I
John and Robert Hessian, brothers, bachelors, and dressed in mourning,
sat together after supper in the parlour of their house at the bottom
of Oldcastle Street, Bursley. Maggie, the middle-aged servant, was
clearing the table.
'Leave the cloth and the coffee,' said John, the elder, 'Mr Liversage
is coming in.'
'Yes, Mr John,' said Maggie.
'Slate, Maggie,' Robert ordered laconically, with a gesture towards the
mantelpiece behind him.
'Yes, Mr Robert,' said Maggie.
She gave him a slate with slate-pencil attached, which hung on a nail
near the mantlepiece.