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Marsali and Phyllis are sitting in front of the fire in her flat, enjoying a fourth or was it fifth glass of wine, the children are tucked in bed and they both have been looking forward to some explorations of each others bodies, but right now Marsali is enjoying listening to the funny stories of Phyllis’ work as a barmaid.
“Last week, this fella came in and right there in the middle of the room he drops his trousers, which happens fairly often actually, but this guy had a big red ribbon tied around his prick.”
“Oh my God, what did you do?”
“I told him to put it away, it wasn’t my birthday.” she gives a big smile and Marsali laughs and laughs.
“That’s so funny, I can’t believe how easily you deal with all the crazies and drunks.” Laying a finger up side her nose she says
“Experience” which sets them both off laughing, they hear the key turning in the lock, and Fergus stomps in muttering to himself.
“Fergus… You were… I thought you had a meeting with… your friend. What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, He didn’t show up, I had no choice but to come home early.” Leaning close to her he whispers
“I’m truly sorry, I shall go and sleep in the children’s room if you like.”
“No, you’re here now, come in and say hello to Phyllis.”
“Bon soir, mam’selle.” He says to Marsali’s lover. “I apologize for disturbing your evening.”
“That’s alright, we were just having a chat.”
“But I think you and my wife would prefer a little time alone, would you not?”
“Fergus, you might as well join us, now you’re here she won’t even look at me.” says Marsali joking
“Oh Marsali, you know that is not true.” pipes up Phyllis.
“I love it when we can… visit with each other.”
“Don’t worry, sweet one. I know exactly what my wife gets up to with her buxom friend. I am just sorry that my returning early has caused you two, any discomfort. Unfortunately my friend didn’t show tonight. Ce la vie.” A knock on the door, and Marsali rolls her eyes, muttering
“What now!” Flinging the door wide “Andrew! Nice to see you, come in.”
“Please, can I speak to Fergus.”
“Of course you can, come in.” she takes him into the parlor, where Fergus is chuckling at a joke made by Phyllis.
“Ah, but now I must pinch them.” Fergus teases, reaching out to pinch her bosom.
“Fergus, Andrew would like to see you.”
“Well, I am occupied just now with Miss Zaftig, am I not”
“Please.” begs Andrew “I couldn’t get away from my father, I am so sorry I was late.” Marsali gives Fergus a frown and shakes her head at him.
“Come and sit down now, would you like a glass of wine?” when he shakes his head to refuse she finishes,
“This my special friend, Miss Phyllis Sondig, Phyllis, this is Andrew Elder, Fergus’ friend.” Giving a little bow, Andrew says
“A pleasure, Miss”
“Just sit down.”says Fergus. “I’m tired so I’m not really in the mood for another story about your parents, if we are to continue our liaison, you are going to have to do something about this.”
“But what can I do, Fergy, they are my parents. They have picked out another tiny little blond thing they want me to marry, Susanna Whimple, I can’t bring myself to even talk to her. They dragged me off to dinner with her family tonight.” he moans with a shiver. “I can’t face it.”
“Excuse me, but why do you not wish to marry this girl, is she ugly or something?” asks Phyllis
“No, I suppose not… but she’s a girl!” he slaps a hand over his mouth “I beg your pardon, miss.”
“Don’t worry about it, Andy. So Fergus here is your… lover?”
“Oh God… yes. You mustn’t tell anyone, please!”
“Don’t worry I can’t very well, speak ill of you, when I am in the same boat. But can’t you just leave?”
“I have no funds, my father keeps tight control on that.”
“What if you convinced them you were in love with someone completely inappropriate. Do you think they would lessen their grip on you?”
“What is it you have in mind, Phyl?” asks Marsali
“If he was seen escorting me around town and proclaimed he was going to marry me, what would his parent’s do?”
“Kill me” moaned Andrew
“No, don’t be ridiculous.” chimes in Marsali. “But I’m not sure how it would help.”
“Blackmail!” exclaims Fergus “They will give him what he wants, or he marries the shapely Miss Sondig, it’s brilliant!”
“They would never want you to marry a barmaid with tits that proceed her by twelve inches, they will take one look at me and promise you anything you ask.”
“But it means we would have to go about together and act like we are in love.” protests Andrew
“Well, yes that’s true...but it would be acting. Are ya a good actor? This will require we both be convincing.”
“It might just work.” ponders Marsali
“But what do you get out of it?”
