William said, ‘We’re doing very nicely, sir.’
Abel nodded.
‘ “Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I’ll raise.” I’ve told the Lord how grateful I am, and now I’m telling you. I made my will yesterday, and I’ve left the business and what’s in the bank to you. Abby’s provided for, and she’s agreeable. If Matthew Salt did leave his sister Emily hung round her neck for good and all, as you may say, he made up for it as well as he could by providing very comfortably for Abby. He was a warm man was Matthew, and the chapel missed him very much when he went. Being a builder and contractor, they got their Ebenezer built for not much more than cost price. I didn’t always see eye to eye with him – he was too fond of his own way – but he was a good brother and a good husband, and he left Abby well provided for. Not that to my mind any amount of providing would make up for having to live with Emily Salt.’
‘No, sir.’
‘I couldn’t have done it,’ said Abel Tattlecombe. A blue spark gleamed in his eye. ‘There was some talk of Abby coming to keep house for me when my poor wife died, but I couldn’t have done it – not if it meant Emily along with her, and I said so without any beating about the bush. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away,” I said, but He didn’t give me Emily Salt, and I’m not flying in his face by taking her. Let alone that she thinks any man is something that oughtn’t to be going around off the chain, there’s something about the look of her that’d turn me from my food. I don’t know how Abby’s put up with her all these years, but she’s done it, and I’m sure it’s a credit to her. She’s a good woman, and as I started out to say, I’ve told her my intentions, and she’s agreeable.’