Never mind if you have to wait; it's worth it. When it comes to
wives, the best or none! That's my motto."
In his emotional mood, Piers had an impulse. He bent forward and
asked quietly:
"Are things all right now? About money, I mean."
"Oh, we get on. We could do with a little more furniture, but all in
good time."
Piers again listened to his impulse. He spoke hurriedly of the money
he had received, and hinted, suggested, made an embarrassed offer.
Impossible not to remark the gleam of joy that came into Alexander's
eyes; though he vehemently, almost angrily, declared such a thing
impossible, it was plain he quivered to accept. And in the end
accept he did--a round fifty pounds. A loan, strictly a loan, of
course, the most binding legal instrument should be given in
acknowledgment of the debt; interest should be paid at the rate of
three and a half per cent. per annum--not a doit less! And just
when this was settled, Bridget came back again, the sleepless baby
at her breast.
"He wants to have his share of the good company," she exclaimed.
"And why shouldn't he, bless um!"
Alexander grew glorious. It was one of his peculiarities that, when
he had drunk more than enough, he broke into noisy patriotism.
"Piers, have you ever felt grateful enough for being born an
Englishman? I've seen the world, and I know; the Englishman is the
top of creation. When I say English, I mean all of us, English,
Irish, or Scotch.
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