And she had also a feeling that she was responsible to Mr. Till Boldero for anything untoward that might have occurred to him by reason of Gerald.
"Yes," said Mr. Till Boldero, deliberately and softly.
"He came in last night just as we were closing.
We had very heavy rain here.
I don't know how it was with you.
He was wet, in a dreadful state, simply dreadful.
Of course, I didn't recognize him.
I'd never seen him before, so far as my recollection goes.
He asked me if I was the son of Mr. Till Boldero that had this shop in 1866.
I said I was.
'Well,' he says, 'you're the only connection I've got.
My name's Gerald Scales.
My mother was your father's cousin.
Can you do anything for me?' he says.
I could see he was ill.
I had him in here.
When I found he couldn't eat nor drink I thought I'd happen better send for th' doctor.
The doctor got him to bed.
He passed away at one o'clock this afternoon.
I was very sorry my wife wasn't here to look after things a bit better.
But she's at Southport, not well at all."
"What was it?" Sophia asked briefly.
Mr. Boldero indicated the enigmatic.
"Exhaustion, I suppose," he replied.
"He's here?" demanded Sophia, lifting her eyes to possible bedrooms.
"Yes," said Mr. Boldero.
"I suppose you would wish to see him?"
"Yes," said Sophia.
"You haven't seen him for a long time, your sister told me?" Mr. Boldero murmured, sympathetically.
"Not since 'seventy," said Sophia.
"Eh, dear! Eh, dear!" ejaculated Mr. Boldero.
"I fear it's been a sad business for ye, Mrs. Scales.
Not since 'seventy!"
He sighed.
"You must take it as well as you can.
I'm not one as talks much, but I sympathize, with you.
I do that!
I wish my wife had been here to receive you."
Tears came into Sophia's eyes.
"Nay, nay!" he said.
"You must bear up now!"
"It's you that make me cry," said Sophia, gratefully.
"You were very good to take him in.
It must have been exceedingly trying for you."
"Oh," he protested, "you mustn't talk like that.
I couldn't leave a Boldero on the pavement, and an old man at that! . . .
Oh, to think that if he'd only managed to please his uncle he might ha' been one of the richest men in Lancashire.
But then there'd ha' been no Boldero Institute at Strangeways!" he added.
They both sat silent a moment.
"Will you come now?