I know the portrait hangs there, Philip.
Yes, sure, its the second on the right, above the panelling. I was going to say he has helped to keep my memory green, I thank him; for going round the building every year, as Im a doing now, and freshening up the bare rooms with these branches and berries, freshens up my bare old brain. One year brings back another, and that year another, and those others numbers! At last, it seems to me as if the birth-time of our Lord was the birth-time of all I have ever had affection for, or mourned for, or delighted in, and theyre a pretty many, for Im eighty-seven!
Merry and happy, murmured Redlaw to himself.
The room began to darken strangely.
So you see, sir, pursued old Philip, whose hale wintry cheek had warmed into a ruddier glow, and whose blue eyes had brightened while he spoke, I have plenty to keep, when I keep this present season. Now, wheres my quiet Mouse? Chatterings the sin of my time of life, and theres half the building to do yet, if the cold dont freeze us first, or the wind dont blow us away, or the darkness dont swallow us up.
The quiet Mouse had brought her calm face to his side, and silently taken his arm, before he finished speaking.
Come away, my dear, said the old man. Mr. Redlaw wont settle to his dinner, otherwise, till its cold as the winter. I hope youll excuse me rambling on, sir, and I wish you good night, and, once again, a merry
Stay! said Mr. Redlaw, resuming his place at the table, more, it would have seemed from his manner, to reassure the old keeper, than in any remembrance of his own appetite. Spare me another moment, Philip. William, you were going to tell me something to your excellent wifes honour. It will not be disagreeable to her to hear you praise her. What was it?
Why, thats where it is, you see, sir, returned Mr. William Swidger, looking towards his wife in considerable embarrassment. Mrs. Williams got her eye upon me.
But youre not afraid of Mrs. Williams eye?
Why, no, sir, returned Mr. Swidger, thats what I say myself. It wasnt made to be afraid of. It wouldnt have been made so mild, if that was the intention. But I wouldnt like to Milly! him, you know. Down in the Buildings.
Mr. William, standing behind the table, and rummaging disconcertedly among the objects upon it, directed persuasive glances at Mrs. William, and secret jerks of his head and thumb at Mr. Redlaw, as alluring her towards him.
Him, you know, my love, said Mr. William. Down in the Buildings. Tell, my dear! Youre the works of Shakespeare in comparison with myself. Down in the Buildings, you know, my love. Student.
Student? repeated Mr. Redlaw, raising his head.
Thats what I say, sir! cried Mr. William, in the utmost animation of assent. If it wasnt the poor student down in the Buildings, why should you wish to hear it from Mrs. Williams lips? Mrs. William, my dear Buildings.
I didnt know, said Milly, with a quiet frankness, free from any haste or confusion, that William had said anything about it, or I wouldnt have come. I asked him not to. Its a sick young gentleman, sir and very poor, I am afraid who is too ill to go home this holiday-time, and lives, unknown to any one, in but a common kind of lodging for a gentleman, down in Jerusalem Buildings. Thats all, sir.
Why have I never heard of him? said the Chemist, rising hurriedly. Why has he not made his situation known to me? Sick! give me my hat and cloak. Poor! what house? what number?
Oh, you mustnt go there, sir, said Milly, leaving her father-in-law, and calmly confronting him with her collected little face and folded hands.
Not go there?
Oh dear, no! said Milly, shaking her head as at a most manifest and self-evident impossibility. It couldnt be thought of!
What do you mean? Why not?
Why, you see, sir, said Mr. William Swidger, persuasively and confidentially, thats what I say. Depend upon it, the young gentleman would never have made his situation known to one of his own sex. Mrs. Williams has got into his confidence, but thats quite different. They all confide in Mrs. William; they all trust her. A man, sir, couldnt have got a whisper out of him; but woman, sir, and Mrs. William combined !
There is good sense and delicacy in what you say, William, returned Mr. Redlaw, observant of the gentle and composed face at his shoulder. And laying his finger on his lip, he secretly put his purse into her hand.
Oh dear no, sir! cried Milly, giving it back again. Worse and worse! Couldnt be dreamed of!
Such a staid matter-of-fact housewife she was, and so unruffled by the momentary haste of this rejection, that, an instant afterwards, she was tidily picking up a few leaves which had strayed from between her scissors and her apron, when she had arranged the holly.
Finding, when she rose from her stooping posture, that Mr. Redlaw was still regarding her with doubt and astonishment, she quietly repeated looking about, the while, for any other fragments that might have escaped her observation:
Oh dear no, sir! He said that of all the world he would not be known to you, or receive help from you though he is a student in your class. I have made no terms of secrecy with you, but I trust to your honour completely.
Why did he say so?
Indeed I cant tell, sir, said Milly, after thinking a little, because I am not at all clever, you know; and I wanted to be useful to him in making things neat and comfortable about him, and employed myself that way. But I know he is poor, and lonely, and I think he is somehow neglected too. How dark it is!
The room had darkened more and more. There was a very heavy gloom and shadow gathering behind the Chemists chair.
What more about him? he asked.
He is engaged to be married when he can afford it, said Milly, and is studying, I think, to qualify himself to earn a living. I have seen, a long time, that he has studied hard and denied himself much. How very dark it is!
Its turned colder, too, said the old man, rubbing his hands. Theres a chill and dismal feeling in the room. Wheres my son William? William, my boy, turn the lamp, and rouse the fire!
Millys voice resumed, like quiet music very softly played:
He muttered in his broken sleep yesterday afternoon, after talking to me (this was to herself) about some one dead, and some great wrong done that could never be forgotten; but whether to him or to another person, I dont know. Not by him, I am sure.
And, in short, Mrs. William, you see which she wouldnt say herself, Mr. Redlaw, if she was to stop here till the new year after this next one said Mr. William, coming up to him to speak in his ear, has done him worlds of good! Bless you, worlds of good! All at home just the same as ever my father made as snug and comfortable not a crumb of litter to be found in the house, if you were to offer fifty pound ready money for it Mrs. William apparently never out of the way yet Mrs. William backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards, up and down, up and down, a mother to him!
The room turned darker and colder, and the gloom and shadow gathering behind the chair was heavier.
Not content with this, sir, Mrs. William goes and finds, this very night, when she was coming home (why its not above a couple of hours ago), a creature more like a young wild beast than a young child, shivering upon a door-step. What does Mrs. William do, but brings it home to dry it, and feed it, and keep it till our old Bounty of food and flannel is given away, on Christmas morning! If it ever felt a fire before, its as much as ever it did; for its sitting in the old Lodge chimney, staring at ours as if its ravenous eyes would never shut again. Its sitting there, at least, said Mr. William, correcting himself, on reflection, unless its bolted!