“We shall all miss him,” said the curate; “and we are anxious before he leaves us to present him with some little token of our regard. We have kept the thing from you, Mr Argent, as of course we should have to come to you to procure whatever we decided on getting, so your contribution to the gift will have to be some good advice on the matter we are still undecided about—what to get.”
“I shall be very glad to help—have you decided—er—I mean—has anything been said—that is—about what—”
“About how much? Well, we have nearly four pounds—in fact, we might call it four. What have you about that price that would be suitable?”
Oh! how my heart fluttered, for I could guess by this time what was coming.
Mr Argent looked profound for a minute, and then said, “There’s one thing, I think, would do.”
“What?” asked the deputation.
He pulled me out of the window and laid me on the counter.
“A watch! Dear me! we thought of all sorts of things, but not once of that!”
“It would be a suitable present,” said one of the party; “but this one is £4 10.”
“That needn’t matter,” said Mr Argent; “if you like it my wife and I will settle about the difference.”