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"So I may do," Peg agreed, "but I'm not a fool, and neither is he; and as he's Ralph Scammel, and a good business man as well, he's not doing all this just to please us, and don't you forget it. There's some reason for it all." "What do you mean?" But Faith spoke uneasily and looked away. "I mean," said Peg bluntly, "that he's in love with one of us." She looked at Faith with sharp eyes.
For the first time her eyes fell, as she added: "You needn't believe me, but I've often been sick about that since!" Forrester laughed. "You need not be. It's more or less true. I am selfish, and I am Ralph Scammel, and I did work you and hundreds of other girls like you, to make money for me." "You're not a bit selfish," Peg said almost violently. "Look how good you've been to us!
"Well, don't take any notice of her. She's a silly kid; she says lots of things she doesn't really mean." She came across the room and stood beside him. "Look here; it's partly me who's to blame for her being so unkind to you," she went on bluntly. "I told her you were Ralph Scammel. I told her that you were a selfish brute, and that you made us work as we did to get money for you."
I can see it all now the loveliness of nature, the waiting thousands, mute and pitiful. I shut my eyes and prayed for this passing soul. A deathful stillness came upon the assembled multitude. I heard Colonel Scammel read the sentence. Then there was the rumble of the cart, a low murmur broke forth, and the sound of moving steps was heard. It was over.
Faith had been listening attentively, but now she broke in vehemently: "If he is Ralph Scammel, he is a bad man! Peg says so, and Peg is always right!" And then again, with renewed anguish: "Oh, but it can't be true, I know it can't." "If you have that much faith in him," said Mr. Shawyer quickly, "you must be content to wait till he comes back and ask him yourself.
"His name isn't Scammel at all his name is Nicholas Forrester, and so...." Peg shrugged her shoulders. "So it may be, for all I know, but he's Scammel, and he owns Heeler's. Ask him, if you don't believe me. He's the man who brought that crowd of women round the factory I told you about stuck-up crew! He's the man who cut down our overtime money. Ask any of the girls.
Peg said "Humph!" and for some moments they worked silently. Then Faith asked again: "What is he like?" "Who? Scammel? Oh, big and ugly." "Does he ever come here?" "Bless your heart, no! He's a millionaire with a house in Park-lane or somewhere, and a yacht, and a place on the river, and a Rolls-Royce, and no end more...." She was drawing entirely on her imagination.
These advanced parties were much annoyed by a heavy cannonade from the besieged; and Colonel Scammel, the officer of the day, while viewing the ground recently left by the British, was surprised by a party of their cavalry; and, after he surrendered, received a mortal wound, which terminated his life in a few days. Scammel was a brave and accomplished officer, and eminent as a disciplinarian.
Being asked whether Washington could laugh, this person said this was a rare occurrence, but one instance was remembered when he laughed most heartily at her narration of an incident in which she was a party concerned, and in which he applauded her agency. Scammel had a fund of ludicrous anecdotes, and a manner of telling them, which relaxed even the gravity of the commander-in-chief.
She looked at her new wedding-ring and gained courage. Of course, they could not be true, all these horrible accusations. How could the Beggar Man be Scammel, when he had told her himself that his name was Forrester! She almost laughed at her panic. He had given her money, and he had kissed her he had taken her to his beautiful flat and wished her to stay there.
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