CHAPTER II.
ELECTIONEERING.
And now, in these days,--the days immediately following the departureof Luke Rowan from Baslehurst,--the Tappitt family were constrainedto work very hard at the task of defaming the young man who hadlately been living with them in their house. They were constrainedto do this by the necessities of their position; and in doing so byno means showed themselves to be such monsters of iniquity as thereaders of the story will feel themselves inclined to call them.As for Tappitt himself, he certainly believed that Rowan was sobase a scoundrel that no evil words against him could be consideredas malicious or even unnecessary. Is it not good to denounce ascoundrel? And if the rascality of any rascal be specially directedagainst oneself and one's own wife and children, is it not a duty todenounce that rascal, so that his rascality may be known and thusmade of no effect? When Tappitt declared in the reading-room atthe Dragon, and afterwards in the little room inside the bar atthe King's Head, and again to a circle of respectable farmers andtradesmen in the Corn Market, that young Rowan had come down to thebrewery and made his way into the brewery-house with a ready preparedplan for ruining him--him, the head of the firm,--he thought thathe was telling the truth. And again, when he spoke with horror ofRowan's intention of setting up an opposition brewery, his horror wasconscientious. He believed that it would be very wicked in a man tooppose the Bungall establishment with money left by Bungall,--thatit would be a wickedness than which no commercial rascality couldbe more iniquitous. His very soul was struck with awe at the idea.That anything was due in the matter to the consumer of beer, neveroccurred to him. And it may also be said in Tappitt's favour thathis opinion,--as a general opinion,--was backed by those around him.His neighbours could not be made to hate Rowan as he hated him. Theywould not declare the young man to be the very Mischief, as he did.But that idea of a rival brewery was distasteful to them all. Most ofthem knew that the beer was almost too bad to be swallowed; but theythought that Tappitt had a vested interest in the manufacture of badbeer;--that as a manufacturer of bad beer he was a fairly honest anduseful man;--and they looked upon any change as the work, or ratherthe suggestion, of a charlatan.
"This isn't Staffordshire," they said. "If you want beer like thatyou can buy it in bottles at Griggs'."
"He'll soon find where he'll be if he tries to undersell me," saidyoung Griggs. "All the same, I hope he'll come back, because he hasleft a little bill at our place."
And then to other evil reports was added that special evilreport,--that Rowan had gone away without paying his debts. I aminclined to think that Mr. Tappitt can be almost justified in hisevil thoughts and his evil words.
I cannot make out quite so good a case for Mrs. Tappitt and her twoelder daughters;--for even Martha, Martha the just, shook her headin these days when Rowan's name was mentioned;--but something maybe said even for them. It must not be supposed that Mrs. Tappitt'ssingle grievance was her disappointment as regarded Augusta. Hadthere been no Augusta on whose behalf a hope had been possible, thepredilection of the young moneyed stranger for such a girl as RachelRay would have been a grievance to such a woman as Mrs. Tappitt. Hadshe not been looking down on Rachel Ray and despising her for thelast ten years? Had she not been wondering among her friends, withcharitable volubility, as to what that poor woman at Bragg's End wasto do with her daughter? Had she not been regretting that the younggirl should be growing up so big, and promising to look so coarse?Was it not natural that she should be miserable when she saw hertaken in hand by Mrs. Butler Cornbury, and made the heroine at herown party, to the detriment of her own daughters, by the fashionablelady in catching whom she had displayed so much unfortunateingenuity? Under such circumstances how could she do other thanhate Luke Rowan,--than believe him to be the very Mischief,--thanprophesying all manner of bad things for Rachel,--and assist herhusband tooth and nail in his animosity against the sinner?
