Part 63 (1/2)
Sir Charles did not approve this: it seemed unreasonable to turn a wet-nurse into a dry-nurse when that office was already occupied by a person her senior and more experienced.
Lady Ba.s.sett agreed with him, but shrugged her shoulders and said, ”Two nurses will not hurt, and I suspect it will not be for long. Mary does not feel her husband's loss one bit.”
”Surely you are mistaken. She howls loud enough.”
”Too loud--much,” said Lady Ba.s.sett, dryly.
Her perspicuity was not deceived. In a very short time Mr. Meyrick, unable to get her for his housekeeper, offered her marriage.
”What!” said she, ”and James Gosport not dead a month?”
”Say the word now, and take your own time,” said he.
”Well, I might do worse,” said she.
About six weeks after this Drake came about her, and in tender tones of consolation suggested that it is much better for a pretty girl to marry one who plows the land than one who plows the sea.
”That is true,” said Mary, with a sigh; ”I have found it to my sorrow.”
After this Drake played a bit with her, and then relented, and one evening offered her marriage, expecting her to jump eagerly at his offer.
”You be too late, young man,” said she, coolly; ”I'm bespoke.”
”Doan't ye say that! How can ye be bespoke? Why, t'other hain't been dead four months yet.”
”What o' that? This one spoke for me within a week. Why, our banns are to be cried to-morrow; come to church and hear 'em; that will learn ye not to s.h.i.+lly-shally so next time.”
”Next time!” cried Drake, half blubbering; then, with a sudden roar, ”what, be you coming to market again, arter this?”
”Like enough: he is a deal older than I be. 'Tis Mr. Meyrick, if ye must know.”
Now Mr. Meyrick was well-to-do, and so Drake was taken aback.
”Mr. Meyrick!” said he, and turned suddenly respectful.
But presently a view of a rich widow flitted before his eye.
”Well,” said he, ”you shan't throw it in my teeth again as I speak too late. I ask you now, and no time lost.”
”What! am I to stop my banns, and jilt Farmer Meyrick for _thee?”_
”Nay, nay. But I mean I'll marry you, if you'll marry me, as soon as ever the breath is out of that dall'd old hunks's body.”
”Well, well, Will Drake,” said Mary, gravely, ”if I do outlive this one--and you bain't married long afore--and if you keeps in the same mind as you be now--and lets me know it in good time--I'll see about it.”
She gave a flounce that made her petticoats whisk like a mare's tail, and off to the kitchen, where she related the dialogue with an appropriate reflection, the company containing several of either s.e.x.
”Dilly-Dally and s.h.i.+lly-Shally, they belongs to us as women be. I hate and despise a man as can't make up his mind in half a minnut.”
So the widow Gosport became Mrs. Meyrick, and lived in a farmhouse not quite a mile from the Hall.