VIII

LadyShuttleworththen,busiestandmostunsuspectingofwomen,waswhiskingthroughherbreakfastandhercorrespondencenextmorningwithhercustomarycelerityandmethod,whenaservantappearedandofferedheroneofthoseleavesfromFritzing'snote-bookwhichweknowdiddutyashiscards. Tussiewassittingattheotherendofthetableverylimpandsadafteranightoftiresometossingthatwasneitherwhollysleepnorwhollywakefulness,andshelteredbyvariousdisheswithspirit-lampsburningbeneaththemworkedgloomilyatasonnetinspiredbythegirlhehadmetthedaybeforewhilehismotherthoughthewaseatinghispatentfood.Thegirl,itseemed,couldnotinspiremuch,forbeyondthefourthlinehismuserefusedtogoandhewasbeginningtobeunabletostophimselffromanangryrailingattherestrictionsthesonnetformforcesuponpoetswholovetobevague,whichwouldimmediatelyhaveconcentratedhismother'sattentiononhimselfandresultedinhishavingtoreadherwhathehadwritten—forshesturdilykeptupthefictionofalivelyinterestinhispoetictricklings—whentheservantcameinwithFritzing'sleaf. "Agentlemanwishestoseeyouonbusiness,mylady,"saidtheservant. "Mr.Neumann-Schultz?"readoutLadyShuttleworthinaninquiringvoice."Neverheardofhim.Where'shefrom?" "Baker'sFarm,mylady." AtthatmagicnameTussie'sheadwentupwithajerk. "TellhimtogotoMr.Dawson,"saidLadyShuttleworth. Theservantdisappeared. "Whydoyousendhimaway,mother?"askedTussie. "Why,youknowthingsmustgothroughDawson,"saidLadyShuttleworthpouncingonherlettersagain."I'dbeplaguedtodeathiftheydidn't." "Butapparentlythisisthestrangerwithinourgates.Isn'theGerman?" "Hisnameis.Dawsonwillbequitekindtohim." "Dawson'sratherabruteIfancy,whenyou'renotlooking." "Dearest,Ialwaysamlooking." "HemustbeoneofPearce'slodgers." "Poorman,I'msorryforhimifheis.Ofalltheshiftlesswomen—" "Thegentlemansays,mylady,"saidtheservantreappearingwithratheranawestruckface,"thathewishestospeaktoyoumostparticular." "James,didInottellyoutosendhimtoMr.Dawson?" "Ideliveredthemessage,mylady.Butthegentlemansayshe'sseenMr.Dawson,andthathe"—thefootmancoughedslightly—"hedon'twanttoseeanymoreofhim,mylady." LadyShuttleworthputonherglassesandstaredattheservant."Uponmywordheseemstobeverycool,"shesaidandtheservant,hisgazefixedonarespectfulpointjustabovehismistress'shead,reflectedontheextremeinapplicabilityoftheadjectivetoanythingsowarmasthegentlemanatthedoor. "Shal