Part 13 (1/2)

Hereupon Gurwood and his friend plunged into an animated conversation about railway accidents and their consequences, to the intense interest and horror of Mrs Tipps.

Meanwhile Netta left the room, and went to her old nurse's apartment.

”Nurse,” she said, hurriedly, ”when did you say you proposed paying your brother in London a visit--about this time, was it not?”

”Yes, dear,” said old Mrs Durby, taking off her tortoise-sh.e.l.l spectacles and laying down her work, ”I thought of going next week, if it is quite convenient.”

”It _is_ quite convenient, nurse,” continued Netta, in a somewhat flurried manner; ”it would be still more convenient if you could go to-morrow or next day.”

”Deary me--what's wrong?” inquired Mrs Durby, in some surprise.

”Listen, I have not time to explain much,” said Netta, earnestly, sitting down beside her faithful nurse and putting her hand on her shoulder. ”We have got into difficulties, nurse--temporary difficulties, I hope--but they must be got over somehow. Now, I want you to take this diamond ring to London with you--p.a.w.n it for as much as you can get, and bring me the money.”

”Me p.a.w.n it, my dear! I never p.a.w.ned a thing in my life, and don't know how to go about it.”

”But your brother knows how to do it,” suggested Netta. ”Now, you won't refuse me this favour, dear nurse? I know it is an unpleasant business, but what else can be done? The ring is my own; besides, I hope to be able to redeem it soon. I know no more about p.a.w.ning than yourself, but I do know that a considerable time must elapse before the ring shall be lost to me. And, you know, our bills _must_ be paid.”

Good Mrs Durby did not require much persuasion. She consented to set off as soon as possible, if she should obtain permission from Mrs Tipps, who was aware that she had intended to visit her brother about that time. She received the precious ring, which, for security, was put into a pill-box; this was introduced into an empty match-box, which Netta wrapped in a sheet of note-paper and put Mrs Durby's name on it.

For further security Mrs Durby enlarged the parcel by thrusting the match-box into an old slipper, the heel of which she doubled over the toe, and then wrapped the whole in several sheets of brown paper until the parcel a.s.sumed somewhat the shape and size of her own head. It was also fastened with strong cords, but Mrs Durby's powers of making a parcel were so poor that she left several uncouth corners and ragged ends of paper sticking out here and there. She wrote on it in pencil the simple name--Durby.

Meanwhile Joseph and his friend, having finished luncheon, prepared to set out on their visit to Captain Lee. As they quitted the house, Tipps ran back to the door and called his sister out of the parlour.

”I say, Netta, what about this fifty pounds that mother was talking of?”

he said. ”Do you mean to say that you are really short of that sum, and in debt?”

”We are, but I see a way out of the difficulty. Don't distress yourself, Joe; we shall have everything squared up, as you call it in a few days.”

”Are you _quite_ sure of that?” asked Tipps, with a doubting look. ”You know I have got an uncommonly cheap lodging, and a remarkably economical landlady, who manages so splendidly that I feed on a mere trifle a week.

Seventy-five pounds a year, you know, is more than I know what to do with. I can live on thirty-five or so, and the other forty is--”

”We don't require it Joe,” said Netta, laughing. ”There, go away, you are giving me cold by keeping me in the pa.s.sage, and your friend is getting impatient.”

She pushed him out, nodded, and shut the door. Tipps hastened after his friend, apologised for the delay, and, stepping out smartly, they were soon ushered into Captain Lee's drawing-room. The captain was writing.

Emma was seated near the window sewing.

”Ha! Tipps, my fine fellow, glad to see you; why, I was just thinking of you,” said the captain, extending his hand.

”I have called,” began Tipps, bowing to Emma and shaking the captain's hand, ”to introduce my--my--eh!--ah, my--what's the matter?”

There was some reason for these exclamations, for Captain Lee stood gazing in mute amazement at young Gurwood, while the latter returned the compliment with his eyebrows raised to the roots of his hair. The similarity of their expressions did not, however, last long, for Edwin became gradually confused, while the captain grew red and choleric-looking.

”So,” said the latter at length, in a very stern voice, ”_this_ is your friend, Mr Tipps?”

”Sir,” exclaimed Edwin, flus.h.i.+ng crimson, ”you ought not to condemn any one unheard.”

”_I_ do not condemn you, sir,” retorted the captain.

”By word, no, but by look and tone and gesture you do.”