Part 29 (1/2)

”Merciful Heaven, what a fright you've put me in to be sure,” she whispered, throwing her arms about Lavinia. ”Come in you truant. Lord, I do believe you was born to plague me out of my seven senses. You look tired to death. What have you been a-doing of? But don't worry to tell me now. You must eat something first. Why, you're all of a tremble. Was you frightened of that rascal as was d.o.g.g.i.ng you?”

”Was there one? I didn't know it.”

”One? I wonder there wasn't a dozen. A pretty young thing like you to be in the streets at this unG.o.dly hour. There he is a stopping now and looking this way. Let him look. He won't see nought.”

And Hannah shut to the door with more noise than she intended, much to Lavinia's alarm lest her mother should be aroused.

”No fear o' that, child. Your mother's had as much gin an' beer as she can carry. It was as good as I could do to get her up the stairs to her bedroom. Sure she's mad about your running away out of reach. I've had a nice time with her. But it 'ud take all the trumpets as blowed down the walls of Jericho to wake her now.”

When the door was securely locked and bolted there was more hugging, and Hannah's strong arms half led, half carried the girl into the kitchen where a fire was smouldering which a bellows soon fanned into a blaze.

Eggs and bacon were put on to cook and Lavinia, curled in a roomy chair, watched the kindly young woman's proceedings with great contentment.

Lavinia told Hannah her story in fragments, saying nothing about Lancelot Vane. Hannah's mind was a blank as to Pope and Gay and she was more interested in the encounter with the highwayman. She did not ask much about Giles, but Lavinia guessed it was a subject dear to her heart and she did not forget to describe his mother, his cottage, and everything about them very minutely. Nor did she omit to praise his respectful civility and his good heart.

”And now all's said and done, Hannah,” she cried, ”what's to become of me?”

”Aye, bless your heart, that's the trouble. This morning I put on my considering cap an' was a-thinking and a-thinking when who should pop her face in but my cousin Betty Higgins as lives at Hampstead. 'La, Betty,' I says, 'where have you dropped from?' 'Ah,' says she, 'you may well say that. I've been a-comin' for goodness knows how long knowin' as my clothes line was a-gettin' as rotten as rotten could be. Yesterday the wind caught the sheets and blankets as I'd just hung out an' down they all plumped on a muddy patch an' had to be dropped in the tub again. I wasn't a-goin' to have that happen a second time so I've come up to buy a new line in Long Lane an' some soap at Couplands an' here I be as large as life.' That put a notion in my head, Lavvy, my dear. I told her about you and she's promised me a little room as she don't use much, an' that's where you're going when you've had a sleep.”

”Oh, Hannah, how good you are,” cried Lavinia between her kisses. ”But Hampstead! Why, that's where all the fas.h.i.+on goes! The Hampstead water cures everything they say.”

”May be,” rejoined Hannah dryly. ”But there's other things besides as I'll warrant the quality like better than the well water--nasty stuff it is. I once drank a gla.s.s at Sam's coffee house at Ludgate where it's brought fresh every morning and it nearly turned my stomach. There's music an' dancing in the Pump Room and dicing and cards at Mother Huff's near the Spaniards, aye an' lovemaking in the summer time by moonlight.

I dunno if it's a safe place for a mad young thing like you to be living at when the sparks are roaming about.”

”Pooh!” retorted Lavinia tossing her head. ”I ought to know how to take care of myself.”

”Yes, you ought. But can you?”

”You silly old Hannah. Hampstead can't be worse for me than London.”

”Perhaps not. If you couldn't be guarded at the Queen Square boarding school with a female dragon as can use her eyes, why there's no place in the world where the men won't chase you.”

”Well, it's not my fault. _I_ don't chase _them_.”

”There's no need for you to do that, you baggage. You've only got to give any one of them a glance and he gallops after you.”

”What am I to do if I can't alter myself?”

”Goodness knows. Things must go their own way I suppose. You can't stop here, that's sure. It'll have to be Hampstead. But don't forget I've warned you.”

Then they both crept up to Hannah's room, and at six o'clock the next morning they were astir, Lavinia making a hurried breakfast and preparing to set out on her long walk. There was no conveyance as the stage coach on the Great North Road through Highgate and Finchley did not start until later in the day, and Hannah, a good hearted soul never so happy as when helping others, gave Lavinia all the money she could spare with which to pay her sister-in-law a small sum every week.

”I don't know what I should do but for you, Hannah dear,” said Lavinia gratefully. ”It's shameful to take your money, but I swear I'll pay back every penny, and before long too.”

”Yes, when you've married a rich man.”

”No, no. I'm not thinking of being married. I shall be earning money soon.”

”Tilly vally! How, miss, may I ask?”

”Ah, that's a secret. Mr. Gay says so and he ought to know.”