'Why did you want to marry _me_, I'd like to know?'
'Why? You are getting too modest. How could I live in the same house
with such a good-looking and sweet-tempered and well-behaved--'
'Oh, shut up!' she exclaimed, in a voice such as one hears at the
street-corner. 'It was just because you thought we was goin' to be
fools enough to keep you in idleness. Who was the fool, after all?'
Joseph smiled, and returned to his newspaper. In satisfaction at
having reduced him to silence, Clem laughed aloud and clattered with
the knife on her plate. As she was doing so there came a knock at
the door.
'A gentleman wants to know if you're in, sir,' said the
house-thrall, showing a smeary face. 'Mr. Byass is the name.'
'Mr. Byass? I'll go down and see him.'
Clem's face became alive with suspicion. In spite of her careless
attire she intercepted Joseph, and bade the servant ask Mr. Byass to
come upstairs. 'How can you go down without a collar?' she said to
her husband.
He understood, and was somewhat uneasy, but made no resistance. Mr.
Byass presented himself. He had a very long face, and obviously
brought news of grave import. Joseph shook hands with him.
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