The morning call., 1893-01-15
CHAPTER III.ACoNr1NuEn.l

Vial LIN 1l1s-1NON I'D.
In two or three days time Mr.. Edward
Potter drove up in a hackney-coach. He
brought a quantity Of luggage, insomuch
that | reckOned The partnership might not
be so far off as my stepfather had limited
Mr.. Potter was very corpulent young man.
His neck was formed of rings of fat, aud his
small clothes and armsleeves shealhed his
limbs as tight as bladder holds lard. Moth
ing remarkable happened for some time, and
then discovered that this pursy young man
was beginning 10 pay me some attention.
To be sure his opportunities in this way
were few he dared not enter my room
without being invited, and then again, as
you know. l was much away from home.
Yet he would contrive to waylay me on the
stairs and hold me in conversation, and he
once went to the length of snatehihg up his
hat and passing with me into the street, and
walking with me down the Commercial road
to as far as Whitechapel, where l managed
60 shake him off.
One afternoon on going downstairs l
beard the sound Of voices in the parlor. The
door stood ajar. my name was uttered and
the sound of it arrested my steps. The
voices within were those of Mr.. Stanford
and his nephew, who were still at table
lingering over their wine.
Eyes, she has the temper OF devil" said
my stepfather. 81 love her so exceed
ingly that Ia like nothing better than to
have her for a patient. But the wench's
constitution is as sound as her fortune. Why
don't you 20 ahead with her?"
she's plaguey hard to get at" said Mr..
Potter in his strange voice. as though his
mouth was full of grease.
You don't shove enough" said his
uncle. "a woman of her sort isn't to be
won By staring and breathing hard Go for
her boldly. Blunder into the sitting-room
sometimes, follow her when she goes out.
and meet her round the next corner. 1t
was the chance l spoke to your mother
about and that you're here for. She means
FIVE hundred 8 year and this house. You'll
need TO kill or cure scores this way 10 earn
i've hundred year.
AIS like taking a naked light into pow
der magazine t. talk to her" said Mr.. Pot
ter. Every look she gives one is sort OF
explosion. / always feel like wishing that
the road may be clear when / address her. .
You're too fat for business" said his
uncle. Il feared so. Give me a lean aud
hungry man for spirit Caesar knew CaSsius,
and | know you"
guessed it was Mr.. Potter who thumped
the table. Give me some time and you'll
see," he said. But in proportion as she
troubled me on this side I'll give it her on
I'OlheT. Only let me get her. and for all
your sneeTs at my figure I'll have her on her
knees 10 you and me within month. VIII
you bet?" and | heard him pound the table
again.
He had used word In this speech which
l will not repeat-sn odiJus, infamous
word. l stepped in, 1inging the door wide
open and leaving il SO. MI. Potter started
up from his chair, my stepfatheT lay back,
his face dropped and was very pale, and he
looked al me under his half-cloSed lids. ]
stared Mr. Potter 10 the face for a few mo-
ments without speaking; then pointed TO
the door with the slyer-headed cane l in
variably carried.
Walk out sir, said |.
de began 10 stammer.
Walk outV' l repeated. and I menaced
him.
"Where am I to walk to ?" be said.
''Out of this house." said /.
You had no right TO listen, miss" said
my stepfather.
looked ut him, then stepped round the
table to the bell, which I pulled violently.
My own maid, guessing the summons was
mine. answered.
Jane" said I, go instantly for a con-
stable"
There is no need to fetch a constable"
exclaimed Mr.. Stanford, getting up, my
nephew VIII leave the house."
On this Mr.. Potter went into the hall, and
while he fumbled at the hatstand called
ont. 81 suppose l may take my uggage?"
/ was determined to humble the dog to
an extremity. and told Jane TO look out
into the street and call in any two idle
fellows she could see to remove Mr.. Potter's
luggage. She fetched two men from a
Dubiic-house aud took them upstairs into
MI POtter's room and babe them carry his
trunks below aud put them on the pave
ment. When they had carried the trunks
downstairs they returned for Mr.. Potter's
loose unpacked apparel, which, acting on
my Instructions, they heaped along with his
unpacked linen on tsp of the boxes upon the
pavement. l paid tie two men for their
trouble, and violently slammed the hall
door upon Mr.. Potter, who stood in the 70 ad
gaZed at by fast-gath6ring crowd. waiting
for the arrival Of a hackney coach, which
was very slow Ia coming.
as ! passed upstairs, painting and heart
sick. Mr.. Stanford came into the hall aud
called out, GU will ruin my practice"
paused 10 see if he had more to say, and l
was very thankful afterward that re had
thought proper to Immediately retire on
observing me stop