It was still more unfortunate that when King Charles returned he did not get reinstated; but, after all, that was Margaret's business and not mine; and if she was fool enough to marry a pauper, and he well nigh old enough to be her father--well, as I say, it was no business of mine." "He was not a pauper, Richard, and you know it; and he made enough by teaching to keep him and Margaret comfortably till he broke down and died three years ago, and poor Margaret followed him to the grave a year later.

He was a good man--in every way a good man." "Tut, tut! I am not saying he wasn't a good man.

I am only saying that, good or bad, it was no business of mine; and then nothing will do but I must send for the boy and put him in my business.

And a nice mess he made of it--an idler, more careless apprentice, no cloth merchant, especially one who stood well with his fellow citizens, and who was on the highway to becoming mayor of his native city, was ever crossed with." "I think he was hardly as bad as that, Richard.

I don't think you were ever quite fair to the boy." "Not fair, Mary! I am surprised at you.