HOW CERTAIN TROJANS CLIMBED A WALL OUT OF CURIOSITY; AND OF A
CHARWOMAN THAT COULD GIVE NO INFORMATION.
Meanwhile, curiosity in Troy was beating its wings
against the closed doors of “The Bower.”
The early morning train next day brought three domestics
to supplement the youth in buttons, and supplant the
charwoman. Miss Limpenny, in deshabille
(but at a decent distance from the window), saw them
arrive, and called Lavinia to look, with the result
that within two minutes the sisters had satisfied
themselves as to which was the cook, which the parlour-maid,
and which the kitchen-maid.
Later in the day, a van-load of furniture arrived,
though “The Bower” was already furnished;
but, as Miss Limpenny said, in all these matters of
comfort and refinement, “there are degrees.”
On this occasion the Admiral, who had been prevailed
upon to leave his bed, executed a manoeuvre the audacity
of which should have commanded success.
He crossed the road, and opened a conversation with
the driver.
But success does not always wait on the brave.
The van-driver happened to have a temper as short
as the Admiral’s, and far less reverence.
“Good-morning,” said the Admiral, cheerily.
“Mornin’.”
“What’s a-foot to-day?”
“Same as yesterday—twelve inches.”
The Admiral was rather taken aback, but smiled, nevertheless,
and persevered.
“Ha, ha! very good. You are a wit, I perceive.”
But the driver’s conversation teemed with the
unexpected.
“Look ‘ere, Ruby-face! give me any more
of your sass an’ I’ll punch yer ’ed
for tuppence.”
This was conclusive. The Admiral struck his
flag, re-crossed the street, went indoors, and had
it out with Mrs. Buzza. Indeed, at the end of
half-an-hour that poor lady’s feelings were so
overwrought, and, in consequence, her sobs so loud,
that the Admiral had perforce to get out his double-bass
and play a selection of martial music to prevent Miss
Limpenny’s hearing them on the other side of
the partition.
All this happened early in the afternoon. Towards
five o’clock Miss Limpenny, who had only left
her post twice, and on each occasion to snatch a hurried
meal, was rewarded for her patience. The front
door of “The Bower” opened, and Mr. and
Mrs. Goodwyn-Sandys appeared, dressed, as Miss Limpenny
could see, for a walk.
“Now, I wonder,” reflected that kind soul,
“which direction they will take. Personally,
of course, I should prefer them to pass this window;
but I hope I can subdue private inclination to public
spirit, and for Troy’s sake I hope they will
visit the Castle first. The salubrity of the
air, as well as the expansiveness of the view, would
be certain to impress them favourably. Dear,
dear! I wish I could advise them. Should
they take the direction of the town, I know by experience
they will be apt to meet with an effluvium of decaying
fish, and I should so like their stay among
us to be begun under pleasant auspices.”
