"I want to see you get a good colour, Mr Trethick. You look Londony, you know. You must let me cook you a chop or a steak for breakfast-- underdone, you know. Dr Rumsey says there's nothing like it. So much better for you than fish; and I will say that of our butcher, he does have good meat. His only fault is that, as Mr Paul says, he seems to have a knife that will cut two pounds when you want one." "A common failing with butchers, I believe," laughed Geoffrey. "Yes," said the little woman, innocently. "We get our milk there, and-- to be sure! Now, look here, Mr Trethick, before you go out for those early morning walks of yours--" "Mamma!" "Yes, Madge, I'm coming! Bless the child! how impatient she is when I'm here. But, as I was going to say, you must let me beat you up a new-laid egg in a glass of fresh milk. Lornocks have got a new cow, an Alderney, with such a beautiful bust, and I never saw richer milk in my life." "But, my dear Mrs Mullion, I'm not an invalid!" laughed Geoffrey. "The only consumption I suffer from is that of the pocket." "Hallo! You here?" said old Mr Paul, stumping in. "Yes, Thomas. I was advising Mr Trethick about his health." "Stuff! He's all health! Don't take any notice of her, Trethick, or she'll want to put you in a poultice every night! There, be off, woman!" "Yes, dear, I'm going," said the little woman, gently. "She'll be giving you beef-tea and arrow-root till you can't see," growled the old fellow. "I believe she was a nurse once." "Indeed?" "Yes, before she was born what she is." Geoffrey stared. "And that she'll be a hen next, like Mrs Rumsey, to set on eggs and cluck over chickens." "Metempsychosis?" said Geoffrey. "Hah! yes! The niggers out in Poonah are right as right about that." "Very likely," said Geoffrey. "Now, what do you suppose you'll be next?" "Don't know," said the old man, sharply; "but I've no doubt you'll be a dog." "May I ask why?" "Because you're an impertinent puppy now!" "Just as you like," said Geoffrey, smiling. "But you look cross." "No, sir; things are not just as I like," said the old man, seating himself upon Geoffrey's table, but only to get off, go quickly to the door, open it softly, and then dash out--to come back disappointed, for there was no one listening. "Look here, Trethick, I want to ask you a plain question." "Go on, then." "That niece of mine goes out a great deal now--has gone out a great deal since you've been here. Is it to meet you?" Geoffrey had hard work to sit unmoved, for he thought of what he knew, and wondered whether he ought to speak out: and he felt that the old man was watching him searchingly. "No!" said Geoffrey, shortly. "It is not!"