Augusta was less strong in her feelings than her parents, butof course she disliked the man who could admire Rachel Ray. Asregards Martha, her dislike to him,--or rather, her judicialdisapproval,--was founded on his social and commercial improprieties.She understood that he had threatened her father about thebusiness,--and she had been scandalized in that matter of thechampagne. Cherry was very brave, and still stood up for him beforeher mother and sisters;--but even Cherry did not dare to say a wordin his favour before her father. Mr. Tappitt had been driven toforget himself, and to take a poker in his hand as a weapon ofviolence! After that let no one speak a word on the offender's behalfin Tappitt's house and within Tappitt's hearing!
In that affair of the champagne Rowan was most bitterly injured. Hehad ordered it, if not at the request, at least at the instigationof Mrs. Tappitt;--and he had paid for it. When he left Baslehurst heowed no shilling to any man in it; and, indeed, he was a man by nomeans given to owing money to any one. He was of a spirit masterful,self-confident, and perhaps self-glorious;--but he was at the sametime honest and independent. That wine had been ordered in someunusual way,--not at the regular counter, and in the same way thebill for it had been paid. Griggs, when he made his assertion in thebar-room at the King's Head, had stated what he believed to be thetruth. The next morning he chanced to hear that the account had beensettled, but not, at the moment, duly marked off the books. As far asGriggs went that was the end of it. He did not again say that Rowanowed money to him; but he never contradicted his former assertion,and allowed the general report to go on,--that report which had beenfounded on his own first statement. Thus before Rowan had been a weekout of the place it was believed all over the town that he had leftunpaid bills behind him.
"I am told that young man is dreadfully in debt," said Mr. Prong toMrs. Prime. At this time Mr. Prong and Mrs. Prime saw each otherdaily, and were affectionate in their intercourse,--with a serious,solemn affection; but affairs were by no means settled between them.That affection was, however, strong enough to induce Mr. Prong totake a decided part in opposing the Rowan alliance. "They say he owesmoney all over the town."
"So Miss Pucker tells me," said Mrs. Prime.
"Does your mother know it?"
"Mother never knows anything that other people know. But he has gonenow, and I don't suppose we shall hear of him or see him again."
"He has not written to her, Dorothea?"
"Not that I know of."
"You should find out. You should not leave them in this danger. Yourmother is weak, and you should give her the aid of your strength.The girl is your sister, and you should not leave her to grope indarkness. You should remember, Dorothea, that you have a duty in thismatter."
Dorothea did not like being told of her duty in so pastoral a manner,and resolved to be more than ever particular in the protection ofher own pecuniary rights before she submitted herself to Mr. Prong'smarital authority once and for ever. By Miss Pucker she was at anyrate treated with great respect, and was allowed perhaps some displayof pastoral manner on her own part. It began to be with her a matterof doubt whether she might not be of more use in that free vineyardwhich she was about to leave, than in that vineyard with closed doorsand a pastoral overseer, which she was preparing herself to enter. Atany rate she would be careful about the money. But, in the mean time,she did agree with Mr. Prong that Rowan's proper character shouldbe made known to her mother, and with this view she went out to thecottage and whispered into Mrs. Ray's astonished ears the fact thatLuke was terribly in debt.
"You don't say so!"
"But I do say so, mother. Everybody in Baslehurst is talking aboutit. And they all say that he has treated Mr. Tappitt shamefully. Hasanything come from him since he went?"
Then Mrs. Ray told her elder daughter of the letter, and told heralso that she intended to consult Mr. Comfort. "Oh, Mr. Comfort!"said Mrs. Prime, signifying her opinion that her mother was going toa very poor counsellor. "And what sort of a letter was it?" said Mrs.Prime, with a not unnatural desire to see it.
"It was an honest letter enough,--very honest to my thinking; andspea
king as though everything between them was quite settled."
"That's nonsense, mother."
"Perhaps it may be nonsense, Dorothea; but I am only telling you whatthe letter said. He called his mother a goose; that was the worstthing in it."
"You cannot expect that such a one as he should honour his parents."
