“Well, Madam,” says the Major rubbing his nose—as I did fear at the moment with the black sponge but it was only his knuckle, he being always neat and dexterous with his fingers—“well, Madam, I suppose you would be glad of the money?”
I was delicate of saying “Yes” too out, for a little extra colour rose into the Major’s cheeks and there was irregularity which I will not particularly specify in a quarter which I will not name.
“I am of opinion, Madam,” says the Major, “that when money is ready for you—when it is ready for you, Mrs. Lirriper—you ought to take it. What is there against it, Madam, in this case up-stairs?”
“I really cannot say there is anything against it, sir, still I thought I would consult you.”
“You said a newly-married couple, I think, Madam?” says the Major.
I says “Ye-es. Evidently. And indeed the young lady mentioned to me in a casual way that she had not been married many months.”
The Major rubbed his nose again and stirred the varnish round and round in its little saucer with his piece of sponge and took to his whistling in a whisper for a few moments. Then he says “You would call it a Good Let, Madam?”
“O certainly a Good Let sir.”
“Say they renew for the additional six months. Would it put you about very much Madam if—if the worst was to come to the worst?” said the Major.
“Well I hardly know,” I says to the Major. “It depends upon circumstances. Would you object Sir for instance?”
“I?” says the Major. “Object? Jemmy Jackman? Mrs. Lirriper close with the proposal.”
So I went up-stairs and accepted, and they came in next day which was Saturday and the Major was so good as to draw up a Memorandum of an agreement in a beautiful round hand and expressions that sounded to me equally legal and military, and Mr. Edson signed it on the Monday morning and the Major called upon Mr. Edson on the Tuesday and Mr. Edson called upon the Major on the Wednesday and the Second and the parlours were as friendly as could be wished.