Meanwhile, Roland, putting aside the two young ones with his strong
hand, chose to mount the box himself; at which they both began to shriek
and roar. Matters were compromised after a while; Percy was taken up by
Roland, and Frank was, by some process of packing, stowed away inside.
Then the cargo started! Lady Augusta happy as a princess, with her
newly-met brother and her unruly children, and not caring in the least
for the gaze of the people who stood in the street, or came rushing to
their windows and doors to criticise the load.
Crowded as the carriage was, it was pleasanter to be in it, on that
genial day, than to be at work in close rooms, dark shops, or dull
offices. Amongst others, who were so confined and hard at work, was
Jenkins at Mr. Galloway’s. Poor Jenkins had not improved in health
during the week or two that had elapsed since you last saw him. His
cough was more troublesome still, and he was thinner and weaker. But
Jenkins, humble and conscientious, thinking himself one who was not
worth thinking of at all in comparison with others, would have died
at his post rather than give in. Certainly, Arthur Channing had been
discharged at a most inopportune moment, for Mr. Galloway, as steward to
the Dean and Chapter, had more to do about Michaelmas, than at any other
time of the year. From that epoch until November, when the yearly audit
took place, there was a good deal of business to be gone through.
On this afternoon, Jenkins was particularly busy. Mr. Galloway was away
from home for a day or two--on business connected with that scapegrace
cousin of his, Roland Yorke proclaimed; though whether Mr. Roland
had any foundation for the assertion, except his own fancy, may be
doubted--and Jenkins had it all upon his own shoulders. Jenkins,
unobtrusive and meek though he was, was perfectly competent to manage,
and Mr. Galloway left him with entire trust. But it is one thing to be
competent to manage, and another thing to be able to do two persons’
work in one person’s time; and, that, Jenkins was finding this
afternoon. He had letters to write; he had callers to answer; he had the
general business of the office to attend to; he had the regular deeds to
prepare and copy. The copying of those deeds was the work belonging
to Roland Yorke. Roland did not seem to be in a hurry to come to them.
Jenkins cast towards them an anxious eye, but Jenkins could do no
more, for his own work could not be neglected. He felt very unwell that
afternoon--oppressed, hot, unable to breathe. He wiped the moisture from
his brow three or four times, and then thought he might be the better
for a little air, and opened the window. But the breeze, gentle as it
was, made him cough, and he shut it again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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