Page:The Lark - E Nesbit, 1922.djvu/163

164 and that your friends have been very unwise in taking a gardener out of the streets like this without even asking for a recommendation, or a character, or whatever you call it. And, if you're feeling that, it's no doubt making you feel uncomfortable. You needn't be uncomfortable. That's what I want to say. I'm all right, see? I'm not a waster. These ladies haven't done a foolish thing in engaging me: they've got a gardener now, that's one thing—and you see how the garden wants one. And I shall make this garden pay. See?"

"I see," said Rochester. "Thank you for explaining."

"There's another thing: I know they'd never tell you, but I want to tell you that these ladies have behaved to me like . . . like . . . well, it was the most perfect thing I've ever seen, and I want you to know it, and to know that I know it, And it's a thing I can never forget or think differently about. Feel more comfortable about it all now?"

"Well, yes;" said Rochester laughing. "I think I do. Miss Quested and Miss Craye are perfectly fearless, perfectly unconventional. They are as brave and as innocent as angels. A man can't help feeling . . ."

" . . . Feeling inclined to surround them with barbed wire, but you can't do it. You could never keep them in a cage. They'd break down the bars to get at anyone who needed help, and give it."

"I believe they would," said Rochester, looking at Mr. Dix's classic profile with less repulsion than he had yet felt.

But then Jane rattled the keys and called to Mr. Dix, and as he turned back towards her Lucilla came forward and met Mr. Rochester, and said softly and confidentially:

"I say, do you mind just coming round the garden with me while Jane shows Mr. Dix his little house? We thought he wouldn't like it perhaps if we told him before you that he's to have it. You see, he's awfully poor, as well as being so nice, and one doesn't want to rub it in and hurt his feelings."

"You needn't have been afraid," said Rochester grimly. "He's just told me that you picked him out of the gutter."