Sam, who had tilted up the tub, the better apparently to scrub the bottom, now let it go suddenly, sending a great portion of its contents splashing across the floor in Mr. Wilson’s direction.
‘It be all the same,’ he remarked philosophically; ‘I were just a-goin’ to swill out this here place.’
And with that he upset a little more of the steaming water upon the floor, seized a stiff broom, and began to brush the soapy liquid towards the door.
‘You might have waited a moment,’ commented his mistress; but she spoke with a sweet smile, for she saw with the corner of her eye how hastily Mr. Wilson had skipped out of the way, anxious to protect his shining boots and immaculate leggings. ‘I really cannot invite you in now,’ she added, turning to the visitor regretfully. ‘Pray excuse the man’s awkwardness.’ But as she spoke she smiled again on Sam.
She related the anecdote with much gusto to Isaac Sharpe on the following Sunday, but he did not seem to appreciate it as much as she had expected.
‘That there Wilson, he’s arter you too, I suppose. I would n’t have anything to say to him if I was you. He bain’t steady enough to make a good husband—racin’ an’ drinkin’, and sich-like. Ah, his poor wife, she did n’t praise him, but she suffered, poor soul!’
‘Gracious, Mr. Sharpe, I am sure you need n’t warn me! You know what my views are; besides, I hate the man. I would n’t see him at all if he had n’t—had n’t been rather obliging in a business-way. But was n’t it clever of Sam to get rid of him like that?’
‘’Ees,’ agreed the farmer dubiously; ‘but don’t ’ee go for to let ’en take too much on hisself, my dear, else ye’ll be like to repent it. It do never do to let these young fellows get sot up. Keep ’en in his place, Mrs. Fiander; don’t let ’en get presumptious.’
‘I’m sure he would never be that,’ she rejoined warmly. ‘Poor Sam; he’s the humblest creature in the world. He goes about his work like—like a machine.’
‘May be so,’ said Isaac incredulously; ‘you know him best, I suppose, but I jist thought I’d speak my mind out about him.’