"But his mother thinks him the finest young man in the world. And Imust say this for him, that he has always spoken of her as though heloved her very dearly; and I believe he has been a most excellentson. He shouldn't have said goose;--at any rate in a letter;--not tomy way of thinking. But perhaps they don't mind those things up inLondon."
"I never knew a young man so badly spoken of at a place he'd left ashe is in Baslehurst. I think it right to tell you; but if you havemade up your mind to ask Mr. Comfort--"
"Yes; I have made up my mind to ask Mr. Comfort. He has sent to sayhe will call the day after to-morrow." Then Mrs. Prime went backhome, having seen neither the letter nor her sister.
It may be remembered that an election was impending over the town ofBaslehurst, the coming necessities of which had induced Mrs. ButlerCornbury to grace Mrs. Tappitt's ball. It was now nearly the endof July, and the election was to be made early in September. Bothcandidates were already in the field, and the politicians of theneighbourhood already knew to a nicety how the affair would go. Mr.Hart the great clothier from Houndsditch and Regent Street,--Messrs.Hart and Jacobs of from 110 to 136 Houndsditch, and about as manymore numbers in Regent Street,--would come in at the top of the pollwith 173 votes, and Butler Cornbury, whose forefathers had lived inthe neighbourhood for the last four hundred years and been returnedfor various places in Devonshire to dozens of parliaments, would beleft in the lurch with 171 votes. A petition might probably unseatthe Jew clothier; but then, as was well known, the Cornbury estatecould not bear the expenditure of the necessary five thousand poundsfor the petition, in addition to the twelve hundred which theelection itself was computed to cost. It was all known and thoroughlyunderstood; and men in Baslehurst talked about the result as thoughthe matter were past a doubt. Nevertheless there were those who wereready to bet on the Cornbury side of the question.
But though the thing was thus accurately settled, and though itstermination was foreseen by so many and with so perfect a certainty,still the canvassing went on. In fact there were votes that hadnot even yet been asked, much less promised,--and again, much lesspurchased. The Hart people were striving to frighten the Cornburypeople out of the field by the fear of the probable expenditure; andhad it not been for the good courage of Mrs. Butler Cornbury wouldprobably have succeeded in doing so. The old squire was very fidgetyabout the money, and the young squire declared himself unwillingto lean too heavily upon his father. But the lady of the householddeclared her conviction that there was more smoke than fire, and morethreats of bribery than intention of bribing. She would go on, shedeclared; and as her word passed for much at Cornbury Grange, thebattle was still to be fought.
Among the votes which certainly had not as yet been promised was thatof Mr. Tappitt. Mr. Hart in person had called upon him, but had notbeen quite satisfied with his reception. Mr. Tappitt was a man whothought much of his local influence and local privileges, and was byno means disposed to make a promise of his vote on easy terms, at amoment when his vote was becoming of so much importance. He was nodoubt a liberal as was also Mr. Hart; but in small towns politicsbecome split, and a man is not always bound to vote for a liberalcandidate because he is a liberal himself. Mr. Hart had beenconfident in his tone, and had not sufficiently freed himself fromall outer taint of his ancient race to please Mr. Tappitt's taste."He's an impudent low Jew," he had said to his wife. "As for ButlerCornbury he gives himself airs, and is too grand even to come andask. I don't think I shall vote at all." His wife had reminded himhow civil to them Mrs. Cornbury had been;--this was before themorning of the poker;--but Tappitt had only sneered, and declared hewas not going to send a man to Parliament because his wife had cometo a dance.
But we, who know Tappitt best, may declare now that his vote was tohave been had by any one who would have joined him energetically inabuse of Luke Rowan. His mind was full of his grievance. His heartwas laden with hatred of his enemy. His very soul was heavy withthat sorrow. Honyman, whom he had not yet dared to desert, had againrecommended submission to him, submission to one of the three termsproposed. Let him take the thousand a year and go out from thebrewery. That was Honyman's first advice. If not that, then let himadmit his enemy to a full partnership. If that were too distastefulto be possible, then let him raise ten thousand pounds on a mortgageon the whole property, and buy Rowan out. Honyman thought that themoney might be raised if Tappitt were willing to throw into thelump the moderate savings of his past life. But in answer to eitherproposal Tappitt only raved. Had Mr. Hart known all about this, hemight doubtless have secured Tappitt's vote.
