Part 19 (1/2)

”Do not say another word now,” I said. ”I am sure you mean all this kindly, but please do not say any more now. I will think over what you have said.”

”I will leave you then, dear,” she said.

She went as far as the door; she was a very kindly little woman, she was a real lady, and she meant well, but she had hurt me so indescribably that at that moment I almost hated her. When she reached the door she turned and said--

”If ever my husband and I can help you, Miss Wickham (but we are poor people), if ever we can help you, we will be glad to do so. I know you are angry with me now, but your anger won't remain, you will see who are your true friends by-and-by.”

She closed the door softly, and I heard her gentle steps going downstairs. I will frankly say that I did not go to bed for some time, that I paced indignantly up and down my room. I hated Jane, I hated Mr. Fanning, I still more cordially hated Mr. Randolph at that moment.

Mr. Fanning must go, Mr. Randolph must go. I could not allow myself to be spoken about. How intolerable of Mr. Randolph to have come as he had done, to have forced himself upon us, to have invited us to go out with him, to have----and then I stopped, and a great lump rose in my throat, and I burst into tears, for in my heart of hearts I knew well that I did not think what he did intolerable at all, that I respected him, and--but I did not dare to allow my thoughts to go any further.

I even hated myself for being good-looking, until I suddenly remembered that I had the same features as my father had. He had conquered in all the battles in which he had borne part through his life. My face must be a good one if it was like his. I would try to live up to the character which my face seemed to express, and I would immediately endeavour to get things on a different footing.

Accordingly, the next day at breakfast I studiously avoided Mr.

Randolph, and I equally studiously avoided Mr. Fanning. The consequence was that, being as it were between two fires, I had a most uncomfortable time, for Mr. Randolph showed me by certain glances which he threw in my direction that he was most anxious to consult me about something, and Mr. Fanning seemed to intercept these glances, and to make his own most unpleasant comments about them; and if Mr.

Fanning intercepted them, so did Mrs. and Miss Armstrong.

Miss Armstrong had now given up Mr. Randolph as almost hopeless with regard to a flirtation, and was turning her attention in the direction of Mr. Fanning. She talked Art _at_ Mr. Fanning a.s.siduously all during breakfast, and having learned by some accident that he was a publisher, boldly demanded from him if he would not like her to ill.u.s.trate some of his books. In reply to this he gave a profound bow, and told her, with a certain awkward jerk of his body, that he never gave orders in advance, that he never gave orders on the score of friendliness, that when it came to the relations between publisher and artist he was brutal.

”That's the word for it, Miss Armstrong,” he said, ”I am brutal when it comes to a bargain. I try to make the very best I can for myself. I never think of the artist at all. I want all the _ s d_ to go into my own pocket”--and here he slapped his waistcoat loudly, and uttered a harsh laugh, which showed all his broken teeth in a most disagreeable manner. Miss Armstrong and her mother seemed to think he was excellent fun, and Mrs. Armstrong said, with a quick glance first at Mr.

Randolph and then at me, that it was refres.h.i.+ng to hear any man so frank, and that for her part she respected people who gave themselves no h'airs.

Breakfast came to an end, and I sought Jane in her sanctum.

”Now, Jane,” I said, ”you must put away your accounts, you must cease to think of housekeeping. You must listen to me.”

”What is it, Westenra?” she said. ”Has anything vexed you?” she continued; ”sit down and tell me all about it.”

”Several things vex me,” I answered. ”Jane, we must come to an understanding.”

”What about?” she asked in some alarm; ”an understanding! I thought that was all arranged when our legal agreement was drawn up.”

”Oh, I know nothing about lawyers nor about legal agreements,” I answered; ”but, Jane, there are some things I cannot put up with, and one of them is----”

”I know,” she answered; ”Mr. Fanning.”

”He is horrible, hateful; he is going to make himself most hateful to me. Jane, dear Jane, he must go.”

Jane looked puzzled and distressed. I expected her to say--

”He shall certainly go, my dear, I will tell him that his room is required, and that he must leave at the end of the week.” But on the contrary she sighed. After a long pause she said--

”You want this house to be a success, I presume.”

”I certainly do, but we cannot have it a success on the present arrangement. Mr. Fanning must go, and also Mr. Randolph.”

”Mr. Randolph, Mr. James Randolph!” said Jane, now colouring high, and a sparkle of something, which seemed to be a curious mixture of fear and indignation, filling her eyes. ”And why should he go? You do not know what you are talking about.”

”I do. He must go. Ask--ask Mrs. Furlong. They talk about him here, these hateful people; they put false constructions on his kindness; I know he is kind and he is a gentleman, but he does me harm, Jane, even as much harm as that horrible Mr. Fanning.”