Here, by the way, he was told there was n.o.body at home.
Henry Brown, whistling a cheerful strain, betook himself to The Happy Heart. He found the motor-car standing outside, the chauffeur indulging in a cigarette. Voices from the parlor indicated that the landlord was trying to reason with two ladies, neither of whom seemed to be amenable to treatment.
"But he"s gorn, I tell you, ma"am," said the voice of Mr. Glew despairingly. "Ran in here, he did, a quarter of an hour ago: out again in five minutes----"
"I think you are prevaricating, Glew," said the acid tones of Mrs.
Peters. "Your manner is not straightforward at all this morning----"
"And we shan"t be satisfied till you have shown us his room," added Mrs.
Hedderwick. "So there!"
As the landlord resumed the mournful chant, apparently relying on tautological emphasis rather than reasoned argument or ocular demonstration (a suggestion that seemed unwelcome), Henry Brown smiled and pa.s.sed into the bar. Addressing the Boots, a "lad" of sixty-three, who acted as barman, beater, stable-boy, or butler as occasion or the seasons demanded, he said, "Is Miss Schmidt ready?"
"B"leeve so," said the Boots. "But I"ll tell her you"re here."
He went out, but returned shortly, followed by Mizzi, who was dressed for traveling. "Ah!" said she, with a radiant smile of welcome. "I have not kept you waiting long, have I?"
"Five days," answered Henry, to the astonishment of the Boots. "Five wasted days. Can"t think why you wanted to stay here all that time.
After being----"
He paused. He was about to say "sacked," but from consideration of his audience, refrained. Mizzi thanked him with a laugh.
"Ah!" she said very cheerfully. "The separation--shall we say?--was due to--guess!"
"Dunno," said Henry, watching her fasten her glove with admiring eyes.
"Jealousy!" she flashed, with a ripple of merriment. "Think of it!
_Jealousy!_ Even I could have hardly credited it. But I bear her no ill-will. On the contrary, I regard her as more human and could love her still more. (Bother--_bother--r--r_ this glove. Can you----?")
"But why did you wait?" he grumbled, fastening the glove and taking as long as he could for the pleasure of pressing her dainty wrist.
"I will be frank," she said, laughing temptingly. Henry dumbly cursed the Boots. "Curiosity! I wanted to watch a little longer. But I foresee the end of the play and am ready to go. Let us be off!"
"Your luggage has gone to the station?"
"Yes, and it is time we followed. Come!"
"A kiss first," said Henry, hungrily bending forward.
At this moment Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Hedderwick and the landlord (the latter still emitting "But he"s gorn--varnished, I tell you!") came from the parlor. They halted on observing the obvious sweethearts standing in the pa.s.sage. Mrs. Peters, her finest instincts revolting from such a naked display of animalism--and in the morning, too!--at once relinquished the lacquered Mr. Hedderwick for a more congenial theme.
"_Brown!_" she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed in tones that would have chilled a satyr.
"_Brown!_ how disgusting! Go to your work at once!"
The odd-job man could not restrain a natural blush, but he was man enough to stand his ground. The presence of Mizzi confirmed his courage and quickened his wits.
"Mr. Brown, if you please, ma"am," he said quietly but with resolution.
"I"ve left your service and am my own master now."
Mrs. Peters, justly annoyed at being thus spoken to by a menial, changed her line of attack.
"So this is the explanation!" she said, wishing she had a lorgnette for Mizzi"s benefit. She surveyed her with a severity that ought to have appalled. The survey gave her no comfort, for Mizzi was dressed to perfection. "So this is the young woman!"
"A deplorable exhibition," said Mrs. Hedderwick dispa.s.sionately. "The lower cla.s.ses--"
The young woman gave a most impertinent laugh, and said, "Come, Henry!
We shall miss the train!"
They left The Happy Heart; and the landlord, who had recovered breath, but not a fresh inspiration, during the interlude, took up the tale again.
Outside, the odd-job man, whose face was flushed, swore. "I wish they were men!" he said vindictively: "if they were, I"d teach "em a lesson in manners. By jove! I"d like to get even with----"
"Do not worry," said Mizzi soothingly. "After all, I _am_ a young woman.
Mesdames would give their ears to be the same."
Henry stopped dead, an idea having come upon him. With a growing light in his eye he surveyed the motor-car and the chauffeur, who in turn surveyed Mizzi with a gathering admiration. He even threw away the cigarette.
"I say," said Henry, "this isn"t a private car?"
"No," said the chauffeur, glad of a chance further to admire this enchanting damsel. "General Motor-Car Company. Druv the ole gal down from London s"morning. Made me crawl, too."
"Driving her back?"
The chauffeur suppressed an instinct to spit disgustedly and said, "Yes, wuss luck." Mizzi observed them, wondering.
"What would you take," said Henry, breathing hard, "to drive us back instead?"
The chauffeur shook his head.
"I"d lose my job."
"Five pounds?" hinted Henry.
"A job"s a job."
"I"ll find you another."
"Garn!"
"Straight! I"m Henry Brown, taxicab proprietor, Bloomsbury. Is that good enough?"
"_And_ a fiver?" stipulated the chauffeur, avaricious but cautious.
"Here you are," said Henry, diving into his pocket. A note changed hands, and the chauffeur a.s.sumed a bland demeanor. "Jump in!" he said concisely; "it"s a bet!"
"Oh, but----" objected Mizzi, hanging back.
"_Romance!_" whispered Henry. "You said you liked it! Quick! Quick!"