"Fifteen months. She can toddle about a bit, but not walk far; so I have to carry her, you see."
"I have one the same age. We lost the next oldest."
"And so did Maggie and me. Maggie's my wife, sir."
"How many have you altogether?"
"Six, and the eldest is just turned ten, poor little lass!"
Mr. Drummond put two and two together, and guessed the meaning of these last words. "I suppose she is at home helping her mother, and would have liked to be here."
"That's just it, sir. The rest are here. They will come to me when they're tired."
Adam would have liked to ask how many children Mr. Drummond possessed, but his shyness overcame him, and he remained silent. The manager wanted to draw him out a little, and thinking the best way was by being communicative, said, "You are twice as rich as I am, Livesey."
"Then you have three children. I was just wondering. But you are a many times as rich as I am in other ways—learning and place, money and manners. I have very little of anything except children. Seems queer now, doesn't it?"
"It does. People often puzzle over that subject, and wonder that the meat and the mouths get sent in different directions. But you must not fancy that I am a rich man, or that my way has been made smooth for me."