"Mr. Henry," said I, "you do yourself too much injustice, and it is time this should cease."
"O!" cries he, "nobody minds here. They think it only natural. I have shameful proclivities. I am a niggardly dog," and he drove his knife up to the hilt. "But I will show that fellow," he cried with an oath, "I will show him which is the more generous."
"This is no generosity," said I; "this is only pride."
"Do you think I want morality?" he asked.
I thought he wanted help, and I should give it him, willy-nilly; and no sooner was Mrs. Henry gone to her room than I presented myself at her door and sought admittance.
She openly showed her wonder. "What do you want with me, Mr. Mackellar?" said she.
"The Lord knows, madam," says I, "I have never troubled you before with any freedoms; but this thing lies too hard upon my conscience, and it will out. Is it possible that two people can be so blind as you and my lord? and have lived all these years with a noble gentleman like Mr. Henry, and understand so little of his nature?"
"Do you not know where his money goes to? his--and yours--and the money for the very wine he does not drink at table?" I went on. "To Paris--to that man! Eight thousand pounds has he had of us in seven years, and my patron fool enough to keep it secret!"
"Eight thousand pounds!" she repeated. "It is impossible; the estate is not sufficient."
"God knows how we have sweated farthings to produce it," said I. "But eight thousand and sixty is the sum, beside odd shillings. And if you can think my patron miserly after that, this shall be my last interference."
"You need say no more, Mr. Mackellar," said she. "You have done most properly in what you too modestly call your interference. I am much to blame; you must think me indeed a very unobservant wife" (looking upon me with a strange smile), "but I shall put this right at once. The Master was always of a very thoughtless nature; but his heart is excellent; he is the soul of generosity. I shall write to him myself. You cannot think how you have pained me by this communication."
"Indeed, madam, I had hoped to have pleased you," said I, for I raged to see her still thinking of the Master.
"And pleased," said she, "and pleased me of course."