by W. W. Jacobs
CHAPTER XII--_An Ironmonger in Love_
Master Cacklin's observations on the friendship existing between GeorgeEarly and his employer were not without a great deal of truth, strangeas it may appear. George Early and Miss Fairbrother were on friendlyterms--very friendly terms, in fact.
That first interview at Brunswick Terrace had been followed by manyothers; interviews that ostensibly had a business purpose, but thatdrifted off into cold lunch and a flower show; or afternoon tea andsmall-talk. Occasionally the conversation would take a turn that leftMiss Fairbrother somewhat embarrassed, and George Early saying thingsthat had nothing to do with the iron trade at all. It was obvious, too,that these interviews were by no means disagreeable to either George orhis employer; but that both were in a high state of excitementafterwards when alone.
Miss Fairbrother had returned to the firm after a week's absence, andresumed her accustomed seat in the big private office. But George nolonger assumed the modest demeanour of the private secretary; his deskwas placed in the big room, and the clerks who drifted in and out onaffairs of business invariably found the pair chatting in a mostunbusiness-like manner. Moreover, Miss Fairbrother declined to enterinto most of the hardware problems submitted to her, but begged that"Mr. Early" might be consulted instead. "Mr. Early" became a person ofimportance, from whom a hint was as good as an order; to whom thegeneral office staff said "sir," and the three legatees adopted anattitude of sullen respect.
The firm's members drew their own conclusions on the question of thefriendship. It was clear that George had rendered his employer a greatservice, and that she was duly grateful to him, perhaps something more.It was clear, too, that George did not intend to miss anyopportunities, either in the way of friendship or his own advancement;for on the first score he was clearly in favour, and on the second hewas already drawing a bigger salary. Whether or not he was scheming fora nearer and dearer position than that of mere _employe_ to MissFairbrother, it was not for anybody to say; but the fact remained thathe appeared daily in gorgeous raiment, visited frequently at BrunswickTerrace, travelled with his employer in hansoms, and had been escortingthe lady to places of amusement. These things clearly indicated thatMiss Fairbrother "approved" of George in no ordinary sense.
Just how matters really stood between them was known to nobody butGeorge and Miss Fairbrother, and perhaps Miss Fairbrother's aunt. Itwas not for the young lady, even in her position of employer, to unbendany more than any other of her sex, supposing she had matrimonialdesigns. Queens may propose, but even they dislike the job; for theyare only women after all, and it is quite natural for a woman to wishto be wooed and asked for. And however strong George Early may haveconsidered his chances to be, it is certain that he was not the sort ofyoung man to spoil them by prematurely placing his heart upon hissleeve.
It may have been the extreme brightness of the sun that persuaded MissFairbrother one morning to express a strong disinclination for work. Itwas the day after Cacklin's confidence to William Budd, and even inUpper Thames Street the weather was as fair as summer weather can be.
"How lovely the river looks!" said the young lady, fixing a pair ofbright eyes on a dilapidated steamer that ploughed its way gracefullytowards Westminster.
"Just the sort of day for a trip to Hampton Court," said George. "Pitywe can't shift the office up there, isn't it?"
"I don't know; I've never been there."
"Ah"--bestowing an affectionate glance upon a curl on her leftshoulder--"you've missed one of the best sights on the river."
"Don't!" said Miss Fairbrother; "you'll make me want to go. And youknow"--slowly--"how busy we are."
If the papers on Miss Fairbrother's desk were any criterion, it did nottake much to make the firm busy.
"Of course," said George, proceeding with caution, "if you wish to go,I can look after everything. It's a shame not to take advantage of abright day; it may rain to-morrow."
"I've heard that Hampton Court is very pretty."
"It's a sight that nobody should miss on a day like this."
Miss Fairbrother laughed.
"The grass there is greener than anywhere else on the river, thewater's clearer, and the swans are whiter," said George.
"How do you get there?"
The secretary laid down his pen and paused to consider.
"There's Waterloo," he said--"trains rather stuffy and porters grumpy.Then there's a waggonette from Piccadilly--horses bony and seatsrickety. Then there's----"
"I don't think I'll go," said Miss Fairbrother.
"I should," said George. "The boat from Westminster is verycomfortable. You can get lunch on board, and it's really a mostdelightful trip."
Miss Fairbrother was silent for a moment. "No," she said slowly; "Idon't think I'll go."
George turned round and winked at a bookcase, then rose slowly andwalked to the window, where Miss Fairbrother stood watching the sunlitsurface of the river.
"There's a sudden slackness of orders to-day," he said. "If youwouldn't mind, I'd like to take a day off myself and go on the river."
Miss Fairbrother smiled, and George went on--
"I shouldn't think of asking if it were not quite possible to leavethings; but, of course, if you think it inadvisable, I'llwillingly----"
"Certainly not," said Miss Fairbrother. "Take the day by all means."
"Thank you," said George, politely. "Then in that case, as I know theriver well, I'm sure you'll allow me to----"
Miss Fairbrother blushed and looked away.
"It's a comfortable boat," urged George, "and the trip is reallysplendid. My old landlady's son was the purser last year, and he usedto say that they've cured more invalids on that trip than half thehospitals in London."
A smile broke out on Miss Fairbrother's face, and George immediatelyreached for his hat.
"Hansom?" he said.
"Please"--softly.