“When a barmaid gets married, the patrons collect up a small fund to give her when she leaves. I want to start a bakery, I have saved up a good bit and with a little more, I can do it. What do you say, Andy? You get control of your life and money and I get to leave the bar and open my bakery. Your parents give you access to your money. We break it off… somewhere public… where a lot of people can see.”
“Et voila, you both get what you want!” proclaims Fergus. Everyone is quiet for a few moments, then Marsali ponders
“What if your parents want you to marry so badly, they agree to Phyllis, then what?”
“No no, we must make sure they do not. You don’t tell them about it until they confront you.” Fergus continues, “You shall be seen around town, in vulgar places and you will make a big show of yourselves, Andrew you will act drunk, your parents despise this, yes?”
“Oh yes, they can’t abide strong drink.”
“Then Phyllis is perfect for this, What do you think, Marsali?”
“Well… I like the plan but will you be able to go through with it? It will require you to be close to a woman, to act like you are in love, hold her hand, hug and kiss her. Can you do this?”
Just at the thought, Andrew turns white as a sheet
“Oh dear…” he mutters. Phyllis looks confused
“Andrew is very shy, particularly with women.” explains Marsali
“Well, maybe we can correct that, at least with me.” Phyllis waves him over to sit with her on the sofa. Taking his hand and holding it in her lap, she says
“Fergus dear, could you get Andy a glass of wine? Marsali would you write down anything that strikes you that might annoy his parents? Now then Andy tell us all the things that upset them, especially your father.”
“Well, first of all. Oh, thank you” he says when Fergus hands him the wine. “Ah, he hates when anyone calls me Andy, he says if he’d wanted me to be known like that he’d have named me that.”
“Good then, I shall call you Andy and you shall call me Phyl. What else?”
“Hm… drinking.” that gets a big smile and Fergus tells him to have a sip.”
“He also hates foreigners.”
“Very good, we shall be seen out with Fergus and Marsali, they are French and Scottish and my family is from Denmark. Maybe the first thing we should do is go to a bawdy musical show… that one at Goody’s on Friday nights is popular.”
“Oh yes, he hates that place.”
“Right then we have a decent plan, have another sip of wine Andy. How are you feeling? Why don’t you try putting your arm across my shoulders. Not too bad huh?”
“Ah no” he slowly slides his arm across her shoulders and she slides just a little closer.
“You’re gonna have to seem as it you want to touch me, you know. Caress my arm, give it a try.” she suggests. He knocks back the rest of his wine and hands the glass to Fergus, then slides his hand down from her shoulder to her arm, holding it there.
“Go ahead and give it a little squeeze.” He does and she continues
“Wasn’t so bad was it?”
“No, of course not.”
“Try a little kiss.”
“On the hand, first,” suggests Fergus, handing Andy another glass of wine “It will show people you are trying to woo her.”
“Good idea, lovely, nicely done, hold it just a tad too long, now, one on the cheek.” It takes him awhile but he leans over and gives her a tiny peck, as he does, she cups his head, holding him to her and turns so that their lips just brush.
“Not so bad was it? I’m just like any other person out there Andy, no reason to be afraid.”
“But you are a woman, it’s impossible to understand you, you may act irrationally.” He states. Marsali asks
“Who told ya that, your father?” at his nod, she leans forward and says
“I think your father doesn’t like women much, does he?” Andy shakes his head and leans forward to tell her, he thinks, his father really hates women, he calls them dim witted and of no use what so ever except to carry on the family name.” Marsali avoids saying what she thinks of the Reverend Elder, instead she says.
“You know that isn’t true, don’t ya.” when he nods she continues. “Watch Fergus and I and think about what could really annoy him. Fergus” but he has already picked up on her plan. He rises and steps over to her, taking her hand and bowing over it, in true courtly manner.
“Enchante, Madam” he kisses her hand, allowing his lips to linger and caress her knuckles. Pulling her up from the chair and a little bit towards him, he kisses her cheek and then kisses down her throat, holding a kiss over her pulse. Pulling her up against his body he slides an arm around her waist and brings her lips to his, tickling them with his tongue and invading her mouth.
“Oh, I could never do that.”
“Why not? You have kissed me, think of it as the same.” Andy turns bright red and looks at the floor.
“Tell ya what, Andy, you think about kissing Fergus and I will think about kissing Marsali and we should be able to do this.”
