To Faversham, full of a secret bitterness, this second manner of Tatham's
was merely arrogance. His own pride rose against it, and what he felt it
implied. Not a sign of that confidence in the new agent which had been so
freely expressed at Duddon a couple of months before! His detractors had
no doubt been at work with this jolly, stupid fellow, whom everybody
liked. He would have to fight for himself. Well, he would fight!
"I shall certainly support any just claim," he said, as Tatham rose, "but
I warn you that Mr. Melrose is ill--he is very irritable--and Mrs.
Melrose had better not attempt to spring any surprises on him. If she
will write me a letter, I will see that it gets to Mr. Melrose, and I
will do my best for her."
"No one could ask you to do any more," said Tatham heartily, repenting
himself a little. "They will be with us for the present. Mrs. Melrose
shall write you a full statement and you will reply to Duddon?"
"By all means."
"There are a good many other things," said Tatham--uncertainly--as
he lingered, hat in hand--"that you and I might discuss--Mainstairs, for
instance! I ought to tell you that my mother has just sent two nurses
there. The condition of things is simply appalling."
Faversham straightened his tall figure.
"Mainstairs is a deadlock. Mr. Melrose won't repair the cottages. He
intends to pull them down. He has given the people notice, and he is
receiving no rent. They won't go. I suppose the next step will be to
apply for an ejectment order.
Pages:
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314