THE CHARM OF THE OLD WORLD ROMANCES – Premium 10 Book Collection. Robert Barr

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      CHAPTER XXVI.

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      William Longworth had an eye for beauty. One of his eyes was generally covered by a round disc of glass, save when the disc fell out of its place and dangled in front of his waistcoat. Whether the monocle assisted his sight or not, it is certain that William knew a pretty girl when he saw her. One of the housemaids in the Longworth household left suddenly, without just cause or provocation, as the advertisements say, and in her place a girl was engaged who was so pretty that, when William Longworth caught sight of her, his monocle dropped from its usual position, and he stared at her with his two natural eyes, unassisted by science. He tried to speak to her on one or two occasions when he met her alone; but he could get no answer from the girl, who was very shy and demure, and knew her place, as people say. All this only enhanced her value in young Longworth's estimation, and he thought highly of his cousin's taste in choosing this young person to dust the furniture.

      William had a room in the house which was partly sitting-room and partly study, and there he kept many of his papers. He was supposed to ponder over matters of business in this room, and it gave him a good excuse for arriving late at the office in the morning. He had been sitting up into the small hours, he would tell his uncle; although he would sometimes vary the excuse by saying that it was quieter at home than in the City, and that he had spent the early part of the morning in reading documents.

      The first time William got an answer from the new housemaid was when he expressed his anxiety about the care of this room. He said that servants generally were very careless, and he hoped she would attend to things, and see that his papers were kept nicely in order. This, without glancing up at him, the girl promised to do, and William thereafter found his apartment kept with a scrupulous neatness which would have delighted the most particular of men.

      One morning when he was sitting by his table, enjoying an after-breakfast cigarette, the door opened softly, and the new housemaid entered. Seeing him there, she seemed confused, and was about to retire, when William, throwing his cigarette away, sprang to his feet.

      'No, don't go,' he said; 'I was just about to ring.'

      The girl paused with her hand on the door.

      'Yes,' he continued, 'I was just going to ring, but you have saved me the trouble; but, by the way, what is your name?'

      'Susy, if you please, sir,' replied the girl modestly.

      'Ah well, Susy, just shut the door for a moment.'

      The girl did so, but evidently with some reluctance.

      'Well, Susy,' said William jauntily, 'I suppose that I'm not the first one who has told you that you are very pretty.'

      'Oh, sir!' said Susy, blushing and looking down on the carpet.

      'Yes, Susy, and you take such good care of this room that I want to thank you for it,' continued William.

      Here he fumbled in his pocket for a moment, and drew out half a sovereign.

      'Here, my girl, is something for your trouble. Keep this for yourself.'

      'Oh, I couldn't think of taking money, sir,' said the girl, drawing back. 'I couldn't indeed, sir!'

      'Nonsense!' said William; 'isn't it enough?'

      'Oh, it's more than enough. Miss Longworth pays me well for what I do, sir, and it's only my duty to keep things tidy.'

      'Yes, Susy, that is very true; but very few of us do our duty, you know, in this world.'

      'But we ought to, sir,' said the girl, in a tone of quiet reproof that made the young man smile.

      'Perhaps,' said he; 'but then, you see, we are not all pretty and good, like you. I'm sorry you won't take the money. I hope you are not offended at me for offering it;' and William adjusted his eye-glass, looking his sweetest at the young person standing before him.

      'Oh no, sir,' she said, 'I'm not at all offended, and I thank you very much, very much indeed, sir, and I would like to ask you a question, if you wouldn't think me too bold.'

      'Bold?' cried William. 'Why, I think you are the shyest little woman I have ever seen. I'll be very pleased to answer any question you may ask me. What is it?'

      'You see, sir, I've got a little money of my own.'

      'Well, I declare, Susy, this is very interesting. I'd no idea you were an heiress.'

      'Oh, not an heiress, sir—far from it. It's only a little matter of four or five hundred pounds, sir,' said Susy, dropping him an awkward little curtsy, which he thought most charming. 'The money is in the bank, and earns no interest, and I thought I would like to invest it where it would bring in something.'

      'Certainly, Susy, and a most laudable desire on your part. Was it about that you wished to question me?'

      'Yes, if you please, sir. I saw this paper on your desk, and I thought I would ask you if it would be safe for me to put my money in these mines, sir. Seeing the paper here, I supposed you had something to do with it.'

      William whistled a long incredulous note, and said:

      'So you have been reading my papers, have you, miss?'

      'Oh no, sir,' said the girl, looking up at him with startled eyes. 'I only saw the name Canadian Mica-mine on this, and the paper said it would pay ten per cent., and I thought if you had anything to do with it that my money would be quite safe.'

      'Oh, that goes without saying,' said William; 'but if I were you, my dear, I should not put my money in the mica-mine.'

      'Oh, then, you haven't anything to do with the mine, sir?'

      'Yes, Susy, I have. You СКАЧАТЬ