“I suppose… More wine please, Fergy.” another glass is poured and after a big gulp he slides closer to Phyllis and takes her hand. He glances over at Fergus before he moves his lips to just touch her knuckles, holding her hand while he takes tiny little kisses up to her wrist, glancing at them all, he then turns her hand and kisses the inside of her wrist, just touching his tongue to her skin and continuing up to the inside of her elbow, looking up at her, he moves closer and places a hand on her cheek, leaning in to kiss her lips, opening his and when she does also, sweeping his tongue through and nibbling on her lower lip, he lets go of her cheek and strokes one finger across her bosom, just above her dress, before breaking the kiss.
“Wow,” said Phyl, “that was amazing. Where did you learn that?”
“I watched my sister and her fiance, when they thought they were alone. She just about swooned. It was very funny.”
“Funny to you, but I bet, not to them. Do you think you can act like that, out in public?”
“Maybe, if I keep thinking about why we are doing it.”
“We shall all attend Goody’s this Friday, oui. You shall have an example to follow.”
“We shall meet here first, for a drink and then walk to the theater, it will give more people a chance to see you together.” Marsali suggested. “Andrew be prepared we both” she explains gesturing to Phyllis and herself “will be wearing low cut dresses. Are you prepared for that?” He gives a tight swallow but nods his head
“Friday it is, now we must turn you both out, it’s late and I’m tired.” At the door Fergus leans over and gives him a long wet kiss and says
“Good night, mon ami” while Marsali does the same with Phyllis, squeezing her hand and lifting it to her bosom she whispers
“I hope this works out for you, sweet one.”
Chapter Two
It’s Friday evening and Fergus is dressed in a plain gray suit with a white waistcoat that Marsali has embroidered with strawberries and vines, he has changed his hook for a bran filled glove, he is waiting for Marsali to finish dressing. He pours himself a glass of whiskey, and as he raises it to his lips. She steps out of the bedroom, lovely in a pale blue dress with cornflowers in many different shades of blue embroidered on bodice and down the front. Fergus is staring, having forgotten about the whiskey, just in front of his mouth. She gives him a little curtsy, smiling up at him.
“Mon dieu, you are magnificent, cherie.”
“Thank you, my love.” she says taking his glass and giving him a quick kiss and then taking a sip before returning his glass.
“You will outshine your paramour, looking like that.”
“I don’t think so, I think I know what she’ll wear, if I’m correct, your jaw will hit the floor.” A knock at the door and she goes to answer, bringing Andrew in to Fergus.
“Only one whiskey for him now, he’s supposed to act drunk, not be drunk.” They sit and chat until Phyllis arrives. Marsali was right she’s worn the red dress with black lace, it only partly covers a extremely low cut bodice.
“How does it look?” she asks in a low voice
“Delicious, I knew you’d wear it, it’s perfect.”
Taking her into the room, she watches as both men are stunned. Marsali whispers over her shoulder.
“Told ya so!” Fergus steps up to her and taking her hand, kisses it and says
“You look breathtaking tonight, ma cher.” he glances over to Andrew before releasing her hand. Andrew steps up and takes her hand, quickly kissing her knuckles and says.
“Thank you for allowing me to be your escort this evening, Miss Sondig. It’s always a pleasure to be in your company.”
“Very nice, Andy. This evening should be a success. Nobody is going to miss the four of us at the theater.”
“Shall we go then?” asks Marsali, turning to walk to the hall and opening the door, holds it for them all. Phyllis slides her arm through Andrews and whispers to him.
“Don’t worry and relax, it’ll go fine.” The evening does go well, Fergus sits next to him and Andy watches and tries to act just like him. He tries to add a few extra touches, to give the impression he loves this woman. Even stopping outside the theater and to buy a rose from a vendor, Fergus purchases a small bunch of violets for Marsali and whispers to him as they walk up to the door.
“Nicely done, my friend.” The show is spent mostly watching Fergus and doing the little things he does, stroking a finger down her neck, playing with a stray curl, leaning over to whisper in her ear, he has no idea what he’s suppose to say, so he just says
“Maybe you could laugh?” she does and she taps his arm and calls him a tease, while smiling and laughing. He has noticed that a lot of people are watching them and there is a lot of pointing and whispering. Everybody knows the Reverend’s family, so they recognize him right away. He starts to pull away from her, so she leans over and whispers to him
“Remember this is what we want, it’s the most important step, now maybe hold my hand and a light kiss on the cheek, smile!” He knows if this is to work, he’s got to play it for all it’s worth. So he whispers back, just a tiny bit too loud.
