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Of course," he said, interrupting himself, "all the menial work will be done by Mrs Murridge. You will be only required to fill, as it were, the part of a daughter or or a sister to my poor Fred. As to salary: it will be small, very small, I fear; but there are a couple of nice rooms in the house, which will be entirely at your " "I quite understand," interrupted Miss Gentle, with a smile.
I had fancied I had reached the lowest depths of misfortune when I became a ruined diamond-merchant, but this is a profounder deep." "Here's the doctor a-comin' down-stairs, sir," said an elderly female, protruding her head from the back shop, and speaking in a stage-whisper. "Very well, Mrs Murridge, let him come," said Mr Blurt recklessly.
The lady raised her veil, and displayed the amazed face of Miss Lillycrop. "I came to inquire for my old friend I'm so grieved; I was not aware Mr Aspel " "Give me my bird, I say!" demanded the virago. "Step this way, madam," said Aspel, driven almost to distraction as he opened the door of the back shop. "Mrs Murridge, show this lady up to Mr Blurt's room.
You know he is obliged to look after the shop, and to go out a good deal on business, during which times Mr Fred is either left alone, or under the care of Mrs Murridge, who, though faithful, is old and deaf and stupid.
"Mrs Murridge," said Mr Blurt, when the doctor had gone, "would you be so good as mind the shop for a few minutes, while I go up-stairs? If any one should come in, just go to the foot of the stair and give two coughs. I shall hear you." On entering his brother's room, he found him raised on one elbow, with his eyes fixed wildly on the door.
Thus George Aspel was regularly, though suddenly, installed. When evening approached Mrs Murridge lighted the gas, and the new shopman set to work with energy to examine the stock and look over the books, in the hope of thereby obtaining at least a faint perception of the nature of the business in which he was embarked. While thus engaged a woman entered hastily and demanded her pheasant.
"But there are no little boys about," he said, looking out into the street, where the wind was sending clouds of dust and bits of straw and paper into the air. "I would do it myself, but have not time; I'm late as it is. Ah! I have it Mrs Murridge!" Calling the faithful domestic, he asked if she knew how to put up the shutters, and would do it.
Aspel rushed out just in time to catch Mrs Murridge and the shutter in his strong arms as they were about to be swept into the kennel. He could do no more, however, than hold them there, the wind being too much even for him. While in this extremity he received timely aid from some one, whom the indistinct light revealed as a broad-shouldered little fellow in a grey uniform.
With his assistance the shutter was affixed and secured. "Thank you, friend, whoever you are," said Aspel heartily, as he turned and followed the panting Mrs Murridge. But the "friend," instead of replying, seized Aspel by the arm and walked with him into the shop. "George Aspel!" he said. George looked down and beheld the all but awe-stricken visage of Philip Maylands.
"Did you search for the cause, especially about your kitchen fireplace?" "O yes, sir," exclaimed Tottie, "an' we couldn't see no cause at all only the flue seemed to be 'otter than usual. We looked all over the 'ouse too, but couldn't see nothink but we could feel a most drefful smell." Desiring Mrs Murridge to call Mr Blurt to attend to the shop, George Aspel hurried out.
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