human
But did he tell you?
gpt
It's like this, said Flora who generally spoke for the company.
human
Jane and myself were with him in the Secret Service during the last year of the war.
gpt
He got us the job, Jane interpolated. She was a big, bonny girl with broad shoulders, steady blue eyes and a complexion that would have advertised any health resort.
human
Cook kicks herself that she wasn't in that show.
gpt
Kicks herself! What a very unbecoming expression, Jane.
human
Sorry, madam,
gpt
You girls perplex me greatly, said Mrs. Barraclough.
human
You do not laugh in the least like ordinary servants.
gpt
How do ordinary servants laugh?
human
Generally speaking, in a high note that echoes distressingly throughout the house, whereas you laugh like young ladies.
gpt
Oh, you old darling, exclaimed Flora with sudden impulsiveness.
human
I suppose if a decent education and upbringing counts for anything that's just what we are.
gpt
Then for goodness sake tell me what you are doing in my kitchen.
human
Come on, Flora, out with it.
gpt
It's this way, madam. Lots of us went broke after the war--lots of us who'd only fifty quid a year to live on.
human
Quid? said Mrs. Barraclough.
gpt
Isn't that something to do with sailors and tobacco?
human
Pounds, then. We ran across Mr. Anthony out in France.
gpt
Picked him out of a ditch near Arras with a bullet through his foot,
human
And after that got most awfully friendly and kept knocking up against each other.
gpt
It must have been very painful for him with a bullet through his foot.
human
When he heard we'd gone broke he said--just like him--'my mother's a sport, go and look after her.'
gpt
So I'm a sport, said Mrs. Barraclough with a smile.
human
But even so, why should I want looking after?
gpt
That's what puzzles me,
human
I don't know whether we ought to,
gpt
He's my fiancé, said Isabel,
human
And quite incidentally, Mrs. Barraclough remarked,
gpt
Oh, very well, said Flora.
human
It seems he was all over some great big, get rich quick scheme--and there was a chance anyone connected with him might be got at.
gpt
Got at!
human
Um! A tough crowd was up against him you see.
gpt
I see. The old lady nodded gravely but there was a sparkle of excitement in her expression.
human
So you and Jane and Cynthia and Agnes are here to protect me against the assaults of--of a 'tough crowd.'
gpt
We're here if we're wanted,
human
And somehow, said Flora,
gpt
I think we shall be wanted.
human
My dears, she said,
gpt
I don't know why but lately I've had a pringly sort of feeling--as if something were going to happen. It's a sense of adventure perhaps. I used to be a very wild girl myself.
human
But you mustn't worry, said Isabel.
gpt
It's sure to turn out all right, you know.
human
I'm not worrying. I'm only hoping that if anything does happen I shall be in it.
gpt
But look here, exclaimed Flora,
human
Yes, yes, but I know my Anthony, bless him. It would be so beautiful to help him again after all these years. She smiled retrospectively.
gpt
When he was a little boy he was always coming into conflict with his father. Poor Mr. Barraclough, he was a very austere man and Anthony's scrapes inspired from him the severest judgments. Tony had a little signal--he was much too proud to speak--he used to take out his pocket handkerchief and quite carelessly tie a knot in the centre. Whenever he did that I used to come to his aid. Dear Tony, I was always the one to rescue him from difficulty.
human
He gets his pluck from you,
gpt
His father was a brave man too, until he had a little misfortune with a mule which rather upset his balance.
human
Generally does,
gpt
Mental balance, Mrs. Barraclough corrected.
human
For the last few years of his life he thought he was Archbishop of Canterbury and if dead people think I'm sure he believes he is buried in Westminster Abbey. There, run along, my dears, and leave me to collect my thoughts.
gpt
So my boy is in danger, said Mrs. Barraclough with the least touch of tragedy in her voice. Isabel came forward and put an arm around her neck.
human
You knew, my dear?
gpt
They oughtn't to have told you.
human
Stuff and nonsense. Think I hadn't guessed? After all, a proper man ought to be in danger. Besides, she added,
gpt
What reason?
human
Doesn't he want to marry you?
gpt
I know, said Isabel forlornly,
human
Don't you be too sure, my dear. Now I'm going to let you into my confidence--mind I'm only putting two and two together but I'm pretty sure I've got the total right. Did you know that Tony had put every penny he possessed into this enterprise?
gpt
No. What makes you believe that?
human
Because all I've got is in it too, and he would never ask of me what he feared to do himself.
gpt
Then you know all about it?
human
Hardly anything.
gpt
But he oughtn't----
human
I think the risks and dangers came afterward.
gpt
Even so, said Isabel,
human
Isn't it just for you, said Mrs. Barraclough gently.
gpt
Just because if he failed he wouldn't be able to make you his wife.
human
He never told me.
gpt
Of course he didn't. How could he?
human
Are you sure of all this?
gpt
Practically certain. You see his Uncle Arthur is executor of Tony's affairs. Executors are not supposed to speak but Uncle Arthur was an exception who proves the rule.
human
For me, said Isabel slowly.
gpt
For our marriage--for us. Oh, I'm so glad it wasn't for cash. A cloud came over her brow.
human
But it makes it frightfully difficult for me supposing I had to----
gpt
What?
human
I mustn't say--even to you.