By Tuesday morning he
had decided for the truth; that would give more piquancy to a
pleasant little jest he had in mind. At breakfast he informed her,
as if casually, and it amused him to see that she did not believe
him.
'You'll be anxious to tell your mother. Go and spend the day with
her, but be back by five o'clock; then we'll talk things over. I
have business with the lawyers again.'
Clem repaired to the Close. Late in the afternoon she and her
husband again met at home, and by this time Joseph's elation had
convinced her that he was telling the truth. Never had he been in
such a suave humour; he seemed to wish to make up for his late
severities. Seating himself near her, he began pleasantly:
'Well, things might have been worse, eh?'
'I s'pose they might.'
'I haven't spoken to Jane yet. Time enough after the funeral. What
shall we do for the poor girl, eh?'
'How do I know?'
'You won't grudge her a couple of pounds a week, or so, just to
enable her to live with the Byasses, as she has been doing?'
'I s'pose the money's your own to do what you like with.'
'Very kind of you to say so, my dear. But we're well-to-do people
now, and we must be polite to each other.
Pages:
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642