‘Seen Mrs. Richards?’ he asked.
‘No,’ I answered.
‘Mrs. Richards,’ said he, ‘answers to the descreeption of a midshipman’s chest; everything is on top and nothing at bottom. She’s always aboot—she’s to be seen everywhere—and is never to be found. And how are you this roaring day?’
I told him that I was pretty well.
‘D’ye know that you’ll be getting an eyebrow yet?’ said he.
‘I hope so,’ I said.
‘Gi’ us hold of your arm,’ said he; ‘I’ll take ye above.’
Without giving him hold of my arm, as he called it, I said, ‘The improvement in Miss Lee has greatly heartened her poor mother. Her hope is——’ and I told him what Mrs. Lee’s hope was.
‘Ye’re no talker, I trust,’ said he.
‘I can keep a secret,’ I replied.