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Updated: June 7, 2025
This secret was originally Miss Husted's, but after she had begged Pinac to tell Poons not to behave like a moon-calf, had asked Fico to prevent the young German from sighing audibly whenever he saw Jenny, and had finally told Von Barwig she wouldn't keep Poons in the house at any price, everybody in the house began to suspect something.
As Von Barwig stood waiting for Poons to enter with him, he noticed Poons's outstretched hand. "Aren't you coming in?" he asked. Poons shook his head. "I'd better not," he said simply. "Why not?" asked Von Barwig. "Because," Poons faltered. He did not want to tell his friend that at such times as these it is better for a man to be alone with his thoughts.
In addition she had a haunting dread that Mr. Poons was in love with her niece. Jenny was now nearly nineteen years of age, and although she looked barely sixteen, she had developed into a remarkably good-looking young woman, a fact which young Poons had evidently noticed. Miss Husted trembled with dismay when she saw Poons look at Jenny.
It struck the men as being most tearful for a comic song. It was some time before Miss Husted had sufficiently recovered herself to knock at Poons's door and inform him that she had withdrawn her opposition to his marriage with her niece. How she made herself understood is one of the mysteries and must remain so, but Poons understood and felt that she was now his friend.
Once, during breakfast, Pinac heard Poons sigh and kicked him under the table, whereupon he immediately grinned. Von Barwig saw this lightning change and wondered what was the matter. "Are you in pain?" he asked. "No," replied Poons, trying to smile, but only succeeding in grinning. Then he laughed with real tears in his eyes. "Are you laughing or crying?" asked Von Barwig.
Miss Husted followed this glance with her eye and rather testily suggested to her niece that the bell was ringing and there was no one to answer it. Jenny, who was glad to get out alive, hurriedly made her escape. Poons, sighing deeply, went into the alcove and looked out of the window. Miss Husted sat down, looked around the room pathetically, then followed Poons's example and sighed.
Poons saw that it was an effort and determined to sink his pride, so he begged Pinac to help him get something for him to do; anything, anywhere.
Luff, Chenny, luff!" he added. He meant love, for he knew the meaning of that, and he waited for her answer. Perhaps she did not understand, but if she did, all she seemed able to say was: "That isn't in my lesson, Mr. Poons; it isn't in my lesson!"
There is no need to describe the delicate, sensitive, rugged countenance, which, when he smiled, radiated love and sympathy for his fellow-beings and made him what is ordinarily described as magnetic. Poons caught this smile, and his own broad grin deepened as he recognised his old friend again. "Come, let's go," Von Barwig said briefly; and without another word they walked out of the Gewandhaus.
"I could not speak to you for two days because auntie, that is, Miss Husted, was watching," said Jenny, laying the cloth. Poons nodded and smiled. "She was watching," said Jenny, but he made no sign. "Verstay? Verstay?" she repeated, making her little stock of German go as far as she could. "Nein! Ich " said Poons hopelessly.
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