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id Fritzing stretching his hand towards his hat, "that it is better I should try to obtain an interview with Lady Shuttleworth, for I fear you are constitutionally incapable of carrying on a business conversation with the requisite decent self-command." "Pooh--you'll get nothing out of her. She'll send you back to me. Why, you'd drive her mad in five minutes with that tongue of yours. If you want anything I'm your man. Only let's get at what you do want, without all these confounded dictionary words. Which cottage is it?" "It is the small cottage," said Fritzing mastering his anger, "adjoining the churchyard. It stands by itself, and is separated from the road by an extremely miniature garden. It is entirely covered by creeping plants which I believe to be roses." "That's a couple." "So much the better." "And they're let. One to the shoemaker, and the other to old mother Shaw." "Accommodation could no doubt be found for the present tenants in some other house, and I am prepared to indemnify them handsomely. Might I inquire the number of rooms the cottages contain?" "Two apiece, and a kitchen and attic. Coal-hole and pig-stye in the back yard. Also a pump. But they're not for sale, so what's the use--" "Sir, do they also contain bathrooms?" "Bathrooms?" Mr. Dawson stared with so excessively stupid a stare that Fritzing, who heaver could stand stupidity, got angry again. "I said bathrooms, sir," he said, raising his voice, "and I believe with perfect distinctness." "Oh, I heard you right enough. I was only wondering if you were trying to be funny." "Is this a business conversation or is it not?" cried Fritzing, in his turn bringing his fist down on the table. "Look here, what do you suppose people who live in such places want?" "I imagine cleanliness and decency as much as anybody else." "Well, I've never been asked for one with a bathroom in my life." "You are being asked now," said Fritzing, glaring at him, "but you wilfully refuse to reply. From your manner, however, I conclude that they contain none. If so, no doubt I could quickly have some built." "Some? Why, how many do you want?" "I have a niece, sir, and she must have her own." Mr. Dawson again stared with what seemed to Fritzing so deplorably foolish a stare. "I never heard of such a thing," he said. "What did you never hear of, sir?" "I never heard of one niece and one uncle in a labourer's cottage wanting a bathr
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