Well, said Miss Hewitt, placing herself in her high-backed chair, which no one else presumed to occupy, what is to do? I could see as youd something to tell me of before you were up to the kitchen door.
Ive more than something to tell you. Ive something to ask you, said Patty.
I dare say: the one mostly means the other; but you know as Im not foolish, nor even to say free with my money, if thats it, knowing the valley of it more than the likes of you.
I know that, said Patty; and it aint for anything connected with the house or the business that Id ever ask you, auntie; but this is for myself, and I shant go about the bush or make any explanations till Ive just told you frank; its a matter of thirty pounds.
Thirty pounds! the gell is out of her senses! Miss Hewitt cried.
Or thereabouts. I dont know for certain; but you, as knows a deal more than me, may. Its for a marriage-licence, said Patty, looking her aunt full in the face.
A marriage-licence! Miss Hewitt repeated again, in tones of consternation; and what does the fool want with a licence as costs money, when you can put up the banns, as is far more respectable, and be married the right way.
I dont know as theres anything that aint respectable in a licence, and anyway its the only thing, said Patty, for him and me. If I cant get it, Ill have to let it alone, thats all. A marriage as mightnt be anything much for the moment, but enough to make the hair stand upright on your head, Aunt Patience, all the same!
What kind of marriage would that be? said the old lady, sceptical yet interested; that fine Roger of yours, maybe, as is probable to be made a lord for his battin and his bowlin. Lord! Patty, how you can be such a fool, a niece of mine!
I aint such a fool, said Patty, growing red, though it might be better for me if I was. But anyhow I am your niece, as you say, and I cant be that kind of fool; maybe Im a bigger fool, if its true as that old witch at the Manor says.
What old witch? cried the other old witch in the parlour, pricking up her ears.
Aunt Patience, cried Patty, you as knows: can they lock up in a madhouse a young man as isnt mad, no more than you or me; but is just silly, as any one of us might be? Can they put him out of his property, or send for the Lord Chancellor and take everything from him to his very name? Oh, whats the use of asking who he is? Who could he be? there aint but one like that in all this county, and you know who he is as well as I do. Mr. Gervase Piercey. Sir Giles son and heir! and theyve got neither chick nor child but him!
Patty, said the elder woman, laying a grip like that of a bird with claws upon her nieces arm, is it im as you want the thirty pounds for to buy the licence? Tell me straight out, and not a word more.
It is him , said Patty, in full possession of her hs, and with a gravity that became the importance of the occasion. Miss Hewitt did not say a word. She rose from her chair, and, proceeding to the window, pulled down the thick linen blind. She then placed a chair against the door. Then she took from the recess near the fireplace an old workbox, full to all appearance, when she opened it with a key which she took out of her purse, with thread and needles of various kinds. Underneath this, when she had taken the shelf completely out, appeared something wrapt in a handkerchief half-hemmed, with a threaded needle stuck in it as if it had been a piece of work put aside which proved to be an old pocketbook. She held this in her hand for a moment only, gave Patty a look, full of suspicion, scrutiny, yet subdued enthusiasm; then she opened it and took out carefully three crisp and crackling notes, selecting them one by one from different bundles. Then with great deliberation she put notes, pocketbook, the covering shelf, of the workbox, and the box itself back into the place where it had stood before.
Mind, now youve seen it, Ill put it all into another place, Miss Hewitt said; so you may tell whoever you like, they wont find it there.
Why should I tell? said Patty; its more for my interest you should keep it safe.
You think youll get it all when I die, said the elder woman, sitting down opposite to her niece with the notes in her hand.
I think, as I hope, youll never die, Aunt Patience! but
always be here to comfort and help a body when theyre in trouble, like me.
Do you call yourself in trouble? I call you as lucky as ever girl was. Id have given my eyes for the chance when I was like you; but his father was too knowing a one, and never gave it to me. Here! you asked for thirty, and Ive give you fifty. Dont you go and put off and shilly-shally, but strike while the irons hot. And theres a little over to go honeymooning upon. Of course hes got no money the Softy: but I know im; hes no more mad than you or me.
She ended with a long, low laugh of exultation and satisfaction which made even Patty, excited and carried away by the tremendous step in her life thus decided upon, feel the blood chilled in her veins.