Butler Cornbury refused to call at the brewery. "The man's aliberal," he said to his wife, "and what's the use? Besides he's justthe man I can't stand. We've always hated each other."
Whereupon Mrs. B. Cornbury determined to call on Mrs. Tappitt, andto see Tappitt himself if it were possible. She had heard somethingof the Rowan troubles, but not all. She had heard, too, of Rowan'sliking for Rachel Ray, having also seen something of it, as we know.But, unfortunately for her husband's parliamentary interests, she hadnot learned that the two things were connected together. And, veryunfortunately also for the same interests, she had taken it into herhead that Rachel should be married to young Rowan. She had conceiveda liking for Rachel; and being by nature busy, fond of employment,and apt at managing other people's affairs, she had put her fingeron that match as one which she would task herself to further. This,I say, was unfortunate as regards her husband's present views. Herwork, now in hand, was to secure Tappitt's vote; and to have carriedher point in that quarter, her surest method would have been to haveentered the brewery open-mouthed against Luke Rowan and Rachel Ray.
But the conversation, almost at once, led to a word in praise ofRachel, and to following words in praise of Luke. Martha only was inthe room with her mother. Mrs. Cornbury did not at once begin aboutthe vote, but made, as was natural, certain complimentary speechesabout the ball. Really she didn't remember when she had seen anythingbetter done; and the young ladies looked so nice. She had indeed goneaway early; but she had done so by no means on her own account, butbecause Rachel Ray had been tired. Then she said a nice good-naturedgenial word or two about Rachel Ray and her performance on thatoccasion. "It seemed to me," she added, "that a certain younggentleman was quite smitten."
Then Mrs. Tappitt's brow became black as thunder, and Mrs. Cornburyknew at once that she had trodden on unsafe ground,--on ground whichshe should specially have avoided.
"We are all aware," Mrs. Tappitt said, "that the certain younggentleman behaved very badly,--disgracefully, I may say;--but itwasn't our fault, Mrs. Cornbury."
"Upon my word, Mrs. Tappitt, I didn't see anything amiss."
"I'm afraid everybody saw it. Indeed, everybody has been talking ofit ever since. As regards him, what he did then was only of a piecewith his general conduct, which it doesn't become me to name inthe language which it deserves. His behaviour to Mr. T. has beenshameful;--quite shameful."
"I had heard something, but I did not know there was anything likethat. I'm so sorry I mentioned his name."
"He has disagreed with papa about the brewery business," said Martha.
"It's more than that, Martha, as you know very well," continued Mrs.Tappitt, still speaking in her great heat. "He has shown himself badin every way,--giving himself airs all over the town, and then goingaway without paying his debts."
"I don't think we know that, mamma."
"Everybody says so. Your own father heard Sam Griggs say with his ownears that there was a shop bill left there of I don't know how long.But that's nothing to us. He came here under false pretences, and nowhe's been turned out, and we don't want to have any more
to do withhim. But, Mrs. Cornbury, I am sorry about that poor foolish girl."
"I didn't think her poor or foolish at all," said Mrs. Cornbury, whohad quite heart enough to forget the vote her husband wanted in herwarmth for her young friend.
"I must say, then, I did;--I thought her very foolish, and I didn'tat all like the way she went on in my house and before my girls. Andas for him, he doesn't think of her any more than he thinks of me. Inthe first place, he's engaged to another girl."
"We are not quite sure that he's engaged, mamma," said Martha.
