There was a snug little business to count on, regular takings in the public, week in and week out--more particularly of late years in the summer--let alone the rest of the property--he being the only son of his mother, too, and she a widow woman free to follow any whimsies as took her about the lad." Jennifer gave some slow, strong strokes, driving the lumbering boat forward till the water fairly hissed against its sides.

And Tom Verity still listened, strangely, alertly interested, convinced there was more, well worth hearing, to follow.
"Oh! there's always bin a tidy lot of money behind young Darcy, and is yet I reckon, Mrs.Faircloth being the first-class business woman she is.
Spend she may with one hand, but save, and make, she does and no mistake, Lord love you, with the other.

Singular thing though," he added meditatively, his face growing wholly expressionless, "how little Darcy, now he's growed up, features old Lemuel his father.

Squinny, red-cheeked little old party, he was; thin as a herring, and chilly, always chilly, sitting over the fire in the bar-parlour winter and summer too--small squeaky voice he had minding any one of a penny whistle.

But a warm man and a close one--oh! very secret.