`Don't you be uneasy, mum,' said Bob, touching his cap.He saw at once that Mrs Glegg was a bit of game worth running down, and longed to be at the sport.`We'll stay out upo' the gravel here, Mumps and me will.Mumps knows his company - he does.I might hish at him by th' hour together before he'd fly at a real gentlewoman like you.It's wonderful how he knows which is the good-looking ladies - and's partic'lar fond of 'em when they've good shapes.Lors,' added Bob, laying down his pack on the gravel, `it's a thousand pities such a lady as you shouldn't deal with a packman, i'stead o' goin' into these newfangled shops where there's half a dozen fine gents wi' their chins propped up wi' a stiff stock, a-looking like bottles wi'
ornamental stoppers, an' all got to get their dinner out of a bit o' calico - it stan's to reason you mun pay three times the price you pay a packman, as is the nat'ral way o' gettin' goods - an' pays no rent, an' isn't forced to throttle himself till the lies are squeezed out on him, whether he will or no.But lors, mum, you know what it is better nor I do - you can see through them shopmen, I'll be bound.'
`Yes, I reckon I can, and through the packmen too,' observed Mrs Glegg, intending to imply that Bob's flattery had produced no effect on her ;while her husband standing behind her with his hands in his pockets and legs apart, winked and smiled with conjugal delight at the probability of his wife's being circumvented.
`Ay, to be sure, mum,' said Bob.`Why, you must ha' dealt wi' no end o' packmen when you war a young lass - before the master here had the luck to set eyes on you.I know where you lived, I do - seen th' house many a time - close upon Squire Darleigh's - a stone house wi' steps...'
`Ah, that it had,' said Mrs Glegg, pouring out the tea.`You know something o' my family then...are you akin to that packman with a squint in his eye, as used to bring th' Irish linen?'
`Look you there now!' said Bob evasively.`Didn't I know as you'd remember the best bargains y'ever made in your life was made wi' packmen? Why, you see, even a squintin' packman's better nor a shopman as can see straight.
Lors, if I'd had the luck to call at the stone house wi' my pack as lies here,' - stooping and thumping the bundle emphatically with his fist -`an' th' handsome young lasses all stannin' out on the stone steps, it 'ud ha' been summat like openin' a pack - that would.It's on'y the poor houses now as a packman calls on, if it isn't for the sake o' the sarvant-maids.
They're paltry times, there are.Why, mum, look at the printed cottons now, an' what they was when you wore 'em - why, you wouldn't put such a thing on now, I can see.It must be first-rate quality - the manifactur as you'd buy - summat as 'ud wear as well as your own faitures.'
`Yes, better quality nor any you're like to carry: you've got nothing first-rate but brazenness, I'll be bound,' said Mrs Glegg, with a triumphant sense of her insurmountable sagacity.`Mr Glegg, are you going ever to sit down to your tea? Tom, there's a cup for you.'
`You speak true there, mum,' said Bob.`My pack isn't for ladies like you.The time's gone by for that.Bargains picked up dirt cheap - a bit o' damage here an' there, as can be cut out or else niver seen i' the wearin';but not fit to offer to rich folks as can pay for the look o' things as nobody sees.I'm not the man as 'ud offer t' open my pack to you, mum:
no, no; I'm imperent chap, as you say - these times makes folks imperent - but I'm not to put the mark o' that.'
`Why, what goods to you carry in your pack?' said Mrs Glegg.`Fine-coloured things, I suppose, shawls an' that.'
`All sorts, mum, all sorts,' said Bob, thumping his bundle, `but let us say no more about that, if you please.I'm here upo' Mr Tom's business an' I'm not the man to take up the time wi' my own.'
`And pray, what is this business as is to be kept from me?' said Mrs Glegg, who, solicited by a double curiosity, was obliged to let the one half wait.
`A little plan o' nevvy Tom's here,' said good-natured Mr Glegg; `and not altogether a bad un, I think.A little plan for making money that's the right sort o' plan for young folks as have got their fortin to make, eh, Jane?'
`But I hope it isn't a plan where he expects iverything to be done for him by his friends - that's what the young folks think of mostly nowadays.
And pray, what has this pack-man got to do wi' what goes on in our family?
Can't you speak for yourself Tom, and let your aunt know things, as a nevvy should?'
`This is Bob Jakin, aunt,' said Tom, bridling the irritation that aunt Glegg's voice always produced.`I've known him ever since we were little boys.He's a very good fellow, and always ready to do me a kindness.And he has had some experience in sending goods out - a small part of a cargo as a private speculation; and he thinks if I could begin to do a little in the same way, I might make some money.A large interest is got in that way.'
`Large int'rest?' said aunt Glegg, with eagerness, `and what do you call large int'rest?'
`Ten or twelve per cent,' Bob says, `after expenses are paid.'
`Then why wasn't I let to know o' such things before, Mr Glegg?' said Mrs Glegg, turning to her husband, with a deep grating tone of reproach.
`Haven't you allays told me as there was no getting more nor five per cent.'
`Pooh, pooh, nonsense, my good woman,' said Mr Glegg.`You couldn't go into trade, could you? You can't get more than five per cent with security.'
`But I can turn a bit o' money for you, an' welcome, mum,' said Bob, `if you'd like to risk it - not as there's any risk to speak on.But if you'd a mind to lend a bit o' money to Mr Tom, he'd pay you six or seven per zent an' get a trifle for himself as well an' a good-natur'd lady like you 'ud like the feel o' the money better if your nevvy took part on it.'
`What do you say, Mrs G.?' said Mr Glegg.`I've a notion, when I've made a bit more inquiry, as I shall perhaps start Tom here with a bit of a nest-egg - he'll pay me int'rest, you know - an' if you've got some little sums lyin' idle twisted up in a stockin' toe, or that...'
