A piece of blazing wood fell off the grate. Frank caught the tongs, and put it up again.
"And I wish it could be found for your sake, also, Frank. You want your share of it, you know."
"Why, you see, Uncle Francis, without money I don't know what to be at. If I were single, I'd engage myself out as assistant to-morrow; but for my wife's sake I wish to take a better position than that."
"Naturally you do, Frank, And so you ought."
"It would be easy enough if I had the money in hand; or if I could with any certainty say when I should have it."
"It's sure to come," said the major. "Quite sure."
"Well, I hope so. The difficulty is—when?"
"You must wait a bit longer, my boy. It may turn up any day. To-night, even: to-morrow morning. Never a day passes but I go ferreting into some corner or other of the old house, thinking I may put my hand upon the papers. They are lying in it somewhere, I know, overlooked."
"But I don't see my way clear to wait. Not to wait long. We must have a roof over our heads, and means to keep it up——"
"Why, you have a roof over your heads," interrupted the major. "Can't you stay here?"