“It wouldn’t make me happy to do such a nasty duty as that,” said Alfred⁠—at which Mary and her father laughed silently, but Mrs. Garth said, gravely⁠—

“Do find a fitter word than nasty, my dear Alfred, for everything that you think disagreeable. And suppose that Mary could help you to go to Mr. Hanmer’s with the money she gets?”

“That seems to me a great shame. But she’s an old brick,” said Alfred, rising from his chair, and pulling Mary’s head backward to kiss her.