A Christmas Story | Page 6

busily
engaged in drawing some plan, on paper, as she entered. I went on for a
little while in silence, when she said:
'I understood, sir----'
I said 'wait a minute,' and went on ruling one entire side, with double
lines, in perfect forgetfulness of her presence.
When she spoke again, 'Did you send for me, sir?' I would have
answered at once, for I felt awfully at appearing such a tyro; but the
case was a desperate one of long standing, and required heroic
treatment. I kept her waiting, at first as a lesson, that her imagination
might take wings and fly to the uttermost realms of unhappiness. The
second time, I thought I detected a little impatience in her voice, so I
said, taking a pen and dipping it in red ink, 'wait one moment, Susan,'
and went on lining and interlining. This was not reading, studying, nor
writing; it was what she very well knew I could do any time. So it told
on her. Each moment her valor oozed out, and as soon as I felt that the
cup of bitterness was pretty well drained, I proceeded to offer up this
victim as a sacrifice to peace.
'Susan, how is your sister's child?'
I looked straight into her. There was no sternness or smartness in my
expression, but the gaze was mathematical. I was measuring her candor,
and analyzing her mind.
She colored up and said, 'he's no better, sir; and they've given him up:
but the doctor says good nursing will do wonders.'
'I think so, too. Go back to your sister and stay till he is better; I will
supply your place.'

This puzzled her, but she could say nothing. I meant 'go' and she
went.--There was no delay--I saw her walk by the window almost at
once, and overheard the whisper, 'who next?'
I now rang the bell, and Dinah came to the door, saying, before she
knocked, the waiter is out, sir, so I answered your ring.
'Do you know where Thomas lives?'
'Yes sir.'
'Then tell him I want him now--'
'Yes sir,' she disappeared.
Oh the benefit of that slam.
In half an hour in walked Thomas.
'Never do you enter my room without knocking. It is a piece of
impertinence I will not put up with.'
'I did not mean anything by it, sir.'
'Well, don't do it again, and always take your hat off when you come
before a gentleman or lady. Such ignorance might lose you a good
place.'
His wages were high I knew. It was also winter, and he gave in. He
stood still with his hat in hand and waited.
'Thomas I want you to bring the close carriage to the door with the two
bays.'
'Yes sir; but the off horse cast his hind shoe yesterday and I am afraid.'
'You need not be, the ground is covered with snow. I shall want the
carriage in fifteen minutes.'

'Yes sir, but--'
'But what?'
'I left the carriage this morning at the blacksmiths to have a new tire put
on it, sir.'
'Who told you to?'
'Nobody, sir.'
'Then never do anything of that kind again without first reporting it to
me.'
'Yes sir,' moving slightly towards the door as though it was all settled
now.
'What other vehicle have you got in the stable?'
'The Phæton, sir; the open box wagon and the carryall.'
'Very well then, bring the nigh horse round in the carryall.'
'He never went in single harness since I drove Mrs. ----'
'Well, then, put the other one in.'
'Nor him neither, sir.'
'Humph!' it looked a little black.
'Well, where is the other horse, the gray, that your mistress always
drives when alone?'
'He is at the veterinary surgeons, sir.--I took him there last Monday and
he is to be blistered for two weeks off and on, sir.'
'Well, Thomas, as the coachman of the family, I ask you what can be
done.

'I must go out to-night. Can you suggest anything?'
'Nothing but to hire a hack, sir.'
'That's a very good idea, how far is the livery stable from here?'
'Just next to where I live, sir. I can get one in a minute, sir.'
Oh! so cheerfully.
'Very well, Thomas, just harness the two bays and ride down there and
put them to one. Tell the livery stable keeper that I wish it, and will pay
for the use of it.'
'But, sir, it is----'
'Thomas, I would advise you not to be long. You ought to be ashamed
to call yourself a coachman, and have what is under your charge in
such a condition. The idea of a horse two days without a shoe.'
'It isn't my----'
'Not a word--go and do your duty in future. I