Part 53 (1/2)

Of course he was doing his best to please her. Of all the ”Ladies,” it seemed evident that he was most attracted by her. He tried to talk to her despite her unending rebuffs, he followed her about and endeavored to interest her, he presented a hide-bound unsensitiveness when she did her worst. Perhaps he did not even know that she was being icily rude. He was plainly ”making up to her” after the manner of his cla.s.s.

He was perhaps playing the part of the patient adorer who melted by n.o.ble long-suffering in novels distinguished by heroes of humble origin.

She had reached the village when the rain changed its mind, and without warning began to pour down as if the black cloud pa.s.sing overhead had suddenly opened. She was wondering if she would not turn in somewhere for shelter until the worst was over when a door opened and Tembarom ran out with an umbrella.

”Come in to the Hibblethwaites cottage, Lady Joan,” he said. ”This will be over directly.”

He did not affectionately hustle her in by the arm as he would have hustled in Miss Alicia, but he closely guarded her with the umbrella until he guided her inside.

”Thank you,” she said.

The first object she became aware of was a thin face with pointed chin and ferret eyes peering at her round the end of a sofa, then a sharp voice.

”Tak' off her cloak an' shake th' rain off it in th' wash 'us',” it said. ”Mother an' Aunt Susan's out. Let him unb.u.t.ton it fer thee.”

”I can unb.u.t.ton it myself, thank you,” said Lady Joan. Tembarom took it when she had unb.u.t.toned it. He took it from her shoulders before she had time to stop him. Then he walked into the tiny ”wash 'us” and shook it thoroughly. He came back and hung it on a chair before the fire.

Tummas was leaning back in his pillows and gazing at her.

”I know tha name,” he said. ”He towd me,” with a jerk of the head toward Tembarom.

”Did he?” replied Lady Joan without interest.

A flaringly ill.u.s.trated New York paper was spread out upon his sofa.

He pushed it aside and pulled the shabby atlas toward him. It fell open at a map of North America as if through long habit.

”Sit thee down,” he ordered.

Tembarom had stood watching them both.

”I guess you'd better not do that,” he suggested to Tummas.

”Why not? ” said the boy, sharply. ”She's th' wench he was goin' to marry. It's th' same as if he'd married her. If she wur his widder, she'd want to talk about him. Widders allus wants to talk. Why shouldn't she? Women's women. He'd ha' wanted to talk about her.”

”Who is `he'?” asked Joan with stiff lips.

”The Temple Barholm as' 'd be here if he was na.”

Joan turned to Tembarom.

”Do you come here to talk to this boy about HIM?” she said. ”How dare you!”

Tummas's eyes snapped; his voice snapped also.

”He knew next to nowt about him till I towd him,” he said. ”Then he came to ax me things an' foind out more. He knows as much as I do now.

Us sits here an' talks him over.”

Lady Joan still addressed Tembarom.

”What interest can you have in the man who ought to be in your place?”