He laughed. "Is that all I told you? Well, it's his chief accomplishment. He's a little chap—very dark. I say, I told you old Tellbridge apologised that his wife hadn't called, because she's abroad, didn't I? He isn't a bad old chap, only he's got such a beastly pompous manner. Pennington calls him Uncle Pom-Pom. Well, he hasn't got much of a bargain with me!" He gave a quick sigh. "I do loathe figures, Nell!" Then he laughed again. "Aunt Kezia has been talking to me about the hours she expects me to keep! 'Pon my word, I believe she thinks I'm not a day over eleven!"
At ten o'clock he came meekly home.
"Please, Aunt Kezia, I hope I'm not late?"
"I told you ten o'clock. You are punctual."
He went up to the Stronghold. He found Nell huddled over the account-book.
"Well?" she said.
"Where's Molly?"
"Just gone to bed."
"What are you doing?"
She laughed.