Page:Fletcher - The Mortover Grange Affair.pdf/93

 now, because of the coal-mine, and I think he's going to re-furnish the house. And my—it wants it! It is a queer place inside! I never saw such a place. I should think there's nothing in it that wasn't made in the year one!"

Wedgwood saw that this young lady was of the sort that loves talk, and that he had only to smile and nod acquiescence to encourage her.

"Old-fashioned, eh?" he suggested.

"Old-fashioned! I should think so! Tumbling to pieces, I call it. But Aunt Janet's going to Manchester in a day or two—I'm going with her—and the whole place is going to be seen to by a firm of furnishing people there, and she's going to persuade Mr. Mortover to do everything properly—new furniture and new carpets and everything, and to have papering and painting done, so that it'll look like a gentleman's house. It's mouldy enough now, isn't it?"

"Bit out of repair, certainly," agreed Wedgwood. "Perhaps you'll persuade Mr. Mortover to buy a piano."

"Oh, well, I don't think he's musical," said the girl. "I've never heard of it—he never does anything but go out with his gun now and then on those moors. Still, while he's at it I think he might have a piano, don't you?"

"Oh, I should certainly have a piano, if I