carpenter and his wife displaying manifest signs ofimpatience, he took his departure, after first inviting himself foranother game of draughts the following night.
He walked home with the air of a conqueror, and thought exultingly thatthe two thousand pounds were his. It was a deal after his own heart, andnot the least satisfactory part about it was the way he had got thebetter of Wiggett.
He completed his scheme the following day after a short interview withthe useful Smith. By the afternoon Wiggett found that his exclusiveinformation was common property, and all Thatcham was marvelling at thefortitude with which Mrs. Pullen was bearing the loss of her fortune.With a view of being out of the way when the denial was published, Mr.Miller, after loudly expressing in public his sympathy for Mrs. Pullenand his admiration of her qualities, drove over with some pigs to aneighbouring village, returning to Thatcham in the early evening. Thenhurriedly putting his horse up he made his way to the carpenter's.
The Tidgers were at home when he entered, and Mrs. Pullen flushed faintlyas he shook hands.
"I was coming in before," he said, impressively, "after what I heard thisafternoon, but I had to drive over to Thorpe."
"You 'eard it?" inquired the carpenter, in an incredulous voice.
"Certainly," said the dealer, "and very sorry I was. Sorry for onething, but glad for another."
The carpenter opened his mouth and seemed about to speak. Then hechecked himself suddenly and gazed with interest at the ingenuous dealer.
"I'm glad," said Mr. Miller, slowly, as he nodded at a friend of Mrs.Tidger's who had just come in with a long face, "because now that Mrs.Pullen is poor, I can say to her what I couldn't say while she was rich."
Again the astonished carpenter was about to speak, but the dealer hastilychecked him with his hand.
"One at a time," he said. "Mrs. Pullen, I was very sorry to hear thisafternoon, for your sake, that you had lost all your money. What Iwanted to say to you now, now that you are poor, was to ask you to beMrs. Miller. What d'ye say?"
Mrs. Pullen, touched at so much goodness, wept softly and said, "Yes."The triumphant Miller took out his handkerchief--the same that he hadused the previous night, for he was not an extravagant man--and tenderlywiped her eyes.
"Well, I'm blowed!" said the staring carpenter.
"I've got a nice little 'ouse," continued the wily Mr. Miller. "It's apoor place, but nice, and we'll play draughts every evening. When shallit be?"
"When you like," said Mrs. Pullen, in a faint voice.
"I'll put the banns up to-morrow," said the dealer.
Mrs. Tidger's lady friend giggled at so much haste, but Mrs. Tidger, whofelt that she had misjudged him, was touched.
"It does you credit, Mr. Miller," she said, warmly.
"No, no," said the dealer; and then Mr. Tidger got up, and crossing theroom, solemnly shook hands with him.
"Money or no money, she'll make a good wife," he said.
"I'm glad you're pleased," said the dealer, wondering at this cordiality.
"I don't deny I thought you was after her money," continued thecarpenter, solemnly. "My missus thought so, too."
Mr. Miller shook his head, and said he thought they would have known himbetter.
"Of course it is a great loss," said the carpenter. "Money is money."
"That's all it is, though," said the slightly mystified Mr. Miller.
"What I can't understand is," continued the carpenter, "'ow the news gotabout. Why, the neighbours knew of it a couple of hours before we did."
The dealer hid a grin. Then he looked a bit bewildered again.
"I assure you," said the carpenter, "it was known in the town at least acouple of hours before we got the letter."
Mr. Miller waited a minute to get perfect control over his features."Letter?" he repeated, faintly.
"The letter from the lawyers," said the carpenter.
Mr. Miller was silent again. His features were getting tiresome. Heeyed the door furtively.
"What-was-in-the letter?" he asked.
"Short and sweet," said the carpenter, with bitterness. "Said it was alla mistake, because they'd been and found another will. People shouldn'tmake such mistakes."
"We're all liable to make mistakes," said Miller, thinking he saw anopening.
"Yes, we made a mistake when we thought you was after Ann's money,"assented the carpenter. "I'm sure I thought you'd be the last man in theworld to be pleased to hear that she'd lost it. One thing is, you've gotenough for both."
"WE'LL LEAVE YOU TWO YOUNG THINGS ALONE."]
Mr. Miller made no reply, but in a dazed way strove to realize the fullmeasure of the misfortune which had befallen him. The neighbour, withthe anxiety of her sex to be the first with a bit of news, had alreadytaken her departure. He thought of Wiggett walking the earth a free man,and of Smith with a three-months' bill for twenty pounds. His pride as adealer was shattered beyond repair, and emerging from a species of mist,he became conscious that the carpenter was addressing him.
"We'll leave you two young things alone for a bit," said Mr. Tidger,heartily. "We're going out. When you're tired o' courting you can playdraughts, and Ann will show you one or two of 'er moves. So long."
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