Mr. Carmagee sniffed, and expelled a sigh through his mustache.
“I’ve warned him over and over again. Idiot! He’ll break down. They had to bring him home in a cab from Mill Lane half an hour ago.”
His sister’s face betrayed unusual animation.
“What is the matter?”
“Heat stroke, or fainting fit. I saw the cab at the door, and collared the youngsters as they were coming round the corner with the nurse. Poor little beggars. I shall tell Murchison he’s an infernal fool unless he takes two months’ rest.”
Miss Carmagee knew where her brother’s heart lay. He generally abused his friends when he was most in earnest for their salvation.
“Kate will persuade him, Porteus.”
“The woman’s a treasure. The man ought to consider her and the children before he addles himself for a lot of thankless and exacting sluts. Conscience! Conscience be damned. Why, only last week the man must sit up half the night with a sweep’s child that had diphtheria. Conscience! I call it nonsense.”
Miss Carmagee smiled like the moon coming from behind a cloud.
“You approve of Parker Steel’s methods?”