Mr. Maxwell

“ Mavis Dale was trembling. Her husband's noisy outburst seemed to have shaken her nerves; the downward lines formed themselves at the corners of her mouth; and her eyelids fluttered as if she were on the verge of tears. "Will," she murmured, "you—you ought to listen, if it's good advice. Mr. Ridgett knows the ropes—he, he has experience—and he means you well." ”

“ Miss Thompson, in her fawn-coloured coat and skirt, feathered hat and spotted veil, was a tall, slim, graceful figure, ready now to adorn the hired landau from Mr. Young's livery stables. Her hair was dark and her complexion naturally pallid; with a long straight nose in a narrow face, she resembled her dead father, but what was sheep-like and stupid in him was rather pretty in the girl;—altogether, a decent-looking, fairly attractive young woman of twenty-two, but not likely to obtain from the world at large the gaze of admiring satisfaction with which an adoring mother regarded her. ”

“ Everything against him—just a lout among the woodside louts, an orphan baited and lathered by a boozy stepfather, a tortured animal that ran into the thickets for safety, a thing with scarce a value or promise inside it except the little flame of courage that blows could not extinguish! And yet out of this raw material he had built up the potent, complex, highly-dowered organism known to the world as Mr. Dale of Rodchurch. There was the pride and glory—from such a start to have reached so magnificent a position. But he could not have done it—not all of it—without Mavis. ”

“ Some more tea, Mr. Prentice?"
But Mr. Prentice did not answer this last question. He put down his empty cup, and began to laugh heartily.
"Why are you laughing like that?"
"Mrs. Marsden-Thompson," he said jovially. "For once I have seen through you. All things are permissible to your sex; but if you were a man, I should be tempted to say you are an impostor—an arch-impostor."
"Oh, Mr. Prentice! Why?"
"Because you don't really think my advice worth a straw. You don't want my advice, or anybody else's. No one is capable of advising you. ”

“ And though still alone, he felt no loneliness. His own dear companion was soon coming to him. Throughout the walk the only thoughts tinged with solemnity were those which sprang from his always deepening gratitude to Mr. Barradine. He wanted to pay a ceremonious call for the purpose of expressing his thanks, and he felt that he should do this immediately; but for the life of him he could not remember whether the great man's London house was situated in Grosvenor Square or Grosvenor Place. Mavis of course would know. Or he could find out from one of these policemen. ”

“ Enid had thrown a blight over the proceedings. She made them all shy and uneasy. Even Mrs. Thompson herself could not speak of the shop without hesitating and stammering.
"So, really," she went on, "that is all I need say, gentlemen. But, as always, I shall be—shall be glad—extremely glad if you will give me your candid views on any subjects—on all subjects.... Have you any suggestions to make, Mr. Mears?"
Mr. Mears coughed, and hummed and hawed before replying.
"We must adhere to our maxims—and not get slack, no matter how good business may be."
"That's it," said Mr. Ridgway. ”

“ Sir Maxwell laughed.
"Boys are always outspoken, I know; and, like puppy dogs, have to be licked into shape."
"You shall be made to apologize for this insult, sir; and were you not in the lady's presence——"
"Oh, pray, Mr. Travers, do not be angry; no harm is meant. I shall look for you to-morrow to tell me the whole story of the poor little girl. Good-afternoon."
Then Griselda stepped on quickly to the door, and Sir Maxwell bowed his "Good-bye," taking her hand and kissing it. ”

“ At a word she meekly left the American desk and walked out.
"That you, Rooney? Come into my office. Here I am, you see. Sit down."
The Red Cow gentlemen were overcome by the grandeur of Mr. Marsden in his own office; the size and magnificence of the establishment filled them with awe and envy; it surpassed belief.
"Blow me, but it's true," they said afterwards. "Every word what he told us is the Gospel truth. He's the boss of the whole show. I witnessed it with my own eyes."
Yet if his visitors had possessed real business acumen, the shop would have impressed them with anything but confidence. ”

“ Maxwell too obviously loads his dice, and be aware also that (like others of its kind) the story suffers from over-concentration on a single theme. It moves in a world of incompatibles. The heroine's kindly friend is tied to a dipsomaniac wife; her [pg 285] coachman has no remedy for a ruined home because of the expense of divorce, and so on. To a great extent, however, Mr. Maxwell's craft has enabled him to overcome even these obstacles ”

