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Had the bright； black eyes retained their expression of passionate
defiance； Peter Hope might have retained his common sense。 Only
Fate arranged that instead they should suddenly fill with wild tears。
And at sight of them Peter's common sense went out of the room
disgusted； and there was born the history of many things。
〃Don't be silly；〃 said Peter。 〃You didn't understand。 Of course I'm
going to give you a trial。 You're going to 'do' for me。 I merely meant
that we'd leave the details till to…morrow。 Come； housekeepers don't
cry。〃
The little wet face looked up。
〃You mean it？ Honour bright？〃
〃Honour bright。 Now go and wash yourself。 Then you shall get me
my supper。〃
The odd figure； still heaving from its paroxysm of sobs； stood up。
〃And I have my grub； my lodging； and sixpence a week？〃
〃Yes； yes； I think that's a fair arrangement；〃 agreed Mr。 Peter Hope；
considering。 〃Don't you； Mrs。 Postwhistle？〃
〃With a frockor a suit of trousersthrown in；〃 suggested Mrs。
Postwhistle。 〃It's generally done。〃
〃If it's the custom； certainly；〃 agreed Mr。 Peter Hope。 〃Sixpence a
week and clothes。〃
And this time it was Peter that； in company with Elizabeth； sat
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waiting the return of Tommy。
〃I rather hope；〃 said Peter； 〃it's a boy。 It was the fogs； you know。
If only I could have afforded to send him away！〃
Elizabeth looked thoughtful。 The door opened。
〃Ah！ that's better； much better；〃 said Mr。 Peter Hope。 〃'Pon my
word； you look quite respectable。〃
By the practical Mrs。 Postwhistle a working agreement； benefiting
both parties； had been arrived at with the long…trained skirt； while an
ample shawl arranged with judgment disguised the nakedness that lay
below。 Peter； a fastidious gentleman； observed with satisfaction that
the hands； now clean； had been well cared for。
〃Give me that cap；〃 said Peter。 He threw it in the glowing fire。 It
burned brightly； diffusing strange odours。
〃There's a travelling cap of mine hanging up in the passage。 You
can wear that for the present。 Take this half…sovereign and get me some
cold meat and beer for supper。 You'll find everything else you want in
that sideboard or else in the kitchen。 Don't ask me a hundred questions；
and don't make a noise；〃 and Peter went back to his work。
〃Good idea； that half…sovereign；〃 said Peter。 〃Shan't be bothered
with 'Master Tommy' any more； don't expect。 Starting a nursery at our
time of life。 Madness。〃 Peter's pen scratched and spluttered。
Elizabeth kept an eye upon the door。
〃Quarter of an hour；〃 said Peter； looking at his watch。 〃Told you
so。〃 The article on which Peter was now engaged appeared to be of a
worrying nature。
〃Then why；〃 said Peter； 〃why did he refuse that shilling？
Artfulness；〃 concluded Peter； 〃pure artfulness。 Elizabeth； old girl；
we've got out of this business cheaply。 Good idea； that half…sovereign。〃
Peter gave vent to a chuckle that had the effect of alarming Elizabeth。
But luck evidently was not with Peter that night。
〃Pingle's was sold out；〃 explained Tommy； entering with parcels；
〃had to go to Bow's in Farringdon Street。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Peter； without looking up。
Tommy passed through into the little kitchen behind。 Peter wrote
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Tommy and Co。
on rapidly； making up for lost time。
〃Good！〃 murmured Peter； smiling to himself； 〃that's a neat phrase。
That ought to irritate them。〃
Now； as he wrote； while with noiseless footsteps Tommy； unseen
behind him； moved to and fro and in and out the little kitchen； there
came to Peter Hope this very curious experience： it felt to him as if for
a long time he had been illso ill as not even to have been aware of it
and that now he was beginning to be himself again； consciousness of
things returning to him。 This solidly furnished； long； oak…panelled
room with its air of old…world dignity and reposethis sober； kindly
room in which for more than half his life he had lived and workedwhy
had he forgotten it？ It came forward greeting him with an amused
smile； as of some old friend long parted from。 The faded photos； in
stiff； wooden frames upon the chimney…piece； among them that of the
fragile little woman with the unadaptable lungs。
〃God bless my soul！〃 said Mr。 Peter Hope； pushing back his chair。
〃It's thirty years ago。 How time does fly！ Why； let me see； I must be…
…〃
〃D'you like it with a head on it？〃 demanded Tommy； who had been
waiting patiently for signs。
Peter shook himself awake and went to his supper。
A bright idea occurred to Peter in the night。 〃Of course； why didn't
I think of it before？ Settle the question at once。〃 Peter fell into an
easy sleep。
〃Tommy；〃 said Peter； as he sat himself down to breakfast the next
morning。 〃By…the…by；〃 asked Peter with a puzzled expression； putting
down his cup； 〃what is this？〃
〃Cauffee；〃 informed him Tommy。 〃You said cauffee。〃
〃Oh！〃 replied Peter。 〃For the future； Tommy； if you don't mind； I
will take tea of a morning。〃
〃All the same to me；〃 explained the agreeable Tommy； 〃it's your
breakfast。〃
〃What I was about to say；〃 continued Peter； 〃was that you're not
looking very well； Tommy。〃
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〃I'm all right；〃 asserted Tommy； 〃never nothing the matter with me。〃
〃Not that you know of； perhaps； but one can be in a very bad way；
Tommy； without being aware of it。 I cannot have anyone about me that
I am not sure is in thoroughly sound health。〃
〃If you mean you've changed your mind and want to get rid of me〃
began Tommy； with its chin in the air。
〃I don't want any of your uppishness；〃 snapped Peter； who had wound
himself up for the occasion to a degree of assertiveness that surprised
even himself。 〃If you are a thoroughly strong and healthy person； as I
think you are； I shall be very glad to retain your services。 But upon that
point I must be satisfied。 It is the custom；〃 explained Peter。 〃It is
always done in good families。 Run round to this address〃Peter wrote
it upon a leaf of his notebook〃and ask Dr。 Smith to come and see me
before he begins his round。 You go at once； and don't let us have any
argument。〃
〃That is the way to talk to that young personclearly；〃 said Peter to
himself； listening to Tommy's footsteps dying down the stairs。
Hearing the street…door slam； Peter stole into the kitchen and brewed
himself a cup of coffee。
Dr。 Smith； who had commenced life as Herr Schmidt； but who in
consequence of difference of opinion with his Government was now an
Englishman with strong Tory prejudices； had but one sorrow： it was
that strangers would mistake him for a foreigner。 He was short and
stout； with bushy eyebrows and a grey moustache； and looked so fierce
that children cried when they saw him； until he patted them on the head
and addressed them as 〃mein leedle frent〃 in a voice so so