The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope (best fiction novels of all time .TXT) 📕

“I know all about it. Go on. I’m not sure but that Mr. Montague’s retirement from among us may be an advantage. He could not be made to understand that unanimity in such an enterprise as this is essential. I am confident that the new director whom I have had the pleasure of introducing to you today will not sin in the same direction.” Then Mr. Melmotte bowed and smiled very sweetly on Mr. Longestaffe.

Mr. Longestaffe was astonished to find how soon the business was done, and how very little he had been called on to do. Miles Grendall had read something out of a book which he had been unable to follow. Then the chairman had read some figures. Mr. Cohenlupe had declared that their prosperity was unprecedented;⁠—and the Board was over. When Mr. Longestaffe explained to Miles Grendall that he still wished to speak to Mr. Melmotte, Miles explained to him that the chairman had been obliged to run off to a meeting of gentlemen connected with the interior of Africa, which was now being held at the Cannon Street Hotel.

XLVI Roger Carbury and His Two Friends

Roger Carbury having found Ruby Ruggles, and having ascertained that she was at any rate living in a respectable house with her aunt, returned to Carbury. He had given the girl his advice, and had done so in a manner that was not altogether ineffectual. He had frightened her, and had also frightened Mrs. Pipkin. He had taught Mrs. Pipkin to believe that the new dispensation was not yet so completely established as to clear her from all responsibility as to her niece’s conduct. Having done so much, and feeling that there was no more to be done, he returned home. It was out of the question that he should take Ruby with him. In the first place she would not have gone. And then⁠—had she gone⁠—he would not have known where to bestow her. For it was now understood throughout Bungay⁠—and the news had spread to Beccles⁠—that old Farmer Ruggles had sworn that his granddaughter should never again be received at Sheep’s Acre Farm. The squire on his return home heard all the news from his own housekeeper. John Crumb had been at the farm and there had been a fierce quarrel between him and the old man. The old man had called Ruby by every name that is most distasteful to a woman, and John had stormed and had sworn that he would have punched the old man’s head but for his age. He wouldn’t believe any harm of Ruby⁠—or if he did he was ready to forgive that harm. But as for the Baro-nite;⁠—the Baro-nite had better look to himself! Old Ruggles had declared that Ruby should never have a shilling of his money;⁠—whereupon Crumb had anathematised old Ruggles and his money too, telling him that he was an old hunx, and that he had driven the girl away by his cruelty. Roger at once sent over to Bungay for the dealer in meal, who was with him early on the following morning.

“Did ye find her, squoire?”

“Oh, yes, Mr. Crumb, I found her. She’s living with her aunt, Mrs. Pipkin, at Islington.”

“Eh, now;⁠—look at that.”

“You knew she had an aunt of that name up in London.”

“Ye-es; I knew’d it, squoire. I a’ heard tell of Mrs. Pipkin, but I never see’d her.”

“I wonder it did not occur to you that Ruby would go there.” John Crumb scratched his head, as though acknowledging the shortcoming of his own intellect. “Of course if she was to go to London it was the proper thing for her to do.”

“I knew she’d do the thing as was right. I said that all along. Darned if I didn’t. You ask Mixet, squoire⁠—him as is baker down Bardsey Lane. I allays guv’ it her that she’d do the thing as was right. But how about she and the Baro-nite?”

Roger did not wish to speak of the Baronet just at present. “I suppose the old man down here did ill use her?”

“Oh, dreadful;⁠—there ain’t no manner of doubt o’ that. Dragged her about awful;⁠—as he ought to be took up, only for the rumpus like. D’ye think she’s see’d the Baro-nite since she’s been in Lon’on, Muster Carbury?”

“I think she’s a good girl, if you mean that.”

“I’m sure she be. I don’t want none to tell me that, squoire. Tho’, squoire, it’s better to me nor a ten pun’ note to hear you say so. I allays had a leaning to you, squoire; but I’ll more nor lean to you, now. I’ve said all through she was good, and if e’er a man in Bungay said she warn’t⁠—; well, I was there, and ready.”

“I hope nobody has said so.”

“You can’t stop them women, squoire. There ain’t no dropping into them. But, Lord love ’ee, she shall come and be missus of my house tomorrow, and what’ll it matter her then what they say? But, squoire⁠—did ye hear if the Baro-nite had been a’ hanging about that place?”

“About Islington, you mean.”

“He goes a hanging about; he do. He don’t come out straight forrard, and tell a girl as he loves her afore all the parish. There ain’t one in Bungay, nor yet in Mettingham, nor yet in all the Ilketsals and all the Elmhams, as don’t know as I’m set on Ruby Ruggles. Huggery-Muggery is pi’son to me, squoire.”

“We all know that when you’ve made up your mind, you have made up your mind.”

“I hove. It’s made up ever so as to Ruby. What sort of a one is her aunt now, squoire?”

“She keeps lodgings;⁠—a very decent sort of a woman I should say.”

“She won’t let the Baro-nite come there?”

“Certainly not,” said Roger, who felt that he was hardly dealing sincerely with this most sincere of mealmen. Hitherto he had shuffled off every question that had been asked him about Felix, though he knew that Ruby had spent many hours with her fashionable lover. “Mrs. Pipkin won’t let him come there.”

“If I was to