pretty penny, but it's the stand makes it, miss--right on the shores of the lake--boats to let at all hours, inquire within. They are a-askin' five hundred pound, miss."
"Is that unreasonable?"
"Situation considered, on the contrary, miss; and Susan and me has two hundred pound between us in the savings-bank. My lord was a generous master. Now if her ladyship would lend me the extry money I'd pay her back as fast as I made it."
"There is no necessity for that," said Hilda.