The dogcart went on, and Ted followed until he came to a small gate in
the park fencing, and, opening this, he stood just inside it. His hand
went to his pocket for his pipe, but, with the smoker's sigh, he dropped
it back again, for he could not risk striking a match.
After he had been waiting there for a few minutes he heard footsteps and
the rustle of a skirt among the undergrowth, and presently a woman stole
out from the darkness, and, running up to the man, clutched his arm,
panting and trembling with fear and excitement.
Now, when Lord and Lady Wolfer had started for the Continent, on the day
of what may be called their reconciliation, Burden, her maid, had
refused to go. She was a bad sailor, and hated what she called "foreign
parts"; and she begged her mistress to leave her behind. Lady Wolfer,
full of sympathy in her newly found happiness, had not only let the girl
off, but had made her a handsome present, and given her an excellent
written character.
Burden took a holiday, and went home to her people, who kept what is
called a "sporting public" in the east of London.
Sport, like charity, is made to cover a lot of sins; and Burden, while
assisting in the bar of the pub, made the acquaintance of several
persons who were desirable neither in the matter of morals nor manners.
One of these was a good-looking young fellow who went by the name of
Ted. He was supposed to be a watchmaker and jeweler by trade--a working
jeweler--but he spent most of his time at the public which Burden now
adorned, and though he certainly did not carry on his trade there,
always appeared to have as much money as leisure.
Cupid, who seems to be indifferent to his surroundings, hovered about
the smoky and beery regions of the Blue Pig, and very soon worked
mischief between Burden and Ted.
He was pleasant spoken as well as good-looking, and had a free-and-easy
way, was always ready with an order for the play or one of the music
halls, and--in short, Burden fell in love with him. But when he asked
her to marry him, Burden, who was a respectable girl, and, as Lady
Wolfer's maid, had held a good position for one of her class, began to
make inquiries.
She did not go on with them, but she learned enough to rouse her
suspicions.
The jewelry business evidently served as a blind for less honest
pursuits. She took alarm, and, like a sensible girl, fled the paternal
pub and sought a fresh situation.