"I don't speak ill of my friends, Mr. Batchelor!" replies Elizabeth the prudent.
"You must have difficult work with the two old ladies at Shrublands?"
Bessy shrugs her shoulders. "A little management is necessary in all families," she says. "The ladies are naturally a little jealous one of the other; but they are both of them not unkind to me in the main; and I have to bear no more than other women in my situation. It was not all pleasure at Saint Boniface, Mr. Batchelor, with my uncle and aunt. I suppose all governesses have their difficulties; and I must get over mine as best I can, and be thankful for the liberal salary which your kindness procured for me, and which enables me to help my poor mother and my brothers and sisters."
"I suppose you give all your money to her?"
"Nearly all. They must have it; poor mamma has so many mouths to feed."
"And notre petit cœur, Bessy?" I ask, looking in her fresh face. "Have we replaced the Indian officer?"
Another shrug of the shoulder. "I suppose we all get over those follies, Mr. Batchelor. I remember somebody else was in a sad way too,"—and she looks askance at the victim of Glorvina. "My folly is dead and buried long ago. I have to work so hard for mamma, and my brothers and sisters, that I have no time for such nonsense."
Here a gentleman in a natty gig, with a high-trotting horse, came spanking towards us over the common, and with my profound knowledge of human nature, I saw at once that the servant by the driver's side was a little doctor's boy, and the gentleman himself was a neat and trim general practitioner.
He stared at me grimly, as he made a bow to Miss Bessy. I saw jealousy and suspicion in his aspect.
"Thank you, dear Mr. Drencher," says Bessy, "for your kindness to mamma and our children. You are going to call at Shrublands? Lady Baker was indisposed this morning. She says when she can't have Dr. Piper, there's nobody like you." And this artful one smiles blandly on Mr. Drencher.
"I have got the workhouse, and a case at Roehampton, and I shall be at Shrublands about two, Miss Prior," says that young doctor, whom Bedford had called a grinning jackass. He laid an eager emphasis on the two. Go to! I know what two and two mean as well as most people, Mr. Drencher! Glances of rage, he shot at me from out his gig. The serpents of that miserable Æsculapius unwound themselves from his rod, and were gnawing at his swollen heart!
"He has a good practice, Mr. Drencher?" I ask, sly rogue as I am.
"He is very good to mamma and our children. His practice with them does not profit him much," says Bessy.
"And I suppose our walk will be over before two o'clock?" remarks that slyboots who is walking with Miss Prior.
