"I say, Edwin," Maggie called through the door.
"Well, come in, come in," he replied gruffly. And as he spoke he sped
from the window, where he was drumming on the pane, to the hearthrug, so
that he should have the air of not having moved since Maggie's previous
visit. He knew not why he made this manoeuvre, unless it was that he
thought vaguely that Maggie's impression of the seriousness of the
crisis might thereby be intensified.
She stood in the doorway, evidently placatory and sympathetic, and
behind her stood Mrs Nixon, in a condition of great mental turmoil.
"I think you'd better come and have your tea," said Maggie firmly, and
yet gently. She was soft and stout, and incapable of asserting herself
with dignity; but she was his elder, and there were moments when an
unusual, scarce-perceptible quality in her voice would demand from him a
particular attention.
He shook his head, and looked sternly at his watch, in the manner of one
who could be adamant. He was astonished to see that the hour was a
quarter past six.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"Father? He's had his tea and gone back to the shop. Come along."
"I must wash myself first," said Edwin gloomily. He did not wish to
yield, but he was undeniably very hungry indeed.
Mrs Nixon could not leave him alone at tea, worrying him with offers of
specialities to tempt him. He wondered who had told the old thing about
the affair. Then he reflected that she had probably heard his outburst
when he entered the house. Possibly the pert, nice niece also had heard
it. Maggie remained sewing at the bow-window of the dining-room while
he ate a plenteous tea.
"Father said I could tell you that you could pay yourself an extra
half-crown a week wages from next Saturday," said Maggie suddenly, when
she saw he had finished. It was always Edwin who paid wages in the
Clayhanger establishment.
He was extremely startled by this news, with all that it implied of
surrender and of pacific intentions. But he endeavoured to hide what he
felt, and only snorted.
"He's been talking, then? What did he say?"
"Oh! Not much! He told me I could tell you if I liked."
"It would have looked better of him, if he'd told me himself," said
Edwin, determined to be ruthless. Maggie offered no response.
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