business
incisiveness. "Pollyooly has the monopoly of the likeness of Marion,
and she must be paid a monopoly price. Besides, this business has been
costing you over a thousand a year; surely you can't kick at seven or
eight pounds a week for six weeks, or so, to stop it for good and all.
Why, as a monopoly price, seven or eight pounds a week isn't enough.
We must make it ten--or, say, a hundred for the whole job."

"No, no; seven pounds a week!" cried the duke hastily.

The Honourable John Ruffin looked at him with an air of considerable
disapproval, almost contemptuous, and said coldly:

"Well, you can't expect me to haggle--seven let it be."

He would have been very well content to get five pounds a week for
Pollyooly; and she would have been overjoyed to get it. But he did not
think it wise to show any pleasure at getting seven.

But during this discussion of terms Pollyooly's face had fallen; and
its brightness was dimmed. Somewhat plaintively she said:

"But please, your Grace. If it's going to take six weeks what's to
become of the Lump?"

"Yes: there's certainly the Lump to be considered," said the Honourable
John Ruffin, frowning.

"I couldn't go away for six whole weeks and leave the Lump," said
Pollyooly.

"And who, or what, is the Lump?" said the duke somewhat impatiently.

"The Lump's her little brother. She mothers him," explained the
Honourable John Ruffin.

"Well, surely she can find some one to take charge of him for six
weeks. I'm paying her enough," said the duke.

"Oh, no, your Grace. I couldn't let anybody but myself look after him
for a whole six weeks. I couldn't really. I shouldn't feel that they
would do it properly--all the time. I can't go away and leave him for
six weeks," said Pollyooly; and it was plain enough that she was quite
sincere in her aversion from doing so.

Indeed she spoke in a tone of unshakable resolution; and the Honourable
John Ruffin and the duke gazed at one another nonplussed. Pollyooly
gazed at the Honourable John Ruffin with expectant eyes; she had a
great belief in his powers. But he only frowned, pondering; and the
duke scratched his head.

Then she said in a tone of faint hopefulness:

"But couldn't I take the Lump with me?"

"That's a solution," said the Honourable John Ruffin quickly.

"Oh, hang it! I couldn't turn up with two children. It would upset
the apple-cart," the duke protested.

The face of the Honourable John Ruffin