Arabella Read online

  ‘Two years!’ cried Arabella, sickened by the tale of cruelty so casually unfolded. ‘If he had stolen a yard of silk from a mercer’s factory they would have deported him!’

  Jemmy was not in a position to deny or to corroborate this statement, and preserved a wary silence. He saw that the young lady was very angry, and although her wrath did not seem to be directed against himself his experience had taught him to run no unnecessary risks of being suddenly knocked flying against the wall. He shrank into the corner of the chair therefore, and clutched the shawl more tightly round his person.

  A discreet knock fell on the door, and a slightly flustered and considerably startled housemaid entered the room. ‘Was it you rang, miss?’ she asked, in astonished accents. Then her eye alighted on Arabella’s visitor, and she uttered a genteel shriek. ‘Oh, miss! What a turn it gave me! The young varmint to give you such a fright! It’s the chimney-sweep’s boy, miss, and him looking for him all over! You come with me this instant, you wicked boy, you!’

  Jemmy, recognising a language he understood, whined that he had not meant to do it.

  ‘Hush!’ Arabella said, dropping her hand on one bony little shoulder. ‘I know very well it is the sweep’s boy, Maria, and if you look at him you will see how he has been used! Go downstairs, if you please, and fetch me some food for him directly – and send someone up to kindle the fire here!’

  Maria stared at her as though she thought she had taken leave of her senses. ‘Miss!’ she managed to ejaculate. ‘A dirty little climbing-boy?’

  ‘When he has been bathed,’ said Arabella quietly, ‘he will not be dirty. I shall need plenty of warm water, and the bath, if you please. But first a fire, and some milk and food for the poor child!’

  The affronted handmaid bridled. ‘I hope, miss, you do not expect me to wash that nasty little creature! I’m sure I don’t know what her ladyship would say to such goings-on!’

  ‘No,’ said Arabella, ‘I expect nothing from you that I might expect from a girl with a more feeling heart than yours! Go and do what I have asked you to do, and desire Becky to come upstairs to me!’

  ‘Becky?’ gasped Maria.

  ‘Yes, the girl who had the toothache. And when you have brought up food – some bread-and-butter, and some meat will do very well, but do not forget the milk! – you may send someone to tell Lord Bridlington that I wish to see him at once.’

  Maria gulped, and stammered: ‘But, miss, his lordship is abed and asleep!’

  ‘Well, let him be wakened!’ said Arabella impatiently.

  ‘Miss, I dare not for my life! His orders were no one wasn’t to disturb him till nine o’clock, and he won’t come, not till he has shaved himself, and dressed, not his lordship!’

  Arabella considered the question, and finally came to the conclusion that it might be wiser to dispense with his lordship’s assistance for the time being. ‘Very well,’ she said. ‘I will dress immediately, then, and see the sweep myself. Tell him to wait!’

  ‘See the sweep – dress – Miss, you won’t never! With that boy watching you!’ exclaimed the scandalised Maria.

  ‘Don’t be such a fool, girl!’ snapped Arabella, stamping her foot. ‘He’s scarcely older than my little brother at home! Go away before you put me out of all patience with you!’

  This, however, Maria could not be persuaded to do until she had arranged a prim screen between the wondering Jemmy and his hostess. She then tottered away to spread the news through the house that Miss was raving mad, and likely to be taken off to Bedlam that very day. But since she did not dare to thwart a guest so much petted by her mistress, she delivered Arabella’s message to Becky, and condescended to carry up a tray of food to her room.

  Jemmy, still huddled in the big chair, was bewildered by the unprecedented turn of events, and understood nothing of what was intended towards him. But he perfectly understood the significance of a plate of cold beef, and half a loaf of bread, and his sharp eyes glistened. Arabella, who had flung on her clothes at random, and done up her hair in a careless knot, settled him down to the enjoyment of his meal, and sallied forth to do battle with the redoubtable Mr Grimsby, uneasily awaiting her in the front hall.

