A Mummer's Wife

ood of sunlight poured across the bed, she fell back amid the pillows, having recognized her mother-in-law in a painful moment of se

u get here?' sh

out of the bedroom here; and then I thought I would be more comfortable here

o crossly that Mrs. Ede did not speak for some tim

ad a very

ate. 'I never was so f

e fit come on?'

,' said Kate. 'I'm so tir

r breakfast. You do look tired. It

, what time is it?' said Kate,

is? If you're tired, lie still; I

tomorrow night. Oh, my goodness! I shall nev

the old woman answered a

; you can't kill yoursel

g up when I could look a

se of the

tors for a good half-hour without feeling the time passing, and taking he

the rooms let, and the mummer, as you call him, is coming here to-day; it's all settled. Promise me you'll do nothing to unsettle it, and that while Mr. Lennox is here you'll tr

g luck, but since you both wish it, I suppose I must gi

will you promise that whilst he's here you'll atte

if he doesn't make the house a di

ou mean a

, and I for one am not going to attend on wenches like them. If I had my

little shocked, and she strove to think how they should put a stop

uty, and if Mr. Lennox respects h

might respect Mr. Lennox satisfied Kate, and not wishing to press the ma

say that it wa

re than

late I am! I suppose the

I was going upstairs;

a ready, and you might m

, and so should I, fo

ling, and seeing what was wanted

u last night?'

not require me, and I was more comfortable ther

way that made her fear he wa

ge because I won't let h

know she loves you better than anyone in the

She will interfere in everything; as if I hadn't a right to let my rooms to whom I please. Sh

ed. She promised me just now she'd say nothing more about it

smiled and expressed regret that the presence of an extra person in the

aid, 'and I dare say downstairs

odbye for the present, she went downstairs. Annie was helping Mrs. Ede to make the toast in the front kitchen; Lizzie stood at the table buttering it,

and then, as her thoughts detached themselves, she remembered the actor whom they expected that afternoon. The annoyances which he had unconsciously caused her had linked him to her in a curious way, and all her prejudices vanished in the sensation of nearness that each succeeding hour magnified, and she wondered who this being was who had brought so much trouble into her life even before she had seen him. As the word 'trouble' went through her mind she paused, arrested by a passing feeling of sentimentality; but it explained nothing, defined nothing, only touched her as a breeze does a flower, a

e awoke with a start and spoke more crossly than she intended to the little girls, who had pulled aside the curtain and were intently examining the huge theatrical poster

liable received illustration upon it. Wrecks at sea, robberies on the highways, prisoners perishing in dungeons, green lanes and lovers, babies, glowing hearths, and her

d arson, while Annie was moved more by leavetakings and declarations of unalterable affection. These differences of taste often gave rise to little bickerings, and last week there had been much prophesying as to

s it a robber o

inted tone of voice; 'we can't make the picture out.'

picture at all; i

smiling, yet interested in the conversation. 'And all mixe

or bridegroom was being held back by his friends; a handsome young man in knee-breeches and a cocked hat watched the proceedings cynically in the right-hand corner, whilst on the left a big fat man frantically endeavoured to recover his wig, that had been lost in the m

? He's the rich man who has sent the two policemen to carry the bride to

t attempt to controvert it, and remained silent, whilst Lizzie looked at them triumphantly. The more they e

of the actors of the company is com

claimed Annie. 'Oh, how nice that will

r, was a little inclined to think she knew all about actors. 'How can he take us to the play?

who has lost his wig,' Anni

is coming here. For all I know it may b

t, Mrs. Ede!'

's earnestness, and, wishin

sham policemen, and I dare say a

it was evident they had no sympathies

eman, who would you like

a

cked hat,' replied Liz

you,

and after a moment sai

kes what I want-I

se for herself; she always tries to imitate me. She'll have the man who's lost his wig! O

t that moment to catch sight of the young man in whit

e child's curls, but her eyes fell on the neglected apro

st go back, undo all you have done thi

turned in, and while she did so a smile hovered round the corners of her thin lips, for she was t

'waiting' and 'breakfast cold' and 'sorry.' At last, out of a confusion

aid Kate, 'but nothing w

d after speaking about open house and late hours she asked

ave to have his latc

ntil I hear him come into the house. He won't be b

, Mrs. Ede spoke of the danger of bad company, and trusted that having an actor in t

that we heard enough o

jected, and then l

e had the gravest doubts; for what could be expected, she often muttered, of a person who turned up her

not help it; her sister had been very ill, and she had been obliged to sit up with her all night. Mrs. Ede smiled at this explanation, and withdrew, leaving Kat

ht spend it together. She was always full of information concerning the big red house in Queen Street. She was sure that the hours in the workroom would not seem half so long if Kate would wake up a bit, go to the play, and chat abou

ck under the needle, she gave the wheel a turn, and rapidly the little steel needle darted up and down into the glistening silk, as Miss Hender's thick hands pushed it forward. The work was too delicate to admit of

for exchanging a few words, and lifting her head from her work, she asked her assistant if she could remain that evening and do a little overtime. Hender said she was very sorry, but it was the first night

ldn't pass another night out of bed. You know I was up looking after my husband all night

inwardly that Bill was never

get it done in the time. I'd be delighted to help you, but I couldn't disappoint my little friend

for a long time for an o

Le

and he'll be coming this afternoon, and may wa

s Hender, with a feeling of pride at being able to s

and then, suddenly remembering her p

what part he ta

osed to have a wonderful voice; that the amount of presents he received in each town from ladies in the upper ranks of society would furnish a small shop-'It's said that they'd sell the chemises off their backs for h

