Come home on it? Nancy inquired, in astonishment.
Oh, its our way of talking, said the other, with his hearty laugh. It means to make up ones loss. And hell do it. And when he has, hell think no end of me.
I daresay.
Not long ago, I boxed a chap for his advertising. A fair turn-up with the gloves. Do you suppose I licked him? Not I; though I could have done it with one hand. I just let him knock me out of time, and two minutes after he put all his business into my hands.
Oh, youll get rich, declared Nancy, laughing. No doubt about it.
There was a spot down the South Western Railway where we wanted to stick up a board, a great big board, as ugly as they make em. It was in a mans garden; a certain particular place, where the trains slow, and folks have time to read the advertisement and meditate on it. That chap wouldnt listen. What! spoil his garden with our dawith our confounded board! not for five hundred a year! Well, I went down, and I talked to him
Like a father, put in Nancy.
Just so, like a father. Look here, said I, my dear sir, youre impeding the progress of civilisation. How could we have become what we are without the modern science and art of advertising? Till advertising sprang up, the world was barbarous. Do you suppose people kept themselves clean before they were reminded at every corner of the benefits of soap? Do you suppose they were healthy before every wall and hoarding told them what medicine to take for their ailments? Not they indeed! Why, a man like youan enlightened man, I see it in your face (he was as ugly as Bens bull-dog), ought to be proud of helping on the age. And I made him downright ashamed of himself. He asked me to have a bit of dinner, and we came to terms over the cheese.
In this strain did Luckworth Crewe continue to talk across the gloomy solitudes of Soho. And Nancy would on no account have had him cease. She was fascinated by his rough vigour and by his visions of golden prosperity. It seemed to her that they reached very quickly the restaurant he had in view. With keen enjoyment of the novelty, she followed him between tables where people were eating, drinking, smoking, and took a place beside him on a cushioned seat at the end of the room.
I know youre tired, he said. Theres nearly half-an-hour before you need move.
Nancy hesitated in her choice of a refreshment. She wished to have something unusual, something that fitted an occasion so remarkable, yet, as Crewe would of course pay, she did not like to propose anything expensive.
Now let me choose for you, her companion requested. After all that rough work, you want something more than a drop of lemonade. Im going to order a nice little bottle of champagne out of the ice, and a pretty little sandwich made of whatever you like.
Champagne?
It had been in her thoughts, a sparkling audacity. Good; champagne let it be. And she leaned back in defiant satisfaction.
I didnt expect much from Jubilee Day, observed the man of business, but that only shows how things turn outalways better or worse than you think for. Im not likely to forget it; its the best day Ive had in my life yet, and I leave you to guess who I owe that to.
I think this is good wine, remarked Nancy, as if she had not heard him.
Not bad. You wouldnt suppose a fellow of my sort would know anything about it. But I do. Ive drunk plenty of good champagne, and I shall drink better.
Nancy ate her sandwich and smiled. The one glass sufficed her; Crewe drank three. Presently, looking at her with his head propped on his hand, he said gravely:
I wonder whether this is the last walk we shall have together?
Who can say? she answered in a light tone.
Some one ought to be able to say.
I never make prophecies, and never believe other peoples.
Shows your good sense. But I make wishes, and plenty of them.
So do I, said Nancy.
Then let us both make a wish to ourselves, proposed Crewe, regarding her with eyes that had an uncommon light in them.
His companion laughed, then both were quiet for a moment.
They allowed themselves plenty of time to battle their way as far as Westminster Bridge. At one point police and crowd were in brief conflict; the burly guardians of order dealt thwacking blows, right and left, sound fisticuffs, backed with hearty oaths. The night was young; by magisterial providence, hours of steady drinking lay before the hardier jubilants. Thwacks and curses would be no rarity in another hour or two.