  The scene, conducted under the open-mouthed stare of a footman in his shirt-sleeves, two astonished and giggling maids, and the kitchen-boy, was worthy of a better audience. Mr Beaumaris, for instance, would have enjoyed it immensely. Mr Grimsby, knowing that the sympathies of those members of the household he had so far encountered were with him, and seeing that his assailant was only a chit of a girl, tried at the outset to take a high line, rapidly cataloguing Jemmy’s many vices, and adjuring Arabella not to believe a word the varmint uttered. He soon discovered that what Arabella lacked in inches she more than made up for in spirit. She tore his character to shreds and warned him of his ultimate fate; she flung Jemmy’s burns and bruises in his face, and bade him answer her if he dared. He did not dare. She assured him that never would she permit Jemmy to go back to him, and when he tried to point out his undoubted rights over the boy she looked so fierce that he backed before her. She said that if he wished to talk of his rights he might do so before a magistrate, and at these ominous words all vestige of fight went out of him. The misfortune which had overtaken his friend, Mr Molys, was still fresh in his mind, and he desired to have no dealings with an unjust Law. There was no doubt that a young lady living in a house of this style would have those at her back who could, if she urged them to it, make things very unpleasant for a poor chimney-sweep. The course for a prudent man to follow was retreat: climbing-boys were easily come by, and Jemmy had never been a success. Mr Grimsby, his back bent nearly double, edged himself out of the house, trying to assure Arabella in one breath that she might keep Jemmy and welcome, and that, whatever the ungrateful brat might say, he had been like a father to him.

  Flushed with her triumph, Arabella returned to her room, where she found Jemmy, the plate of meat long since disposed of, eyeing with a good deal of apprehension the preparations for his ablutions. A capacious hip-bath stood before the fire, into which Becky was emptying the last of three large brass cans of hot water. Whatever Becky might think of climbing-boys, she had conceived a slavish adoration of Arabella, and she declared her willingness to do anything Miss might require of her.

  ‘First,’ said Arabella briskly, ‘I must wash him, and put basilicum ointment on his poor little feet and legs. Then I must get him some clothes to wear. Becky, do you know where to procure suitable clothes for a child in London?’

  Becky nodded vigorously, twisting her apron between her fingers. She ventured to say that she had sent home a suit for her brother Ben which Mother had been ever so pleased with.

  ‘Have you little brothers? Then you will know just what to buy for this child!’ Arabella said. ‘A warm jacket, and some smalls, and a shirt – oh, and some shoes and stockings! Wait! I will give you the money, and you shall go and procure the things immediately!’

  ‘If you please, miss,’ said Becky firmly, ‘I think I ought to help you wash him first.’ She added sapiently: ‘Likely he’ll struggle, miss – not being used to it.’

  She was quite right. Jemmy fought like a tiger to defend his person from the intended rape, and was deaf alike to coaxings and to reassurances. But the two damsels before him had not helped to bring up their respective young brothers for nothing. They stripped Jemmy of his rags, heedless of his sobs and his protests, and they dumped him, wildly kicking, in the bath, and ruthlessly washed every inch of his emaciated small person.

  It was not to be expected that Jemmy’s howls would not be heard beyond the confines of the room. They were lusty, and they penetrated to Lady Bridlington’s ears. It was inconceivable to the good lady that they could really be emanating from within her house, as they seemed to be, and she was just about to ring her bell, and desire Clara Crowle to send away whatever child it was who was screaming in the street, w
hen the howls ceased (Jemmy had been lifted out of the bath, and wrapped in a warm towel), and she sank back again in her bed. Not long after this, Miss Crowle came softly in with her breakfast-tray, and the pleasing intelligence that Miss Arabella was out of her mind, and had got a dirty little boy in her room, and wouldn’t let him go, not whatever anyone said. Hardly had her ladyship grasped the essential points of the story poured into her bemused ears than Arabella herself came in. Her visit made it necessary for Miss Crowle to revive her mistress with hartshorn-and-water, and to burn pastilles, for it brought on a nervous spasm of alarming intensity. Lady Bridlington now understood that she was expected not only to house a boy picked out of the gutter, but to pursue his late master by every means in her power. Arabella talked of the Law, and of magistrates; of cruelties which made it almost impossible for Lady Bridlington even to swallow her coffee; and of what Papa would say must be done in so shocking a case. Lady Bridlington moaned, and said faintly: ‘But you cannot! The boy must be given back to his master! You don’t understand these things!’

