The Queen's Scarlet Part 38

"And then he sits down and sighs. Ever heard him sigh, sir?"

"Yes, often, Jerry."

"An' he can sigh! 'Tired, sir?' I says.

"'Yes, and low-spirited,' he says.

"I didn't say no more, but puts away the vest as I'd finished, all but pressing it. Then I takes out my cloth, gets his pair of ivory-back brushes, just takes off his dress-jacket, and puts the cloth round his neck, sets him up a bit, and then I brushed his head for about ten minutes--you know my way, sir?"

"Yes, Jerry; I recollect."

"And there he sat, with the wrinkles going out of his forrid, and a sort o' baby-like smile coming all over his face.

"'Find it fresh'ning, sir?' I says.

"'Heavenly,' he says.

"'You want a good shampoo, sir,' I says. 'There's a deal o' dandruff in your head.'

"'That's what the hairdresser said,' says he, an' he sighs again.

"'Oh, yes; I know,' says I; 'they allus do, and wants you to buy bottles o' their tintry-c.u.m-fuldicus. You leave it to me, sir. Little white o'

egg and borax, and a finish off with some good scented soap; and then if anyone sees some o' that stuff in your head, sir, just you tell me.'

"He's a very nice gent, sir--I mean d.i.c.k; but the way he's been neglected and preyed on by barbers and sich is shameful. Why, he's got stuff enough in his quarters to stock a shop."

"Then you think you'll get on with him, Jerry?"

"Think? Not me! You ask him if he'll let me go, and you'll see. I sent him out this morning pretty tidy to parade, quite early--and don't he like you to dress him--and when he come back, looking done-up, I was ready for him with a pick-me-up. You see there's a lot of him, and he want nootriment."

"'What's this?' he says.

"'Your lotion, sir,' I says, and he tasted it, and tasted it again, sipping, then mouthfulling, and sets the gla.s.s down, with a sigh.

"'What is it, Brigley?' he says.

"'Noo-lade egg, sir, noo milk, lump o' sugar, and half a gla.s.s o'

sherry, well lathered up with a swizzle-stick.'

"'Hah!' he says, 'is there any more?'

"'No, sir,' I says; 'not this morning. Now then, sir,' I says; 'if you please?' And then I takes off his belts and his regimentals, gets him on the couch, and I rubs him and cracks him."

"You did what?" cried d.i.c.k.

"Ma.s.sages him, sir; and him a-staring at me all the time. After that I shampoos and washes him, trims the pyntes off his hair, waxes his starshers, gives him a cigarette, and then I rejoices his heart."

"How?" said d.i.c.k, laughing.

"By telling on him the truth, sir."

"What truth?"

"I stood back and looked at him, and I says to him: 'There, sir; don't you feel like a new man?'

"Ah, yes! he says, with one o' those big mellingcholly sighs of his'n, which makes me think he's got something on his mind.

"'And now, sir,' I says, 'you look puffect.'

"'Oh, nonsense, man!' he says, sharply.

"'Begging your pardon, sir!' I says, 'you do!' and he says, sadly--

"'Well, Brigley, have it your own way; 'tis no fault of mine.'

"I see then as I oughtn't to say no more, for fear of his thinking I flattered him. But, really, he is as handsome and big a chap as ever I did see."

"Yes, he is good-looking, Jerry; but if you talk much like that you'll disgust him."

"An' I shan't talk to him like that again, d.i.c.k Smithson; and I shouldn't, then, only it was the honest truth. It's a pleasure to do up a gent like that! Why, I could win a prize with him at a show! But he is a soft one, really!--milk's nothing to him!"

"Never mind that, Jerry. You'll find him an excellent master."

"I know I shall, and thankful I am; for it's been a rough time with me lately, and it's refreshing to have to do for such a gent. He really is, though, the handsomest chap I ever see out of a picture, though he do make me laugh to find him such a hinfant. Think he could fight?"

"I think he's brave as a lion, Jerry; and that it would be awkward for anyone who roused him up."

"That's yer sort for me, sir. I call that real English."

"And he'd be clever enough, if put to the test. But he's well-off, and takes life easily. You've got a good master, Jerry; and you know it."

"I do, d.i.c.k Smithson; and I want him to know he's got a good servant."

"Oh, he'll find that out, Jerry. Yes! you were going to say something?"

"I were, sir--I mean d.i.c.k Smithson. Did you know as he was friends with your cousin?"

"No, surely not!"

"Fact, sir. He come to Mr Lacey's quarters this morning. I was sewing on b.u.t.tons in the next room, and couldn't help hearing something about odds; and that set me up sharp, for I knows what odds mean--no one better."

"But you shouldn't have listened."

"I didn't, d.i.c.k Smithson; but I heered enough to show as S'Mark--I--I beg your pardon."

d.i.c.k started; but he said nothing, and Jerry went on.

"As your cousin's feeling his way with Mr Lacey--and, if he is, it means betting and play, and bleeding of him orful. Couldn't you give him a hint, as someone we knows ain't to be trusted?"