“Oh, my love!” and gives her a kiss on the cheek, holding it long, and then nibbling down her neck, until she raises a hand to his cheek and says
“Darling!” The remainder of the night goes much the same, with it becoming clear to all who are watching that they can’t keep their hands off each other. As they are leaving Marsali steps over to him and says
“Wonderful performance, Andrew, you almost had me convinced. You walk her home now, and don’t forget you’re in love.” Andy is happy, maybe this could really work. When they reach the street he offers his arm to Phyllis and when she slips hers through, he pulls her tight to his side and smiling, pats her hand and says
“Come along, my love. Let’s get you home.” they walk off with most of the other patrons staring after them. When they are a few doors away from her building, Phyl says
“I’m gonna laugh, just as we get to my door, so that everyone whose around will be looking, make sure we are right under the lamp and then kiss me goodnight. Make it a nice big slobbery one. He nods in agreement and as they reach her steps, she lets out a peal of laughter, at the top of the steps, she says
“Oh Andy you’re such a tease.” He turns her to be under the lamp by the door and says
"Good night, my darling… until next time.” and he leans in for a kiss, trying to make it look passionate and overwhelming. He runs his hands up into her hair and then down across her back, trying to hold the kiss as long as possible, she murmurs
“Bring your right hand slowly around to the front and cup my breast, kiss down my neck and chest, to your hand.” He does as she says and cups her huge breast while he kisses down her neck and chest over the black lace until his lips are just above his hand, if he pushed up he could probably kiss her breast. She is leaning back and barely moaning as if she’s about to swoon.
“Oh Andy, stop you will have me overwhelmed.” He stops and raises his face up to hers, but doesn’t remove his hand where it is squeezing her breast, in a loud whisper he says
“Phyl, I want you so much, my love.” she stares into his eyes and gives him a wink. She pushes him away and says
“You’d better go now, darling.” he steps down to the street and turns to wave before wandering off home.
It doesn’t take long, it’s amazingly fast really. His mother comes to his room before breakfast and tells him his father wants to speak to him.
“After breakfast?”
“No, now, in his study.”
“I’ll be right there.” she stands and waits while he finishes tying his neckcloth and combing his hair. She stares at him with a sorrowful look in her eyes, as he’s going down the stairs he can hear her say
“Oh Andrew.”
Walking to his father’s study door he braces himself straightens his spine and loudly knocks.
“Come in!”
“You wanted to… “ His father interrupts him, by saying
“What is the meaning of this, Andrew?” he just looks back at his father, always keeping in mind that this is the way, he will be free. He raises his eyebrows as if to say, what are you referring to.
“You were seen, last night!”
“Yes”
“At that den of iniquity.”
“If you mean Goody’s, yes I went to see the show with some friends.”
“Friends! That hussy, and your boss, the printer, a loathsome frog. I should never have let you take that job, working for a bunch of lowlife foreigners. You will leave there at once.”
“No.” his father jumps up not believing what he’s just heard.
“What did you say.” he’s almost yelling, but Andrew is able to keep his cool.
“I don’t want to leave, I like working for Fergus, and since when were we Indians, everyone here is a foreigner except them.”
“Don’t argue with me, boy. You are not allowed to go anywhere near there. As for that strumpet you were seen mauling on her doorstep, you will not see her again either.”
“Father, if I quit work, you will not have my money to spend, and if I want to see Miss Sondig, I shall, I love her and I plan on marrying her.” He gives a little smile, he can’t believe it’s actually working.
“I must leave now, father or I shall be late to the print shop.” he turns and walks out the door, not bothering to close it, when he hears something hit the door and shatter into pieces he grins, grabs his hat and struts off to see Fergus.
Walking up to the back door of the shop, her opens it and scans inside for Fergus.
“Oh, you startled me,” exclaims Marsali, “he’s out right now, come in, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it seems to be working like a charm, my father demanded this morning that I quit working here and not see any of you again including Phyl. Someone told him about us at the theater and that I kissed her on the street. I think this may actually work.”
“I’m so glad, Andy.”
“I just wanted to talk to him about it.”
“Come in and wait, he shouldn’t be long. It didn’t take long for your father to hear of it.”
“No, I suspect some church friend came by early this morning, and pretended to have heard it from someone else, they aren’t gonna admit they go there themselves. Oh Marsali I am so excited… this might actually work, but even it it doesn’t, I was able to stand up to him.”
“Bravo, Andy!” Fergus, came through the door and clasped him on the shoulder
“What are you doing standing around, there’s work to be done.”
