Part 50 (1/2)
”And he has humiliated me by this letter that I received by post.”
”Don't call it humiliation, my dear,” cried Miss Burge; ”it was only sent out of civility to you as one of our neighbours whom we like, and that's what it means.”
Hazel hesitated for a few moments, and then, in her loneliness and isolation, she clung to the hands outstretched to help her.
”Mr Burge--Miss Burge, I am so lonely and helpless here. You have heard about the school pence, but I cannot tell you why the amount was wanting. Give me your help and counsel.”
”Then will you let me help you?”
”I shall be most grateful if you will,” cried Hazel.
”Hullo!” shouted Burge, staring up at the part.i.tion. ”What are you a-doing there?”
”The shutter slipped down a little, sir,” said Mr Chute loudly.
”Trying to close it, sir. That's it!” and the shutter closed with a snap.
”Oh, that's it, is it?” said Mr William Forth Burge angrily. ”I don't know as that is it, Mr Chute.” But Mr Chute had by this time fastened the shutter, and had descended from his coign of vantage, looking very red and feeling terribly mortified at having been detected. ”He was listening; that's about what he was doing.”
There was a buzz of excitement amongst the children, but it subsided directly, and Hazel placed at a venture the envelope which she believed to have come from her visitor in his hands.
”You sent that to me, Mr Burge,” said Hazel firmly.
”Well, it was me, as you know, Miss Thorne; and you won't hurt our feelings by refusing it, will you?”
”I could not take it, sir; but I do appreciate your goodness all the same. Now help me to decide who sent me these letters.”
Hazel's visitors looked at each other, then at the envelopes, and then back at Hazel.
”Do you want me to say who sent those two letters?” said Mr William Forth Burge gloomily.
”I should be very grateful if you could, sir.”
”This one's from Mr Canninge, at Ardley, I should say; and the other's the parson's writing, I feel sure. If they've sent you money, Miss Thorne, of course you won't want mine--ours.”
It was an endors.e.m.e.nt of her own opinion, and for the moment Hazel did not notice the dull, heavy look on her visitor's face as she exclaimed--
”I have no doubt these gentlemen had kindly intentions, but I cannot take their help, and I want to see whether I might risk a mistake in returning the notes.”
”Oh, I think I'd return 'em,” said Mr William Forth Burge eagerly.
”I'd risk its being a mistake. Even if it _was_, your conduct would be right.”
Hazel looked at him intently, and then bowed her head in acquiescence.
”Yes,” she said thoughtfully, ”I will risk its being a mistake. Or no: Mr Burge, will you be my friend in my present helpless state? I ask you to return the notes on my behalf.”
”That's just what I will do,” he cried excitedly, for it seemed to him that he had won the day.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.