Part 8 (1/2)
”Yes, ma'am--the laws of his country, or the laws of the country where he is; and the proper arms of a lady, madam, are her eyes.”
”And her tongue,” said the professor to himself, but not in so low a voice that it was not heard by Lawrence, who gave him a sharp look full of amus.e.m.e.nt.
Mrs Chumley smiled and bowed.
”Very pretty, sir!” she said; ”but you forget that we are going to travel through a country where the laws are often a mere name, and people must take care of themselves.”
”Take care of themselves--certainly, ma'am, but not by breaking the laws. If a pack of vagabonds were to attack me I should hand them over to the police, or apply at the nearest police-court for a summons. That would be a just and equitable way of treating the matter.”
”Where would you get your police, Burne? and whom would you get to serve your summons if you could procure one?”
”Nearest town, sir--anywhere.”
The lady laughed heartily, and her little husband rubbed his hands and then patted her on the back.
”This lady is quite right, my dear Burne,” said the professor. ”I see that we shall be obliged to go armed.”
”Armed, sir!--armed?”
”Yes. We shall for the greater part of our time be in places where the laws are of no avail, unless a body of troops are sent to enforce them.”
”But then your firman will have furnished us with a Turkish soldier for our protection.”
”But suppose the Turkish soldier prefers running away to fighting?”
exclaimed the lady, ”what then?”
”What then, ma'am?--what then?” cried the lawyer. ”I flatter myself that I should be able to quell the people by letting them know that I was an English gentleman. Do you think that at my time of life I am going to turn butcher and carve folks with a sword, or drill holes through them with bullets?”
”Yes, sir, if it comes to a case of who is to be carved or drilled.
There!--think it over. Come, Charley! let's have our walk.”
Saying which the lady nodded and smiled to the two elders, and was going off in an a.s.sumed masculine way, when she caught sight of Lawrence lying back in an easy-chair, and her whole manner changed as she crossed to him and held out her hand with a sweet, tender, womanly look in her eyes.
”Good-bye for the present!” she said. ”You must make haste and grow strong, so as to help me up the mountains if we meet somewhere farther in.”
CHAPTER SIX.
MR. BURNE TRIES A GUN.
”Now that's just what I hate in women,” said the old lawyer, viciously scattering snuff all over the place. ”They put you in an ill temper, and rouse you up to think all sorts of bitter things, and then just as you feel ready to say them, they behave like that and disarm you. After the way in which she spoke to Lawrence there I can't abuse her.”
”No, don't, please, Mr Burne,” said Lawrence warmly, and with his cheeks flus.h.i.+ng, ”I am sure she is very nice when you come to know her.”
”Can't be,” cried the lawyer. ”A woman who advocates fire and sword.
Bah!”
”But as a protection against fire and sword,” said the professor laughing.