STORY TWO, CHAPTER FOUR.
A LITTLE SKIRMISH.
I didn't believe in the people opposite, in spite of their referencesbeing said to be good. You may say that's because of what followed; butit isn't for I didn't like the looks of the stiff elderly MissMimprisses; and I didn't like the two forward servants, though theyseemed to keep themselves to themselves wonderfully, and no man everallowed in the house. Worst of all, I didn't like that handsome youngMiss Adela, sitting at work over coloured worsted at the dining-room ordrawing-room window, for young Mr Barclay was always looking across ather; and though he grew red-faced, my poor Miss Virginia grew every daymore pale.
They seemed very strange people over the way, and it was only sometimeson a Sunday that any one at our place caught a glimpse of them, and thenone perhaps would come to a window for a few minutes and sit and talk toMiss Adela--one of the elder sisters, I mean; and when I caught sight ofthem, I used to think that it was no wonder they had taken to dressingso primly and so plain, for they must have given up all hope of gettinghusbands long before.
Mr Barclay suggested to Sir John twice in my hearing that he shouldinvite his new tenants over to dinner; and--once, in a hesitating way,hinted something about Miss Virginia calling. But Sir John onlygrunted; while I saw my dear young lady dart such an indignant look atMr Barclay as made him silent for the rest of the evening, and seemashamed of what he had said.
I talked about it a good deal to Tom as I sat before my pantry fire ofan evening; and he used to leap up in my lap and sit and look up at mewith his big eyes, which were as full of knowingness at those times asthey were stupid and slit-like at others. He was a great favourite ofmine was Tom, and had been ever since I found him, a half-starved kittenin the area, and took him in and fed him till he grew up the fine cat hewas.
"There's going to be trouble come of it, Tom," I used to say; and to mymind, the best thing that could have happened for us would have been forover-the-way to have stopped empty; for, instead of things going onsmoothly and pleasantly, they got worse every day. Sir John said verylittle, but he was a man who noticed a great deal. Mr Barclay grewrestless and strange, but he never said a word now about going away.While, as for Miss Virginia, she seemed to me to be growing older andmore serious in a wonderful way; but when she was spoken to, she hadalways a pleasant smile and a bright look, though it faded away againdirectly, just as the sunshine does when there are clouds. She used topass the greater part of her time reading to Sir John, and she kept hisaccounts for him and wrote his letters; and one morning as I wasclearing away the breakfast things, Mr Barclay being there, reading thepaper, Sir John says sharply: "Those people opposite haven't paid theirfirst quarter's rent."
No one spoke for a moment or two, and then in a fidgety sharp way, MrBarclay says: "Why, it was only due yesterday, father."
"Thank you, sir," says Sir John, in a curiously polite way; "I knowthat; but it was due yesterday, and it ought to have been paid.--'Ginny,write a note to the Misses Mimpriss with my compliments, and say I shallbe obliged by their sending the rent."
Miss Virginia got up and walked across to the writing-table; and I wenton very slowly clearing the cloth, for Sir John always treated me as ifI was a piece of furniture; but I felt uncomfortable, for it seemed tome that there was going to be a quarrel.
I was right; for as Miss Virginia began to write, Mr Barclay crushedthe newspaper up in his hands and said hotly: "Surely, father, you arenot going to insult those ladies by asking them for the money the momentit is due."
"Yes, I am, sir," says the old gentleman sharply; "and you mind your ownbusiness. When I'm dead, you can collect your rents as you like; whileI live, I shall do the same."
Miss Virginia got up quickly and went and laid her hand upon Sir John'sbreast without saying a word; but her pretty appealing act meant a deal,and the old man took the little white hand in his and kissed ittenderly. "You go and do as I bid you, my pet," he said; "and you,Burdon, wait for the note, take it over, and bring an answer."
"Yes, Sir John," I said quietly; and I heard Miss Virginia give a littlesob as she went and sat down and began writing. Then I saw that thetrouble was coming, and that there was to be a big quarrel betweenfather and son.
"Look here, father," says Mr Barclay, getting up and walking about theroom, "I never interfere with your affairs--"
"I should think not, sir," says the old man, very sarcastic-like.
"But I cannot sit here patiently and see you behave in so rude a way tothose four ladies who honour you by being your tenants."
"Say I feel greatly surprised that the rent was not sent over yesterday,my dear," says Sir John, without taking any notice of his son.
"Yes, uncle," says Miss Virginia. She always called him "uncle," thoughhe wasn't any relation.
"It's shameful!" cried Mr Barclay. "The result will be that they willgive you notice and go."
"Good job, too," said Sir John. "I don't like them, and I wish they hadnot come."
"How can you be so unreasonable, father?" cried the young man hotly.
"Look here, Bar," says Sir John--("Fold that letter and seal it with myseal, 'Ginny")--"look here, Bar."
I glanced at the young man, and saw him pass his hand across hisforehead so roughly that the big signet ring he wore--the old-fashionedone Sir John gave him many years before, and which fitted so tightly nowthat it wouldn't come over the joint--made quite a red mark on his brow.
"I don't know what you are going to say, father," cried Mr Barclayquickly; "but, for Heaven's sake, don't treat me as a boy any longer,and I implore you not to send that letter."
There was a minute's silence, during which I could hear Mr Barclaybreathing hard. Then Sir John began again. "Look here, sir," he said."Over and over again, you've wanted to go away and travel, and I've saidI didn't want you to go. During the past three months you've alteredyour mind."
"Altered my mind, sir?" says the young man sharply.
"Yes, sir; and I've altered mine. That's fair. Now, you don't want togo, and I want you to."
"Uncle!"
"Have you done that letter, my pet?--Yes? That's well. Now, you standthere and take care of me, for fear Mr Barclay should fly in apassion."
"Sir, I asked you not to treat me like a boy," says Mr Barclaybitterly.
"I'm not going to," says Sir John, as he sat playing with MissVirginia's hand, while I could see that the poor darling's face wasconvulsed, and she was trying to hide the tears which streamed down."I'm going to treat you as a man. You can have what money you want. Beoff for a year's travel. Hunt, shoot, go round the world, what youlike; but don't come back here for a twelvemonth.--Burdon, take thatletter over to the Misses Mimpriss, and wait for an answer."
I took the note across, wondering what would be said while I was gone,and knowing why Sir John wanted his son to go as well as he did, andMiss Virginia too, poor thing. The knocker seemed to make the houseopposite echo very strangely, as I thumped; but when the door was openedin a few minutes, everything in the hall seemed very proper and prim,while the maid who came looked as stiff and disagreeable as could be.
"For Miss Mimpriss, from Sir John Drinkwater," I said; "and I'll waitfor an answer."
"Very well," says the woman shortly.
"I'll wait for an answer," I said, for she was shutting the door.
"Yes; I heard," she says, and the door was shut in my face.
"Hang all old maids!" I said. "They needn't be afraid of me;" andthere I waited till I heard steps again and the door was opened; and theill-looking woman says in a snappish tone: "Miss Adela Mimpriss'scompliments, and she'll come across directly."
"Any one would think I was a wild beast," I said to myself, as I wentback and gave my message, finding all three in the room just as I hadleft them when I went away.