Page:Zangwill-King of schnorrers.djvu/413

399 FLUTTER-DUCK. 399

One day the chief provincial traveller of the house saw her, fell in love, married her, and took her about the country for six months. He was coming back to her that very evening for the New Year. She had gone back to the Ghetto that day to buy New Year honey, and, softened by time and happiness, rather hoped to stumble across her mother in the market-place, and so save the submission of a call. She never dreamed of death and poverty. She would not blame herself for her father's death — he had always been consumptive — but since death was come at last, it was luckv she could offer her mother a home. Her hus- band would be delighted to find a companion for his wife during his country rounds.

"So you see, mother, everything is for the best."

Flutter-Duck listened in a delicious daze.

What! Was everything then to end happily after all? Was she — the shabby old starveling — to be restored to comfort and fine clothes ? Her brain seemed bursting with the thought of so much happiness ; as the train flew along past green grass and autumn-tinted foliage, she strove to articulate a prayer of gratitude to Heaven, but she only mumbled " Mediani" and lapsed into silence. And then, suddenly remembering she had started a prayer and must finish it, she murmured again " Mediant"

When they came to the grand house with the front garden, and were admitted by a surprised maid-servant, infinitely nattier than any Flutter-Duck had ever ruled over, the poor creature was palsied with excess of bliss. The fire was blazing merrily in the luxurious parlour : could this haven of peace and pomp — these arm-chairs, those vases, that side-board — be really for her? Was she to spend her New Year's night surrounded by love and luxury, instead of huddling in the corner of a cold garret?