Farren did not answer, but his wife said quickly, "Ay, I'm sure he could, sir. He's a very contriving chap is our William. If he'd two or three pounds he could begin selling stuff."
"Could you, William?"
"Please God," returned William deliberately, "I could buy groceries, and bits o' tapes, and thread, and what I thought would sell, and I could begin hawking at first."
"And you know, sir," interposed Grace, "you're sure William would neither drink, nor idle, nor waste, in any way. He's my husband, and I shouldn't praise him; but I _will_ say there's not a soberer, honester man i' England nor he is."
"Well, I'll speak to one or two friends, and I think I can promise to let him have 5 in a day or two--as a loan, ye mind, not a gift. He must pay it back."

Farren did not answer, but his wife said quickly, "Ay, I'm sure he could, sir. He's a very contriving chap, is our William. If he'd two or three pounds he could begin selling stuff."
"Please God," returned William deliberately, "I could buy groceries, and bits o' tapes, and thread, and I could begin hawking at first."
"And you know, sir," interposed Grace, "William would neither drink, nor idle, nor waste, in any way. He's my husband, and I shouldn't praise him; but I will say there's not a soberer, honester man i' England."
"Well, I'll speak to one or two friends, and I think I can promise to let him have five pounds in a day or two - as a loan, mind, not a gift. He must pay it back."
