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AGNES GREY
means of a roll of paper； I was disturbed by the entrance of Mr。 Weston；
with the identical cat in his arms。 I now saw that he could smile； and very
pleasantly too。
'I've done you a piece of good service； Nancy；' he began： then seeing
me； he acknowledged my presence by a slight bow。 I should have been
invisible to Hatfield； or any other gentleman of those parts。 'I've
delivered your cat；' he continued； 'from the hands； or rather the gun； of Mr。
Murray's gamekeeper。'
'God bless you； sir！' cried the grateful old woman； ready to weep for
joy as she received her favourite from his arms。
'Take care of it；' said he； 'and don't let it go near the rabbit… warren； for
the gamekeeper swears he'll shoot it if he sees it there again： he would
have done so to…day； if I had not been in time to stop him。 I believe it is
raining； Miss Grey；' added he； more quietly； observing that I had put aside
my work； and was preparing to depart。 'Don't let me disturb you … I
shan't stay two minutes。'
'You'll BOTH stay while this shower gets owered；' said Nancy； as she
stirred the fire； and placed another chair beside it； 'what！ there's room for
all。'
'I can see better here； thank you； Nancy；' replied I； taking my work to
the window； where she had the goodness to suffer me to remain
unmolested； while she got a brush to remove the cat's hairs from Mr。
Weston's coat； carefully wiped the rain from his hat； and gave the cat its
supper； busily talking all the time： now thanking her clerical friend for
what he had done； now wondering how the cat had found out the warren；
and now lamenting the probable consequences of such a discovery。 He
listened with a quiet； good… natured smile； and at length took a seat in
compliance with her pressing invitations； but repeated that he did not
mean to stay。
'I have another place to go to；' said he； 'and I see' （glancing at the book
on the table） 'someone else has been reading to you。'
'Yes； sir； Miss Grey has been as kind as read me a chapter； an' now
she's helping me with a shirt for our Bill … but I'm feared she'll be cold
there。 Won't you come to th' fire； Miss？'
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AGNES GREY
'No； thank you； Nancy； I'm quite warm。 I must go as soon as this
shower is over。'
'Oh； Miss！ You said you could stop while dusk！' cried the provoking
old woman； and Mr。 Weston seized his hat。
'Nay； sir；' exclaimed she； 'pray don't go now； while it rains so fast。'
'But it strikes me I'm keeping your visitor away from the fire。'
'No； you're not； Mr。 Weston；' replied I； hoping there was no harm in a
falsehood of that description。
'No； sure！' cried Nancy。 'What； there's lots o' room！'
'Miss Grey；' said he； half…jestingly； as if he felt it necessary to change
the present subject； whether he had anything particular to say or not； 'I
wish you would make my peace with the squire； when you see him。 He
was by when I rescued Nancy's cat； and did not quite approve of the deed。
I told him I thought he might better spare all his rabbits than she her cat；
for which audacious assertion he treated me to some rather ungentlemanly
language； and I fear I retorted a trifle too warmly。'
'Oh； lawful sir！ I hope you didn't fall out wi' th' maister for sake o'
my cat！ he cannot bide answering again … can th' maister。'
'Oh！ it's no matter； Nancy： I don't care about it； really； I said nothing
VERY uncivil； and I suppose Mr。 Murray is accustomed to use rather
strong language when he's heated。'
'Ay； sir： it's a pity。'
'And now； I really must go。 I have to visit a place a mile beyond this；
and you would not have me to return in the dark： besides； it has nearly
done raining now … so good…evening； Nancy。 Good… evening； Miss Grey。'
'Good…evening； Mr。 Weston； but don't depend upon me for making
your peace with Mr。 Murray； for I never see him … to speak to。'
'Don't you； it can't be helped then；' replied he； in dolorous resignation：
then； with a peculiar half…smile； he added； 'But never mind； I imagine the
squire has more to apologise for than I；' and left the cottage。
I went on with my sewing as long as I could see； and then bade Nancy
good…evening； checking her too lively gratitude by the undeniable
assurance that I had only done for her what she would have done for me； if
she had been in my place and I in hers。 I hastened back to Horton Lodge；
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AGNES GREY
where； having entered the schoolroom； I found the tea…table all in
confusion； the tray flooded with slops； and Miss Matilda in a most
ferocious humour。 'Miss Grey； whatever have you been about？ I've had
tea half an hour ago； and had to make it myself； and drink it all alone！ I
wish you would come in sooner！'
'I've been to see Nancy Brown。 I thought you would not be back
from your ride。'
'How could I ride in the rain； I should like to know。 That damned
pelting shower was vexatious enough … coming on when I was just in full
swing： and then to come and find nobody in to tea！ and you know I can't
make the tea as I like it。'
'I didn't think of the shower；' replied I （and； indeed； the thought of its
driving her home had never entered my head）。
'No； of course； you were under shelter yourself； and you never thought
of other people。'
I bore her coarse reproaches with astonishing equanimity； even with
cheerfulness； for I was sensible that I had done more good to Nancy
Brown than harm to her： and perhaps some other thoughts assisted to
keep up my spirits； and impart a relish to the cup of cold； overdrawn tea；
and a charm to the otherwise unsightly table； and … I had almost said … to
Miss Matilda's unamiable face。 But she soon betook herself to the
stables； and left me to the quiet enjoyment of my solitary meal。
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