Part 46 (1/2)
The Beauty was brought in.
CHAPTER XIX
SUSPENSE
Sir Geoffrey returned home on Sat.u.r.day, the 23rd, having achieved his purpose. From The Hague, within twenty-four hours, discreet enquiries would be made concerning Sergeant Yellam. But the answer might be delayed a week.
On Sunday and on Christmas Day Mrs. Yellam's pew was empty, but everybody knew that she was in attendance upon Fancy.
Hamlin preached what Uncle called a ”very upliftin'” discourse, and Uncle made it his business to drop down to the Yellam cottage during the afternoon to learn how Fancy fared and to give his sister a synopsis of the morning's sermon. By the luck of things, the nurse had just got up, and was able to sit with Fancy, whilst Uncle talked with Susan in the kitchen.
”She be low, Habakkuk, but I be fighting for her. Oh, me! there's so little of her. And no milk for the baby.”
”Lard preserve her dear life!”
Susan frowned.
”'Tis milk that be wanted.”
”You be right. Bottle-babies suffer crool wi' colic.”
”Not if I wash the bottles. Fancy have chosen the names.”
”Ah-h-h! Susan be one of 'em; I'll lay a crown-piece on that.”
”You'd lose your money. Lizzie Alfreda be the name.”
Uncle considered this, and commended the choice. Then he squared his shoulders and inflated his big chest.
”You missed a rare treat this marning, Susan.”
”Did I?”
She spoke with indifference. Uncle believed in ”gentling” refractory horses and women. Conviction had descended upon him during the sermon that he might be the Lord's instrument to lead Susan Yellam back to her pew.
”Pa'son preached about the Babe of Bethlehem, as was right and proper, but I makes bold to say as he was thinking of 'ee, Susan, and of Lizzie Alfreda, bless 'un.”
Mrs. Yellam felt strangely bored. But she knew that it was hopeless to try to stop Uncle. What did it matter what any parson said? She was wondering whether she could apply for milk to Mr. Fishpingle, at the Home Farm. Village cows, grazing by the roadside, might pick up any noxious weed.
Uncle continued solemnly:
”Me and Pa'son sees eye to eye about babes. And times, when he do drop out o' sky and walks the green earth with mortial men, I feel sure that fool-wisdom be his as 'tis mine. We sucked 'un in wi' mother's milk.”
Susan said abruptly:
”I've a notion, Habakkuk, that the milk from they Freesian-Holsteen cows bain't too rich for a baby's stomach.”
Uncle stared at her, anxiously. With difficulty, he a.s.similated her thoughts, abandoning, for the moment, his own.
”Quant.i.ty they gives, Susan, not quality. If I was lookin' after lil'