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Thereby Hangs a Tale. Volume One
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“Did you hear what I said, Sam?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you give it me? Draw that oven back an inch.”
“Aint got it – only half a sov,” said Sam, leaving the potatoes to burn.
Mrs Jenkles dropped her work upon her lap, and her face grew very red.
“Didn’t you say, Sam, that if I’d trust you, you wouldn’t do so any more?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ve broke your word, Sam.”
“I aint, ’pon my soul, I aint, Sally,” cried Sam, earnestly. “I’ve had my pint for dinner, and never touched a drop more till I had my pint at home.”
“Then where’s that money?”
“Spent it,” said Sam, laconically.
“Yes, at the nasty public-houses, Sam. An’ it’s too bad, and when I’d trusted you!”
“Wrong!” said Sam.
“Then where is it?”
“Fooled it away.”
“Yes, of course. But I didn’t expect it, Sam; I didn’t, indeed.”
“All your fault,” said Sam.
“Yes, for trusting you,” said Mrs Jenkles, bitterly. “Nice life we lead: you with the worst horse and the worst cab on the rank, and me with the worst husband.”
“Is he, Sally?” said Sam, with a twinkle of the eye.
“Yes,” said Mrs Jenkles, angrily; “and that makes it all the worse, when he might be one of the best. Oh, Sam,” she said, pitifully, “do I ever neglect you or your home?”
“Not you,” he said, throwing down his pipe, and looking round at the shining tins, bright fireplace, and general aspect of simple comfort and cleanliness. “You’re the best old wife in the world.”
And he got up and stood behind her chair with his arms round her neck.
“Don’t touch me, Sam. I’m very, very much hurt.”
“Well, it was all your fault, little woman,” he said, holding the comely face, so that his wife could not look round at him.
“And how, pray?” said she.
“Didn’t you send me up to see that poor woman as Ratty knocked down?”
“Yes; but did you go?”
“To be sure I did – you told me to go.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me you had been?”
“Didn’t like to,” said Sam.
“Such stuff!” cried Mrs Jenkles. “But what’s that got to do with it?”
Sam remained silent.
“What’s that got to do with it, Sam?”
Silence still.
“Now, Sam, you’ve got something on your mind, so you’d better tell me. Have you been drinking?”
“No, I haven’t,” said Sam, “and I don’t mean to again.”
“Then I’m very sorry for what I said.”
“I know that,” said Sam.
“But what does it all mean?”
“Well, you see,” said Sam, “I’ve been a fool.”
And after a little more hesitation, he told all about his visit.
Mrs Jenkles sat looking at the fire, rubbing her nose with her thimble, both she and Sam heedless that the potatoes were burning.
“You’ve been took in, Sam, I’m afraid,” she said at last.
“Think so?” he said.
“Well, I hope not; but you’ve either been took in, or done a very, very kind thing.”
“Well, we shall see,” he said.
“Yes, we shall see.”
“You aint huffy with me?”
“I don’t know yet,” said Mrs Jenkles; “but I shall go up and see them.”
“Ah, do,” said Sam.
Другие электронные книги автора George Fenn
Последний отзыв
Книгу прочитать не могу, везде ЛитРес свой нос сунул, как и где скачать полную версию бесплатно!?!?