Part 12 (1/2)
”Whist! most evangelical iv women,” exclaimed Larry in a low key, and looking round suspiciously--”whisht! or we are ruined.”
”La! Mr. Laurence, what _are_ you after?” rejoined the damsel, with a good deal of asperity. ”I'll have you to know I'm not used to talk with a man that's squat in a ditch, and his head in a dock plant. That's not the way for to come up to an honest woman, sir--no more it is.”
”I'd live ten years in a ditch, and die in a dock plant,” replied Larry with enthusiasm, ”for one sight iv you.”
”And is that what brought you here?” replied she, with a toss of her head. ”I purtest some people's quite overbearing, so they are, and knows no bounds.”
”Stop a minute, most beautiful bayin'--for one instant minute pay attintion,” exclaimed Mr. Toole, eagerly, for he perceived that she had commenced her retreat. ”Tare an' owns! divine crature, it's not _goin'_ you are?”
”I have no notions, good or bad, Mr. Toole,” replied the young lady, with great volubility and dignity, ”and no idaya in the wide world for to be standing here prating, and talking, and losing my time with such as you--if my business is neglected, it is not on your back the blame will light. I have my work, and my duty, and my business to mind, and if I do not mind them, no one else will do it for me; and I am astonished and surprised beyant telling, so I am, at the impittence of some people, thinking that the likes of me has nothing else to be doing but listening to them discoorsing in a dirty ditch, and more particular when their conduct has been sich as some people's that is old enough at any rate to know better.”
The fair handmaiden had now resumed her retreat; so that Larry, having raised himself from his lowly hiding-place, was obliged to follow for some twenty yards before he again came up with her.
”Wait one half second--stop a bit, for the Lord's sake,” exclaimed he, with most earnest energy.
”Well, wonst for all, Mr. Laurence,” exclaimed Mistress Carey severely, ”what _is_ your business with me?”
”Jist this,” rejoined Larry, with a mysterious wink, and lowering his voice--”a letter to the young mistress from”--here he glanced jealously round, and then bringing himself close beside her, he whispered in her ear--”from Mr. O'Connor--whisht--not a word--into her own hand, mind.”
The young woman took the letter, read the superscription, and forthwith placed it in her bosom, and rearranged her kerchief.
”Never fear--never fear,” said she, ”Miss Mary shall have it in half an hour. And how,” added she, maliciously, ”_is_ Mr. O'Connor? He is a lovely gentleman, is not he?”
”He's uncommonly well in health, the Lord be praised,” replied Mr.
Toole, with very unaccountable severity.
”Well, for my part,” continued the girl, ”I never seen the man yet to put beside him--unless, indeed, the young master may be. He's a very pretty young man--and so shocking agreeable.”
Mr. Toole nodded a pettish a.s.sent, coughed, muttered something to himself, and then inquired when he should come for an answer.
”I'll have an answer to-morrow morning--maybe this evening,” pursued she; ”but do not be coming so close up to the house. Who knows who might be on our backs in an instant here? I'll walk down whenever I get it to the two mulberries at the old gate; and I'll go there either in the morning at this hour, or else a little before supper-time in the evening.”
Mr. Toole, having gazed rapturously at the object of his tenderest aspirations during the delivery of this address, was at its termination so far transported by his feelings, as absolutely to make a kind of indistinct and flurried attempt to kiss her.
”Well, I purtest, this is overbearing,” exclaimed the virgin; and at the same time bestowing Mr. Toole a sound box on the ear, she tripped lightly toward the house, leaving her admirer a prey to what are usually termed conflicting emotions.
When Sir Richard returned to his dressing-room at about noon, to prepare for dinner, he had hardly walked to the toilet, and rung for his Italian servant, when a knock was heard at his chamber door, and, in obedience to his summons, Mistress Carey entered.
”Well, Carey,” inquired the baronet, as soon as she had appeared, ”do you bring me any news?”
The lady's-maid closed the door carefully.
”News?” she repeated. ”Indeed, but I do, Sir Richard--and bad news, I'm afeard, sir. Mr. O'Connor has written a great long letter to my mistress, if you please, sir.”
”Have you gotten it?” inquired the baronet, quickly.
”Yes, sir,” rejoined she, ”safe and sound here in my breast, Sir Richard.”