“Yes, but not directly,” said I; “you see, I should like to have a tidy place got all ready before I should think—”
“Why, she mayn’t be agreeable after all,” interrupted Joe, as if a new light had suddenly struck him; and then he had a good laugh at the thought, in which I didn’t join.
“Then, Joe,” said I, “I think you don’t seem to mind my being a cockney, and not a rich man?”
“I’d sooner have had a chap that knows a horse from a handspike, and something about four-course,” said he, “so I won’t tell a lie about it, Dick. Put that out of the way, and I’d as lief call you brother-in-law as any man. But you ain’t in any hurry you said just now?”
“Well, no,” said I; “but of course I should like to write to your sister directly and tell her, and I hope you won’t object to that, and won’t hinder me if you can’t help me.”
“Don’t have any of that writing,” said Joe, “’pend upon it, a good-bred girl like Lu wouldn’t stand it.”
“That’s all very well,” said I, “but I’m going away to-night, you know, and if I don’t write how’s she ever to know any thing about it?”
“Look here,” said Joe; “will you promise, Dick, to give me and mother a year to turn round in from next Christmas—that is, supposing Lu don’t say no?”
“Yes, certainly,” said I; “Christmas year is the earliest time I could hope to be ready by.”