Miss Duck said, ‘La, Mr. Smith, what a funny man you are!’ and then George made small jokes, smaller than any Jabez had ever been guilty of in his life; but Miss Duck giggled prodigiously.
George declared privately to Bess that Miss Duck was a very decent old soul; and as Georgina had been particularly gracious, Bess agreed that she was. ‘Only it’s lucky for you. George, she’s so old and plain, or I should be jealous.’
I hope Miss Duck wasn’t listening at the key-hole to hear this remark, and I sincerely trust she wasn’t looking through it to witness the manner in which George closed Bess’s wicked little mouth.
That was yesterday. This morning there is no frivolity going on. George is reading the newspaper in order to find a berth that will suit him.
The disappearance of half his capital has reminded him that he is no longer a gentleman, but a young man who has a wife to keep and his living to earn.
When he comes to a likely advertisement, he reads it aloud to Bess, and they discuss it.
‘How do you think this will do, dear?’ he says, presently:
‘“Wanted, a married man, without encumbrance, to drive a pair, look after a small garden, help in the house, and fill up his spare time as amanuensis to a deaf lady. A small salary, but the person will have the advantage of living in a vegetarian family, where total abstinence and Church of England principles offer special advantages to a true Christian.”’
‘How’ll that do?’ asked George, with a smile.
‘Not at all,’ answered Bess, laughing. ‘But George dear, what does “encumbrance” mean?’