interest in hearing what such people were like; and while Miss Hender gossiped about all s

in white who is being dragged away from his bride? I've been examining

ch. But in any case you'll find him fine. All theatre people are. The other day I went behind

that?' a

nge? Dressing

late is very dangerous for a young girl. And I sup

but at the same time tempted to make a little boast of her independence. 'But you must come to see Ma

ke it very much; I don'

sing you do; and old Mrs. Ede may repeat all day long that she's a Christian woman, and what else she likes, but it d

t I don't know what I should do withou

and even when he is well he's always blowing

he fatigue of last night's watching. She felt it still in her bones, and her eyes

ve the skirt, ma'am,

earily, and was about to s

ou'll think of him. I'm a Christian woman and I don't want to misj

with surprise, and a

him. But perhaps he won't like the roo

ll you; I've the di

htened, 'you promised me not t

fere with Mr. Lennox; no more will I. Why should I? What right have I? But I

ewing. As she did so Kate moved towards the door. She waited on the threshold, but seeing that her mother-in-law had turned her back, her courage returned to her and she went downstairs. When she caught sight of M

she entered. The attention embarrassed her, and somewhat awkwardly she interrupted him to ask if he would like to see the rooms. The suddenness of the question seemed to surprise him, and h

window round to the kitchen door ran a mahogany counter; behind it, there were lines of cardboard boxes built up to the ceiling; the lower rows were broken and dusty, and sp

d be delighted, and she lifted the flap and let him pass into the house. On the right of the kitchen door there was a small passage, and at the e

workroom, but Mr. Lennox did not seem to notice her, and continue

t he would be comfortable. But when Kate noticed how dusty was the pale yellow wall-paper, with its watery roses, she could not help feeling ashamed, and she wondered how so fine a gentleman as he could be so easily satisfied. Then, plucking up courage, she showed him the little mahogany chiffonier whi

nt up the second portion of the canister-like staircas

'I thought that my mother-in-law had got the room ready fo

on to the fact of your having s

nd an awkward s

d near the fireplace-the smallest and narrowest in the world. Upon the black painted chimney-piece a large red apple made a spot of colour. The carpet was in rags, and the lace blinds were torn, and hung like fishnets. Mr. Lennox apparently was not satisfied, but when his eyes fell upon Kate it was clear that he thought that so

t you're r

so much as I s

h about that; the place is

e by my mother-in-la

e explanation. 'Old people are very pious, generally, ar

e it myself,' sa

respond, her whole mind being held up by the thought: 'I

ery well; and you say that

hing you order, sir. I

e matter settled. I'll tell them to

lls, and Miss Hender, too eager to inform him, took advantage of the occasion to glide in a word to the effect that she was going to see him that evening at the theatre. Kate was amused, but felt it was her duty to take the first opportunity of interrupting the conversation. For some unexplained reason Mr. Lennox seemed loath to go, and it was with difficulty he was got downstairs. Even then he could not pass the kitchen door without stopping to speak to the apprentices. He asked them wher

inner?' asked Kate, fol

anner again grew confidential. He asked all kinds of questions as to what she could get him to eat, but without ever quite deciding w

time to dine, but if you'll put that out for m

ig shoulders were lost in the crowd, and asked herself if she liked the man who had just left her; but the answer slipped from her when she tried to define it, and with a sigh she turned into the shop and mechanically se

icious of an implication of vanity. 'If we're going to take his

ered sourly; and she went upstairs, backbone and principles equally rigid, l

gry thoughts, for the tall gaunt woman ret

I speak crossly? I'll say

pro

Kate answered, feeling that she must assert herself.

ied-'I've said too much; but

rn against you. You're the

er the hard, blunt features of the peasant

with my tongue, but tha

aited impatiently for the door to be shut that she might talk. She had been round to see her friend the stage carpenter, and he had told her all about t

ly half understan

he asked as she bent her head to examine the be

that Kate did not understand, she hastened to expl

nice man he is. When I was talking to Bill I could see Mr. Lennox between the

e announcement that Mr. Lennox was the funny man was disappointin

now that my mother-in-law was right

rds so. I'm sure I didn't mean to say there was any harm between him and

has taken my rooms for a week, and there's an end of

surest way was to let people find out things for themselves, and having an instinctive repugnance to virtue-at least, to questions of conscience-she could not abide whining about spilt milk. Beyond an occasional reference to their work, the women did not speak again, until at three o'clock Mrs. Ede announced that dinner was ready. There was not much to eat, however, and Kate had little appetite, and she was glad when the meal was finished. She had then to help Mrs. Ede in getting the rooms ready, and when this was done it was time for tea. But not even this meal did they get in comfort, for Mr. Lennox had ordered a beefsteak for supper; somebody would have to go to fetch it. Mrs. Ede said she would, and Kate went into the shop to attend to the few customers who might ca

friend, who had risen to go, wh

people, but their prices are ve

the shutters with a series of bangs, she tried to persuade her

more than thirty shillings; you'll want so

my man about it to-night. I

use you if yo

bidding Kate good-night

tteries they want some fresh air,' and then, raising her eyes from the streets, she watched the sunset die out of the west; purple and yellow streaks still outlined the grey expanse of the hills, making the brick town look like a little toy. An

but she could not hope to change mother. As the image of the lodger floated out of her mind Hender's came into it, and she hoped the girl would not get into trouble. So many poor girls are in trouble; how many in the crowd passing before her door? The difficulty she was in with