Of course, he might have left her and set up a
suitably gorgeous house of his own.
But he would not.
In fact, they were a remarkable pair.
On this eve of her birthday he had meant to cajole her into some step,
to win her by an appeal, basing his argument on her indisposition. But
he was being beaten off once more. The truth was that a cajoling,
caressing tone could not be long employed towards Mrs Machin. She was
not persuasive herself, nor; favourable to persuasiveness in others.
"Well," said she, "if you're making two thousand a year, ye can spend it
or save it as ye like, though ye'd better save it. Ye never know what
may happen in these days. There was a man dropped half-a-crown down a
grid opposite only the day before yesterday."
Denry laughed.
"Ay!" she said; "ye can laugh."
"There's no doubt about one thing," he said, "you ought to be in bed.
You ought to stay in bed for two or three days at least."
"Yes," she said. "And who's going to look after the house while I'm
moping between blankets?"
"You can have Rose Chudd in," he said.
"No," said she. "I'm not going to have any woman rummaging about my
house, and me in bed.
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