"Now, now, father!" intervened Mrs Hamps. "You know you've said over
and over again how glad you are he's so fond of books, and never goes
out. There isn't a better boy in Bursley. That I will say, and to his
face." She smiled like an angel at both of them.
"_You_ say! _You_ say!" Darius remarked curtly, trying to control
himself. A few years ago he would never have used such violent demeanour
in her presence.
"And how much easier these shelves will be to keep clean than a
bookcase! No polishing. Just a rub, and a wipe with a damp cloth now
and then. And no dirt underneath. They will do away with four corners,
anyhow. That's what I think of--eh, poor Maggie! Keeping all this
clean. There'll be work for two women night and day, early and late,
and even then--But it's a great blessing to have water on every floor,
that it is! And people aren't so particular nowadays as they used to
be, I fancy. I fancy that more and more." Mrs Hamps sighed,
cheerfully bearing up.
Without a pause she stepped quickly across to Edwin. He wondered what
she was at. She merely straightened down the collar of his coat, which,
unknown to him, had treacherously allowed itself to remain turned up
behind. It had probably been thus misbehaving itself since before
dinner, when he had washed.
"Now, I do like my nephew to be tidy," said Mrs Hamps affectionately.
"I'm very jealous for my nephew." She caressed the shoulders of the
coat, and Edwin had to stand still and submit. "Let me see, it's your
birthday next month, isn't it?"
"Yes, auntie."
"Well, I know he hasn't got a lot of money. And I know his father
hasn't any money to spare just now--what with all these expenses--the
house--"
"Ye may well say it, sister!" Darius growled.
"I saw you the day before yesterday. My nephew didn't see me, but his
auntie saw him. Oh, never mind where. And I said to myself; `I should
like my only nephew to have a suit a little better than that when he
goes up and down on his father's business. What a change it would be if
his old auntie gave him a new suit for a birthday present this year!'"
"Oh, auntie."
She spoke in a lower voice. "You come and see me to-morrow, and I shall
have a little piece of paper in an envelope waiting for you. And you
must choose something really good. You've got excellent taste, we all
know that. And this will be a new start for you. A new year, and a new
start, and we shall see how neat and spruce you'll keep yourself in
future, eh?"
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