At the foot of Parliament Street, Nancy came face to face with Samuel Barmby, on whose arm hung the wearied Jessica. Without heeding their exclamations, she turned to her protector and bade him a hearty good-night. Crewe accepted his dismissal. He made survey of Barmby, and moved off singing to himself, Do not forget medo not forget me
Part II: Natures Graduate
CHAPTER 1
The disorder which Stephen Lord masked as a touch of gout had in truth a much more disagreeable name. It was now twelve months since his doctors first warning, directed against the savoury meats and ardent beverages which constituted his diet; Stephen resolved upon a change of habits, but the flesh held him in bondage, and medical prophecy was justified by the event. All through Jubilee Day he suffered acutely; for the rest of the week he remained at home, sometimes sitting in the garden, but generally keeping his room, where he lay on a couch.
A man of method and routine, sedentary, with a strong dislike of unfamiliar surroundings, he could not be persuaded to try change of air. The disease intensified his native stubbornness, made him by turns fretful and furious, disposed him to a sullen solitude. He would accept no tendance but that of Mary Woodruff; to her, as to his children, he kept up the pretence of gout. He was visited only by Samuel Barmby, with whom he discussed details of business, and by Mr. Barmby, senior, his friend of thirty years, the one man to whom he unbosomed himself.
His effort to follow the regimen medically prescribed to him was even now futile. At the end of a weeks time, imagining himself somewhat better, he resumed his daily walk to Camberwell Road, but remained at the warehouse only till two or three oclock, then returned and sat alone in his room. On one of the first days of July, when the weather was oppressively hot, he entered the house about noon, and in a few minutes rang his bell. Mary Woodruff came to him. He was sitting on the couch, pale, wet with perspiration, and exhausted.
I want something to drink, he said wearily, without raising his eyes.
Will you have the lime-water, sir?
Yeswhat you like.
Mary brought it to him, and he drank two large glasses, with no pause.
Where is Nancy?
In town, sir. She said she would be back about four.
He made an angry movement.
Whats she doing in town? She said nothing to me. Why doesnt she come back to lunch? Where does she go to for all these hours?
I dont know, sir.
The servant spoke in a low, respectful voice, looking at her master with eyes that seemed to compassionate him.
Well, it doesnt matter. He waved a hand, as if in dismissal. Waitif Im to be alone, I might as well have lunch now. I feel hungry, as if I hadnt eaten anything for twenty-four hours. Get me something, Mary.
Later in the afternoon his bell again sounded, and Mary answered it. As he did not speak at once,he was standing by the window with his hands behind him,she asked him his pleasure.
In town, sir. She said she would be back about four.
He made an angry movement.
Whats she doing in town? She said nothing to me. Why doesnt she come back to lunch? Where does she go to for all these hours?
I dont know, sir.
The servant spoke in a low, respectful voice, looking at her master with eyes that seemed to compassionate him.
Well, it doesnt matter. He waved a hand, as if in dismissal. Waitif Im to be alone, I might as well have lunch now. I feel hungry, as if I hadnt eaten anything for twenty-four hours. Get me something, Mary.
Later in the afternoon his bell again sounded, and Mary answered it. As he did not speak at once,he was standing by the window with his hands behind him,she asked him his pleasure.
Bring me some water, Mary, plain drinking-water.
She returned with a jug and glass, and he took a long draught.
No, dont go yet. I want toto talk to you about things. Sit down there for a minute.
He pointed to the couch, and Mary, with an anxious look, obeyed him.
Im thinking of leaving this house, and going to live in the country. Theres no reason why I shouldnt. My partner can look after the business well enough.
It might be the best thing you could do, sir. The best for your health.
Yes, it might. Im not satisfied with things. I want to make a decided change, in every way.
His face had grown more haggard during the last few days, and his eyes wandered, expressing fretfulness or fear; he spoke with effort, and seemed unable to find the words that would convey his meaning.
Now I want you to tell me plainly, what do you think of Nancy?
Think of her, sir?
No, nodont speak in that way. I dont want you to call me sir; it isnt necessary; weve known each other so long, and I think of you as a friend, a very good friend. Think of me in the same way, and speak naturally. I want to know your opinion of Nancy.
The listener had a face of grave attention: it signified no surprise, no vulgar self-consciousness, but perhaps a just perceptible pleasure. And in replying she looked steadily at her master for a moment.