"I don't know what you call being sure, my dear. I can't say I'veever heard it sworn to, on oath. But his sister Mary told your sisterAugusta that he was. I think that's pretty good evidence. But, Mrs.Cornbury, he's one of those that will be engaged to twenty, if he canfind twenty foolish enough to listen to him. And for her, who neverwas at a dance before, to go on with him like that;--I must say thatI thought it disgraceful!"
"Well, Mrs. Tappitt," said Mrs. Cornbury, speaking with muchauthority in her voice, "I can only say that I didn't see it. Shewas under my charge, and if it was as you say I must be very much toblame,--very much indeed."
"I'm sure I didn't mean that," said Mrs. Tappitt, frightened.
"I don't suppose you did,--but I mean it. As for the young gentleman,I know very little about him. He may be everything that is bad."
"You'll find that he is, Mrs. Cornbury."
"But as to Miss Ray, whom I've known all my life, and whose mothermy father has known for all her life, I cannot allow anything ofthe kind to be said. She was under my charge; and when young ladiesare under my charge I keep a close eye upon them,--for their owncomfort's sake. I know how to manage for them, and I always lookafter them. On the night of your party I saw nothing in Miss Ray'sconduct that was not nice, ladylike, and well-behaved. I must say so;and if I hear a whisper to the contrary in any quarter, you may besure that I shall say so open-mouthed. How d'you do, Mr. Tappitt? I'mso glad you've come in, as I specially wanted to see you." Then sheshook hands with Mr. Tappitt, who entered the room at the moment, andthe look and manner of her face was altered.
Mrs. Tappitt was cowed. If her husband had not come in at that momentshe might have said a word or two in her own defence, being driven todo so by the absence of any other mode of retreating. But as he camein so opportunely, she allowed his coming to cover her defeat. Strongas was her feeling on the subject, she did not dare to continue herattack upon Rachel in opposition to the defiant bravery which camefull upon her from Mrs. Cornbury's eyes. The words had been bad, butthe determined fire of those eyes had been worse. Mrs. Tappitt wascowed, and allowed Rachel's name to pass away without further remark.
Mrs. Cornbury saw it all at a glance;--saw it all and understood it.The vote was probably lost; but it would certainly be lost if Tappittand his wife discussed the matter before he had pledged himself.The vote would probably be lost, even though Tappitt should, in hisignorance of what had just passed, pledge himself to give it. Allthat Mrs. Cornbury perceived, and knew that she could lose nothing byan immediate request.
"Mr. Tappitt," said she, "I have come canvassing. The fact is this:Mr. Cornbury says you are a liberal, and that therefore he has notthe face to ask you. I tell him that I think you would rather supporta neighbour from the county, even though there may be a shade ofdifference in politics between you, than a stranger, whose trade andreligion cannot possibly recommend him, and whose politics, if youreally knew them, would probably be quite as much unlike your own asare my husband's."
The little speech had been prepared beforehand, but was brought outquite as naturally as though Mrs. Cornbury had been accustomed tospeak on her legs for a quarter of a century.
Mr. Tappitt grunted. The attack came upon him so much by surprisethat he knew not what else to do but to grunt. If Mr. Cornbury hadcome with the same speech in his mouth, and could then have sided offinto some general abuse of Luke Rowan, the vote would have been won.
"I'm sure Mrs. Tappitt will agree with me," said Mrs. Cornbury,smiling very sweetly upon the foe she had so lately vanquished.
"Women don't know anything about it," said Tappitt, meaning to snubno one but his own wife, and forgetting that Mrs. Cornbury was awoman. He blushed fiery red when the thought flashed upon him, andwished that his own drawing-room floor would open and receive him;nevertheless he was often afterwards heard to boast how he had putdown the politician in petticoats when she came electioneering to thebrewery.
"Well, that is severe," said Mrs. Cornbury, laughing.
"Oh, T.! you shouldn't have said that before Mrs. Cornbury!"
"I only meant my own wife, ma'am; I didn't indeed."
