Volume Ii Part 1 (1/2)
Miser Farebrother.
vol 2.
by Benjamin Leopold Farjeon.
CHAPTER I.
JEREMIAH PAMFLETT a.s.sERTS HIMSELF.
The innocent fun and gaiety at the tea-table were long afterward remembered. There was an animated discussion as to who should take the head of the table. Phoebe wanted Aunt Leth to do so, but f.a.n.n.y interfered, and said no one should sit there but Phoebe.
”It is Phoebe's day,” persisted the light-hearted girl, ”and something unlucky will happen if she doesn't pour out the tea. Mr. Cornwall, come and court me at the bottom of the table.”
”Didn't you say it was Miss Farebrother's day?” said Fred, as he took his seat next to the young hostess. He was not wanting in resource, and rather enjoyed f.a.n.n.y's badinage.
The table was much more plentifully supplied than Phoebe expected, and she cast many grateful glances at Mrs. Pamflett, who had certainly taken pains to do honour to the occasion. Mrs. Pamflett received these tokens of grat.i.tude gravely and quietly; no one would have supposed that her mind was occupied by any other consideration than the comfort of her young mistress's guests. But nothing escaped her secretly watchful eyes; every word, every look, every little attention from Fred Cornwall to Phoebe was carefully noted and treasured up.
A merrier meal was never enjoyed; the buzz of conversation was delightful to hear. Phoebe was the quietest, f.a.n.n.y the noisiest.
Suddenly she became quite still, and gazed pensively at Fred Cornwall.
”A penny for your thoughts,” said he.
”They are yours at the price,” she replied, holding out her hand for the penny. ”I am feeling very sorry for you.”
”Why?”
”Because I am convinced you would be much happier if you were at this moment sh.e.l.ling peas with a certain young lady in Switzerland.”
This caused a general laugh, and Fred enlarged upon the delights of his trip, f.a.n.n.y interrupting him a dozen times with some quizzical remark.
”You certainly want some one to keep you in order, f.a.n.n.y,” laughingly observed her mother.
”I do,” replied f.a.n.n.y, dolefully. ”Where _is_ that some one? Why _does_ he not appear?”
Toward the end of the meal Mrs. Pamflett swiftly left the room. Looking out of the window she saw her son Jeremiah, and she hastened down to him.
”Well, mother?” said he.
”What has made you so late?” she asked, anxiously.
”Now, don't nag!” he exclaimed. ”I couldn't get here before; had a hundred things to look after. The new clothes I ordered never came home, and I had to go and bullyrag the tailor. How do I look, mother?”
”Beautiful, Jeremiah, beautiful!” she said, enthusiastically.
On his feet were patent-leather shoes; on his head the s.h.i.+niest of belltoppers; on his hands lavender-coloured kid gloves; round his neck a light blue scarf, with a great carbuncle pin stuck in it; and he wore a tourist's suit of russet-brown of a very large check pattern.
”Rather licks 'em, doesn't it?” he asked, in a tone of self-admiration and approval, turning slowly round to exhibit his points.
”That it does, Jeremiah.”
”Look at this,” he said, taking off his hat.