Trading Read online

  CHAPTER V.

  But the next Sunday had a new joy for her. Mr. Wharncliffe informed herafter school-time, that he had found a lodging which he thought woulddo nicely for her poor friends. All Matilda's troubles fled away likemist before the sun, and her face lighted up as if the very sun itselfhad been shining into it. Mr. Wharncliffe went on to tell her about thelodging. It was near, but not in, that miserable quarter of the citywhere Sarah and her mother now lived. It was not in a tenement houseeither; but in a little dwelling owned by an Irishman and his wife whoseemed decent people. He was a mechanic, and one room of their smallhouse they were accustomed to let, to help pay their rent.

  "Is it furnished, Mr. Wharncliffe?"

  "No; entirely bare."

  "How large is it?"

  "Small. Not so large by one-third as the room where they are livingnow."

  "Can't go and see it?"

  "Yes, there is no difficulty about that. I will go with you to-morrow,if you like."

  "And how much is the rent, Mr. Wharncliffe?"

  "One dollar a week. The woman was willing to let the room to Mrs.Staples, because I was making the bargain and understood to be securityfor her; only so."

  "Then we will go to-morrow, sir, shall we, and see the room and seewhat it wants? and perhaps you will shew me that place where you said Icould get furniture cheap?"

  This was agreed upon. To Matilda's very great surprise, David, when heheard her news, said he would go too. She half expected he would getover the notion by the time he got home from school on Monday; but no;he said he wanted a walk and he would see the place with her.

  The place was humble enough. A poor little house, that looked as if itsmore aspiring neighbours would certainly swallow it up and deny itsright to be at all; so low and decrepit it was, among better built ifnot handsome edifices. Street and surroundings were dingy and mean;however, when they went in they found a decent little room under thesloping roof and with a bit of blue sky visible from its dormer window.It was empty and bare.

  "Thin, we always has rispictable lodgers," said the good woman, who hadtaken her arms out of a tub of soapsuds to accompany the partyupstairs; "and the room is a very dacent apartment entirely; and warrmit is, and _quite_. An' we had a company o' childhren in one o' thehouses adjinin', that bothered the life out o' me wid their hollerin'as soon as ever we histed the winders in the summer time; but thefather he died, and the mother, she was a poor kind of a body thatcouldn't seem to get along any way at all at all; and I believe shethried, an she didn't succade, the poor craythur! An' she just fadedaway, like, and whin she couldn't stan' no longer, she was tuk away tothe 'ospital; and the chillen was put in the poor-us, or I don't justknow what it is they calls the place; and it was weary for them, but itwas a good day for meself at the same time. An' the place is iligantand _quite_ now, sir. An' whin will the lady move in, that you'rewantin' the room for?"

  "As soon as it can be ready for her, Mrs. Leary."

  "Thin it's ready! What would it be wantin'?"

  "We shall need to move in some furniture, I suppose, and a little coal.Where will that go?"

  "Coal, is it? Sure there's the cellar. An' an iligant cellar it is, anddhry, and places enough for to put her coal in. It'll hould all she'llwant, Til engage."

  "It holds yours too, I suppose?"

  "Why wouldn't it? But we'll never interfare for that; small wisdom!"

  Mr. Wharncliffe chose to go down and see the cellar. David and Matildaspent the time in consultation. Mr. Wharncliffe came back alone.

  "Well," he said, "how do you like it?"

  "Very much; but Mr. Wharncliffe, it is not very clean."

  "Sarah will soon change that."

  "Sarah? Won't her mother help?"

  "Mrs. Staples is unable for hard work. She has had illness which hasdisabled her; and I fancy the damp cellar she has been living in hasmade matters worse. But Sarah likes to be as clean as she can."

  "Well, she can now," said Matilda gleefully. "Mr. Wharncliffe, don'tyou think they want a little bit of a carpet?"

  Mr. Wharncliffe shook his head. "They are not accustomed to it; they donot need it, Matilda. You will have enough to do with your money."

  "At any rate, they must have a bureau, mustn't they?"

  "There is a wall cupboard," said Mr. Wharncliffe. "That will be wanted,I suppose, for crockery and stores. What would a bureau be useful for?"

  "Clothes."

  "They have not a drawer full, between them."

  "But they will have? They _must_, Mr. Wharncliffe. I am going to getthem some, mayn't I?"

  Mr. Wharncliffe looked round the little room, and smiled as he lookedat Matilda again. "There is a great deal to do with your money, I toldyou," he said. "Let us reckon up the indispensable things first." Hetook out his note book.

  "Coals are one thing," said Matilda. "They must have some coals tobegin with."

  "Coals"--repeated Mr. Wharncliffe, noting it down.

  "Have they a stove that will do?"

  "I am afraid not. I will try and find a second-hand one."

  "A table, and two or three chairs."

  Those went down in the list.

  "And, O, Mr. Wharncliffe, a tea-kettle! And something to cook meat in,and boil potatoes."

  "What do you know about cooking meat and boiling potatoes?" Mr.Wharncliffe asked, looking amused. "Those things will perhaps come withthe stove; and at any rate do not cost much."

  "And then, some decent plates and cups and saucers, and common knives,you know, and a few such things."

  "They have some things which they use now. You must not try to do toomuch. Remember, there are other people who want bread."

  "Well--not those things then, if you think not," said Matilda. "But abedstead, and a comfortable bed, Mr. Wharncliffe; _that_ they musthave."

  "How about the two boys?"

  "They must have another."

  "Blankets and sheets and pillows?"

  "Yes, sir; and pillow cases. I can make those. Do they cost a greatdeal?"

  "I think not--if you will let me buy them."

  "O thank you, sir! I have got money enough, I guess."

  "Mrs. Staples will make them. But, my dear, coals, and a stove, andtable and chairs and bedstead and bedding, will make a hole in yourlittle stock. Let us see. I will undertake the stove and the coals, andget your beds for you. Chairs and table and bedding, I leave to you."

  "Then put down some cups and plates, please, sir; or I will make thelist when I go home."

  "We can manage it, I think," said David. "You know, I am bound to comein for my share. Where can we get this second-hand furniture?"

  Mr. Wharncliffe led the way to the place. What a disagreeable place,Matilda thought. Dirty, dusty, confused, dilapidated, worn; at leastsuch was the look of a majority of the articles gathered there.However, therein lay their advantage; and presently in the eagerness ofhunting out the things that she wanted, Matilda half lost sight of theuncomfortable character of her surroundings. A table, strong yet,though its paint was all gone, and chairs of similar qualifications,were soon secured. A bedstead too, which was quite respectable; and Mr.Wharncliffe explained that some bed-tickings could be filled withstraw, for beds and pillows. A little chest of drawers with somedifficulty was found, to be had for a few shillings; and a stove. Nowthis last gave Matilda unlimited satisfaction; for it was a tidy littlestove, had two or three cooking utensils belonging to it, and an ovenwhich the shopman assured them would bake "first-rate." In that stoveand hardware Matilda's fancy seemed to see whole loads of comfort forSarah and her mother. A happy child was she when they left the shop.

  "I believe that is all we can do this afternoon, Tilly," said herfriend.

  "Yes, sir. I think we have done a great deal. I thank you, sir."

  He smiled and turned off to go his way alone; while David, who had beenmuch struck with the sweet gracefulness of Matilda's manner, walkedbeside her; thinking, perhaps, that Mrs. Laval's adopted child was adifferent person
from what he had fancied.