Part 4 (1/2)

”How impatient you are, Mr Fluke, this evening,” exclaimed the dame.

”In half a minute more I should have been here, and saved you from bawling yourself hoa.r.s.e. I know how the time goes, I should think, at my age.”

Her master made no reply, but merely attempted to whistle, while Kezia, turning to Owen, said, ”Come along, my child.” She led him up an oaken staircase into a room of fair proportions, in which, although the furniture was of a sombre description, there stood a neat dimity-curtained bed.

”There, say your prayers and go to bed,” said Kezia. ”I will come in presently to tuck you up, and to take away your candle.”

”Thank you,” said Owen; ”you are indeed very kind.”

”No, I ain't kind, I just do what I think right,” answered the dame, who, if she did not pride herself on being an original, evidently was one. ”The old man told me that you had lost your parents, and you'll feel the want of some one to look after you. I once had a little boy myself. He grew to be bigger than you are, but he was never strong or hearty. He used to go to the office every day of his life, hot or cold, rain or suns.h.i.+ne, wet through or dry; he died from over work. It was more my fault than the old man's though, so I don't blame him, for I ought to have kept the poor boy in bed instead of letting him go out and get wet through and through as he did time after time; but I'll take care that it is not your fate,” and Mrs Kezia sighed. ”I must not stand prating here though.”

She came in according to her promise. Having carefully tucked him up, she stooped down and kissed his brow.

”Thank you, thank you,” said Owen. The tears rose to his eyes, and he felt more happy than he could have supposed possible.

”Have you said your prayers?” asked Kezia.

”Yes, I never forget to do that,” answered Owen.

”Good night, my child,” she said; ”the Lord watch over you and keep you.” Taking the light she left him.

His slumbers were peaceful. Kezia took care to call him betimes in the morning.

”The old man is off early, and he would not be pleased if you were not ready to start with him,” she said.

When Owen came down he saw Mr Fluke in the garden, holding a conference with Joseph. He presently came in to breakfast, which was as ample a meal as the supper had been.

Kezia put a small paper parcel into Owen's pocket.

”That will be for your dinner,” she said; ”you'll want something before you come back, and you'll get nothing there fit to eat. It's as bad to let growing boys starve as to leave plants without water, as Joseph Crump says,” and she looked hard at her master.

”Kezia's a wonderful woman,” remarked Mr Fluke, after she had left the room. ”I have a great respect for her, as you see. She is worth her weight in gold; she keeps everything in order, her husband and me to boot. Years ago, before she came to me, I had a large black tom cat; he was somewhat of a pet, and as I kept him in order, he always behaved properly in my presence. He had, however, a great hatred of all strangers, especially of the woman kind, and no female beggar ever came to the door but he went out and arched his back, and spat and screeched and hissed at her until she took her departure. When I engaged Kezia and Joseph Crump, I thought Tom would understand that they were inmates of the house, and behave properly. But the very first time Kezia went upstairs, after she and her husband had installed themselves in their room below, there was Tom standing on the landing with his back up las.h.i.+ng his tail, and making a most hideous noise. Most women would have turned round and run down again, or perhaps tumbled over and broken their necks; but Kezia advanced, keeping her eye on Tom, and as he sprang at her, she guessing that he would do so, seized him by the neck and held him at arm's length until every particle of breath was squeezed out of his body. 'There,' she exclaimed, as she threw him over the banisters, 'two cannot rule in one house,' and she went upstairs and commenced her work. When I arrived at home, and saw Tom lying dead on the floor, I asked who had killed the cat. 'I killed him,' answered Kezia, and she then told me how it had happened. 'If you think I was wrong, and don't like it, give me a month's warning; I am ready to go,'

she said. I didn't say a word in reply, and I tell you I have a greater respect for that woman than for any of her s.e.x, and maybe I have more fear of her than I ever had of old Tom, who, once or twice, until I taught him better manners, had shown his evil disposition even to me.”

”Mrs Kezia is a very kind, good woman,” observed Owen; ”I am sure of that.”

”She's a wise woman,” answered Mr Fluke; ”if she were not, she could not manage my house. Now, boy, finish your breakfast, and be prepared to start with me in ten minutes.”

Owen lost no time in getting ready.

”Come along,” he heard Mr Fluke shout; and hurrying out of the room where he was waiting, he found that gentleman descending the steps.

”Stay, you have forgotten your umbrella. What are you thinking about, Mr Fluke, this morning?” exclaimed Kezia, handing it to him as she spoke.

Mr Fluke tucked it under his arm, and taking Owen by the hand they set off.

”Do not dawdle on the way back, and take the coach if it rains hard,”

cried Kezia, shouting after them.

They walked the whole distance at a fair pace, which Owen could easily maintain. He was glad of the exercise, although he did not like pa.s.sing through the narrow and dirty streets at the further end of his walk, where squalor and wretchedness appeared on every side. Mr Fluke being so used to it, was not moved by what they beheld.

”Surely something ought to be done for these poor people,” thought Owen.