"Well, Ben, what was it like? You are precious slow this morning."
"Am I?"
"You are, indeed. He hasn't proposed suicide to you, has he?"
"Not quite. But I had better tell you all that passed between us."
"Of course you accepted his offer?" said Mr Fisher, when he had done.
"No, I did not."
"You didn't?"
"No; I said I would like to talk to you about it before coming to a decision."
"You needn't fear, lad," said Mr. Fisher, with a little shake in his voice, "that I will put a straw in your way. I shall be very sorry to lose you, I confess, for you have been a great help to me, especially as neither Harry nor George would take to farming, and I know you have been a great comfort to the missus."
"That he has," said Mrs. Fisher, as if speaking to herself.