I understand
they cannot possibly pledge themselves to removal within the time
named.'
'Well, there are other timber-merchants.'
'The difficulty of labour is the same for everybody. And Captain
Dell thinks no one else would give the price--certainly not the
Government. You will remember that some of the money was to be spent
immediately.' Her tone was cold and restrained, but he thought it
trembled a little.
'I know,' he interrupted, 'on cottages and the hospital. Money oozes
away at every pore! I shall be a bare beggar after the war. Have you
the contract there? Or did Dell take it?'
Elizabeth drew a roll of blue paper out of her pocket. Her
indignation made her speechless. All the endless negotiations,
Captain Dell's work, her work--to go for nothing! What was the use
of trying to serve--to work with such a man?
The Squire took the roll from her and searched his pockets for a
fountain-pen.
'I will make some notes on it now for Dell's guidance. I might
forget it to-night.'
Elizabeth said nothing.
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