“ I lay no claim to merit. The most I ever say of myself is that I do work hard, and try my best. But I have been very lucky. Anybody could have done what I have done, if they had been given the same opportunity—and the same support."
"No, no," cried the noisy guests. "Not one in a million. No one but yourself, Mr. Bence. That's why we're so proud of you."
And just as the town had turned towards Bence in his prosperity, so it had turned away from Mrs. Marsden in her adversity. These people worshipped success, and nothing else. The old shop was dying fast ”

“ Prentice, he was very silent—almost as silent as Enid. Not quite, because he spoke easily and naturally when anybody addressed him. And his silence was smiling and gracious. Among the other men he seemed to be a creature from a different world—so firm in his quiet strength, so confident in his own power, so young, so self-possessed, and so extraordinarily, overbearingly handsome.
The dinner was more than half over; the Dolphin waiters were carving and serving some savoury game; Mrs. Thompson exerted herself as a watchful and attentive hostess.
"Mr. Greig, you mustn't refuse the grouse. ”

“ They’re getting rather stuffy because you always refuse.”
“Then the sooner the better, dear”; and Miss Verinder smiled. [336] “Don’t be surprised if I seem a little artful—or even disingenuous. I think, just at first, I’ll not say I know anything of your partiality for Mr. Beckett—or for Alwyn, if I may take the liberty of calling him by his Christian name.”
“I should adore it,” said Alwyn.
“It is all Christian names nowadays, isn’t it?” and Emmie smiled again. “Then, as I say, I’ll open a masked gambit for Mr. Parker to play to. You see, the great thing is to get him accustomed to the idea.” ”

“ When boys, our joys and sorrows were the same; and now, as men, Mark, upwards or downwards, our fortunes shall run together.”
“I thought you wouldn’t leave me,” said the fosterer.
“And pray,” inquired the ratcatcher, “what the divil is to become of me? You can volunteer, Mark, but I am too old; and were I younger, I wouldn’t much like to ‘list; for I fancy that the guerilla line would be more in my way of business. But let us all go together. Blessings on that outspoken elderly gentleman they call Mr. Hartley! He’s short in the grain as eat’s hair, but the heart and purse are open. ”

“ Mr. Cleaver smiled and shook hands good-humoredly. "My congratulations, Mrs. Dale; and one word of advice, free gratis. Invest your legacy wisely, and don't confound capital with income. You're going to have two thousand pounds all told, not two thousand a year, you know."
"Oh, no, sir—I wouldn't be so foolish as to think so."
They had tea at a pastry-cook's in complete silence, and they were half-way home again before Mavis ventured to rouse her husband from his ominous gloom. ”

“ Of course there must be talk. The Napoleonic rise of this fortunate shopman had been sufficiently rapid to stir the whole of his little shop-world. Starting thus, to what heights might he not attain in Thompson's? There would be talk and more talk.
But not within the hearing of Mr. Mears.
"Jabber, jabber," said Mr. Mears with unusual severity. "Less of it. You're like so many cackling hens in some back yard—instead of ladies who know how to behave themselves in a high-class emporium." ”

“ Mears, what do you think about it?"
"I think," said Mears gruffly, "that it's like Mr. Bence."
"I was remarking," said Bence, nodding and grinning, "that we cannot possibly clash. Our customers are poor little people—not like your rich and influential clientele. Our whole scheme of business is totally different from yours."
"That's true," said Mears, and he gave another grunt.
"You know," said Mrs. Thompson, "Mr. Bence is not fighting us. He is only carrying out his own system."
"Yes," said Mears, "we are acquainted with his system, ma'am." ”

“ But if not, take the tip. It's the women that give a man his short-cut to ease and comfort. See?"
"Yes," said Mr. Marsden. "I see that—but I don't see anything new in it."
"Dicky," said Mr. Whitehouse solemnly, "it's a straight tip.... But you'll never profit by it, my boy, until you stop messing about with your dressed-up slaveys, and light out for something bigger."
"I have told you," said Marsden, smiling, "that you can't teach me anything."
"You're too cock-sure," said Mr. Whitehouse, almost sadly; "but you're just wasting yourself.... Here's the tip of a life-time. ”

