"Now, Livesey," said he, "I have about twenty-five minutes at your service. Would you like to employ me as your clerk? You trusted me a good deal when we met in the park, and if you like to do so now, I will write whatever you wish in answer to your wife's letter. Then you can put in the private messages at the end."
Adam's astonishment may be better imagined than described. "That was so bothering me," he answered. "I never write letters, and though I once could manage pretty well, I've got clean out of it."
He was going on to thank Mr. Drummond, but the latter, with good-humoured firmness, said the thanks must wait until he had earned them, and bade Adam tell him what to write, as time was precious.
The manager had already dated a sheet of paper, and written, "My dear Maggie," and showed the same to the gratified eyes of the striker, who, after a little pause, went on to dictate to his volunteer secretary.
"I was very glad to get your letter this morning, and to know that you got safe to your mother's, and that she was pleased to see you. We are all very well, and the children take to Sarah Evans very nicely. She is very clean, and keeps them and the house nice and tidy, as you would say, if you could look in now. You must stop with your mother while she wants you. You would be sorry after, if you left her, and I should be sorry to send for you back, if we only all keep well, as this leaves us at present.
"I've not been home since your letter came, for Tom brought it with my breakfast; but they will all be pleased when I tell them I've heard from mother. I'll give them the kisses.
"Mr. Drummond is writing for me in half the dinner-hour. I should be slow with a pen now, but I'll try and put a bit in at the last.
"I haven't changed that sovereign yet, but I expect I shall have to do, for you know what. I have it locked up in the little tea-caddy till I want some of it.
"I'm glad, too, you didn't buy the black bonnet." (Adam explained this allusion.) "It would have looked bad if you had. Tell mother I'm much obliged for promising to pay the young woman, but maybe the sovereign will last. I was going to say I hope it will, only I bethought me that would be like saying I hope mother won't last long. So I hope it won't, unless it be that she takes a good turn, and gets better after all; which it would please me to hear of.
"The little uns will want to send their love and kisses back again, but I'll put them in after I get home. So no more at present from—
"Your loving husband,
"ADAM LIVESEY."
The signature was executed by Adam himself, and he seemed rather proud of it when it was done. Mr. Drummond had hard work to hide the kindly smile that came to his face as he watched him labouring over it, thinking the while that he would, if possible, devise some means for the improvement of the man's writing. The manager addressed the letter, and put on the stamp, leaving the envelope open for additions. He was touched when Adam, after vainly searching in every pocket for a coin, said he would bring the pay for the stamp and paper next morning.
"I have a threepenny bit at home," he said, with perfect simplicity, "but I left it in my other waistcoat pocket. I don't hardly keep any myself, because my missis wants it all to pay her way with."
"You are welcome to the paper and the writing, Adam. You can pay for the stamp afterwards, if you like."
Very warm were Adam's thanks, though his face said as much as his words. Mr. Drummond would have gladly given him a dozen stamps, had his correspondence required. But he rightly judged that this man, so unlike many of those around him, would shrink from coming to him a second time, if he were not allowed to pay his penny, even though the manager had offered to write for him as often as might be necessary during Mrs. Livesey's absence.
That very afternoon, when the men left work, Adam lingered for some time outside the great gates, in the hope of seeing Mr. Drummond. His face lighted up with pleasure when at length he came towards them, and taking off his old cap, he said, "May I speak, sir, just a minute?"