and that:

Artaxerxes was a king of the Persians. A.

and the like surprising, curious, and interesting items of news, his pen
making not half so many curls, and twists as did his small, red tongue.
As he wrote, he frowned terrifically, and sighed oft betwixt whiles; and
Bellew watching, where he stood outside the window, noticed that Anthea
frowned also, as she bent over her accounts, and sighed wearily more
than once.

It was after a sigh rather more hopeless than usual that, chancing to
raise her eyes they encountered those of the watcher outside, who,
seeing himself discovered, smiled, and came to lean in at the
open window.

"Won't they balance?" he enquired, with a nod toward the heap of bills,
and papers before her.

"Oh yes," she answered with a rueful little smile, "but--on the wrong
side, if you know what I mean."

"I know," he nodded, watching how her lashes curled against her cheek.

"If only we had done better with our first crop of wheat!" she sighed.

"Job Jagway said it was mouldy, you know,--that's why Adam punched him
in the--"