As they bowled along towards Westminster George Early sat upright inhis seat, and replied to Miss Fairbrother's sallies with a brightnessthat surprised even himself. Something inside him seemed to bewhispering that this was going to be a day of days--one of those brightperiods when everything goes with a comfortable rattle, and you don't_think_, but _know_, there is going to be fireworks in the evening,although you haven't seen the programme. Poverty, crime, trouble,hardship, and everything ugly is deadened; you hear only the voice ofyour companion, see only the glint of the sunshine, the white frocksand clean collars, new houses and green trees. You start off with yourmachinery going at a gentle, thump-thump pace, like the steamer, andyou keep it up while the day lasts.
George enjoyed that trip, and Miss Fairbrother enjoyed it too. It'sastonishing how it improves a young woman's looks and a young man'stemper to ride on a steamboat, even when both were agreeable before.There were many things to see, most of which George had to explain.What he didn't know he invented, which didn't make much difference, asit is probable Miss Fairbrother was listening more to George's voicethan to what he said. There were many occasions when George had to takeMiss Fairbrother's arm, and once when the boat lurched he was obligedto catch her round the waist; none of which incidents upset the goodfeeling existing between them, but rather increased it.
At Hampton Court they did the usual round through the Palace, and werefor the first time that day a little bored. Like a good many otherpeople, they found that the faded relics of dead-and-gone monarchs arenot only uninteresting, but very depressing, so much so that the sightof a new windsor chair that King George never sat upon becomes anobject of unusual interest and a welcome relief.
"I never thought," said Miss Fairbrother, "that kings and theirfurniture could be so uninteresting. I think I enjoyed seeing thesoldiers on guard more than the royal furniture."
"Yes," said George; "and I think I enjoy being out here, sitting by theriver, more than either the furniture or the soldiers."
"It's delightfully quiet and soothing."
"It's grand. I've never seen much of the countr
y in my life, but I doenjoy it when I get a glimpse."
"In Australia," said Miss Fairbrother, "I saw very little of town life.We lived in the country most of the time."
"And you were sorry to leave it?"
"At first. Since I've been here I think I like England quite aswell--especially London. There's no place like London, I'm sure."
"Perhaps not," said George, absently.
"No place in Australia," said Miss Fairbrother, confidently.
"I'd like to go there," said George; "I believe it's a fine country."
"Oh, it's very nice"--casually.
"The colonials are fine fellows."
Miss Fairbrother picked a blade of grass and examined it critically.George looked at a launch coming down the river. It was a crowdedlaunch, and the antics of the men on board attracted his attention. Ashe continued to look he observed that Miss Fairbrother shifted herglance from the blade of grass to his own features. She looked at thelaunch as he turned round.
"Lucky fellows!" said George. "A steam launch is one of the things Icovet."
"Really?" said Miss Fairbrother, quickly.
"Not exactly covet," said George; "but it's a nice way of seeing thecountry."
"I think I prefer a quiet spot like--like----"
"Like this"--softly.
A faint blush caused Miss Fairbrother to turn her attention to someboats coming up the river.
"It's very nice here, isn't it?" she said.
"At present it is," said George.
Miss Fairbrother wilfully misunderstood. "In the winter, of course,it's very cold and damp."
"So it is in the summer."
"How can that be?" She looked up smiling.
"When one is alone," said George, "the greenest field might beuninteresting and the warmest day cold."
Miss Fairbrother blushed and laughed. She made no secret now of thefact that she understood the compliment.
"You think I am not in earnest," said George, boldly, placing one handupon hers, as it plucked the grass blade by blade. "I am quite serious;I should never have enjoyed the trip alone--you know I shouldn't."
Her eyes were upon the grass, where she managed to wriggle one fingerof the imprisoned hand and press the soft earth with its pink nail.
"Don't do that," said George; "you'll make your fingers dirty."
He lifted the hand and examined the small pink finger.
"It's a pretty name," he said irrelevantly.
Their eyes met for a second, then hers were covered by the long lashes.
"Ellen, I mean," said George. "I always liked that name, but I supposeit wouldn't do to call you by it."
Her breath came faster.
"I suppose it wouldn't do?" said George.
He looked at her cheek, now crimson, and leant nearer.
"Ellen," he whispered softly.
A launch on the river hooted shrilly in the distance, and a boisterouslaugh from the opposite bank echoed faintly over the water. Georgeleant nearer till his shoulder touched hers. His arm that had restedidly behind slid round her waist with gentle pressure.
"It wouldn't do, would it?"
The launch hooted again, and a boatman on the water yelled somethingundistinguishable to another boatman.
"Ellen!"
Miss Fairbrother's tongue was evidently incapable of utterance, forthere was still no response. Then George Early's arm tightened aboutthe slim form of his employer and drew it into a closer embrace. Hishead bent until her breath came softly on his cheek. And then--
Then George Early kissed her.
A venerable angler looking for worms five minutes later stopped,suddenly transfixed, to see a young man and young woman with arms solovingly entwined and lips pressed together.
* * * * *
There was a bright moon that evening as the Hampton Court boat bumpedagainst the pier at Westminster. The people streamed up into theroadway, and one couple popped into a hansom.
"Trocadero? Right you are, sir," said the cabman.
Two hours later another cab took the couple to Brunswick Terrace. Thelady was helped out by the gentleman, with whom she conversed for fiveminutes in the shadow of the porch. As they parted, the gentlemansaid--
"Good night, my darling."
"Good night, George dear," said the lady.