"I'll forgive your satire if you'll give me your vote," said Mrs.Cornbury, with her sweetest smile. "He owes it me now; doesn't he,Mrs. Tappitt?"
"Well,--I really think he do." Mrs. Tappitt, in her doubletrouble,--in her own defeat and her shame on behalf of herhusband's rudeness,--was driven back, out of all her latter-dayconventionalities, into the thoughts and even into the language ofold days. She was becoming afraid of Mrs. Cornbury, and submissive,as of old, to the rank and station of Cornbury Grange. In her terrorshe was becoming a little forgetful of niceties learned somewhat latein life. "I really think he do," said Mrs. Tappitt.
Tappitt grunted again.
"It's a very serious thing," he said.
"So it is," said Mrs. Cornbury, interrupting him. She knew that herchance was gone if the man were allowed to get himself mentally uponhis legs. "It is very serious; but the fact that you are still indoubt shows that you have been thinking of it. We all know how gooda churchman you are, and that you would not willingly send a Jew toParliament."
"I don't know," said Tappitt. "I'm not for persecuting even theJews;--not when they pay their way and push themselves honourably incommerce."
"Oh, yes; commerce! There is nobody who has shown himself moredevoted to the commercial interests than Mr. Cornbury. We buyeverything in Baslehurst. Unfortunately our people won't drink beerbecause of the cider."
"Tappitt doesn't think a bit about that, Mrs. Cornbury."
"I'm afraid I shall be called upon in honour to support my party,"said Tappitt.
"Exactly; but which is your party? Isn't the Protestant religion ofyour country your party? These people are creeping down into allparts of the kingdom, and where shall we be if leading men like youthink more of shades of difference between liberal and conservativethan of the fundamental truths of the Church of England? Would youdepute a Jew to get up and speak your own opinions in your ownvestry-room?"
"That you wouldn't, T.," said Mrs. Tappitt, who was rather carriedaway by Mrs. Cornbury's eloquence.
"Not in a vestry, because it's joined on to a church," said Tappitt.
"Or would you like a Jew to be mayor in Baslehurst;--a Jew in thechair where you yourself were sitting only three years ago?"
"That wouldn't be seemly, because our mayor is expected to attendin church on Roundabout Sunday." Roundabout Sunday, so called forcertain local reasons which it would be long to explain, followedimmediately on the day of the mayor's inauguration.
"Would you like to have a Jew partner in your own business?"
Mrs. Butler Cornbury should have said nothing to Mr. Tappitt as toany partner in the brewery, Jew or Christian.
"I don't want any partner, and what's more, I don't mean to haveany."
"Mrs. Cornbury is in favour of Luke Rowan; she takes his side," saidMrs. Tappitt, some portion of her courage returning to her as thisopportunity opened upon her. Mr. Tappitt turned his head full roundand looked upon Mrs. Cornbury with an evil eye. That lady knew thatthe vote was lost, lost unless she would denounce the man whom Rachelloved; and she determined at once that she would not denounce him.There are many things which such a woman will do to gain such anobject. She could smile when Tappitt was offensive; she could smileagain when Mrs. Tappitt talked like a kitchenmaid. She could flatterthem both, and pretend to talk seriously with them about Jews
and herown Church feelings. She could have given up to them Luke Rowan,--ifhe had stood alone. But she could not give up the girl she hadchaperoned, and upon whom, during that chaperoning, her good-will andkindly feelings had fallen. Rachel had pleased her eye, and gratifiedher sense of feminine nicety. She felt that a word said against Rowanwould be a word said also against Rachel; and therefore, throwingher husband over for the nonce, she resolved to sacrifice the voteand stand up for her friend. "Well, yes; I do," said she, meetingTappitt's eye steadily. She was not going to be looked out ofcountenance by Mr. Tappitt.
"She thinks he'll come back to marry that young woman at Bragg'sEnd," said Mrs. Tappitt; "but I say that he'll never dare to show hisface in Baslehurst again."
