Man and Maid

Suzette came in just as I wrote that; she seldom turns up in the

afternoon. She caught sight of Miss Sharp typing through the open door.

"Tiens!" she spit at me--"Since when?"

"I am writing a book, Suzette."

"I must see her face," and without waiting for permission, Suzette

flounced into the small salon.

I could hear her shrill little voice asking Miss Sharp to be so good as

to give her an envelope--She must write an address! I watched her--Miss

Sharp handed her one, and went on with her work.

Suzette returned, closing the door, without temper, behind her.

"Wouff!" she announced to me--"No anxiety there--an Anglaise--not

appetizing--not a fausse maigre like us, as thin as a hairpin! Nothing

for thou Nicholas--and Mon Dieu!--she does the family washing by her

hands--I know! mine look like that when I have taken one of my

fortnights at the sea!"

"You think it is washing?--I was wondering--."

"Does she take off her glasses ever, Nicholas?"

"No perhaps she has weak light eyes. One never can tell!"

Suzette was not yet quite at ease about it all--. I was almost driven to

ask Miss Sharp to remove her glasses to reassure her.

Women are jealous even of one-legged half blind men! I would like to ask

my cook if he has the same trouble--but--Oh! I wish anything mattered!

Suzette showed affection for me after this--and even passion! I would be

quite good-looking she said--when I should be finished. Glass eyes were

so well made now--"and as for legs!--truly my little cabbage, they are

as nimble as a goat's!"

Of course I felt comforted when she had gone.

* * * * *

The hot days pass--Miss Sharp has not asked for a holiday, she plods

along, we do a great deal of work--and she writes all my letters. And

there are days when I know I am going to be busy with my friends, when I

tell her she need not come--there was a whole week at the end of July.

Her manner never alters, but when Burton attempted to pay her she

refused to take the cheque.

"I did not earn that" she said.

I was angry with Burton because he did not insist.

"It was just, Sir Nicholas."

"No, it was not, Burton--If she did not work here, she was out of pocket

not working anywhere else. You will please add the wretched sum to this

week's salary."

Burton nodded stubbornly, so I spoke to Miss Sharp myself.