human
If that gentleman comes here to-morrow at eleven, show him up here,
gpt
Mr. Moss, ma'am?
human
Yes, Mr. Moss, she answered in a loud voice, which told the man much of her story.
gpt
Where did that piano come from?
human
Mr. Moss had it sent in,
gpt
And my father is paying separate rent for it?
human
What's that, my dear? What's that about rent?
gpt
We have got this piano to pay for. It's one of Erard's. Mr. Moss has sent it, and of course we must pay till we have sent it back again. That'll do.
human
It's my belief that he intends to get us into pecuniary difficulties. You have only got £62 left.
gpt
But you are to have twenty shillings a day till Christmas.
human
What's that?
gpt
According to what he says it will be increased after Christmas. He spoke of £2 a day.
human
Yes; if my singing be approved of. But who is to be the judge? If the musical world choose to say that they must have Rachel O'Mahony, that will be all very well. Am I to sing at twenty shillings a day for just as long as Mr. Moss may want me? And are we to remain here, and run up a bill which we shall never be able to pay, till they put us out of the door and call us swindlers?
gpt
Frank Jones would help us at a pinch if we came to that difficulty,
human
I wouldn't take a shilling from Frank Jones. Frank Jones is all the world to me, but he cannot help me till he has made me his wife. We must go out of this at the end of the first week, and send the piano back. As far as I can make it out, our expenses here will be about £17 10s. a week. What the piano will cost, I don't know; but we'll learn that from Mr. Moss. I'll make him understand that we can't stay here, having no more than twenty shillings a day. If he won't undertake to give me £2 a day immediately after Christmas, we must go back to New York while we've got money left to take us.
gpt
Have it your own way,
human
I don't mean to remain here and wake up some morning and find that I can't stir a step without asking Mahomet M. M. for some money favour. I know I can sing; I can sing, at any rate, to the extent of forty shillings a day. For forty shillings a day I'll stay; but if I can't earn that at once let us go back to New York. It is not the poverty I mind so much, nor yet the debt, nor yet even your distress, you dear old father. You and I could weather it out together on a twopenny roll. Things would never be altogether bad with us as long as we are together; and as long as we have not put ourselves in the power of Mahomet M. M. Fancy owing Mr. Moss a sum of money which we couldn't pay! Mahomet's 'little bill!' I would say to a Christian: 'All right, Mr. Christian, you shall have your money in good time, and if you don't it won't hurt you.' He wouldn't be any more than an ordinary Christian, and would pull a long face; but he would have no little scheme ready, cut and dry, for getting my body and soul under his thumb.
gpt
You are very unchristian yourself, my dear.
human
I certainly have my own opinion of Mahomet M. M., and I shall tell him to-morrow morning that I don't mean to run the danger.
gpt
There will be two of them against me, she said to herself as she made the preparation.
human
There'll be the dear old governor, and the governor that isn't dear. If I were left quite to myself, I think I could do it easier. But then it might come to sticking a knife into him.
gpt
Father, she said, during breakfast,
human
I'm going to practise for half an hour before this man comes.
gpt
That means that I'm to go away.
human
Not in the least. I shall go into the next room where the piano lives, and you can come or not just as you please. I shall be squalling all the time, and as we do have the grandeur of two rooms for the present, you might as well use them. But when he comes we must take care and see that matters go right. You had better leave us alone at first, that I may sing to him. Then, when that's over, do you be in waiting to be called in. I mean to have a little bit of business with my trusted agent, manager, and parent in music, 'Mahomet M. M.'
gpt
You'll want to hear me sing of course,
human
Just a bar or two to know how you have improved. But it is hardly necessary. I see from the motion of your lips that you have been keeping your mouth open. And I hear from the tone of your voice, that it is all there. There is no doubt about you, if you have practised opening your mouth.
gpt
At any rate you shall hear, and if you will stand there you shall see.
human
Allow me to express my great delight and my strong admiration for the young débutante. As far as Miss O'Mahony is concerned the word failure may be struck out of the language. And no epithet should be used to qualify success, but one in the most superlative degree. Allow me to--
gpt
Mr. Moss, said the young lady starting up,
human
So saying she ran out of the room, and in two minutes returned, followed by her father. The two men shook hands, and each of them looked as though he did not know what he was expected to say to the other.
gpt
Now then, father, you must arrange things with Mr. Moss.
human
I don't exactly know what I have got to arrange,
gpt
We've got to arrange so that we shan't get into debt with Mr. Moss.
human
There need not be the least fear in the world as to that,
gpt
Ah; but that's just what we do fear, and what we must fear.
human
So unnecessary,--so altogether unnecessary, said Mr. Moss, expecting to be allowed to be the banker for the occasion.
gpt
If you will just draw on me for what you want.
human
But that is just what we won't do. Then there was a pause, and Mr. Moss shrugged his shoulders.
gpt
It's as well to understand that at the beginning. Of course this place is too expensive for us and we must get out of it as soon as possible.
human
Why in such a hurry?
gpt
And we must send back the piano. It was so good of you to think of it! But it must go back.
human
No, no, no! shouted Mr. Moss.
gpt
The piano is my affair. A piano more or less for a few months is nothing between me and Erard's people. They are only too happy.
human
I do not in the least doubt it. Messrs. Erard's people are always glad to secure a lady who is about to come out as a singer. But they send the bill in at last.
gpt
Not to you;--not to you.
human
But to you. That would be a great deal worse, would it not, father? We might as well understand each other.
gpt
Mr. O'Mahony and I will understand each other very well.
human
But it is necessary that Miss O'Mahony and you should understand each other also. My father trusts me, and I cannot tell you how absolutely I obey him.
gpt
Or he you,
human
At any rate we two know what we are about, sir. You will not find us differing. Now Mr. Moss, you are to pay me twenty shillings a day.
gpt
Till Christmas;--twenty shillings a night till Christmas.
human
Of course we cannot live here on twenty shillings a day. The rooms nearly take it all. We can't live on twenty shillings a day, anyhow.
gpt
Then make it forty shillings immediately after the Christmas holidays.
human
I must have an agreement to that effect, said Rachel,
gpt
You must not speak of going away, really, Miss O'Mahony.
human
Then I must have an agreement signed. You understand that. And we shall look for cheaper rooms to-day. There is a little street close by where we can manage it. But on the one thing we are determined;--we will not get into debt.