“No, S’Richard, I can’t say as they hit me; but they hurt me, all the same. Servants has feelings same as gents has.”
“I’m very sorry, Jerry. Mr Frayne is a little irritable sometimes.”
“If you made it often, S’Richard, you wouldn’t be very far out.”
“Well, often then. His studies worry him, I suppose.”
Jerry made a peculiar grimace.
“And he has had a little trouble once or twice with Mr Draycott.”
“Yes, S’Richard, he ayve.”
“There, I’ll speak to him, Jerry. He doesn’t mean anything by it, for he’s a good fellow at heart; and when he feels that he has hurt your feelings I daresay it will mean an apology, and—perhaps something else.”
“Thankye, S’Richard, thankye,” said the man. “I know’d you’d say something o’ that sort, but don’t you speak to him. It wouldn’t do no good. He wouldn’t ’pologise to such as me; and as to a tip—not him! There, S’Richard, it’s all right now. It did me good to say all that out to a real gentleman, and—pst!—Any more orders, S’Richard?”
“Eh?” said Richard, wondering at the man’s manner. “No, thank you; that’s all. What’s the matter?”