Queed | Page 8

Mrs. Marsden, Aunt Jennie," said the girl, gently drawing her back to the muttons,--"we'll make lots more money than she some day. So you gave him the room, then?"
"Yes, the room known as the third hall back. A small, neat, economical room, entirely suitable for a single gentleman. I gave him my lowest price, though I must say I did not dream then that he would spend all his time in his room, apparently having no downtown occupation, which is certainly not what one expects from gentlemen, who get low terms on the silent understanding that they will take themselves out of the house directly after breakfast. Nevertheless--will you believe it?--ten days passed and not a word was said about payment. So one morning I stopped him in the hall, as though for a pleasant talk. However, I was careful to introduce the point, by means of an anecdote I told him, that guests here were expected to pay by the week. Of course I supposed that the hint would be sufficient."
"But it wasn't, alas?"
"On the contrary, ten days again passed, and you might suppose there was no such thing as money in all this world. Then I resolved to approach him directly. I knocked on his door, and when he opened it, I told him plainly and in so many words that I would be very much gratified if he would let me have a check whenever convenient, as unfortunately I had heavy bills due that must be met. I was very much mortified, Sharlee! As I stood there facing that young man, dunning him like a grocer's clerk, it flashed into my mind to wonder what your great-grandfather, the Governor, would think if he could have looked down and seen me. For as you know, my dear, though I doubt if you altogether realize it at all times, since our young people of to-day, I regret to have to say it--though of course I do except you from this criticism--"
By gentle interruption and deft transition, Sharlee once more wafted the conversation back to the subject in hand.
"And when you went so far as to tell him this, how did he take it?"
"He took it admirably. He told me that I need feel no concern about the matter; that while out of funds for the moment, doubtless he would be in funds again shortly. His manner was dignified, calm, unabashed--"
"But it didn't blossom, as we might say, in money?"
"As to that--no. What are you to do, Sharlee? I feel sure the man is not dishonest,--in fact he has a singularly honest face, transparently so,--but he is only somehow queer. He appears an engrossed, absent-minded young man--what is the word I want?--an eccentric. That is what he is, an engrossed young eccentric."
Sharlee leaned against the bureau and looked at her aunt thoughtfully. "Do you gather, Aunt Jennie, that he's a gentleman?"
Mrs. Paynter threw out her hands helplessly. "What does the term mean nowadays? The race of gentlemen, as the class existed in my day, seems to be disappearing from the face of the earth. We see occasional survivals of the old order, like Gardiner West or the young Byrd men, but as a whole--well, my dear, I will only say that the modern standards would have excited horror fifty years ago and--"
"Well, but according to the modern standards, do you think he is?"
"I don't know. He is and he isn't. But no--no--no! He is not one. No man can be a gentleman who is utterly indifferent to the comfort and feelings of others, do you think so?"
"Indeed, no! And is that what he is?"
"I will illustrate by an incident," said Mrs. Paynter. "As I say, this young man spends his entire time in his room, where he is, I believe, engaged in writing a book."
"Oh, me! Then he's penniless, depend upon it."
"Well, when we had the frost and freeze early last week, he came to me one night and complained of the cold in his room. You know, Sharlee, I do not rent that room as a sitting-room, nor do I expect to heat it, at the low price, other than the heat from the halls. So I invited him to make use of the dining-room in the evenings, which, as you know, with the folding-doors drawn, and the yellow lamp lit, is converted to all intents and purposes into a quiet and comfortable reading-room. Somewhat grumblingly he went down. Fifi was there as usual, doing her algebra by the lamp. The young man took not the smallest notice of her, and presently when she coughed several times--the child's cold happened to be bad that night--he looked up sharply and asked her please to stop. Fifi said that she was afraid she couldn't help it. He replied that it was