“My dear child—what a question! Gridley is—Gridley. Are any of us what we ought to be? I am well aware of Gridley’s disabilities. I pay him little more than a labourer’s wages. I regard him as a spade.”
“Yes; I have thought sometimes that Gridley is too rough with our people. He—he bullies them.”
“Possibly. Their ways are not our ways. Being of the people, he knows how to deal with them. He is an honest, faithful servant, quite impossible to replace in these troublous times. Also, as you know, I am the last person in the world to ‘scrap,’ as your friend Tiddy would put it, old retainers.”
“Do you feel that way about Dr. Snitterfield?”
“Dr. Snitterfield! What on earth have I to do with him?”
“He is the local Health Officer. Arthur thinks that he is—a—ignorant and irresponsible.”
“Does he? I didn’t appoint Dr. Snitterfield. He happens to be the chosen representative of our district. I hardly know the man. Personally, of course, I regard him as impossible. Long ago, I asked him to luncheon. He was attending one of our maids. She, not I, insisted upon seeing him. At luncheon the stopper of one of the decanters stuck. Dr. Snitterfield got it out, licked it—licked it, my dear!—and calmly assured me that he did that to his stoppers! After that Stimson kept him at a discreet distance.”
Cicely abandoned both Gridley and Snitterfield. Could she spoil a wonderful evening by insisting upon the disqualifications of bailiff and Health Officer? When she remained silent, Lady Selina said decidedly:
“After I am gone, Arthur and you will cope with my difficulties. Arthur’s agent will take Upworthy in hand; Arthur’s money will do the needful.”
“If—if, Mother, Arthur wanted to help in your lifetime?”