The Adventures of Don Lavington | Page 4

his coat as he ran, and disappeared for an hour, at the end of which time
he returned, went mysteriously up to Don and whispered,--
"It's all right, sir; she says she will."
The result was that Jem Wimble looked twice as important, and cocked
his cocked hat on one side, for he had ten shillings a week more, and
the furnished cottage, kept the keys, kept the men's time, and married a
wife who bore a most extraordinary likeness to a pretty little bantam
hen.
This was three months before the scene just described, but though Jem
spoke in authoritative tones to the men, it was with bated breath to his
little wife, who was standing in the doorway looking as fierce as a
kitten, when Jem walked up in company with his young master.
"Which I will not find fault before Master Lindon, Jem," she said; "but
you know I do like you to be home punctual to tea."
"Yes, my dear, of course, of course," said Jem, apologetically. "Not
much past time, and had to shut up first."
"That's what you always say when you're late. You don't know, Master
Don, what a life he leads me."

"'Tain't true, Master Don," cried Jem. "She's always a-wherritting me."
"Now I appeal to Master Don: was it me, sir, as was late? There's the
tea ready, and the bread and butter cut, and the watercresses turning
limp, and the flies getting at the s'rimps. It arn't your fault, sir, I know,
and I'm not grumbling, but there never was such a place as this for
flies."
"It's the sugar, Sally," said Don, who had sauntered aimlessly in with
Jem, and as he stared round the neat little kitchen with the pleasant
meal all ready, he felt as if he should like to stay to tea instead of going
home.
"Yes, it's the sugar, sir, I know; and you'd think it would sweeten some
people's temper, but it don't."
"Which if it's me you mean, and you're thinking of this morning--"
"Which I am, Jem, and you ought to be ashamed. You grumbled over
your breakfast, and you reg'larly worried your dinner, and all on
account of a button."
"Well, then, you should sew one on. When a man's married he does
expect to find buttons on his clean shirts."
"Yes, and badly enough you want 'em, making 'em that sticky as you
do."
"I can't help that; it's only sugar."
"Only sugar indeed! And if it was my last words I'd say it--there was a
button on the neck."
"Well, I know that," cried Jem; "and what's the good of a button being
on, if it comes off directly you touch it? Is it any good, Mas' Don?"
"Oh, don't ask me," cried the lad, half-amused, half annoyed, and
wishing they'd ask him to tea.

"He dragged it off, Master Don."
"I didn't."
"You did, Jem, and you know you did, just to aggravate me."
"Wasn't half sewn on."
"It was. I can't sew your buttons on with copper wire."
"You two are just like a girl and boy," cried Don. "Here you have
everything comfortable about you, and a good place, and you're always
quarrelling."
"Well, it's his fault, sir."
"No, sir, it's her'n."
"It's both your faults, and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves."
"I'm not," said Sally; "and I wish I'd never seen him."
"And I'm sure I wish the same," said Jem despondently. "I never see
such a temper."
"There, Master Don," cried the droll-looking little Dutch doll of a
woman. "That's how he is always going on."
"There, Jem, now you've made your poor little wife cry. You are the
most discontented fellow I ever saw."
"Come, I like that, Master Don; you've a deal to brag about, you have.
Why, you're all at sixes and sevens at home."
This was such a home thrust that Don turned angrily and walked out of
the place.
"There!" cried Sally. "I always knew how it would be. Master Don was
the best friend we had, and now you've offended him, and driven him

away."
"Shouldn't ha' said nasty things then," grumbled Jem, sitting down and
attacking his tea.
"Now he'll go straight to his uncle and tell him what a man you are."
"Let him," said Jem, with his mouth full of bread and butter.
"And of course you'll lose your place, and we shall be turned out into
the street to starve."
"Will you be quiet, Sally? How's a man to eat his tea with you going on
like that?"
"Turned out into the world without a chance of getting another place.
Oh! It's too bad. Why did I ever marry such a man as you?"
"'Cause you were glad of the chance," grumbled Jem, raising his