Cartwright knew Ellen was younger than he, but not very much.
"You look hipped and rather slack, Tom," she said when he got up and Gavin fetched a chair.
"I feel the cold and damp," Cartwright replied.

"Then managing a tramp-steamship line when freights are low is a wearing job." Mrs.Seaton took off her coat.

"Your office is shabby and climbing all those stairs is a pull.

Why don't you launch out, get a lift, and modernize things ?" "My trouble is to keep the boats supplied with coal and stores.

Besides, you see, I don't often use my office for a drawing-room." "You're very cautious," Mrs.Seaton remarked with a laugh.