en?”
“Rather!Iusedtocomeherewheneveritgottoohotformeathome.It’snogoodscrappingwithyourgovernor,becausehe’sgottheooftish—it’sajollyunfairadvantagethatfathershave,buttheyalwaystakeit.Sowhentheoldchapflewintoapassion,Iusedtosay,‘Iwon’targuewithyou.Ifyoucan’ttreatmelikeagentleman,Ishallgoawayforaweek.’AndIusedtocomehere.AuntPollyalwaysgavemefivequid,andsaid,‘Don’ttellmehowyouspendit,becauseIshouldn’tapprovebutcomeagainwhenyouwantsomemore.’She’sisaripper,ain’tshe!”
“I’msorryshe’snotin.”
“I’mratherglad,becauseIcanhavealongtalkwithyoutillshecomes.I’veneverseenyoubefore,soIhavesuchalottosay.”
“Haveyou?”saidBertha,laughing.“That’sratherunusualinyoungmen.”
HelookedsoabsurdlyyoungthatBerthacouldnothelptreatinghimasaschoolboyandshewasamusedathiscommunicativeness.Shewantedhimtotellherhisescapades,butwasafraidtoask.
“Areyouveryhungry?”Shethoughtthatboysalwayshadappetites.“Wouldyoulikesometea?”
“I’mstarving.”
Shepouredhimoutacup,andtakingitandthreejamsandwiches,hesatonafootstoolatherfeet.Hemadehimselfquiteathome.
“You’veneverseenmyVaudreycousins,haveyou?”heasked,withhismouthfull.“Ican’tstick’ematanyprice,they’resuchfrumps.I’lltell’emallaboutyouit’llmakethembeastlysick.”
Bertharaisedhereyebrows.“Anddoyouobjecttofrumps?”
“Isimplyloathethem.Atthelasttutor’sIwasat,theoldchap’swifewasthemostawfuloldgeezeryoueversaw.SoIwroteandtoldmymaterthatIwasafraidmymoralswerebeingcorrupted.”
“Anddidshetakeyouaway?”
“Well,byacuriouscoincidence,theoldchapwrotetheverysameday,andtoldthepaterifhedidn’tremovemehe’dgivemetheshoot.SoIsentinmyresignation,andtoldhimhiscigarswerepoisonous,andclearedout.”
“Don’tyouthinkyou’dbettersitonachair?”saidBertha.“Youmustbeveryuncomfortableonthatfootstool.”
“Ohno,notatall.AfteraTurkeycarpetandadining-roomtable,there’snothingsocomfyasafootstool.Achairalwaysmakesmefeelrespectable—anddull.”
BerthathoughtGeraldratheranicename.
“Howlongareyoust