Mrs Chick

“ There was no sound but the dash of rain against the windows, and the heavy rumble of thunder overhead. Once more Chick grasped his heavy weapon and began the attack in earnest. Blow followed blow, as fast as his small arms could swing the crowbar. Suddenly a spring seemed to snap, and out poured a stream of money that rolled about his feet, and off into the farthest corners of the room.
Chick crouched on the floor, overcome by his exertions and the success of his venture. Wealth was within his reach, more wealth than he had ever dreamed of! ”

“ Chick looked at him, and thought he had never seen a man upon whom the ingenuity of tailor and cutter were so patently wasted.
"Suppose I came here dressed like a ragamuffin—not that you are a ragamuffin, my dear Pelborough; that is a little figure of speech—what chance should I have of inspiring confidence in 'lives'?"
It was a new thought for Chick, and he carried his trouble to Gwenda, for now he went home to lunch.
"I think he's right," said the girl. "But, Chick dear, you must buy your own clothes. You cannot be under an obligation to Mr. Leither." ”

“ Before Edith could explore the closet floor and take out the sirup pitcher, the blaze was creeping up the back of her frock. She knew nothing about it till the smell of burning woollen reached her nostrils; and at the same instant she felt a dreadful sensation of heat, and knew that she was on fire! She screamed in horror,—
“Mrs. Chick! Mrs. Chick! Fire! Fire!” [76] Oh, how far it was down-stairs! Could Mrs. Chick hear?
But Mrs. Chick was not in the kitchen. Feeling rather uneasy about Edith, she had followed her up-stairs, and was on the upper landing when the child called. ”

“ Handsome and four other men accompanied Chick to the cottage, and when he stood before Madge she looked him over from head to foot with cold scorn.
"So," she said venomously, "you thought to deceive me, did you—you and your master?"
Chick made no reply, and, after a moment, she went on:
"We have a way of ridding ourselves of such men as you are, when they come among us. It is not pleasant for them, but it serves as a lesson to others. Step inside the house. Take him inside, Handsome. ”

“ Chick stepped to that oasis of shade in the glare of sunshine.
“I have been obliged to modify my mission in some degree. I must confess that to thee,” he said. “This is a strange and wicked world.”
“Didn't you know it before you gave up a good blacksmith business to go out in the hot sun and suffer torment, all for nothing?”
“It is very hard work,” acknowledged Chick, showing his flushed and streaming face under his vizor. “If I were not used to the fires of the forge I think I would fall down and die. But I must keep on.”
“But you are simply an advertising-sign.” ”

“ Impatiently she said. “If you’d only tell me what it is, Chick, perhaps I could make them understand.” Oh dear, how annoying men could be!
Chick seemed not to hear. The new distraction was a cabbage, wilted, but unquestionably of more recent vintage than either the galosh or the ancient magazine. Its discoverer had waited for a time outside the magic circle, while firing forth a rapid stream of “Ecco ... ecco ... ecco!” ”

“ The girl was laughing softly. "Oh, you heart-breaker!" she mocked.
"But—but I'm not," said the indignant Chick. "I've never broken anybody's heart in my life!"
She was laughing aloud now and rose suddenly. "It is cold. Chick," she said. "Let us go back to the menagerie."
They did not go back to Acacia Lodge immediately, and when they did return they met Mrs. Shipmet in the hall, and she favoured them with a smile, the cordiality of which was so adjusted that Chick should not feel reproved or the girl encouraged. ”

“ Nick again interrupted. “But given the right type of man, Chick, the reverse subterfuge would be just as feasible—a man with an effeminate, mobile, and beardless face, a man with medium figure and consistent voice, together with the subtle art required for such an assumption. We have met just that type of man, Chick, both of us.” ”

“ Suddenly he had realised the enormous discredit of being mistaken for a waiter, and he prayed that he could elude the gaze of Lord Mansar, Has lordship, however, was fully occupied and wholly absorbed in the game.
The bright pink which Chick had seen in his cheeks was now a brick red, his voice was thick, and his actions a little unsteady. Chick refilled the glass at his elbow and stood behind him, watching. ”

