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Updated: June 29, 2025
Mary Ann shook her head, more regretfully than resentfully. "I told you I never go out except for little errands." She had told him, but his attention had been so concentrated on the ungrammatical form in which she had conveyed the information, that the fact itself had made no impression. Now his anger against Mrs. Leadbatter dwindled.
Leadbatter was extremely economical, as much so with the provisions in her charge as with those she bought for herself. She sedulously sent up remainders till they were expressly countermanded. Less economical by nature, and hungrier by habit, Mary Ann had much trouble in restraining herself from surreptitious pickings.
See you again when I come back; don't suppose I shall be away more than a month. Good-bye!" And, having shaken Lancelot's hand with tremendous cordiality, the popular composer rushed downstairs and into a hansom. Lancelot walked home with the libretto and the five five-pound notes. He asked for Mrs. Leadbatter, and gave her a week's notice.
Leadbatter, whose experience of life was wider than Mary Ann's, considered his vagaries almost unchristian, though to the highest degree gentlemanly. Sometimes, too, he sported the swallow-tail and the starched breast-plate, which was a wonder to Mary Ann, who knew that waiters were connected only with the most stylish establishments. Baker's Terrace did not wear evening dress.
"If I had not flown in the old man's face and picked up a little German here years ago, I should not be half so useful to him now.... I shall pay a flying visit to Leipsic not on business." But at last Peter returned, Mrs. Leadbatter panting to the door to let him in one afternoon without troubling to ask Lancelot if he was "at home."
Leadbatter " and here followed reminiscences long since in their hundredth edition. "Yes; let me have some coffee very hot please," said Lancelot less gently. The woman's voice jarred upon him; and her features were not redeeming. "Lawd, sir, I 'ope that gas 'asn't been burnin' all night, sir," she said as she was going out. "It has," he said shortly.
"Yessir, and I've brought you some tea." The room was dark, but darkness seemed to fall on it as she spoke. "But why are you waiting on me, then?" he said slowly. "Don't you know that you that you " "Please, Mr. Lancelot, I wanted to come in and see you." He felt himself trembling. "But Mrs. Leadbatter told me she wouldn't let you do any more work."
This was a new idea altogether. Mrs. Leadbatter stood waiting for his reply, with a deferential smile tempered by asthmatic contortions. "But have you got a piano of your own?" "Oh, no, sir," cried Mrs. Leadbatter, almost reproachfully. "Well; but how is your Rosie to practise? One lesson a week is of very little use anyway, but unless she practises a good deal it'll only be a waste of time."
From this significant task he was aroused by hearing Mrs. Leadbatter coughing in his sitting-room. He went in with an interrogative look. "Oh, my chest!" said Mrs. Leadbatter, patting it. "It's no use my denyin' of it, sir, I'm done up. It's as much as I can do to crawl up to the top to bed. I'm thinkin' I shall have to make up a bed in the kitchen.
Leadbatter, who was standing in the aperture with no immediate intention of departing, could find no repartee beyond slamming the door as hard as she could. This little passage of arms strangely softened Lancelot to Mary Ann. It made him realise faintly what her life must be. "I should go mad and smash all the crockery!" he cried aloud. He felt quite tender again towards the uncomplaining girl.
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