I had forgotten for a moment that Maurice had told me that she makes
bandages. She looked at me and her manner froze--I can't think why I
felt she thought I had no right to question her--I say "looked at
me"--but I am never quite sure what her eyes are doing, because she
never takes off her yellow glasses--Those appear to be gazing at me at
all events.
"I make bandages."
"Aren't you dead tired after working all day with me?"
"I have not thought about it--the bandages are badly needed."
Her pencil was in her hand, and the block ready--she evidently did not
mean to go on conversing with me. This attitude of continuous diligence
on her part has begun to irritate me. She never fidgets--just works all
the time.
I'll ask Burton what he thinks of her at luncheon to-day--As I said
before, Burton knows the world.
* * * * *
"What do you think of my typist, Burton?"
He was putting a dish of make-believe before me--it is a meatless
day--my one-legged cook is an artist but he thinks me a fool because I
won't let him cheat--our want of legs makes us friendly though.
"And with a brother in the trade I could get Monsieur chickens and what
he would wish!" he expostulates each week.
"A-hem"--Burton croaked.
I repeated the question.
"The young lady works very regular."
"Yes--That is just it--a kind of a machine."
"She earns her money Sir Nicholas."
"Of course she does--I know all that--But what do you think of her?"
"Beg pardon Sir Nicholas--I don't understand?"
I felt irritated.
"Of course you do--What kind of a creature I mean--?"
"The young lady don't chatter Sir--She don't behave like bits of girls."
"You approve of her then Burton?"
"She's been here a fortnight only, Sir Nicholas, you can't tell in the
time"--and that is all I could get out of him--but I felt the verdict
when he did give it would be favourable.
Insignificant little Miss Sharp--!
What shall I do with my day--? that is the question--my rotten useless
idle day?--I have no more inspiration for my book--besides Miss Sharp
has to type the long chapter I gave her yesterday. I wonder if she knows
anything about William and Mary furniture really?--she never launches a
remark.
Her hands are very red these last days--does making bandages redden the
hands?
I wonder what colour her eyes are--one can't tell with that blurred
yellow glass--.