CHAPTER XXVIII

CLASH OF OPINIONS

Mr. Job Legg, with a persistence inspired by private purpose, continued to impress upon Nelly Northover the radical truth that in this world you cannot have anything for nothing.  He varied the precept sometimes, and reminded her that we must not hope to have our cake and eat it too; and closer relations with Richard Gurd served to impress upon Mrs. Northover the value of these verities.  Nor did she resent them from Mr. Legg.  He had preserved an attitude of manly resignation under his supreme disappointment.  He was patient, uncomplaining and self-controlled.  He did not immediately give notice of departure, but, for the present, continued to do his duty with customary thoroughness.  He showed himself a most tactful man.  New virtues were manifested in the light of the misfortune that had overtaken him.  Affliction and reverse seemed to make him shine the brighter.  Nelly could hardly understand it.  Had she not regarded his character as one of obvious simplicity and incapable of guile, she might have felt suspicious of any male who behaved with such exemplary distinction under the circumstances.

It was, of course, clear that the mistress of ‘The Seven Stars’ could not become Mr. Gurd’s partner and continue to reign over her own constellation as of old.  Yet Nelly did not readily accept a fact so obvious, even under Mr. Legg’s reiterated admonitions.  She felt wayward—­almost wilful about it:  and there came an evening when Richard dropped in for his usual half hour of courting to find her in such a frame of mind.  Humour on his part had saved the situation; but he lacked humour, and while Nelly, even as she spoke, knew she was talking nonsense and only waited his reminder of the inevitable in a friendly spirit, yet, when the reminder came, it was couched in words so forcible and so direct, that for a parlous moment her own sense of humour broke down.

The initial error was Mr. Gurd’s.  The elasticity of youth, both mental and physical, had departed from him, and he took her remarks, uttered more in mischief than in earnest, with too much gravity, not perceiving that Nelly herself was in a woman’s mood and merely uttering absurdities that he might contradict her.  She was ready enough to climb down from her impossible attitude; but Richard abruptly threw her down; which unchivalrous action wounded Mrs. Northover to the quick and begat in her an obstinate and rebellious determination to climb up again.

“I’m looking on ahead,” she began, while they sat in her parlour together.  “This is a great upheaval, Richard, and I’m just beginning to feel how great.  I’m wondering all manner of things.  Will you be so happy and comfortable along with me, at ‘The Seven Stars,’ as you are at ’The Tiger’?  You must put that to yourself, you know.”

It was so absurd an assumption, that she expected his laughter; and if he had laughed and answered with inspiration, no harm could have come of it.  But Richard felt annoyed rather than amused.  The suggestion seemed to show that Mrs. Northover was a fool—­the last thing he bargained for.  He exhibited contempt.  Indeed, he snorted in a manner almost insulting.