Nancy had drawn a chair up to the table, but the space in front of her was empty, for Baldwin was too excited to serve her; and at her husband’s words she threw back her head. Inman fixed an eye of steel upon her.
“That she won’t repeat,” he said again with slow emphasis, and Nancy’s lip curled though she remained silent. “It’s right that there should be a fair division of labour, and Nancy’ll do her share——”
Baldwin’s face had been working strangely during this judicial delivery and he now seized the carving knife and brought the handle down upon the table with such vehemence that Keturah screamed.
“And who the devil are you to lay down the law same as you were master and I was man? A nice pass, as Keturah says, if we’ve to be set i’ wer places i’ wer own house. For two pins I’ll bundle you both out, neck and crop. A man ’at can’t make his wife toe t’ line isn’t fit to be wed; but you’re not going to lord it over me, if Keturah cares to sup all Nancy gives her. You’re sadly too ready, young man, with your wills and your won’ts, as I’ve told you before; and I’m beginning to be sorry I ever set eyes on you, for there’s been t’ devil to pay ever since.”
“You see what a storm you’ve raised,” said Inman, looking across at his wife, who was sitting back in her chair, pleating the edge of the tablecloth between her fingers. His voice was stern but there was a scornful look in his eye which partly counteracted the tone. As she made no reply he turned to his master.
“If you hadn’t lost your temper you wouldn’t blame me for what I couldn’t hinder. It isn’t my fault that Nancy wasn’t here to help with the dinner, and I’ve said it shan’t happen again. I can say no more. As to turning us out neck and crop——” he paused and looked significantly at Baldwin who scowled in reply; “perhaps Nancy and I had better talk things over between ourselves.”
There was no mistaking the veiled threat though the voice was quite calm, and Baldwin fired again; but before he could speak Inman continued in a more conciliatory tone.
“I meant no offence in what I said a while back, and nobody can say that I’ve tried to be master. I’ve served you well, and you know it, but if we can’t live peaceably together we must make other arrangements. Hadn’t we best let t’ matter drop now and get on with our dinner?”
“I’m sure,” said Keturah with a timid glance at her brother who had at length suffered himself to fill Nancy’s plate and push it across the table; “it’s no wish o’ mine to make trouble; but there’s things flesh and blood can’t stomach, and when a body isn’t as young as she once was it stands to reason ’at she can’t be expected to wait hand and foot on them ’at’s years younger——”
Nancy rose and walked round Keturah’s chair in order to reach the mustard, and Inman smiled grimly though he remarked: