"
Mrs. Conway saw at once by the expression of the young carpenter's
face that she had secured him as an ally.
"I think that might be managed, ma'am," he said in a tone that showed
her he was endeavoring to hide his gladness. "Yes, I think that could
be managed. There is certainly a young woman at the Hall--" and he
stopped.
Mrs. Conway helped him. "I may tell you, Mr. Johnson, that the foreman
hinted to Mr. Tallboys that he thought you and the upper housemaid
were likely one of these days to come together, and that is
principally why we spoke to you instead of to one of the others who
were there. We thought, you see, that she might probably be leaving
her place one of these days, and that perhaps this twenty-five pounds
might enable you and her to marry earlier than you otherwise would
have done. In that case, you see, it would suit us all. You and she
would, moreover, have the satisfaction of knowing that you were aiding
to right a great wrong, and to restore to those who have been
defrauded the property Mr. Penfold intended for them. What do you
say?"
"Well, ma'am, I think that, as you say, it would be doing the right
thing; and I don't deny that Martha and I have agreed to wait a year
or two, till we could save up enough between us for me to start on my
own account; for as long as I am a journeyman, and liable to lose my
work any day, I would not ask her to come to me.
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