Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-12
CHAPTER III.
The Inestimable Eoxham.

Times were bad, said Peterborough,
the polite and popular pawnbroker; there
fore Lady Loveland got only six hundred
pounds on the pink pearls. Two hundred
were sprinkled about among Val's cred
itors like pepper out Of q pot. where
such seasoning was necessary. A hun
dred more were spent outright. with
heartburnings, upon obstinate tailors, hat
tiers and hosiers, who would not tail. hat
nor hose except upon installments OF
| ready money. Fifty pounds were apollo
getically retained by Lady Loveland. who
grudged every penny to herself, and espe-
cially to her servants Another fifty a
little more than paid for cabin almost
worthy Of his lordship on the big ship
Baltic Fifty and some vague dust OF
gold and silver went into vars pocket for
current expenses, and the remaining hum
dred and fifty condensed into the form OF
letter Of credit.
OF course. there ought to have been
more, much more. But there would have
been less had not Loveland's man, Fox
ham, given notice at the last moment.
This inestimable person assured his mas
ter that nothing but the most urgent ne
cessity could have induced him to take
such a course. He suffered poignantly.
Foxham intimated with proper respect, In
the idea that another must perform ioI
his lordship those services which had
been his pleasure and duty: but FOX
hams grandfather had died (even Wallets
have grandfathers) leaving tidy sum
and as there were peculiaritfes In the Will.
Foxham would lose his chance OF Inherit
| ing IL he left England.
Loveland privately thought 1t almost
| equivalent to lese majestic that his man
should desert him for such selfish tr1fie
as private interest. But he would have
scorned to retain a servant who wished
| to leave him; besides. there were advan-
tages in losing even such treasure as
Foxham before the two passages were
| taken.
Val had learned from friend that II
you sent your valet second class you We're
not able to command his services on ship
| board. This seemed q disgusting waste
Of money, and ought to be protested
against in the Times, or somewhere. ON
fh rs eiass fare NJ ro eGnn not
~ dare say I can get some fellow over
there. IL everything goes WE'LL" said he:
| Meanwhile I shall save money on Ole
Fox. He hasn't opened his mouth about
cause. of course, he knows I'll pay UP
| when it's convenient. And, anyhow. q
hundred and fifty in the letter Nof credit
| is the least can rub along with on the
other side. I must look sharp, as Har-
borough says, and pick up the right girl.
SO as to get everything in shape as soon
! as possible. or I may find myself In q
| mess
"Don't imagine anything so horrid. dar-
| ling" said Lady Loveland. anxious to
| prop UP her sons spirits as well as his
credit. Think only Of the best. But
I'm sorry about Foxham He turns you
aOh. learned to Shift for myself like q
regular navy in South Africa" Loveland
consoled her "a chap has to keep clean
and have the right folds In his trousers
whatever happens. and l worried along
can do the same now. though It'll be
bore, especially till get used to 1t again. "
Thus the pink-pearl money. was appor-
toned, a little here and little there, and
made to go as far as possible.
Foxham stopped with his lordship till
after the return to London, doing the final
packing and all his ordinary work as
| usual, without greedy word as to ar
rears of wages. Perhaps this was due
| to an angelic disposition. or. perhaps. he
guessed the motive Of his masters errand
| and was willing to speculate on the result.
| But Loveland took the mans devotion for
granted. without going too deeply into
causes.
On getting back to his quarters near
Wellington barracks Val was somewhat
surprised to receive visit from Har-
borough. who had never come to call on
him before.
$50 you've got your leave. hear. and
are sailing for my blessed country In q
few days." Jim remarked.
Loveland replied that this was the case,
and happened to think Of thanking Jim
for his letters OF Introduction.
Marlborough answered casually that that
was all right: and went on to say that
he had read In q paper, u heard from g