“ I can only smile and hang on for something else. He is too powerful a man to sue. I should be barred by almost every management."
Chick was stunned. He had guessed the tragedy in the air when he had seen her face on the Saturday night. And this news was a tremendous blow to him. She was the first woman he had ever met on terms of equality—the first girl who had not giggled at him or been rude to him—his first and his greatest comrade, and she was going out of his fife.
Suddenly a brilliant thought struck him.
"Mrs.—Gwenda," he said excitedly, "three weeks is only seven pounds ten! ”

“ Chick forcibly added.
“I get you.”
“They would have had only five minutes in which to have laid their plans and made all the arrangements for executing them. That’s a mighty short time in which to shape up such a job, to say nothing of getting ready to carry it out. It’s not a simple stunt to pick up a woman on Fifth Avenue and get away with her from under her husband’s eyes.”
“Say, you’re getting wiser every minute, Chick,” cried Patsy, laughing. “I begin to think there really is something in what you say.” ”

“ Leither, flicking the ash of his cigarette on to his waistcoat.
But Chick fingered.
"Mr. Leither, do you know Solburg, the theatrical person?" he asked.
Mr. Leither frowned.
"Yes, I know him," he said, "but he's not a good life, Beane. He has heart trouble."
"I'm not thinking about him from an insurance point of view," said Chick. "The fact is, Mr. Leither, I'm interested in a young lady who is an actress." ”

“ Chick blandly. "How long is this to last! If my brother will not make an effort, Mrs. Pipchin, what is to become of him? I am sure I should have thought he had seen enough of the consequences of not making an effort, by this time, to be warned against that fatal error."
"Hoity toity!" says Mrs. Pipchin, rubbing her nose. "There’s a great fuss, I think, about it. It ain’t so wonderful a case. People have had misfortunes before now, and been obliged to part with their furniture. I’m sure I have!"
"My brother," pursues Mrs. Chick profoundly, "is so peculiar—so strange a man. ”

“ Before he went to bed that night Chick was invited into the "senctum."
Mrs. Shipmet closed the door carefully behind him.
"I'm sure you won't mind my saying, Mr. Beane, that looking upon you, as I do, as my own son, I think you're very unwise being seen so much about with an actress."
"With Mrs. Maynard?" asked Chick in surprise.
Mrs. Shipmet nodded.
"You're young," she explained, "and sus—er—sus—er—easily influenced. An ectress is naturally used to edmiration, and doesn't mean all she says. I can't stand by and see your heart broken, Mr. Beane." ”

“ But Chick is the first and only Original Incubator Baby, and so Chick properly belongs in the Isle of Phreex."
Chick jumped up, made a stiff bow, and with eyes sparkling with mischief exclaimed: "I'm six years old and quite strong and well."
"Tut-tut, Chick!" remonstrated the big-headed man; "it was more than two years ago you were taught to make that speech. You can't be always six years old, you know."
The little sprite enjoyed the joke so much that John was forced to laugh in sympathy. But just then a thought struck him, and he asked, a little nervously:
"Do you like gingerbread?" ”

“ Mansar 's worth a million if he's worth a penny, and he's the kind of fellow who'd honour any cheque he signed—even if he was drunk when he signed it," he added significantly.
Chick had heard the news without enthusiasm.
"It will be wonderful for you, Chick," said Gwenda, her eyes shining. "You'll meet all your own kind of people."
They were at breakfast when she had received the letter from Lord Mansar enclosing Mrs. Krenley's invitation to Chick.
"I don't like parties very much," said Chick disconsolately, "but if you think I ought to go, Gwenda—why, there's nothing more to be said. ”

“ Instinctively Chick compared her with the Nervina.
The senior queen had the subtle magnetism, the uncountable fascination, the poise and decision that held and dictated all things to her fancy.
Not so the Aradna. Hers was the strength of simplicity, the frank, open delight of the maiden, and at the same time all the charm and suggestion of coming womanhood. When she caught Watson’s eye she smiled; a smile free and unrestrained, out of an open, happy heart. ”

“ Chick made this impressive observation in the drawing-room, after having descended thither from the inspection of the Mantua-Makers up-stairs, who were busy on the family mourning. She delivered it for the behoof of Mr. Chick, who was a stout bald gentleman, with a very large face, and his hands continually in his pockets, and who had a tendency in his nature to whistle and hum tunes, which, sensible of the indecorum of such sounds in a house of grief, he was at some pains to repress at present.
"Don't you over-exert yourself, Loo," said Mr. Chick, "or you'll be laid up with spasms, I see. ”

