The Queen's Scarlet Part 4

"Yes. Well?"

"Well, S'Richard, that's it; I'm on the look-out."

"What for, Jerry?"

"To better myself, S'Richard. You see, it's all very well being here valetin' for the young gents and you, S'Richard; and I s'pose, as far as character goes, there ain't a better coach nowhere than master, as they says pa.s.ses more young gents than anyone."

"No; Mr Draycott is a very clever scholar, Jerry," said the young man, looking as if he wished the servant would go. "Well?"

"Well, sir, that's all very well for a character for a noo place, but a chap don't want to be cleanin' boots all his life when they ain't shoes."

"No, Jerry; that would be rather a monotonous career. But what do you want me to do?"

"Well, S'Richard, it's making very bold like; but I can't help liking you, sir, and 'fore long you'll be pa.s.sing and getting appointed to your regiment; and as I've got a great taste for soljering myself, I thought I'd ask you to take me with you."

"You--you want to be a soldier, Jerry?"

"Yes, sir. Why not?" said the man, drawing himself up, and brus.h.i.+ng the tuft of hair over the top of his forehead, so that it stood up fiercely, and gave his whole head some resemblance to the conventional naming sh.e.l.l of military ornamentation. "Of course, I couldn't think of a military eddication and going to a coach, S'Richard, and pa.s.sing; but lots of chaps have risen from the ranks."

"Yes, I suppose so," said the young man, who looked more bored and fidgety; "but I don't think I ought to promise to take you, Jerry. I don't know that I shall pa.s.s and get my commission."

"Oh, yes, you will, sir."

"Of course, I should like to have you with me, Jerry, because you understand me so well."

"I do, S'Richard; and I allus feel proud o' doin' for you. I often watches you when you goes out, and I says to myself, 'Look at him! I cut him, and brushed him, and shaved him'--not as there's much to shave yet, sir."

"No, Jerry," said the young man, pa.s.sing his hand over his upper lip and chin; "it's rather a work of supererogation at present."

"A what, sir?"

"Work of supererogation, Jerry."

"Exactly, S'Richard; that's just what it is. But don't you get out of heart, sir. I was smooth as you once, and now if I goes two days you might grate ginger with me!"

"Well, we will see," said the young man; "but if you want to--to--"

"Better myself, S'Richard; that's it!"

"Don't let another opportunity go."

"Oh, yes, I shall, S'Richard! You said you'd like to have me, and that's enough for me! I'd wait for you, sir, if I had to stop till you was a hundred! But, beg pardon, S'Richard, is that there to make a patent mouse-trap?"

"Which?" said the young man angrily.

"That there thing as you're making, S'Richard."

"Pooh! what nonsense! Jerry, you are not musical."

"Well, sir, I ain't a moosician, as you may say, but I was a dab at the Jew's-harp once, and I've got a very tidy flootina 'cordion now; only I ain't no time to practise."

"No, Jerry," said the young man, thoughtfully, as he laid out his little pieces of mechanism on the table; "this is an attempt to invent a means of producing musical sounds by percussion."

"With p'cussion-caps, sir?"

"No, no! by blows."

"Oh, I see, S'Richard."

"I have often thought that more might be done, Jerry, in the way of obtaining musical notes."

"Of course, S'Richard."

"You see," said the young man, dreamily, "we produce them by vibration."

"Yes, S'Richard, and whistling, and fiddling, and blowing trombones."

"Exactly; that is all connected with vibration."

"Oh, is it, sir? I s'pose you're right; but then there's pyanners, sir, and orgins, sir, street and otherwise!"

"Exactly, Jerry," said the young student drily. "There, I'm busy now; I'll remember what you said, and, if I can have you with me, I will."

"Thank you kindly, S'Richard. Don't you be afraid as I won't do my dooty by you!"

"I won't, Jerry. Then that's all, isn't it?"

"Well, S'Richard, not quite all; there's your cousin, sir--Mr Mark, sir."

"Well, what about him?"

"Only this, S'Richard: if you'd speak to him, and tell him as servants ain't doormats, I should be greatly obliged."

"What do you mean?"

"Only this, S'Richard, as it's getting beyond bearing! I don't want to go complaining to Mr Draycott, sir, but there is bounds to everything!

Havin' all kinds of hard words chucked at you--'fools' and 'idgits' and 'jacka.s.ses'--and when it comes to boots and hair-brushes, I says as it's rough enough; but when it's a soda-water bottle and a plate, I can't stand it, and I won't!"

"What had you been doing to annoy my cousin?"

"Nothin', S'Richard. I just work for him same as I do for my other gentlemen, or for you, sir; and you never threw a bad word at me in your life--let alone boots!"

"Did the things. .h.i.t you, Jerry?"

"No, S'Richard, I can't say as they hit me; but they hurt me, all the same. Servants has feelings same as gents has."

"I'm very sorry, Jerry. Mr Frayne is a little irritable sometimes."