"That young woman is making a great fool of herself," said Tappitt,"if she trusts to a swindler like him."
"Perhaps, Mrs. Tappitt," said Mrs. Cornbury, "we needn't minddiscussing Miss Ray. It's not good to talk about a young lady in thatway, and I'm sure I never said that I thought she was engaged toMr. Rowan. Had I done so I should have been very wrong, for I knownothing about it. What little I saw of the gentleman I liked;" and asshe used the word gentleman she looked Tappitt full in the face; "andfor Miss Ray, I've a great regard for her, and think very highly ofher. Independently of her acknowledged beauty and pleasant, ladylikemanners, she's a very charming girl. About the vote, Mr. Tappitt--;at any rate you'll think of it."
But had he not been defied in his own house? And as for her, themother of those three finely educated girls, had not every word saidin Rachel's favour been a dagger planted in her own maternal bosom?Whose courage would not have risen under such provocation?
Mrs. Cornbury had got up to go, but the indignant, injured Tappittsresolved mutually, though without concert, that she should beanswered.
"I'm an honest man, Mrs. Cornbury," said the brewer, "and I liketo speak out my mind openly. Mr. Hart is a liberal, and I mean tosupport my party. Will you tell Mr. Cornbury so with my compliments?It's all nonsense about Jews not being in Parliament. It's not thesame as being mayors or churchwardens, or anything like that. I shallvote for Mr. Hart; and, what's more, we shall put him in."
"And Mrs. Cornbury, if you have so much regard for Miss Rachel, you'dbetter advise her to think no more of that young man. He's no good;he's not indeed. If you ask, you'll find he's in debt everywhere."
"Swindler!" said Tappitt.
"I don't suppose it can be very bad with Miss Rachel yet, for sheonly saw him about three times,--though she was so intimate with himat our party."
Mrs. Butler Cornbury curtseyed and smiled, and got herself out of theroom. Mrs. Tappitt, as soon as she remembered herself, rang the bell,and Mr. Tappitt, following her down to the hall door, went throughthe pretence of putting her into her carriage.
"She's a nasty meddlesome woman," said Tappitt, as soon as he gotback to his wife.
"And how ever she can stand up and say all those things for thatgirl, passes me!" said Mrs. Tappitt, holding up both her hands. "Shewas flighty herself, when young; she was, no doubt; and now I supposeshe likes others to be the same. If that's what she calls manners, Ishouldn't like her to take my girls about."
"And him a gentleman!" said Tappitt. "If those are to be ourgentlemen I'd sooner have all the Jews out of Jerusalem. But they'llfind out their gentleman; they'll find him out! He'll rob that oldmother of his before he's done; you mark my words else." Comfortinghimself with this hope he took himself back to his counting-house.
Mrs. Cornbury had smiled as she went, and had carried herself throughthe whole interview without any sign of temper. Even when declaringthat she intended to take Rachel's part open-mouthed, she had spokenin a half-drolling way which had divested her words of any tone ofoffence. But when she got into her carriage, she was in truth veryangry. "I don't believe a word of it," she said to herself; "not aword of it." That in which she professed to herself her own disbeliefwas the general assertion that Rowan was a swindler, supported by theparticular assertion that he had left Baslehurst over head and earsin debt. "I don't believe it." And she resolved that it should be herbusiness to find out whether the accusation were true or false. Sheknew the ins and outs of Baslehurst life and Baslehurst doings withtolerable accuracy, and was at any rate capable of unravelling such amystery as that. If the Tappitts in their jealousy were striving torob Rachel Ray of her husband by spreading false reports, she wouldencourage Rachel Ray in her love by spreading the truth;--if, as shebelieved, the truth should speak in Rowan's favour. She would haveconsiderable pleasure in countermining Mr. and Mrs. Tappitt.
As to Mr. Tappitt's vote for the election;--that was gone!