'Just what you meant,' replied the nephew, and this time Mr William Howroyd was struck by the expression on his nephew's face.
'I'm sure I don't know w'at you're all talkin' about—work'ouses, an' workin' for your livin', an' Sarah wishin' she was poor, an' all! W'ere's the good of 'avin' riches if you can't enjoy it?' said Mrs Clay plaintively. 'Look at this lovely 'ouse, with everythin' in it that mortal man can wish for. W'y, Mrs Haigh was 'ere to-day, and she says Bucking'am Palace isn't grander, and she's been there.'
'I dare say it isn't,' agreed her brother-in-law.
'Who's talking about Buckingham Palace?' cried Mark Clay, as he came into the room.
'We were, Mark, and saying that it wasn't any better than your place,' said his half-brother, as he shook hands with the master of the house.
'Ay, you're right there; as far as money can go you can't beat this house. But why didn't you coom to dinner, lad?' he cried, his brother's remark having, as the latter intended, put him in a good humour.
'Lad' in the north-country is as often used as 'man,' especially among relatives, and Mark Clay used the word in a friendly way, though his brother was near fifty.
'I had my dinner before I came; but I thought I'd like to have a smoke and a few minutes' talk with you, Mark,' he replied.
'Sit thee down and have a pipe,' cried Mark Clay.
'Not here,' remonstrated his brother, looking round on the delicate brocade hangings and furniture.