“ Instead of going on evenly and living the life we have been living, we must not be for an instant off our guard from this day on, until she is again behind the bars, and I hope the next [Pg 225] time I arrest her it will be within the limits of the State of New York, where I can place a watch over her so that she will not escape."
"And I hope so, too," said Chick.
"And now, in the meantime," continued Nick, smiling, "since we have this letter and know what she is about to do, I think we will meet her halfway, and not wait for her to open the ball. ”

“ She nodded.
"You understand his position," she said. "I almost said social position," she smiled. "Chick is employed by an insurance agent, and he receives a salary of five pounds a week."
He nodded.
"And yet there isn't a man in this town," she went on quietly, "who is a kindlier gentleman than this boy."
"I liked him," said Lord Mansar, nodding.
"I don't know much about nobility," the girl went on, "but I feel that Chick has a responsibility to you and to your kind. ”

“ A short distance beyond the corner, well out of sight from Nick’s house, Chick paused, and there his chief overtook him.
“I haven’t made any headway yet,” Chick announced, without any preliminaries. “I located the car late this afternoon, but there I came to a dead stop.”
“Never mind about that,” Nick said quickly. “It doesn’t matter in the least. I can lay my hands on Green-eye Gordon at any moment.”
“The deuce you can!” ejaculated Chick. “Then I should certainly say you don’t need me—for the sort of legwork I’ve been doing to-day, at any rate.” ”

“ She knew it was cheek! But she felt she must open her heart to him! A gentleman wanted to marry her! But she did not love him! Could marriage be happy without love? And so forth, over eight pages.
Gwenda saw him frowning over the letter, and wondered.
It was a little ominous, she thought, that Chick did not communicate any more of the letter than that it was from "Miss Farland."
The truth was, Chick felt that he was the recipient of a great confidence, and bound by honour to say no more about the girl's dilemma than was necessary. For Chick took these matters very seriously. ”

“ Terrance had never come to grips with Chick, and the very simplicity of the reply took his breath away.
"Another thing, Mr. Terrance, I should like to say is this," Chick went on. "I am not called 'Chick' except by my very near friends."
"Oh, indeed!" said Mr. Terrance, breathing heavily and growing redder and redder of face. ”

“ Patsy needed no further hint to the design in Chick’s mind, nor to the possibility it presented. With eyes quickly glowing with eagerness and excitement, he hurriedly replied:
“Get into it? Sure I can! The scheme is a corker! It’ll take me right into the midst of these rascals. Come on, Chick, and——”
“Stop a moment,” cautioned Chick. “Get that policeman to help you, explaining who you are, and have him take away any stuff that may be in the hamper.”
“And you?”
“I’ll rush up-stairs, and keep those two women engaged till I’m sure you are well under cover.” ”

“ Chick informed her, more impressively. “Your name is 15 Janet Payson, sometimes Jaunty Janet, and you live in a ground-floor flat in Martin Street. That’s what. You see, I am onto your curves, and I’m here to knock out a homer. That’s me!”
“See here——”
“Nix on the see-here gag!” Chick interrupted. “You wait till I’ve said my little verse. Then you can have your spiel and go as far as you like. You ain’t any main dame in the social game. You’re only the little casino in a soiled deck. Your word wouldn’t go in a Quaker meetinghouse, say nothing of a criminal court. I know! I’m wise! ”

“ I reminded him of the bargain, and, holding off from the rock, asked him whether he wished all his mates to starve, as they certainly would do unless he mounted to the plateau and stayed there, for I would not land another man, nor give them any more food, until he had gone. At this, one of the men in the canoe told Chick not to be a fool, but to do as I bid him, and Chick cried that it was all very well, but he had not seen the place. However, he went away, very unwillingly, with Pumfrey, and we had no more trouble of that sort. ”

“ Gwenda went down to the door with their visitor. She was conscious of the chilling effect of Chick's lugubrious face.
"You have been wonderful to Lord Pelborough," she said, "and please don't think that he isn't very grateful. Chick gets so overburdened by these opportunities which you give him that he is not quite——"
"I know—I understand," said Lord Mansar, with a laugh. "I always forget that these jobs which a man like myself, who has never felt the need of a job, would accept so light-heartedly must be almost paralysing to a fellow like Chick. ”