“Fergus, It was wonderful, he called me into his study and told me to resign and I said absolutely not!”
“Good for you”
“We should have another meeting to decide what’s next.” advised Marsali
“Tonight at the house, I’ll go now and tell Phyl, she’ll just be arriving for work.”
“Just an excuse to run and see her inamorata” says Fergus as she disappears across the alley. “Come on, lover.” Fergus whispers to Andy “Let’s sneak into the storage closet for a quick kiss, hum?”
“Thank you, mother. That was a lovely meal, but I need to being going now” says Andy trying to be polite and pleasant.
“Sit down, Andrew” says his father in a ‘brook no argument’ voice.
“I’m sorry, Father but I have plans this evening and I must be going.”
“What plans?”
“It really isn’t any of your business, but I am going to a friends house, they are having a small gathering to discuss the future. Good night, mother, father.” before they could say more he walked to the main hall, grabbed his hat and strolled out the front door.
Phyllis has just arrived and sat down with Marsali on the sofa, talking about how well it went last night.
“I noticed Mrs Applebaum, sitting on her front porch, when we walked up, so I had Andy put on quite a show, figured less then a day to get the news to the Reverend, she’s a member of his congregation. Didn’t figure it would be quite that fast though.” Andy arrives and Fergus offers him a glass of wine.
“The ladies are in here, come in.”
“Ladies, pleasure to see you again.”
“Sit down, tell us what happened.” said Marsali He proceeded to tell about his discussion with his father and the thrown bottle, and again at dinner, with his father’s face turning red, when he’d announced he’d asked Phyllis to marry him.
“Oh Andy, it seems to be going well, we just have to be strong, ‘specially you. I’ll tell my boss on Monday. Tomorrow being Sunday, I wondered, wouldn’t you be expected to bring a fiancee to services with you.”
“Oh yes, you are so right. We shall have to go and sit there with my family, my father will not be able to look away. Wonderful idea.”
“Do you think you can pull it off?” asks Marsali
“Oh yes, I do, if you had heard him yelling, he would never allow it, but he can’t drive us away with the whole congregation watching, it’s marvelous!” They spent the rest of the evening talking about their lives and coming up with a cover story about how they met.
Andy walked her home again and put on another charade for all the neighbors, they noticed that three were sitting out on their porches.
“Do you think they were all waiting for us?”
“Indeed, so let’s give all the old busybodies a good show.” smiling up at him she continues
“How about giving them a little shoulder, this dress happens to be a trifle loose, so if you pull the shoulder down, the bodice starts to droop, which would give you a chance to nuzzle my boobs, while I enjoy it.” So with her guidance, as he’s kissing her good night, he gently slides a finger under the edge of her dress above the shoulder facing the street and slides it off her shoulder, pushing it just enough for it to fall forward and expose the top of her bosom, he leans down and pretends to lick and nuzzle her, while she moans loudly.
The next morning he picks her up early, she is wearing a black dress, which at first glance, seems very sedate, but he notices that the lace on the bodice is accentuating the size of her bosom, all eyes will be on her. They stroll slowly to the church, making sure to be seen by as many as possible, then entering and walking up to the first pew. He introduces Phyllis to his mother and sister and her husband. Then he seats her next to his mother with himself on the other side, on the main aisle. Taking her hand, he whispers
“I’m going to enjoy this!” she gives him a quick peck on the cheek, and he places their clasped hands in his lap, just were his father will be sure to see. Two or three times during the service, he raises their clasped hands and kisses her hand, looking straight into his father’s eyes. At the door of the church afterwards he tried to introduce her to his father, who just turned on his heel and walked away. Taking her home later, they talked about it.
“Your mother was pleasant, but if looks could kill, you and I would both be dead.” She laughed
“Your sister was almost as bad, but her husband couldn’t keep his eyes off my tits.”
“Gerald is truly a cad, but he has money, which is why my father choose him for Priscilla, my father has an avarice quite contrary to the teachings of the bible. Maybe I will suggest a sermon on the evils of coin.”
“Don’t get carried away, the point is to get your money and get out of your families control. I suspect you will get a stern talking too, when you get home, so remember be calm, and if you see the chance, introduce the idea of not marrying me, but with conditions.” Andy raises her hand to his lips and gives it a kiss, saying
“You are truly brilliant at this. Should we put on another display when we reach your home?”
