The old lady had laid out a small supper-table in the kitchen, and when Jacob came back she told him he was to have his supper there, "for th' fire 'ad gone out i' th' parlor." So he sat down to eat his toasted cheese, which was a favorite supper of his, and whilst he was eating, his mother took a little oatmeal-porridge with treacle. She rather feared the effects of toasted cheese, believing porridge to be more easily digested. Neither one nor the other said any thing about the object of the journey to Sootythorn during supper, and there was nothing in Jacob's face to indicate either extraordinary news or unusual elation. In fact, so accustomed was Jacob Ogden to purchasing estates, that he had little of the feeling of elation which attends the young beginner; and after that momentary triumph at Garley's Hotel, any excitement which he may have felt had subsided, and left in his mind no other feeling than the old spirit of calculation. It was the very first time in his life that he had gone beyond the principle of investment, and paid something over and above for the mere gratification of his fancy or his pride, and his reflections were not of unmixed self-congratulation. "Anyhow," he said to himself, "it'll be Ogden of Wendrum, J.P." However late Jacob Ogden took his supper, he must necessarily smoke his pipe after it (one pipe), and drink his glass of grog. His mother usually went to bed as soon as the water boiled, but this evening she kept moving about in the kitchen, first finding one little thing to set to rights, and then another. At last she stood still in the middle of the floor, and said,-- "Our Jacob!" "What, mother?" "Wherestabeen?"[21] "Why, you knoan that weel enough, I reckon. I'n been Sootythorn road." "And what 'as ta been doin'?" "Nowt nobbut what's reet."[22] "What 'as there been at Sootythorn?" "There's been a sale." "'An[23] they been sellin' a mill?" "Noah." "And what _'an_ they been sellin'?" "Wendrum 'All." "And who's bout it?" "I have." "And what 'an ye gin for't?" "Fifty thousand." "Why, it's ta mich by th' 'auve!" "'Appen." Notwithstanding the laconic form of the conversation, Mrs. Ogden felt a strong desire to talk over the matter rather more fully, and to that end seated herself on the other side the kitchen-fire. "Jacob," she said, as she looked him steadily in the face, "I never knew thee part wi' thy brass b'out five pussent. How will ta get five pussent out o' Wendrum 'All for the fifty thousand?" "Why, mother, there's investments for brass, and there's investments for pasition. I dunnot reckon to get so much interest out o' Wendrum, but it'll be Ogden o' Wendrum, J.P." "Well, now, Jacob, that's what I call spendin' your money for pride!" Mrs. Ogden said this solemnly, and in as pure English as she could command. "Why, and what if it is? There's plenty more where that coom from. What signifies?"