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The Captain had already endured some of the evils of poverty, and could have put up with this easily had nothing been said about it. As it was, Cheesacre brought the matter forward, and apologized, and made the thing difficult. "You see, old fellow," he said, "there are the rooms, and of course they're empty. But it's such a bore hauling out all the things and putting up the curtains.
We shall always be delighted to see you at our house, Cheesy, my boy, and you shall be allowed to hack the hams just as much as you please." "You shall be made to pay for this," said Cheesacre, gasping with anger; gasping almost more with dismay than he did with anger. "All right, old fellow; I'll pay for it, with the widow's money. Come; our half-hour is nearly over; shall we go up-stairs?"
Under all these circumstances, she could not quite make up her mind either for or against Captain Bellfield. Between nine and ten in the evening, an hour or so after Mr Cheesacre had left her, Jeannette brought to her some arrowroot with a little sherry in it. She usually dined early, and it was her habit to take a light repast before she retired for the night.
"Mrs Greenow gives the dinner, and Cheesacre gives the wine. We must have them at the two ends of the table. I am sure Mrs Greenow won't refuse to allow me to hand her to the place which belongs to her. I will sit at her right hand and be her minister." Mrs Greenow did not refuse, and so the matter was adjusted. Mr Cheesacre took his seat in despair.
"If you choose to take my solicitude on your behalf in that way, of course I have done. You were good enough to say just now that you wished to see me and my husband in your hospitable halls. After all that has passed, do you think that I could be a visitor at your house unless there is a mistress there?" "Upon my word, I think you might." "No, Mr Cheesacre; certainly not.
A very nice little dinner they had. The captain carved the turkey, giving due honour to Mr Cheesacre as he did so; and when he nibbled his celery with his cheese, he was prettily jocose about the richness of the farmyard at Oileymead. "He is the most generous man I ever met," said Mrs Greenow. "So he is," said Captain Bellfield, "and we'll drink his health. Poor old Cheesy!
"Why, Mr Cheesacre, I am quite sure she never gave you a word of encouragement in her life." "But you always told me I might have her for the asking." "And now I tell you that you mayn't. It's of no use your going on there to ask her, for she will only send you away with an answer you won't like. Look here, Mr Cheesacre; you want to get married, and it's quite time you should.
When they got to the door both Cheesacre and the captain made an attempt to get possession of the widow's arm. But she had it all arranged. Captain Bellfield found himself constrained to attend to Mrs Green, while Mr Cheesacre walked down to the beach beside Kate Vavasor. "I'll take your arm, Mr Joe," said the widow, "and the girls shall come with us."
"There wasn't the slightest difficulty in seeing it, old fellow," said the Captain. "Shall I wish you joy?" "I'll trouble you to leave the room, sir," said Cheesacre, walking up to him. "Certainly, if Mrs Greenow will desire me to do so," said the Captain. Then Mrs Greenow felt herself called upon to speak. "Gentlemen, I must beg that you will not make my drawing-room a place for quarrelling.
"So is Mr Cheesacre for the matter of that." "Poor Cheesy! I believe he was, though he did talk so much about money. I always like to believe the best I can of them. But then there was no poetry about Cheesy. I don't care about saying it now, as you've quite made up your mind not to have him." "Quite, aunt." "Your grandfather's will does make a difference, you know.
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