"But we're not going to fail," he said. "We're going to fight it out and pull through; that is, if you back me up." John Cooper stared at him incredulously. Besides his natural surprise that this "laddie" was old enough to have a say in the matter, and besides his not unjustifiable suspicions of him, Guy's delicate outlines and look of ill-health--in fact, his whole air--was so unlike that of the powerful old woman who had so long held the reins, that the identical form of the lines into which his lips set, was unperceived, and the sudden, keen glance that came through the silky black lashes, from the usually absent eyes, was startling. "You know well enough, sir," said Cooper shakily, "that there's nought I wouldn't do for the old lady and the business. She's been a grand character all her days, and if there's a curse on the Waynfletes, she set her teeth against it when she was but a slip of a lass, with rosy cheeks and eyes that could look the sun down." "Ay?" said Guy. "What d'ye mean by a curse on the Waynfletes?" "Well, sir, of course it's only a manner of speech; but there were plenty to say that Margaret Waynflete'd bring Palmers her own ill luck. Now, I say, Margaret never brought ill luck to any man; and Mr Thomas had the best of good fortune when he took her with her shawl over her head and without a penny. Bad luck'll never overtake her now in her old age." "It will, unless we set our teeth against it pretty hard. I'm going to tight. Now, look here, it all depends on what money or credit can be produced now. In a few months it will be too late. I'm going to make my aunt attend to what I have to say; and, if I can, get her to trust me. For she'll have to trust me with all she has, and make me the master, or down we shall go. And what you've got to do, is to tell her honestly, from the bottom of your soul, that _you_ trust me, and know I've got her own grit in me. So now, I give you my solemn word of honour that I'll never touch a drop of strong drink till `Palmer Brothers' is itself again, and Waynflete safe; and, if I fail, may I become part of the curse myself. So here goes!" He took up the brandy-bottle, and threw it out of the window, down into the shallow, dark-dyed stream below. They heard it crack against the stony bottom. "Now then," said Guy, "will you back me up?" "Lord, Mr Guy! That was unnecessary behaviour," said the bewildered Cooper; "and very strong language to use. But I'll go along with you. You've brought me to look the Lord's will in the face--which isn't easy at seventy-eight--for there's not a matter of four years between me and the missus. But I'll serve you faithful, Mr Guy; and if the Almighty means us to fail--" "But He don't," said Guy. "It's quite another sort of person that means it. Now sit down, and we'll talk business."