"So she told you, did she? Oh! Then I suppose she expects to get it." "I expect she does, sir." "Then in that case I think that, perhaps, I had better make it perfectly clear to you how, precisely, the land lies." From a drawer which he unlocked in his writing-table Mr. Hooper took three sovereigns and some silver; he displayed the coins to the best advantage on the table. "This choice, but small, collection of bullion has to last me, Mr. Gibb, to quarter day. There are still three clear weeks. I have to pay you thirty shillings; being three weeks' wages at ten shillings a week; out of the balance I have to pay Miss Lindsay six guineas, and keep myself; besides having to meet certain small liabilities which must be met. I should be glad, Mr. Gibb, if you would give me some idea of how it is to be done." "I think, sir, if I were you, I should let me explain to Miss Lindsay." "Explain what, Mr. Gibb?" "What kind of gentleman you are." "And pray, in your opinion, what kind of gentleman am I?" "Well, considering how you've gone and done it with Miss Lindsay I shouldn't think you'd want much explaining, sir." "That's true, Mr. Gibb, most true. Still, I'm curious to hear what you'd tell her." "I wouldn't give you away, sir." "Wouldn't you? Oh! What would you do?" "I should simply tell her, sir, that you'd been thinking things over, and that you'd come to the conclusion that two guineas a week was too much to pay her at the start; and that you thought--should I say fifteen shillings ought to be enough at the beginning, sir?" "Fifteen shillings! And I promised her two guineas!" "Yes, sir, you promised her." "What kind of a person do you suppose she'd think I am?" "I don't see how it matters, sir." "You don't see how it matters!" "Well, sir, you can't pay her two guineas a week, no matter what she thinks of you; and you might manage to pay her fifteen shillings--somehow. I expect you'd find she'd sooner have fifteen shillings in cash than two guineas in promises." "Mr. Gibb, you appear to have a high opinion of me." "I have, sir; I couldn't have a higher." "Couldn't you? you young scoundrel! Pray when did I make a promise to you which I didn't keep, to the letter?" "When I came, sir, you gave me six shillings a week, now you give me ten; but there's a difference between ten shillings and two guineas." "Yes, Mr. Gibb, and there's a difference between you and Miss Lindsay." "Don't I know it, sir? There's all the difference in the world." "As you say, there's all the difference in the world. Miss Lindsay is a divinity among women." "That's exactly my opinion, sir; and has been from the first."