STORY TWO, CHAPTER THREE.
MR BARCLAY THINKS FOR HIMSELF.
So another ten years had slipped away; and the house opposite, which hadbeen empty for two years, was getting in very bad condition--I mean asto paper and paint.
"Nobody will take it as it is, Sir John," the agent said to him in mypresence.
"Then it can be left alone," he says, very gruffly. "Good-morning."
"Well, Mr Burdon," said the agent, as I gave him a glass of wine in mypantry, "it's a good thing he's so well off; but it's poison to my mindto see houses lying empty." Which no doubt it was, seeing he had fiveper cent on the rents of all he let.
Then Mr Barclay spoke to his father, and he had to go out with a fleain his ear; and when, two days later, Miss Virginia said something aboutthe house opposite looking so miserable, and that it was a pity therewere no bills up to say it was to let, Sir John flew out at her, andthat was the only time I ever heard him speak to her cross.
But he was so sorry for it, that he sent me to the bank with a chequedirectly after, and I was to bring back a new fifty-pound note; and Iknow that was in the letter I had to give Miss Virginia, and orders tohave the carriage round, so that she might go shopping.
Now, I'm afraid you'll say that Mr Barclay Drinkwater was right incalling me Polonius, and saying I was as prosy as a college don; but ifI don't tell you what brought all the trouble about, how are you tounderstand what followed? Old men have their own ways; and though I'mnot very old, I've got mine, and if I don't tell my story my way, I'mdone.
Well, it wasn't a week after Mr Bodkin & Co, the agent, had that glassof wine in the pantry, that he came in all of a bustle, as he alwayswas, just as if he must get everything done before dark, and says he haslet the house, if Sir John approves.
Not so easily done as you'd think, for Sir John wasn't, he said, goingto have anybody for an opposite neighbour; but the people might come andsee him if they liked.
I remember it as well as if it was yesterday. Sir John was in a badtemper with a touch of gout--bin 27--'25 port, being rather an acidwine, but a great favourite of his. Miss Virginia had been crying. Thetrouble had been about Mr Barclay going away. He'd finished hisschooling at college, and was now twenty-seven and a fine stronghandsome fellow, as wanted to be off and see the world; but Sir Johntold him he couldn't spare him.
"No, Bar," he says in my presence, for I was bathing his foot--"if yougo away--I know you, you dog--you'll be falling in love with somesmooth-faced girl, and then there'll be trouble. You'll stop at home,sir, and eat and drink like a gentleman, and court Virginia like agentleman; and when she's twenty-one, you'll marry her; and you can bothtake care of me till I die, and then you can do as you like."
Then Mr Barclay, looking as much like his father as he could with hisface turned red, said what he ought not to have said, and refused tomarry Miss Virginia; and he flung out of the room; while Miss Virginia--bless her for an angel!--must have known something of the cause of thetrouble--I'm afraid, do you know, it was from me, but I forget--and shewas in tears, when there was a knock and ring, and a lady's card wassent in for Sir John: "Miss Adela Mimpriss."
It was about the house; and I had to show her in--a little, slight,elegantly dressed lady of about three-and-twenty, with big dark eyes,and a great deal of wavy hair.
Sir John sent for Mr Barclay and Miss Virginia, to see if they approvedof her; and it was settled that she and her three maiden sisters were tohave the opposite house; and when the bell rang for me to show her out,Mr Barclay came and took the job out of my hands.
"I'm very glad," I heard him say, "and I hope we shall be the best ofneighbours;" and his face was flushed, and he looked very handsome;while, when they shook hands on the door-mat, I could see thebright-eyed thing smiling in his face and looking pleased; and thatshaking of the hands took a deal longer than it ought, while she gavehim a look that made me think if I'd had a daughter like that, she'dhave had bread-and-water for a week.
Then the door was shut, and Mr Barclay stood on the mat, smilingstupid-like, not knowing as I was noticing him; and then he turnedsharply round and saw Miss Virginia on the stairs, and his face changed.
"James Burdon," I said to myself, "these are girls and boys no longer,but grown-up folk, and there's the beginning of trouble here."