"
"You know perfectly well she's been practically starving since her
husband died, and as she's going out charing, why can't you have her and
put a bit of bread into her mouth?"
"Because I won't have her! Neither her nor any one. There's naught to
prevent you giving her some o' your two thousand a year if you've a
mind. But I see no reason for my house being turned upside down by her,
even if I _have_ got a bit of a cold."
"You're an unreasonable old woman," said Denry.
"Happen I am!" said she. "There can't be two wise ones in a family. But
I'm not going to give up this cottage, and as long as I am standing on
my feet I'm not going to pay any one for doing what I can do better
myself." A pause. "And so you needn't think it! You can't come round me
with a fur mantle." She retired to rest. On the following morning he was
very glum.
"You needn't be so glum," she said.
But she was rather pleased at his glumness. For in him glumness was a
sign that he recognised defeat.
II
The next episode between them was curiously brief. Denry had influenza.
He said that naturally he had caught hers.
He went to bed and stayed there.
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