The Way We Live Now

  CHAPTER XLVIII.

  RUBY A PRISONER.

  Ruby had run away from her lover in great dudgeon after the dance atthe Music Hall, and had declared that she never wanted to see himagain. But when reflection came with the morning her misery wasstronger than her wrath. What would life be to her now without herlover? When she escaped from her grandfather's house she certainlyhad not intended to become nurse and assistant maid-of-all-work at aLondon lodging-house. The daily toil she could endure, and the hardlife, as long as she was supported by the prospect of some comingdelight. A dance with Felix at the Music Hall, though it were threedays distant from her, would so occupy her mind that she could washand dress all the children without complaint. Mrs. Pipkin was forcedto own to herself that Ruby did earn her bread. But when she hadparted with her lover almost on an understanding that they were neverto meet again, things were very different with her. And perhaps shehad been wrong. A gentleman like Sir Felix did not of course like tobe told about marriage. If she gave him another chance, perhaps hewould speak. At any rate she could not live without another dance.And so she wrote him a letter.

  Ruby was glib enough with her pen, though what she wrote will hardlybear repeating. She underscored all her loves to him. She underscoredthe expression of her regret if she had vexed him. She did not wantto hurry a gentleman. But she did want to have another dance at theMusic Hall. Would he be there next Saturday? Sir Felix sent her avery short reply to say that he would be at the Music Hall on theTuesday. As at this time he proposed to leave London on the Wednesdayon his way to New York, he was proposing to devote his very lastnight to the companionship of Ruby Ruggles.

  Mrs. Pipkin had never interfered with her niece's letters. It iscertainly a part of the new dispensation that young women shall sendand receive letters without inspection. But since Roger Carbury'svisit Mrs. Pipkin had watched the postman, and had also watched herniece. For nearly a week Ruby said not a word of going out at night.She took the children for an airing in a broken perambulator, nearlyas far as Holloway, with exemplary care, and washed up the cups andsaucers as though her mind was intent upon them. But Mrs. Pipkin'smind was intent on obeying Mr. Carbury's behests. She had alreadyhinted something as to which Ruby had made no answer. It was herpurpose to tell her and to swear to her most solemnly,--should shefind her preparing herself to leave the house after six in theevening,--that she should be kept out the whole night, having apurpose equally clear in her own mind that she would break her oathshould she be unsuccessful in her effort to keep Ruby at home. But onthe Tuesday, when Ruby went up to her room to deck herself, a brightidea as to a better precaution struck Mrs. Pipkin's mind. Ruby hadbeen careless,--had left her lover's scrap of a note in an old pocketwhen she went out with the children, and Mrs. Pipkin knew all aboutit. It was nine o'clock when Ruby went up-stairs,--and then Mrs.Pipkin locked both the front door and the area gate. Mrs. Hurtlehad come home on the previous day. "You won't be wanting to go outto-night;--will you, Mrs. Hurtle?" said Mrs. Pipkin, knocking at herlodger's door. Mrs. Hurtle declared her purpose of remaining at homeall the evening. "If you should hear words between me and my niece,don't you mind, ma'am."

  "I hope there's nothing wrong, Mrs. Pipkin?"

  "She'll be wanting to go out, and I won't have it. It isn't right;is it, ma'am? She's a good girl; but they've got such a way nowadaysof doing just as they pleases, that one doesn't know what's going tocome next." Mrs. Pipkin must have feared downright rebellion when shethus took her lodger into her confidence.

  Ruby came down in her silk frock, as she had done before, and madeher usual little speech. "I'm just going to step out, aunt, for alittle time to-night. I've got the key, and I'll let myself in quitequiet."

  "Indeed, Ruby, you won't," said Mrs. Pipkin.

  "Won't what, aunt?"

  "Won't let yourself in, if you go out. If you go out to-night you'llstay out. That's all about it. If you go out to-night you won'tcome back here any more. I won't have it, and it isn't right thatI should. You're going after that young man that they tell me is thegreatest scamp in all England."

  "They tell you lies then, Aunt Pipkin."

  "Very well. No girl is going out any more at nights out of my house;so that's all about it. If you had told me you was going before, youneedn't have gone up and bedizened yourself. For now it's all to takeoff again."

  Ruby could hardly believe it. She had expected some opposition,--whatshe would have called a few words; but she had never imagined thather aunt would threaten to keep her in the streets all night. Itseemed to her that she had bought the privilege of amusing herself byhard work. Nor did she believe now that her aunt would be as hard asher threat. "I've a right to go if I like," she said.

  "That's as you think. You haven't a right to come back again, anyway."

  "Yes, I have. I've worked for you a deal harder than the girldown-stairs, and I don't want no wages. I've a right to go out, and aright to come back;--and go I shall."

  "You'll be no better than you should be, if you do."

  "Am I to work my very nails off, and push that perambulator about allday till my legs won't carry me,--and then I ain't to go out, notonce in a week?"

