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"You know," said Dale, interrupting the conversation, and speaking as though the subject that occupied his own mind was still under debate, "they can't pretend but what I warned them. I said it's madness to go and put the instruments anywhere but the place I've marked on the plan. If they'd listened to my words then " "Ah, there you are again," said Mr. Ridgett. "The personal equation!"
It was not a matter that one could boast about to anybody except one's self; but he wondered if Mr. Ridgett, or several other customers who might remain nameless, could say as much. Thanks to Mav! Yes, he ought always let himself be guided by her. And then, by a natural transition of ideas, he thought of that other great instinct of untutored man the fighting instinct.
That was Mr. Ridgett's very own word." "Who is Mr. Ridgett?" "Your inspector, sir what you sent to take over." "Ah, yes. But he no doubt referred to the office itself. What I am referring to is a much wider question the necessity of avoiding friction with the public. We have to remember that we are the servants of the public, and not its masters.
"Well," said Dale, "he has given a promise of a sort and I shan't bother him further." After that the talk became light again. As if the strain of her anxiety was more than Mavis Dale could bear for long at a time, she plunged into frivolous discussion, telling Mr. Ridgett of the splendors and beauties of the Abbey House. It was a show-place.
Ridgett, puffing his pipe luxuriously, contemplated her animated face with undisguised admiration; and presently Dale felt irritated by the admiring scrutiny. That was what always happened. At first he felt pleased that people should admire his wife; but if they seemed to admire her the least little shade too much, he became angry.
Nothing more would happen until the other clerk came down in a couple of hours' time, until the bags were opened, until Ridgett came yawning from his hired bedroom at the saddler's across the street, and the new day's work began. And Dale would be shut out of the work a director who might not even assist, a master superseded, a general under arrest in the midst of his army.
"It's the principle I stand for pretty near as much as for myself." "Ah, yes, just so," said Mr. Ridgett. "And now I'm going to ask you to help me find a bedroom somewhere handy, and put me up to knowing where I'd best get my meals;" and he laughed cheerfully. "Don't think I'm establishing myself but one may as well be comfortable, if one can. And I do give you this tip.
And how long may you have been running in double harness?" "Eleven years," said Dale. "Never! Any children?" "No," said Mrs. Dale. "No," said her husband. "We haven't been blessed that way not as yet." "I note the addition. Not as yet! Very neatly put." Mr. Ridgett laughed, and bowed gallantly to Mrs. Dale. "Plenty of time for any amount of blessings." Then they all sat down to the table.
"Where's the personality of it?" "I'll tell you. London isn't Rodchurch. What you said how many years ago? isn't going to govern the judgment of people who never heard you say it." "It ought to have gone on record. It is on record over at Rodhaven." "London isn't Rodhaven either." Then once again the talk became serious; and once again Ridgett saw in Mrs.
Ridgett smiled, and opened conversation in a very pleasant easy fashion. "From the look of things," he said facetiously, "I hazard the guess that you two aren't long home from the honeymoon." "You're off the line there," said Dale. "We're quite an old Darby and Joan." "Really!" And Mr. Ridgett's smile, as he regarded Mrs. Dale, expressed admiration and surprise. "Appearances are deceitful.
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