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At three o'clock there came a ring at the telephone, and when Miss Linderham answered the call, the voice which she had heard before said "I am very sorry to disappoint you, madam, but Lord Stansford resigned this afternoon. We could send you another man if you liked to have him." "No, no!" cried Miss Linderham; and the man at the other end of the telephone actually thought she was weeping.
Lord Stansford sprang to his feet; Miss Linderham arose also, and looked in some alarm from one young man to the other. "Stop a moment, Heckle; don't say a word, and I will meet you where you like afterwards," hurriedly put in his lordship. "Afterwards is no good to me," answered Heckle. "I gave you the tip, and you haven't followed it."
I thought it was too bad to leave the country without giving you an opportunity to apologise for your conduct last night, and for the additional insult of hiring me for two hours this afternoon. And so, you see, I came." "I am very glad you did," replied Miss Linderham. "I was much disappointed when they telephoned me this afternoon that you had resigned.
You seem to be very devoted to Miss Linderham, so perhaps you do not know she is engaged to me." "I have heard it so stated," said Lord Stansford, "but I have found some difficulty in believing the statement." "Now, see here," cried the horsey young man, "I want none of your cheek, and I give you fair warning that, if you pay any more attention to the young lady, I shall expose you in public.
Why don't you go where fighting is appreciated, and where they do not call a policeman?" "I have often thought of it, Miss Linderham, but you see, to secure an appointment, one needs to have a certain amount of influence, and be able to pass examinations, I can't pass an examination in anything. I have quarrelled with all my people, and have no influence.
"I am sorry the firm did not provide me with some of their cards when I was at the office this afternoon." "It doesn't matter," said Miss Linderham; "I will remember," and they entered the house together.
It seems to me that a man who thinks he can make two thousand a year is very foolish to let himself out at two guineas an evening." "Do you know, Miss Linderham, that was just what I thought myself, and I told the respectable Spink so, too. I told him I had had an offer of two thousand a year in his own line of business. He said that no firm in London could afford the money.
Young Heckle slunk away, and Lord Stansford turned to Miss Linderham, who stood looking on, speechless with horror and surprise. "What a brute you are!" she cried, her under lip quivering. "Yes," he replied quietly. "Most of us men are brutes when you take a little of the varnish off. Won't you sit down, Miss Linderham?
There was a long silence between them after Maggie Linderham ceased speaking. The young man kicked the gravel with his toes, and his eyes were bent upon the path before him. "He is thinking it over," said Miss Linderham to herself. At last Lord Stansford looked up, with a sigh. "Did you see the late scuffle between the unfortunate Heckle and myself?" "Did I see it?" she asked.
He appeared to be enjoying himself immensely, and danced through every dance with the utmost devotion, which rather put to shame many of the young men who lounged against the walls; never once, however, did he come near Miss Linderham until the evening was well on, and then he passed her by accident. She touched him on the arm with her fan, and he looked round quickly.
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