United States or Canada ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Aunt Greenow promised to remain at the Hall for the present, and offered, indeed, indefinite services for the future, as though she were quite forgetful of Captain Bellfield. Of Mr Cheesacre she was not forgetful, for she still continued to speak of that gentleman to Kate, as though he were Kate's suitor.
But as I was saying, Mrs Greenow, you have seen my little place at Oileymead." "A charming house. All you want is a mistress for it." "That's it; that's just it. All I want is a mistress for it. And there's only one woman on earth that I would wish to see in that position. Arabella Greenow, will you be that woman?"
"I should call it very disgraceful, Mrs Greenow." To this she made no reply, and then he thought that he might begin his work. "Mrs Greenow, may I say Arabella?" "Mr Cheesacre!" "But mayn't I? Come, Mrs Greenow. You know well enough by this time what it is I mean. What's the use of shilly-shallying?" "Shilly-shallying, Mr Cheesacre! I never heard such language.
"And the music," said Cheesacre, "and the expenses at the place." He did not choose that any part of his outlay should go unnoticed. "I'll go halves in all that if you like," said Mrs Greenow. But Mr Cheesacre had declined this. He did not begrudge the expense, but only wished that it should be recognised. "And, Mr Cheesacre," continued Mrs Greenow. "I did mean to send the music; I did, indeed."
I suppose he'd be in that place down there drinking beer, if we weren't here." "If he wanted to go, I dare say he would, in spite of us." "That's ungrateful of you, for I'm sure we've never been kept in a moment by his failing us. But as I was saying, I do dread going home. You are going to John Grey, which may be pleasant enough; but I'm going to Aunt Greenow." "It's your own choice."
In these days Mrs Greenow had become intimate with Mr Cheesacre, and had already learned that he was the undoubted owner of his own acres. "It wouldn't do for me," she had said to him, "to be putting myself forward, as if I were giving a party myself, or anything of that sort; would it now?" "Well, perhaps not. But you might come with us." "So I will, Mr Cheesacre, for that dear girl's sake.
And yet she is the last person in the world to whom I ought to go for money to improve her prospects as well as my own. That's what you call delicacy. I call it infernal nonsense." "I tell you what I'll do, George. I'll ask Aunt Greenow to lend you the money, or to lend it to me." "I don't believe she'd give me a shilling.
Then they got settled down in their seats, to the satisfaction, let us hope, of them both. Mr Cheesacre had vainly endeavoured to arrange that Mrs Greenow should return with him. But not only was Captain Bellfield opposed to such a change in their positions, but so also was Mrs Greenow. "I think we'd better go back as we came," she said, giving her hand to the Captain.
There was a little contest for supremacy between them, invisible to the eyes of the multitude; but Mr Cheesacre in such a matter had not a chance against Mrs Greenow. I am disposed to think that she would have reigned even though she had not contributed to the eatables; but with that point in her favour, she was able to make herself supreme.
Alice knew the story of Charlie Fairstairs and her hopes; knew of the quarrels between Bellfield and Cheesacre; knew almost as much of Bellfield's past life as Mrs Greenow did herself; and Mrs Greenow was no doubt aware that such was the case. Nevertheless, she had a pleasure in telling her own story, and told it as though she believed every word that she spoke.
Word Of The Day