“It’s daylight, I don’t think we could get away with that, let’s just try you giving my hand a kiss, and you put this ring I brought onto my finger” she reaches into her tiny little beaded bag and hands him a small silver ring.
“It was my granny’s, she always liked a good joke. I think she’d like it being used for this.” he takes the ring and slides it in his pocket, kisses her on the forehead and putting an arm around her shoulder, walks along the street chuckling.
“You are a great friend, Phyl, thank you.” when they arrive at the building, he takes her up to the front door, pulls the ring out of his pocket, and goes down on one knee, looking up like he’s pleading with her and pushes the ring onto her finger.
“Andy, what are you doing?”
“Just giving the gossips enough for all of next week, act surprised” rising back up he kisses her and turns away to walk off whistling. She watches until he reaches the corner and he turns to wave.
Arriving home, his father is closed off in his study, so he goes looking for his mother, she’s sitting in the drawing room, with his sister and Gerald.
"Hello all, is father busy?”
“Andrew, how could you?” blurts out his sister. “That horrible woman, how could you?”
“She is a lovely woman and I’ll thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head!” threatens Andy.
“Now, now dear, let me talk to him.” says Gerald patting her on the shoulder, he waves him off to a corner of the room, turning his back, so hopefully the women won’t hear and whispers
“My god man, are they really that big? I’d love to get my hands on those.” Andy steps back suddenly and punches him right in the nose.
“How dare you speak that way about my fiancee.” Priscilla runs to her husband and his mother says
“You shouldn’t have done that, your father will not like it.”
“I don’t care, he cannot make obscene comments about Phyllis, I won’t tolerate it.” From the doorway they all hear,
“Andrew, apologize to everyone and then come into my study. I have something to say to you.” His father turns and walks off, not waiting for any response.
“I’ll be damned if I will apologize, you should all be apologizing to me.” turning he stomps off after his father, slamming the study door after going through.
“Father, you have all been harassing me to marry for three years, I have found someone I want, why are you now so against it?”
“This woman is not acceptable.”
“Why?”
“Do not be difficult, she is a barmaid.”
“Does earning a living make her a bad person, why is that?”
“Earning her keep is not the problem, if she was a seamstress or a teacher, she would still not be acceptable. She is deformed, can’t you see that, her breasts are so large that it is lewd and profane. She would never be accepted in society and she has no money or family. You are forbidden from having anymore to do with her, do you understand!” Leaning over his father’s desk he put his hands down on it and comes as close as he can to his face, saying simply
“No!” turning on his heal, he adds
“I am now being paid directly, so you shall not receive anymore money earned by me. Now that I am twenty-one, I expect my previous earnings to be paid to me within a fortnight. "Good night” pausing just outside the door, he is thrilled to hear another object shatter against it. Thinking it might be a good time for a drink, he heads for the hounds, planning on sitting and making sheep’s eyes at Phyl. He notices a jar has been set out on the bar with a sign on it that reads ‘Phyllis’ trousseau.’ Remembering this is not all about him, he determines to bring up not marrying for an agreement tomorrow. He doesn’t, because he doesn’t see his father at all, when he finally goes looking for him and knocks on his study door, he’s told to go away. Andy spends most of his days working and his evenings taking Phyl out to shows and inns and walking in the park, sometimes Fergus and Marsali come along and they discuss the plan.
Finally on Friday morning his father asks him to come and discuss it again. His father asks if in payment of his back wages he will reconsider marrying Miss Sondig. He stares at his father for a long time, and finally says
“If you pay me immediately what is owed to me, you also provide a stipend for my use in having my own living quarters, and you cease attempting to marry me off, I will agree to break off the engagement, however if you break our agreement in any way, we shall immediately elope, then come here to live in this house with you. Do not attempt to finagle me in this father, I want to be left alone and I want everything due to me, I have been keeping count. When all those things are done, I will call off the wedding.”
“Very well, Andrew.”
“I certainly do not trust you father, so I have hired a solicitor and they will be contacting you with a document to sign. Good night!” Once again he pauses outside the study door and is not surprised at all, to hear an object hit the door and shatter. Day’s later he pays a visit to Phyl, and shows her the document, signed and notarized.
“I’m so happy for you Andy, congratulations.”
“Thank you, You were a tremendous help, and I’d like to help you, so here is a check for $20, to go towards your bakery. I would also ask if we could see each other occasionally as friends”
“Oh Andy, of course.” she kisses him on the cheek and her tips his hat and leaves. Standing there watching him leave she thinks, what a great friend he really is.