  "Not unless I know more about it, Ruby. I won't have you go and throwyourself into the gutter;--not while you're with me."

  "Who's throwing themselves into the gutter? I've thrown myself intono gutter. I know what I'm about."

  "There's two of us that way, Ruby;--for I know what I'm about."

  "I shall just go then." And Ruby walked off towards the door.

  "You won't get out that way, any way, for the door's locked;--andthe area gate. You'd better be said, Ruby, and just take your thingsoff."

  Poor Ruby for the moment was struck dumb with mortification. Mrs.Pipkin had given her credit for more outrageous perseverance than shepossessed, and had feared that she would rattle at the front door,or attempt to climb over the area gate. She was a little afraid ofRuby, not feeling herself justified in holding absolute dominionover her as over a servant. And though she was now determined inher conduct,--being fully resolved to surrender neither of the keyswhich she held in her pocket,--still she feared that she might sofar collapse as to fall away into tears, should Ruby be violent.But Ruby was crushed. Her lover would be there to meet her, and theappointment would be broken by her! "Aunt Pipkin," she said, "let mego just this once."

  "No, Ruby;--it ain't proper."

  "You don't know what you're a' doing of, aunt; you don't. You'll ruinme,--you will. Dear Aunt Pipkin, do, do! I'll never ask again, if youdon't like."

  Mrs. Pipkin had not expected this, and was almost willing to yield.But Mr. Carbury had spoken so very plainly! "It ain't the thing,Ruby; and I won't do it."

  "And I'm to be--a prisoner! What have I done to be--a prisoner? Idon't believe as you've any right to lock me up."

  "I've a right to lock my own doors."

  "Then I shall go away to-morrow."

  "I can't help that, my dear. The door will be open to-morrow, if youchoose to go out."

  "Then why not open it to-night? Where's the difference?" But Mrs.Pipkin was stern, and Ruby, in a flood of tears, took herself up toher garret.

  Mrs. Pipkin knocked at Mrs. Hurtle's door again. "She's gone to bed,"she said.

  "I'm glad to hear it. There wasn't any noise about it;--was there?"

  "Not as I expected, Mrs. Hurtle, certainly. But she was put out abit. Poor girl! I've been a girl too, and used to like a bit ofouting as well as any one,--and a dance too; only it was always whenmother knew. She ain't got a mother, poor dear! and as good as nofather. And she's got it into her head that she's that pretty that agreat gentleman will marry her."

  "She is pretty!"

  "But what's beauty, Mrs. Hurtle? It's no more nor skin deep, as thescriptures tell us. And what'd a grand gentleman see in Ruby to marryher? She says she'll leave to-morrow."

  "And where will she go?"

  "Just nowhere. After this gentleman,--and you know what that means!You're
going to be married yourself, Mrs. Hurtle."

  "We won't mind about that now, Mrs. Pipkin."

  "And this 'll be your second, and you know how these things aremanaged. No gentleman 'll marry her because she runs after him. Girlsas knows what they're about should let the gentlemen run after them.That's my way of looking at it."

  "Don't you think they should be equal in that respect?"

  "Anyways the girls shouldn't let on as they are running after thegentlemen. A gentleman goes here and he goes there, and he speaksup free, of course. In my time, girls usen't to do that. But then,maybe, I'm old-fashioned," added Mrs. Pipkin, thinking of the newdispensation.

  "I suppose girls do speak for themselves more than they didformerly."

  "A deal more, Mrs. Hurtle; quite different. You hear them talk ofspooning with this fellow, and spooning with that fellow,--and thatbefore their very fathers and mothers! When I was young we used to doit, I suppose,--only not like that."

  "You did it on the sly."

  "I think we got married quicker than they do, any way. When thegentlemen had to take more trouble they thought more about it. Butif you wouldn't mind speaking to Ruby to-morrow, Mrs. Hurtle, she'dlisten to you when she wouldn't mind a word I said to her. I don'twant her to go away from this, out into the street, till she knowswhere she's to go to, decent. As for going to her young man,--that'sjust walking the streets."

  Mrs. Hurtle promised that she would speak to Ruby, though when makingthe promise she could not but think of her unfitness for the task.She knew nothing of the country. She had not a single friend init, but Paul Montague;--and she had run after him with as littlediscretion as Ruby Ruggles was showing in running after her lover.Who was she that she should take upon herself to give advice to anyfemale?

  She had not sent her letter to Paul, but she still kept it in herpocket-book. At some moments she thought that she would send it; andat others she told herself that she would never surrender this lasthope till every stone had been turned. It might still be possibleto shame him into a marriage. She had returned from Lowestoft onthe Monday, and had made some trivial excuse to Mrs. Pipkin in hermildest voice. The place had been windy, and too cold for her;--andshe had not liked the hotel. Mrs. Pipkin was very glad to see herback again.