That's what
they've always been evermore."
His words aroused the Duchess, and the air became a little colder about
her-after all, the division between the classes and the masses must be
kept, and the Eglingtons were no upstarts. "You will say nothing about
this till I give you leave to speak," she commanded. "I must tell her
ladyship."
Soolsby drew himself up a little, nettled at her tone. "It is your
grace's place to tell her ladyship," he responded; "but I've taken ten
years' savings to come to Egypt, and not to do any one harm, but good, if
so be I might."
The Duchess relented at once. She got to her feet as quickly as she
could, and held out her hand to him. "You are a good man, and a friend
worth having, I know, and I shall like you to be my friend, Mr. Soolsby,"
she said impulsively.
He took her hand and shook it awkwardly, his lips working. "Your grace, I
understand. I've got naught to live for except my friends. Money's
naught, naught's naught, if there isn't a friend to feel a crunch at his
heart when summat bad happens to you.
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