"You want company?"
"I want a wife, sir; I acknowledge it freely."
Mr. Rushton smiled grimly.
"Why don't you get one, then?" he said; "but this is not what I meant.
I'm going to give you a companion."
"A companion?"
"An assistant, sir."
"Very well," said Mr. Roundjacket, "I shall then have more time to devote to my epic."
"Epic, the devil! You'll be obliged to do more than ever."
"More?"
"Yes—you will have to teach the new comer office duty."