“No more I am,” he replied. “Come and sit on my knee, little woman. By the way, I have a piece of work for us both to-morrow.”
“What is that?” she asked.
“I want us to overhaul the family plate.”
“Have we much plate?” asked Nance.
“Have we much plate?” he answered, mimicking her tone; “something like three or four thousand pounds’ worth I should say.”
“Adrian!”
“Well, wait until I show it to you to-morrow. My grandfather was celebrated for collecting plate. A good deal of it was mortgaged when my father got into difficulties, but we managed to rescue almost the whole of it. I want to have it all out to-morrow, for I have ordered a special safe of a peculiar make to be sent down from town. Of course there are several men servants in the house; but it is not well to have such a lot of plate unless perfectly secured. I have ordered a safe, however, which would baffle the efforts of the most accomplished burglar in the world. Now let us talk no more about it. If you are not tired, I am. Remember, I was up the whole of last night—suppose we go to bed.”
“I am so sleepy that I can scarcely keep my eyes open,” said Nancy.
“All right, come upstairs.”