Thereby Hangs a Tale Part 42

"Oh, don't you mind them," said Mrs Jenkles. "They don't like losing good lodgers, now it comes to the point, with all their grumbling. Have you paid your bit of rent?"

"Yes," said Mrs Lane; and she glanced anxiously at her child, whose alarm seemed to increase.

"I see," said Mrs Jenkles, in her most business-like way. "Now, look here, the thing is to get it over quickly. Have you got everything there?" and she pointed to a trunk and carpet-bag.

"Yes, everything," said Mrs Lane.

"Then I'll call up Sam to take them down to the cab."

"No, no--stop!" exclaimed Netta. "Oh! mamma, had we not better stop?

That man--what he said this morning!"

"There, there, my pretty," said Mrs Jenkles, "don't you be alarmed.

You leave it to me."

Then going to the window, she signalled to Sam, who was busy tying knots in his shabby whipthong.

As Mrs Jenkles turned from the window, the door was thrown open, and Mrs Sturt, looking very aggressive, entered the room, closely followed by her lord, smoking his black pipe of strong, rank tobacco.

Netta shrank timidly back into her seat, catching at her mothers hand, while the result of the tobacco-smoke was to set her coughing painfully.

"Now if you please," said Mrs Sturt, "I want to know what this means?"

And she pointed to the trunk and the other manifest signs of departure.

"I told you a week ago, Mrs Sturt, that we intended to leave," said Mrs Lane, speaking with a forced calmness, as she pressed her child's hand encouragingly.

"And so you think a week's notice is enough after the way as we've been troubled to get our bit of rent?" said Mrs Sturt, raising her voice.

"Are we to be left with our place empty, after harbouring a pack of lodgers with no more grat.i.tude than--than--than nothing?" continued the woman, at a loss for a simile.

"I have nothing to do with that," said Mrs Lane, with dignity. "Mrs Sturt, I have rigidly kept to the arrangement I made with you, and you have no right to expect more."

"Oh, haven't I?" said the woman. "Do you hear that, Barney? I'll just let 'em see!"

Barney growled, and showed his teeth.

"Lookye here," he said, hoa.r.s.ely; "you aint agoing to leave here, so now then. And you, missus," tinning to Mrs Jenkles, "you're gallus clever, you are; but you may let your lodgings to some one else."

Netta's clutch of her mother's hand grew convulsive, and her face wore so horrified an expression that Mrs Jenkles did not reply to the challenge directed at her, but stepped to the poor girl's side.

"Don't you be frightened, my dear," she whispered; and then to herself--"Why don't Sam come?"

"Mr Sturt," said Mrs Lane, firmly in voice, though she trembled as she spoke to the fellow, "you have no right to try and force us to stay if we wish to leave."

"Oh! aint I," said Barney. "I'll let you see about that. Here, give us that," he said, turning to s.n.a.t.c.h a paper from his wife's hand. "Let alone what he telled me too, about yer--"

"He! Who?" exclaimed Mrs Lane, excitedly.

Netta started from her chair.

"Never you mind," said Barney, showing his great teeth in a grin. "You think I don't know all about yer, now, don't yer? But you're precious mistaken!"

"But tell me, man, has any one--"

"There, there, it's all right, Mrs Lane--you've got to stop here, that's what you've got to do. What have you got to say to that, for another thing?"

As Barney spoke, he thrust the paper down before Mrs Lane, and went on smoking furiously.

"What's this? I don't owe you anything," said Mrs Lane, whose courage seemed failing.

"Don't owe us anything, indeed!" said Mrs Sturt, in her vinegary voice; "why, there's seven pun' ten, and seven for grosheries!"

"Oh! this is cruel as it's scandalous and false!" cried Mrs Lane, in reply to Mrs Jenkles's look. "I do not owe a s.h.i.+lling."

"Which you do--there!" cried Mrs Sturt; "and not a thing goes off these premishes till it's paid."

"And they don't go off, nor them nayther, when it is paid," said Barney, grinning offensively. "So now, Mrs What's-yer-name, you'd better be off!"

Mrs Jenkles had been very quiet, but her face had been growing red and fiery during all this, and she gave a sigh of relief as she patted Netta on the shoulder; for at that moment Sam came slowly into the room, closed the door, and bowed and smiled to Mrs Lane and her daughter.

"Sam," said Mrs Jenkles; and then she stopped almost aghast at her husband's proceedings, for with a sharp flourish of the hand, he knocked Barney's pipe from his mouth, the stem breaking close to his teeth, and he looking perfectly astonished at the cabman's daring.

"What are yer smoking like that for, here? Can't yer see it makes the young lady cough?"

"I'll--" exclaimed Barney, rus.h.i.+ng at Sam menacingly; and Netta uttered a shriek.

"Don't you mind him, Miss," said Sam, laughing, "it's only his fun.

It's a little playful way he's got with him, that's all. Which is the boxes?"

"That trunk, and the carpet-bag, Sam," said Mrs Jenkles; and Sam advanced to them.

"Hadn't we better give up?" said Mrs Lane, pitifully; and she glanced at Netta who trembled violently.

"I should think not, indeed," said Mrs Jenkles. "Don't you be afraid-- they daren't stop you."

"But we just dare," said Mrs Sturt, furiously. "Not a thing goes off till my bill's paid."

"And they don't go off when it is! now then," said Barney.

"Don't let him touch those things," said Mrs Sturt.

"Sam, you take that trunk down directly," said Mrs Jenkles. "Now, my dear; come along."

"All right," said Sam, and he advanced to the trunk; but Barney pushed himself forward, and sat down upon the box; while, as Mrs Jenkles placed her arm round Netta, and led her towards the door, Mrs Sturt jerked herself to it, and placed her back against the panels.

"You're a nice 'un, you are, Barney Sturt, Esquire, of the suburban races," said Sam, good-temperedly; "but it aint no good, so get up, and let's go quietly."

Barney growled out an oath, and showed his teeth, as Mrs Lane came up to Sam, and laid her hand on his shoulder.