They all talked at once then, and Joseph tried all he could to persuade Emily to prove to the cook that 'is dreams didn't always come true; but it was no good. Emily said she wouldn't marry 'im if he 'ad a million a year, and her aunt and uncle backed her up in it—to say nothing of Bert Simmons.
“I'll go up and get your presents, Joseph,” she ses; and she ran upstairs afore anybody could stop her.
Joseph sat there as if he was dazed, while everybody gave 'im good advice, and said 'ow thankful he ought to be that the cook 'ad saved him by 'is dreaming. And by and by Emily came downstairs agin with the presents he 'ad given 'er and put them on the table in front of 'im.
“There's everything there but that little silver brooch you gave me, Joseph,” she ses, “and I lost that the other evening when I was out with—with—for a walk.”
Joseph tried to speak, but couldn't.
“It was six-and-six, 'cos I was with you when you bought it,” ses Emily; “and as I've lost it, it's on'y fair I should pay for it.”
She put down 'arf a sovereign with the presents, and Joseph sat staring at it as if he 'ad never seen one afore.
“And you needn't mind about the change, Joseph,” ses Emily; “that'll 'elp to make up for your disappointment.”
Old Bill tried to turn things off with a bit of a laugh. “Why, you're made o' money, Emily,” he ses.
“Ah! I haven't told you yet,” ses Emily, smiling at him; “that's a little surprise I was keeping for you. Aunt Emma—pore Aunt Emma, I should say—died while you was away and left me all 'er furniture and two hundred pounds.”