Part 32 (1/2)

His lords.h.i.+p during the ride rather pointedly surveyed me, being impressed, I dare say, by something in my appearance and manner quite new to him. Doubtless I had been feeling equal for so long that the thing was to be noticed in my manner. He made no comment upon me, however. Indeed almost the only time he spoke during our pa.s.sage was to voice his astonishment at not having been able to procure the London _Times_ at the press-stalls along the way. His host made clucking noises of sympathy at this. He had, he said, already warned his lords.h.i.+p that America was still crude.

”Crude? Of course, what, what!” exclaimed his lords.h.i.+p. ”But naturally they'd have the _Times_! I dare say the beggars were too lazy to look it out. Laziness, what, what!”

”We've a job teaching them to know their places,” ventured Belknap-Jackson, moodily regarding the back of his chauffeur which somehow contrived to be eloquent with disrespect for him.

”My word, what rot!” rejoined his lords.h.i.+p. I saw that he had arrived in one of his peppery moods. I fancy he could not have recited a multiplication table without becoming fanatically a.s.sertive about it.

That was his way. I doubt if he had ever condescended to have an opinion. What might have been opinions came out on him like a rash in form of the most violent convictions.

”What rot not to know their places, when they must know them!” he snappishly added.

”Quite so, quite so!” his host hastened to a.s.sure him.

”A--dashed--fine big country you have,” was his only other observation.

”Indeed, indeed,” murmured his host mildly. I had rather dreaded the oath which his lords.h.i.+p is p.r.o.ne to use lightly.

Reaching the Belknap-Jackson house, his lords.h.i.+p was shown to the apartment prepared for him.

”Tea will be served in half an hour, your--er--Brinstead,” announced his host cordially, although seemingly at a loss how to address him.

”Quite so, what, what! Tea, of course, of course! Why wouldn't it be?

Meantime, if you don't mind, I'll have a word with Ruggles. At once.”

Belknap-Jackson softly and politely withdrew at once.

Alone with his lords.h.i.+p, I thought it best to acquaint him instantly with the change in my circ.u.mstances, touching lightly upon the matter of my now being an equal with rather most of the North Americans. He listened with exemplary patience to my brief recital and was good enough to felicitate me.

”a.s.sure you, glad to hear it--glad no end. Worthy fellow; always knew it. And equal, of course, of course! Take up their equality by all means if you take 'em up themselves. Curious lot of nose-talking beggars, and putting r's every place one shouldn't, but don't blame you. Do it myself if I could--England gone to pot. Quite!”

”Gone to pot, sir?” I gasped.

”Don't argue. Course it has. Women! Slasher fiends and firebrands!

Pictures, churches, golf-greens, cabinet members--nothing safe.

Pouring their beastly filth into pillar boxes. Women one knows.

Hussies, though! Want the vote--rot! Awful rot! Don't blame you for America. Wish I might, too. Good thing, my word! No backbone in Downing Street. Let the fiends out again directly they're hungry. No system! No firmness! No das.h.!.+ Starve 'em proper, I would.”

He was working himself into no end of a state. I sought to divert him.

”About the Honourable George, sir----” I ventured.

”What's the silly a.s.s up to now? Dancing girl got him--yes? How he does it, I can't think. No looks, no manner, no way with women. Can't stand him myself. How ever can they? Frightful bore, old George is.

Well, well, man, I'm waiting. Tell me, tell me, tell me!”

Briefly I disclosed to him that his brother had entangled himself with a young person who had indeed been a dancing girl or a bit like that in the province of Alaska. That at the time of my cable there was strong reason to believe she would stop at nothing--even marriage, but that I had since come to suspect that she might be bent only on making a fool of her victim, she being, although an honest enough character, rather inclined to levity and without proper respect for established families.

I hinted briefly at the social warfare of which she had been a storm centre. I said again, remembering the warm words of the Mixer and of my charwoman, that to the best of my knowledge her character was without blemish. All at once I was feeling preposterously sorry for the creature.

His lords.h.i.+p listened, though with a cross-fire of interruptions.