reeable," said my father. "Sit down, Jacob."

I darted a grateful look at my uncles, spreading it round so that they
all had a glance, and dropped back into my seat.

"Well," said my father, "am I to speak?"

"Yes."

This was in chorus; and my father sat thinking for a few minutes, during
which I exchanged looks and nods with my uncles, all of which was very
satisfactory.

"Well," said my father at last, "to put it in short, plain English, we
four have each our little capital embarked in our works."

Here there were three nods.

"We've all tried everything we knew to make the place a success, but
year after year goes by and we find ourselves worse off. In three more
bad years we shall be ruined."

"And Jacob will have to set to work and keep us all," said Uncle Dick.

My father looked round at me and nodded, smiling sadly, and I could see
that he was in great trouble.

"Here is our position, then, boys: Grandison and Company are waiting for
our answer in Bermondsey. They'll buy everything as it stands at a fair
valuation; that's one half. The other is: the agents at Arrowfield are
waiting also for our answer about the works to let there."

Here he paused for a few moments and then went on:

"We must look the matter full in the face. If we stay as we are the
trade is so depreciating that we shall be ruined. If we go to
Arrowfield we shall have to begin entirely afresh; to fight against a
great many difficulties; the workmen there are ready to strike, to turn
upon you and destroy."

Uncle Dick made believe to spit in his hands.

"To commit outrages."

Uncle Jack tucked up his sleeves.

"And ratten and blow up."

Uncle Bob half took off his coat.

"In short, boys, we shall have a terribly hard fight; but there is ten
times the opening there, and we may make a great success. That is our
position, in short," said my father. "What do you say?"

My three uncles looked hard at him and then at one another, seemed to
read each other's eyes, and turned back to him.

"You're oldest, Alick, and head of the firm," said Uncle Dick; "settle
it."

"No," said my father, "it shall be settled by you three."

"I know what I think," said Uncle Jack; "but I'd rather you'd say."

"My mind's made up," said Uncle Bob, "but I don't want to be speaker.
You settle it, Alick."

"No," said my father; "I have laid the case before you three, who have
equal stakes in the risk, and you shall settle the matter."

T