  ‘Cannot?’ cried Arabella, her eyes flashing. ‘Cannot, ma’am? I beg your pardon, but it is you who have not understood! When you have seen the dreadful marks on the poor little soul’s back – and his ribs almost breaking through his skin! – you will not talk so!’

  ‘No, no, Arabella, for heaven’s sake – !’ begged her godmother. ‘I won’t have you bring him in here! Where is Frederick? My dear, of course it is all very dreadful, and we will see what can be done, but do, pray, wait until I am dressed! Clara, where is his lordship?’

  ‘His lordship, my lady,’ responded Clara with relish, ‘having partaken of his breakfast, has gone riding in the Park, as is his custom. His lordship’s gentleman happening to mention that Miss had a climbing-boy in her room, his lordship said as how he must be sent off at once.’

  ‘Well, he will not be!’ said Arabella, not mincing matters.

  Lady Bridlington, reflecting that it was just like Frederick to issue orders in this foolish style, and leave others to see them carried out, decided to postpone any further discussion until he should be present to lend her his support. She persuaded Arabella to go away, looked with distaste at her breakfast-tray, and begged Clara, in a failing voice, to give her her smelling-salts.

  When Lord Bridlington returned from his morning exercise, he was displeased to learn that nothing had so far been done about the climbing-boy, except that Miss had sent one of the under-servants out to buy him a suit of clothes. He was still frowning over this when his Mama came downstairs, and almost fell upon his neck. ‘Thank heaven you are come at last!’ she uttered. ‘What can have induced you to go out with the house in this uproar? I am driven nearly distracted! She wants me to employ the boy as a page!’

  Frederick led her firmly into the saloon on the ground-floor, and shut the door upon the interested butler. He then demanded an explanation of an affair which he said he was at a loss to understand. His mother was in the middle of giving him one when Arabella came into the room, leading the washed and clothed Jemmy by the hand.

  ‘Good-morning, Lord Bridlington!’ she said calmly. ‘I am glad you are come home, for you will best be able to help me to decide what I ought to do with Jemmy here.’

  ‘I can certainly do so, Miss Tallant,’ he answered. ‘The boy must of course go back where he belongs. It was most improper of you, if you will permit me to say so, to interfere between him and his master.’

  He encountered a look which surprised him. ‘I do not permit anyone, Lord Bridlington, to tell me that in rescuing a helpless child from the brutality of a monster I am doing what is improper!’ said Arabella.

  ‘No, no, my dear, of course not!’ hastily interposed Lady Bridlington. ‘Frederick did not mean – But, you see, there is nothing one can do in these sad cases! That is – I am sure Frederick will speak to the man – give him a good fright, you know!’

  ‘Really, Mama –’

  ‘And Jemmy?’ demanded Arabella. ‘What will you do with him?’

  His lordship looked distastefully at the candidate for his protection. Jemmy had been well scrubbed, but not the most thorough application of soap and water could turn him into a well-favoured child. He had a sharp little face, a wide mouth, from which a front tooth was missing, and a very snub nose. His short, ragged hair was perfectly straight, and his ears showed a tendency to stick out from his head.

  ‘I do not know what you expect me to do!’ said his lordship fretfully. ‘If you had any knowledge of the laws governing apprentices, my dear Miss Tallant, you would know that it is quite impossible to steal this boy away from his master!’

  ‘When the master of an apprentice misuses a boy as this child has been misused,’ retorted Papa’s daughter, ‘he renders himself liable to prosecution! What is more, this man knows it, and I assure you he does not expect to have Jemmy returned to him!’

