Beggar’s Choice Read Free Page B

at the beck and call of every one who wanted a child looked after, a girl chaperoned, or an invalid amused. She looked at Isobel and wondered why she was so pale. And then Miss Willy came back in triumph with the ham on a lordly dish.
    It was when every one had been helped, to the accompaniment of loud-voiced instructions from Miss Willy, that Car’s name suddenly emerged from a buzz of talk. Janet was not quite sure how it came up. Bobby Markham, and the girl called Cis, and Miss Willy were all talking at once, whilst she herself was leaning across Isobel to try and catch a twice repeated remark of Carrie Lester’s. It was Bobby Markham, she thought, who said “Fairfax,” and as he said the word, Janet felt Isobel’s arm move against her own with a wincing movement as if she had been suddenly hurt. Miss Willy caught up the name and, turning, flung it at Isobel.
    â€œCar Fairfax—I was going to tell you—the most extraordinary thing—Bobby came across Car the other day. You know, we’ve always wondered what on earth had become of him.”
    â€œOh, I hope he’s getting on,” said Janet. She leaned forward, screening Isobel.
    â€œNow, my dear Janet, was he likely to get on, after having to leave his regiment and being mixed up with that atrocious Lymington man, who was nothing but a common swindler—and if I hadn’t had the gumption to get my money out of his clutches just in the very nick of time, wouldn’t Isobel and I be in the workhouse this very minute?”
    â€œI hope not. But, Willy, you mustn’t say he had to leave his regiment like that—it sounds——”
    â€œWell, he did have to leave it,” said Miss Willy bluntly.
    â€œOnly because he hadn’t enough money to stay in it. It wasn’t his fault that his father had been living above his income for years and left nothing but debts.”
    Miss Willy tossed her head.
    â€œPride goes before a fall. Bobby met him in his brother’s office, standing in a queue on the chance of being taken on as twentieth clerk or something of that sort. Rather a come-down for Car Fairfax!” She laughed angrily and looked at Isobel. “He didn’t even get the job,” she added, with malice in her voice. “But there, it wouldn’t have helped him if he had. You can’t help people who won’t take help. He’s gone under, and he’s got his deserts.”
    â€œI thought Carthew Fairfax a very pleasant young man,” said Carrie Lester. “And a friend of Isobel’s—wasn’t he, my dear?”
    There was no color in Isobel’s cheeks. She smiled at Aunt Carrie with her eyes and said,
    â€œYes, a very great friend.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t be helped,” repeated Miss Willy. “John Carthew would have helped him—That’s his uncle, his mother’s brother,” she explained to the Markhams.
    Bobby Markham nodded.
    â€œI know— rolling . I wish I’d an uncle who wanted to help me. Little Bobby’s not proud!”
    â€œCar Fairfax is a fool,” said Miss Willy. “He offended John, and now, apparently, he’s gone to the dogs, and serve him right.”
    â€œIt isn’t actually disreputable to be poor, is it, Willy?” said Janet in her charming voice.
    â€œWho’s talking about being poor? You’re poor—I’m poor—everybody’s poor. But Car’s gone under. First he had to leave his regiment, and then he went as secretary to that dreadful swindling Lymington man——”
    â€œWho had been at school with his father,” said Janet Wimpole firmly.
    Miss Willy’s bright, hard color rose.
    â€œAnd a pretty pair, I must say! Not a penny to choose between them really, though I suppose it’s better to swindle your own family than to ruin total strangers by the thousand—No, Isobel, don’t contradict me! I don’t care what any one