Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/161

 flood of tears, Joe put on his tunic with the air of a tragedian, but Harriet remained immovable as a statue.

"This comes of the stage," wailed poor Eliza.

Joe felt the times themselves were to blame, at any rate they were sadly out of joint.

"I don't know what things are coming to," he said, flinging his slippers into a corner and putting on his boots. "Things are all upside down these days and no mistake."

Harriet blamed no one. She merely stood white and shaken, a picture of tragic unhappiness.

"Gal," said Joe, turning to her a Job's comforter, "one thing is sure. You are going to lose your place."

Harriet bit her lip, coldly disdaining a reply.

"As sure as eggs that'll be the upshot," proceeded Joe. "I'm sorry I let that jockey go without giving him a bit of my mind."

"He is not to blame," said Harriet tensely.

"Who is, then?"

"You and me, Joe," sobbed Eliza, "for letting her go on the stage."

"There was no stopping her—you know that well enough. As soon as she took up her dancing we lost all control of her. But we've got to be pretty sensible now. A nice tangle things are in, and they'll take a bit of straightening out."

Harriet shook a mournful head.

"What can people like ourselves possibly do?" she asked.

"I've a great mind," said Joe, "to step as far as Bridport House and have a few words with his Grace."

"That's merely preposterous," said Harriet decisively.