  ‘I suppose you think I should adopt the boy!’ said Frederick, goaded.

  ‘No, I do not think that,’ replied Arabella, her voice a little unsteady. ‘I only think that you might – show some compassion for one so wretchedly circumstanced!’

  Frederick coloured hotly. ‘Well, of course I am excessively sorry, but –’

  ‘Do you know that his master lights a fire in the grate beneath him, to force him up the chimney?’ interrupted Arabella.

  ‘Well, I don’t suppose he would go up if – Yes, yes, shocking, I know, but chimneys must be swept, after all, or what would become of us all?’

  ‘Oh, that Papa were here!’ Arabella cried. ‘I see that it is useless to talk to you, for you are selfish and heartless, and you care for nothing but your own comfort!’

  It was at this inopportune moment that the door was opened, and the butler announced two morning-callers. He afterwards explained this lapse, which he felt quite as acutely as his mistress, by saying that he had supposed Miss to be still upstairs with That Boy. Frederick made a hasty gesture indicative of his desire that the visitors should be excluded, but it was too late. Lord Fleetwood and Mr Beaumaris walked into the room.

  Their reception was unusual. Lady Bridlington gave vent to an audible moan; her son stood rooted to the floor in the middle of the room, his face flushed, and his whole appearance that of a man who had been stuffed; and Miss Tallant, also very much flushed, bit her lip, and turned on her heel, leading a small urchin over to a chair by the wall, and bidding him gently to sit down on it, and to be a good boy.

  Lord Fleetwood blinked upon this scene; Mr Beaumaris’s brows went up, but he gave no other sign of surprise, merely bowing over Lady Bridlington’s nerveless hand, and saying: ‘How do you do? I trust we don’t intrude? I called in the hope of persuading Miss Tallant to drive to the Botanical Gardens with me. They tell me the spring flowers are quite a sight there.’

  ‘You are very obliging, sir,’ said Arabella curtly, ‘but I have more important affairs to attend to this morning.’

  Lady Bridlington pulled herself together. ‘My love, we can discuss all that later! I am sure it would do you good to take the air! Do but send that – that child down to the kitchen, and –’

  ‘Thank you, ma’am, but I do not stir from the house until I have settled what is to be done with Jemmy.’

  Lord Fleetwood, who had been regarding Jemmy with frank curiosity, said: ‘Jemmy, eh? Er – friend of yours, Miss Tallant?’

  ‘No. He is a climbing-boy who came by mistake down the chimney of my bedchamber,’ Arabella replied. ‘He has been most shamefully used, and he is only a child, as you may see – I daresay not more than seven or eight years old!’

  The warmth of her feelings brought a distinct tremor into her voice. Mr Beaumaris looked curiously at her.

  ‘No, really?’ said Lord Fleetwood, with easy sympathy. ‘Well, that’s a great deal too bad! Shocking brutes, some of these chimney-sweeps! Ought to be sent to gaol!’

 
She said impulsively: ‘Yes, that is what I have been telling Lord Bridlington, only he seems not to have the least understanding!’

  ‘Arabella!’ implored Lady Bridlington. ‘Lord Fleetwood can have no interest in such matters!’

  ‘Oh, I assure you, ma’am!’ said his lordship. ‘I am interested in anything that interests Miss Tallant! Rescued the child, did you? Well, upon my soul, I call it a devilish fine thing to do! Not as though he was a taking brat, either!’

  ‘What does that signify?’ said Arabella contemptuously. ‘I wonder how taking, my lord, you or I should be had we been brought up from infancy by a drunken foster-mother, sold while still only babies to a brutal master, and forced into a hateful trade!’

  Mr Beaumaris moved quietly to a chair a little removed from the group in the centre of the room, and stood leaning his hands on the back of it, his eyes still fixed on Arabella’s face.

  ‘No, no! Exactly so!’ hastily said Lord Fleetwood.