"You sell me the musical box. I'll give ye ten shillings vor it." "That musical box is worth fifty pounds," said George. "But I can't sell it." "Ain't it yours?" "It has been out of order since my uncle died." "You get it put right, and let me have it vor fifteen shillings, and I'll sign." "Miss Yard wants you to witness her signature. You won't be doing anything for me." "You'm asking me." "Miss Yard isn't feeling very well today, and she's in a hurry to get her affairs settled." "I b'ain't preventing her," said the Wallower in Wealth. "She can't do it without witnesses." "I might spare a pound vor the musical box." "You couldn't get it repaired. That musical box is a lost art." "If I take it wi' all its faults, and Miss Yard gives me five shillings vor my time and labour, will ye sell me the box vor one pound two and sixpence?" "I can't stay here talking. If you won't come I must get somebody else," said George impatiently. "Other folk would want to be paid the same as me," said the Wallower in Wealth. "Then I shall go and ask the vicar." This was a fatal blow, and the bargainer climbed down at once. "I'll stand witness vor half a crown and first refusal of the musical box," he promised. Miss Yard was unusually silent after signing her will, and paying a fee to both her witnesses. She lay back in her chair with dreamy old eyes which looked as if they were recalling many scenes. While George carried the precious document upstairs to Nellie. "Put it away and keep it safe until she dies," he said. "I want to say the right thing," she murmured. "You ought not to have made her sign, although she often says it is her intention to leave me something." "You won't forget that I might have acted in a most scandalous fashion," George hinted. "Yes, I know!" she said hurriedly. "You could have put your name in place of mine, and she would have signed just as willingly. But it's a horrible business." "All business is horrible. That is why we hire people to do it for us. I was thinking of myself as well," said George heartily. "We are getting along very nicely, Nellie--no just cause or impediment, you know! This should mean one of those nice little sums of good money known as capital," he whispered, rubbing his hands. "I must go to Miss Sophy," said Nellie; and she moved towards the stairs like one in trouble. The next day George carried his vases tenderly to the station where, at the appointed time, Crampy arrived, and at once inquired: "Has Jenkins been down?" "He came," replied George, prepared for some such question, "but we couldn't do business." "All cackle, I suppose? That's his way. He'll come into my place to bargain for a piece of Sèvres; swear he must have it, talk me dizzy; then say he must cross the Atlantic and think about it."