Part 12 (2/2)

Perhaps Enid's coldness--so often felt, but never till now admitted in the mother's thoughts--added to the hidden trouble of Mrs. Thompson.

She entered the China department as rarely as possible, and her intercourse with its head was of the most formal and distant character.

The conduct of Mr. Marsden was irreproachable: he was composed, polite, respectful; and he never came down behind the gla.s.s. But he used his eyes--a mute yet deadly attack, whenever she encountered them. She dreaded the attack, braced herself for it when it could no longer be avoided; and these meetings, however brief, had painful consequences.

They enervated her, sapped her energy, and left her with an incredible sense of fatigue, so that after each of them she walked downstairs to her room heavily and wearily, sat at the big desk breathing fast and trembling, feeling for a little while quite unable to work--almost as if she had been worn out by another physical tussle, instead of by a mere exchange of glances.

She was sitting thus, breathless and perturbed, when Mr. Mears came bothering. Earlier in the day she had admonished the second in command very sharply, and it appeared that he could not bear her momentary censure. He said she had snapped at him as she had never, never snapped. The vast ponderous man was completely overcome; his voice shook, his hands shook, and tears trickled down his cheeks while he solemnly tendered his resignation.

”Resign? What nonsense are you talking, Mr. Mears?”

But Mears said it was not nonsense: he meant every word of it. Rather than suffer here, he would go out and brave the world in his old age.

”Sit down, Mr. Mears--and don't be so foolish.”

”I don't recognise you these last weeks,” said Mears sadly; and he told her of how intensely he had always venerated her. ”Everything you did was right--It is almost a religion with me. And now I couldn't bear it--it would break my heart if I was to be pushed aside.”

”You won't be pushed aside. No fear of that.”

”Or if there was to be any great changes in the shop.”

”There will be no great changes in the shop.”

”Nor in your private life?”

Then Mrs. Thompson snapped again.

”What do you mean by that? What is my private life to you--or anybody else? What are you insinuating?... Answer me. What do you mean?”

He would not, or he could not say. Perhaps he really did not know what he meant; or some subtle instinct, telling him that a great peril to his peace and comfort was drawing nearer and nearer, had enabled him to pierce the mystery and had prompted the words of the offending question.

He sat gasping and gaping while she stormed at him.

”Understand once for all that I won't be watched and spied upon.”

”I am no spy,” he said huskily; ”except when you've made me one.”

The door was closed, but her angry voice rang out above the gla.s.s part.i.tions. All through the offices it was known that the manager had put Mrs. T. into tantrums.

Suddenly the storm blew itself out. Mrs. Thompson paced the room; then stopped near the empty fireplace, with her hands clasped behind her back. Her att.i.tude was altogether manlike. It was the big man, sitting huddled on the chair, wiping his cheeks, and blowing his nose, who displayed signs of womanish emotion.

”Mr. Mears, don't let's have any more of it. You and I must never quarrel. It would be too absurd. We are _friends_--we are _comrades_;”

and she went over to the chair, and shook hands with her comrade.

”That's right. You and I _know_ each other; you and I can _trust_ each other.”

Then she again walked up and down the room, speaking as she moved.

”To show how absolutely I trust you, I'll say to you what I wouldn't say to anyone--no, not to my daughter. I am sorry if I have seemed fretful of late. But the reason is this. I have been pa.s.sing through a mental struggle--a struggle that has tried me sorely.” In her tone and the whole aspect of her face as she made this confession, there was something far above the narrow realm of s.e.x, something that man or woman might be proud to show--a generous candour, a fearless truth, a n.o.ble simplicity. ”A hard struggle, Mr. Mears--and I'm a little shaken, but quite victorious.... Now this is between ourselves--and it must go no further.”

”It never shall,” said Mr. Mears earnestly.

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