'On her behalf?' said Mr. Thomasson stiffly. 'Is she ill?'
'No, sir, I do not know that she is ill.' 'Then I do not understand,' Mr. Thomasson answered in his most dignified tone. 'Are you aware that the woman is in the position of a college
servant, inhabiting a cottage the property of the college? And liable to
be turned out at the college will?' 'It may be so,' said the attorney.
'Then, if you please, what is the meaning of her absence when requested
by one of the Fellows of the college to attend?'
'I am here to represent her,' said Mr. Fishwick.
'Represent her! Represent a college laundress! Pooh! I never heard of
such a thing.' 'But, sir, I am her legal adviser, and--' 'Legal adviser!' Mr. Thomasson retorted, turning purple--he was really
puzzled. 'A bedmaker with a legal adviser! It's the height of impudence!
Begone, sir, and take it from me, that the best advice you can give her
is to attend me within the hour.' Mr. Fishwick looked rather blue. 'If it has nothing to do with her
property,' he said reluctantly, and as if he had gone too far.
'Property!' said Mr. Thomasson, gasping.
'Or her affairs.' 'Affairs!' the tutor cried. 'I never heard of a bedmaker having
affairs.' 'Well,' said the lawyer doggedly, and with the air of a man goaded into
telling what he wished to conceal, 'she is leaving Oxford. That is
the fact.' 'Oh!' said Mr. Thomasson, falling on a sudden into the minor key. 'And
her daughter?' 'And her daughter.' 'That is unfortunate,' the tutor answered, thoughtfully rubbing his
hands. 'The truth is--the girl proved so good a nurse in the case of my
noble friend who was injured the other day--my lord Viscount
Dunborough's son, a most valuable life--that since she absented herself,
he has not made the same progress. And as I am responsible for him--'
'She should never have attended him!' the attorney answered with
unexpected sharpness.
'Indeed! And why not, may I ask?' the tutor inquired.
Mr. Fishwick did not answer the question. Instead, 'She would not have
gone to him in the first instance,' he said, 'but that she was under a
misapprehension.' 'A misapprehension?' 'She thought that the duel lay at her door,' the attorney answered; 'and
in that belief was impelled to do what she could to undo the
consequences. Romantic, but a most improper step!' 'Improper!' said the tutor, much ruffled. 'And why, sir?' 'Most improper,' the attorney repeated in a dry, business-like tone. 'I
am instructed that the gentleman had for weeks past paid her attentions
which, his station considered, could scarcely be honourable, and of
which she had more than once expressed her dislike. Under those
circumstances, to expose her to his suit--but no more need be said,' the
attorney added, breaking off and taking a pinch of snuff with great
enjoyment, 'as she is leaving the city.'