"A woman, Joe--one I can trust and honour and--what d' ye think?" "I think--er--yes, sir." "Well--what do you suggest?" "Marry her, sir." "Joe, that's a great idea! Shake hands! I surely will marry her--at once--if she'll have me." "She'll have you, sir." "Do you really think she will, Joe?" "I'm dead certain, sir." "Joe, shake again. I'll speak to her when she comes home. To-morrow's Saturday, isn't it?" "As ever was, sir." "Then, Joe--wish me luck; I'll ask her--to-morrow!" CHAPTER XVI OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PERSONS, SINGULAR NUMBER It was Saturday morning, and Hermione was making a pie and looking uncommonly handsome about it and altogether feminine and adorable; at least, so Ravenslee thought, as he watched her bending above the pastry board, her round, white arms bared to each dimpled elbow, and the rebellious curl wantoning at her temple as usual. "But why kidneys, my dear?" demanded Mrs. Trapes, glancing up from the potatoes she was peeling. "Kidneys is rose again; kidneys is always risin', it seems to me. If you must have pie, why not good, plain beefsteak? It's jest as fillin' an' cheaper, my dear--so why an' wherefore kidneys?" "Arthur likes them, and he'll be hungry when he comes in--" "Hungry," snorted Mrs. Trapes, "that b'y's been hungry ever since he drawed the breath o' life. How's he gettin' on with his new job?" "Oh, splendidly!" cried Hermione, flushing with sisterly pride, "they've promised him a raise next month." "What, already?" exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, cutting viciously into a potato. "If he don't watch out, they'll be makin' him a partner next." "Oh, Ann, I wish you were not quite so--so hard on him!" sighed Hermione. "Remember, he's only a boy!" "You were a woman at his age, earning enough t' keep ye both--but there! I don't mean t' be hard, Hermy; anyway, a man's never much good till he's growed up, and then only because some woman teaches him how t' be." "What do you say to that, Mr. Geoffrey?" enquired Hermione, pausing, flour-dredger in hand, to glance at him slily under her brows. "I think Mrs. Trapes is a wonderful woman," he answered. "Ah, now, Mr. Geoffrey, quit y'r jollying," said Mrs. Trapes, smiling at the potato. "Mrs. Trapes has taught me much wisdom already and, among other things, that I shall never be or do anything worth the while without the aid of a woman--" "Lord, Mr. Geoffrey, I never remember sayin' no sich thing!" "Not in so many words, perhaps, but you implied it, Mrs. Trapes." "H'm!" said Mrs. Trapes dubiously. "Consequently, I mean to ask that woman--on the very first opportunity, Miss Hermione." Seeing that Hermione was silent, all her attention being centred in the dough her white fists were kneading, Mrs. Trapes spoke instead. "D' ye mean as you want some one t' look after you--to sew an' cook an' wash an' sew buttons on for ye--I know the sort!" "I certainly do, and--"