Part 44 (1/2)

”You misunderstood me, Mr Piper,” faltered Hazel, whose cheeks began to burn before turning pale with shame. ”I have made up the account but I have not the money ready.”

”Couldn't have made out the account properly without the money counted out ready,” he said triumphantly.

”I checked it by the sums I had put down each week, Mr Piper,” said Hazel.

”To be sure. Well, it won't take us long to count the money out.”

”But I have not the money by me,” said Hazel desperately, for she could make no excuse at the moment.

”Oh!” said Mr Piper slowly, as he made a curious rasping noise by rubbing a rough finger upon his closely-shaven cheek: ”have not got the money by you.”

”No; not at present,” faltered Hazel; and once more the tell-tale blush came flus.h.i.+ng to her cheeks.

”Oh!” said Mr Piper again; and his interjection was as long as a ten-syllable word.

”I will send or bring it up to you in a few days.”

”Oh!” said Mr Piper once more, and he took out his pocket-book at the same time, but made no attempt to go. He slowly took a pencil from a sheath at the side, and examined its point before thrusting it in again, as if trying very hard to make sure that it was a fit.

Hazel was in agony, and would have given anything to be alone, but Mr Piper went on testing the depth of his pencil-sheath in the leather pocket-book, and drawing the pencil out again.

”You see, it always has been paid upon the morning I said I'd call.

I've got Mr Chute's money in here.”

He slapped his breeches-pocket twice in a very emphatic manner, and looked at Hazel the while, as if asking her to deny it if she dared.

”I--I was taken rather by surprise,” faltered Hazel.

”Nay, nay,” said the churchwarden; ”I gave you a day's notice.”

”Yes,” said Hazel, ”but I was not ready. I will send or bring the amount in a few days, Mr Piper.”

”I wanted to have made up my accounts,” he said, gazing still at his pencil and pocket-book in a meditative way. ”You see, it puts me out, being a business-man. I have all this churchwarden work to do, and don't get nothing by it, and it puts me wrong when things go contrary like, and I can't get in the accounts. Now, your pence, for instance--I ought to have had them a month ago.”

”I am very sorry, sir, but I was not aware when they ought to be paid in.”

”You see, I make up all these parish things regular like, and if I can't get the money in it throws me all out.”

”I am very sorry, Mr Piper.”

”Yes,” he said, turning his pencil upside down, and trying whether it would go in the reverse way; ”but, you see, that don't help a busy man.

I give up one morning like this every year to the school accounts, and dress myself”--he glanced at the sleeve of his black coat--”and come down, and if the money isn't ready, you see, it throws me out.”

”Yes, I understand, Mr Piper,” faltered Hazel; ”and I am very sorry.”

”Yes,” he continued, trying to coax the pencil down by giving it a revolving movement, which succeeded better, though not well, for the leather of the pencil-sheath was getting worn with use, and it went into so many folds that Mr Piper had to withdraw the pencil and try it in the proper way--”Yes, it is a nuisance to a busy man,” he continued. ”I don't know why I go on doing this parish work, for it never pleases n.o.body, and takes up a deal of a man's time. I wouldn't do it, only Mr Lambent as good as begs of me not to give it up. P'r'aps you'll give me what you have in hand, miss.”

”Give you what I have in hand?” said Hazel.

”Yes! Part on account you know, and send me the rest.”