“ The coachmen could take no pleasure in patronizing him, nor the men in working for him. Mr. Bates advised him once or twice to cultivate a gentler and more ingratiating method of dealing with the people in his employ.
"Perhaps, William, I'm to blame for having spoilt 'em a bit;—but it'd be good policy for you to take them as you find them, and get them bound to you before you begin drilling 'em. A soft word now and then, William—you don't know how far it goes sometimes."
"What I complain of is this," said Dale; "they don't show any spirit. ”

“ Rose was silent and uncomfortable; all people are when others allude to their own personal deficiencies.
"Will you play Sir Anthony, Sir Harry?"
"Two by cards ... I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vyner .... Sir Anthony Absolute? Yes, yes, you may put me down for that."
"And who is to be Captain Absolute? You, Mr. Ashley?"
"Perhaps Mr. Ashley would play Falkland," suggested Mrs. Broughton.
"No, no, Falkland is cut out for Mr. Maxwell—he is the most tragic amongst us."
Maxwell answered with a grim smile.
"At any rate," said Mrs. Langley Turner, "let me play Mrs. Malaprop. ”

“ One of them, she went on demurely, was to her mind little better than a derelict, and the other one gave her an impression of being about to sink at its moorings.
“Nothing of the sort,” said Mr. Jones.
“Well, that was my impression,” said Emmie. “I don’t profess to be an expert. But I can assure you, Mr. Jones, we are here to do business. We want to do business. Can’t we make a deal of it, anyhow?”
“Not on your terms. I’d sooner go to government. You forget there’s government always ready to buy.”
“Oh, Mr. Jones!” said Emmie, as if shocked by this pretence. ”

“ Allen, you've no cheese. Here, let me fill your glass again. How's Rodchurch?" Every time that Mavis passed, she asked a question. "Mr. Allen, how's Miss Waddy's sister?"
"Dead," said Allen, with his mouth full.
"Dead. Oh, that's sad!" Then next time it was: "How's Miss Yorke? Not married yet?"
"No, nor likely to be."
The horse-people soon began to move off again—"Thank you, Mr. Dale. Good night, Mr. Dale.... You've done us proper, sir.... ”

“ Got a cool two hundred and fifty coming down here from Virginia nex’ week; boys who don’ care a cuss what they do so long as they beat the Free States out.”
“Thomson,” broke in the Colonel, “it appears to me that I have seen Mr. Maxwell before. What do you say?”
“I reckon you have. Don’ you remember our hunting trip up at Erie two years ago? and the murder of White Eagle?”
“Sure enough! Mr. Maxwell was the young Englishman who took such a prominent part in the affair.”
Warren bowed gravely. ”

“ Whitehouse curtly. "But the lesson is finished.... That will be sufficient, Miss Thompson. Three minutes over your hour—and we don't want to tire you."
Mr. Young snorted angrily, and disappeared. The strange young man assisted Miss Enid to dismount and went out with her, the bandaged mare following them with the helper.
"Who," asked Marsden, "was that spindle-shanked ass?"
"Oh, he's not a bad boy," said the riding-master [Pg 48] patronisingly. "And he can ride, mind you—which is more than most hunting men can."
"Is he a hunting man? What's his name?"
"Mr. Kenion.... Look here, don't hurry off. ”

“ Walk with me, sirs. ‘Twere idle to remonstrate here, or to refuse obedience to my order”—and, with the perfect confidence that he had made no statement which he could not effectually support, the Spaniard stalked on, and the fosterer and I followed.
“Well—Mr. O’Toole,” I said, as, like two convicted culprits, we sullenly retraced our steps. “A pretty kettle of fish you have made of it!”
“Oh!”—groaned the fosterer—“the game’s up. The curse of Cromwell light upon the country! Is’nt it hard that a man can’t slip out of a window to take a little air without having his throat cut?” ”

“ I think that I can persuade mother to employ him; and Mr. Sliver, as you are acquainted with the people here, you may do Mr. Graffam a good service, by persuading your neighbors to feel and to manifest some interest in himself and his family; ask them not to allow their children to call him 'Old Pete,' 'Old toper,' &c., and twit him of riding a high horse."
"I will," replied friend Sliver, "and I will do anything else in my power to help thee."
"Thank you," said Emma, smiling, and sliding from the fence; "I am greatly obliged to you; good-by, Mr. Sliver." ”