“Do you know, I had begun to believe that everyone in town—all the grand people, I mean—were quite heartless, and selfish?” she confided. “I am afraid I was not quite civil to you—indeed, Lady Bridlington assures me that I was shockingly rude!—but then, you see, I had no notion that you were not like all the rest. I beg your pardon!”
Mr. Beaumaris had the grace to acknowledge a twinge of conscience. It led him to say: “Miss Tallant, I did it in the hope of pleasing you.”
Then he wished that he had curbed his tongue, for her confiding air left her, and although she talked easily for a few more minutes he was fully aware that she had withdrawn from him again.
He was able to retrieve his position a few days later, and took care not to jeopardize it again. When he returned from a visit to his estates he called in Park Street to give Arabella comfortable tidings of Jemmy, whom he had foisted on to a retired servant of his. own. She was a little concerned lest the town-bred waif should feel lost and unhappy in the country, but when he informed her that the last news he had of Jemmy, before leaving Hampshire, was that he had let a herd of bullocks out of the field where they were confined, pulled the feathers from the cock’s tail, tried to ride an indignant pig round the yard, and eaten a whole batch of cakes newly baked by his kind hostess, she perceived that Jemmy was made of resilient stuff, and laughed, and said that he would soon settle down, and learn to be a good boy.
Mr. Beaumaris agreed to it, and then played his trump card. He thought Miss Tallant would like to know that he had taken steps to ensure the well-being of Mr. Grimsby’s future apprentices.
Arabella was delighted. “You have brought him to justice!”
“Well, not quite that,” confessed Mr. Beaumaris. He saw the disappointed look in her eye, and added hastily: “You know, I could not feel that to be appearing in a court of law was just what you would like. Then, too, when it is a question of apprentices one is apt to find oneself confronted with all manner of difficulties in the way of removing boys from their masters. It seemed best, therefore, to drop a word in Sir Nathaniel Conan’s ear. He is the Chief Magistrate, and as I have some acquaintance with him the thing was easy. Mr. Grimsby will take care how he disregards a warning from Bow Street, I assure you.”
Arabella was a little sorry to think that Mr. Grimsby was not to be cast into gaol, but being a sensible girl she readily appreciated the force of Mr. Beaumaris’s arguments, and told him that she was very much obliged to him, She sat pondering deeply for some moments, while he watched her, wondering what now was in her head. “It should be the business of people with interest and fortune to enquire into such things!” she said suddenly. “No one seems to care a button in a great city like this! I have seen such dreadful sights since I came to London—such beggary, and misery, and such countless ragged children who seem to have no parents and no homes! Lady Bridlington does not care to have anything of that nature spoken about, but, oh, I would like so much to be able to help such children as poor Jemmy!”.
“Why don’t you?” he asked coolly.
Her eyes flew to his; he knew that he had been too blunt: she would not tell him the truth about herself. Nor did she. After a tiny pause, she said: “Perhaps, one day, I shall.”