Part 44 (1/2)
During dinner Jaood humor, and it was not until dessert was put on the table and he had helped hi his pipe for his evening sie
”By the way,” he said, ”I did a right good turn for that girl of yours, Little-sing, before I left for Liverpool I sent her a box of clothes--two s dress, and no end of fal-lals She wrote to thank me, I suppose?”
”She wrote to ood deal ”She was very ht to be Did she clearly understand that I sent her the things--that you had nothing to do with them?”
”Oh yes, yes,” said Mrs Martin ”Won't you have so it in”
”Coffee--fiddlestick!” said Martin; ”and you know I hate to be called 'James' Where's Bo-peep?”
”You are Bo-peep,” said his ith a funny s' of hter not to reply to s What did she say in her letter to you?”
”Oh, she was very grateful, of course, Bo-peep”
”Well--but--where's the letter? I irl I don't despair of her yet She has a head for business I wouldn't have your dear little head hter's a different person She has nothing whatever to live on except what I allow her, and unless she is to starve she has got to please ht have said, had she not been afraid, that Maggie was certainly entitled to her own father'shad not e
Matilda caht diversion, more particularly as it was not to Martin's taste, who desired her to take it away again, and request Horni fit to drink When the door was closed behind Matilda he renewed the subject of the letter
”I saw you reading so,” he said ”When I peeped in at theyou had a letter in your hand Who has been writing to you?”
”Only Maggie”
”And that is the letter you spoke about?”
”Yes, dear Jarateful”
”She ought to be I'd like to see the letter Where is it?”
”I will go upstairs and fetch it,” said Mrs Martin, who kneell that it was safe in her pocket all the tiave her a studied look
”Do so,” he said ”Bring it back to irl, and keep her at school, and pay for her clothing, I'll allow her to have no secrets fro?”
”Yes I will fetch the letter,” said Mrs Martin
She left the room Martin was fond of her, but he was no fool He was certain now that there was so in the letter which his wife did not wish him to see, and his curiosity was instantly aroused He was deterie's letter at any cost He waited ihly polished oak table the while Tildy came in with fresh coffee
”Please, sir,” she said, ”cook wants to see you for a minute”
”I can't see her now Tell her so,” replied Martin