'And how is he keeping?' asked Michael.
'O, just the same, Mr Michael, just the way he'll be till the end,
worthy man!' was the reply. 'But ye'll not be the first that's asked me
that the day.'
'No?' said the lawyer. 'Who else?'
'Ay, that's a joke, too,' said Teena grimly. 'A friend of yours: Mr
Morris.'
'Morris! What was the little beggar wanting here?' enquired Michael.
'Wantin'? To see him,' replied the housekeeper, completing her meaning
by a movement of the thumb toward the upper storey. 'That's by his way
of it; but I've an idee of my own. He tried to bribe me, Mr Michael.
Bribe--me!' she repeated, with inimitable scorn. 'That's no' kind of a
young gentleman.'
'Did he so?' said Michael. 'I bet he didn't offer much.'
'No more he did,' replied Teena; nor could any subsequent questioning
elicit from her the sum with which the thrifty leather merchant had
attempted to corrupt her. 'But I sent him about his business,' she said
gallantly. 'He'll not come here again in a hurry.'
'He mustn't see my father, you know; mind that!' said Michael. 'I'm not
going to have any public exhibition to a little beast like him.
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