I really dont feel I can judge her, Mr. Lord. Its true, in a way, I ought to know her very well, as Ive seen her day by day since she was a little thing. But now shes a well-educated and clever young lady, and she has got far beyond me
Ay, there it is, there it is! Stephen interrupted with bitterness. Shes got beyond usbeyond me as well as you. And she isnt what I meant her to be, very far from it. I havent brought them up as I wished. I dont knowIm sure I dont know why. It was in own hands. When they were little children, I said to myself: hey shall grow up plain, good, honest girl and boy. I said that I wouldnt educate them very much; I saw little good that came of it, in our rank of life. I meant them to be simple-minded. I hoped Nancy would marry a plain countryman, like the men I used to know when I was a boy; a farmer, or something of that kind. But see how its come about. It wasnt that I altered my mind about what was best. But I seemed to have no choice. For one thing, I made more money at business than I had expected, and soand so it seemed that they ought to be educated above me and mine. There was my mother, did a better woman ever live? She had no education but that of home. She could have brought up Nancy in the good, old-fashioned way, if I had let her. I wish I had, yes, I wish I had.
I dont think you could have felt satisfied, said the listener, with intelligent sympathy.
Why not? If she had been as good and useful a woman as you are
Ah, you mustnt think in that way, Mr. Lord. I was born and bred to service. Your daughter had a mind given her at her birth, that would never have been content with humble things. She was meant for education and a higher place.
What higher place is there for her? She thinks herself too good for the life she leads here, and yet I dont believe shell ever find a place among people of a higher class. She has told me herself its my fault. She says I ought to have had a big house for her, so that she might make friends among the rich. Perhaps shes right. I have made her neither one thing nor another. Mary, if I had never come to London, I might have lived happily. My place was away there, in the old home. Ive known that for many a year. Ive thought: wait till Ive made a little more money, and Ill go back. But it was never done; and now it looks to me as if I had spoilt the lives of my children, as well as my own. I cant trust Nancy, thats the worst of it. You dont know what she did on Jubilee night. She wasnt with Mr. Barmby and the othersBarmby told me about it; she pretended to lose them, and went off somewhere to meet a man shes never spoken to me about. Is that how a good girl would act? I didnt speak to her about it; what use? Very likely she wouldnt tell me the truth. She takes it for granted I cant understand her. She thinks her education puts her above all plain folk and their waysthats it.
Marys eyes had fallen, and she kept silence.
Suppose anything happened to me, and they were left to themselves. I have money to leave between them, and of course they know it. How could it do them anything but harm? Do you know that Horace wants to marry that girl Fanny Frencha grinning, chattering foolif not worse. He has told me he shall do as he likes. Whether or no it was right to educate Nancy, I am very sure that I ought to have done with him as I meant at first. He hasnt the brains to take a good position. When his schooling went on year after year, I thought at last to make of him something better than his fathera doctor, or a lawyer. But he hadnt the brains: he disappointed me bitterly. And what use can he make of my money, when Im in my grave? If I die soon hell marry, and ruin his life. And wont it be the same with Nancy? Some plotting, greedy fellowthe kind of man you see everywhere now-a-days, will fool her for the moneys sake.
We must hope theyll be much older and wiser before they have to act for themselves, said Mary, looking into her masters troubled face.
Yes! He came nearer to her, with a sudden hopefulness. And whether I live much longer or not, I can do something to guard them against their folly. They neednt have the money as soon as I am gone.
He seated himself in front of his companion.
I want to ask you something, Mary. If they were left alone, would you be willing to live here still, as you do now, for a few more years?
I shall do whatever you wishwhatever you bid me, Mr. Lord, answered the woman, in a voice of heartfelt loyalty.
You would stay on, and keep house for them?
But would they go on living here?
I could make them do so. I could put it down as a condition, in my will. At all events, I would make Nancy stay. Horace might live where he likedthough not with money to throw about. They have no relatives that could be of any use to them. I should wish Nancy to go on living here, and you with her; and she would only have just a sufficient income, paid by my old friend Barmby, or by his son. And that till she waswhat? I have thought of six-and-twenty. By that time she would either have learnt wisdom, or she never would. She must be free sooner or later.
But she couldnt live by herself, Mr. Lord.
You tell me you would stay, he exclaimed impulsively.
Oh, but I am only her servant. That wouldnt be enough.