Miss Burke was checked by the last suggestion.
“There is nothing heroic in losing the provision that was made for one,” said Hester, in a quiet, controlled tone, glancing at Miss Burke. “It does make me feel rather brave to be thrown on the world at forty-nine. But when courage is called for, what can we do but have it?”
“Well, what of me, bearing my loneliness with simple resolution?” said Emma, clasping her hands. “And what of this dear one, serving others all the days of her life? It seems quite common to be brave. There is no need to be eager about it.”
“I have not the courage to live on charity any more than Miss Burke has.”
“I have the courage but not the chance,” said the latter. “And I should call it not being above accepting generosity.”
“There, Hester, you can call it that, and accept it for my sake, and be living for others all the time. And if you work, you will be living for yourself, and how could you dream of doing that? It is what I do myself, and I never dare to think of it. The very thought would drag one down, or perhaps make one see how low one is.”
“You would not say that Miss Burke lived for herself.”
“I should like to,” said the latter. “When my mind is not on my work, I daresay I do.”
“There, Hester, your mind might not be on your work. And think how dishonest that would be. Do tell her, Miss Burke, as you know about it.”
“Do you think Mrs. Hume would engage me?” said Hester. “I need not tell her I have never had a post before.”
“I think she might,” said Miss Burke. “You are better educated than I am, and of a different class. That is how she would see it. And not to have had other posts, not to have needed to have them, might make her respect you.”
“Scheming for respect,” said Emma. “It is very lowering, Hester. And I thought she wanted a companion. Or does she really want one?”
“She wants someone who will rise to emergencies,” said Miss Burke. “It may be a house where they occur.”
“I can do no manner of work,” said Hester. “I toil not, neither do I spin—”
“Yes, you can go on,” said Emma, looking at her clothes.
“I made the mistake of telling her that I left my last post, because they asked me to wash the dishes,” said Miss Burke.
“And you made the mistake of not telling us, dear?” said Emma, in gentle question. “Because you have been doing it, haven’t you? I thought I heard you.”
“The better ones; that is a part of companionship,” said Miss Burke, smiling. “And I had Plautus to support me.”
“Yes, make a mock of us, dear, if it is a help to you.”
“And you advertised for a working housekeeper. That was at any rate honest.”
“Oh, do we deserve that? Of course we are at our worst when we advertise and state our selfish needs; but it sounds as if we said what we thought, or meant what we said, or something else malicious; and perhaps we did mean it.”
Plautus walked to the door and stood in front of it.
“He is asking to be let out,” said Hester.
Plautus was doing this, and he meant what he said.
“He ought to learn to open the door himself,” said Miss Burke, as she returned from doing so for him.
“He would do it, if his will could help him,” said Hester. “He looked as if his eyes would bore through the wood. Oh, he all but opens it.”
“But not quite,” said Miss Burke, who had all but not done so.
“Oh, Plautus expects to be attended on.”
“Then he should have an attendant,” said Miss Burke, as if this were not at present the case.
“We ought to have done it, dear,” said Emma, “and we meant to in our hearts. You must take the will for the deed with all three of us.”
“Mrs. Hume will not do that,” said Miss Burke, with some vigour. “She wanted deeds and did not disguise it.”
“Does she think that actions speak louder than words? I never know if they do; I always hope not; and they do not often have the chance. But if she does, why does she advertise for a companion? She must know that she runs the risk of companionship.”
“I should not advise Miss Wolsey to depend on it. But she may fare better than I did. ‘To him that hath shall more be given,’ and Mrs. Hume would act accordingly.”
“So you are a cynic, dear. I wonder if she knew that. She could not have failed to esteem you.”
“She did fail to. And cynicism would not help with washing the dishes.”
“Wouldn’t it? I don’t think I could wash them without it. And I don’t think you could either. I am sure you always wash them with it.”
“I must pose as a helpless gentlewoman, who has never soiled her hands,” said Hester. “I am faced by sudden poverty and resolved to be a burden on no one.”
“Why is it a pose?” said Emma.
“Do you think Mrs. Hume will respect that?”
“Not the last part,” said Miss Burke. “She would have more respect for burdens.”
“Well, so should I,” said Emma. “I hope I should have the resolution to be one. It is the sort of courage I admire.”
“But not the sort that I do,” said Hester.
Plautus gave a yawn.
“Dear one!” said Hester. “He might be a human being.”
“There are other things he could have in common with one,” said Miss Burke.
“Can your cynicism be natural?” said Emma. “I hardly knew there was such a thing. We have no right to your services. But it will make us value them. Cynicism is never wasted, like effort or pity.”
“How did Plautus get back into the room?” said Miss Burke.
“The door is ajar,” said Hester. “Did you think he could open it?”
“No,” said Miss Burke, who knew he could not. “But it is only ajar about an inch.”
“That is enough for Plautus. He can make himself into air. I believe he could get underneath it.”
Plautus made himself into air and alighted on Miss Burke’s shoulder, and she gave a start and shriek.
“Get away from me, cat, and keep away. I cannot bear the touch of you. And don’t expect me to open the door. Get underneath it.”
“Oh, don’t say more than you mean, dear,” said Emma. “And don’t call Plautus ‘cat’.”
Plautus reached the floor without sign of inconvenience, and moved smoothly away.
“They always go to people who do not like them,” said Emma, voicing a current belief.
“So they do,” said Hester, welcoming Plautus into her lap with every sign of affection.
“He seems determined to settle on someone,” said Miss Burke, shuddering as she used the suggestive phrase.
“Now, Hester, you must stay at home to protect Plautus and Miss Burke from each other. It would be cowardly to leave them undefended.”
“Does Mrs. Hume keep a cat?” said Hester. “It would help me to feel at home. I might be just reminded of Plautus.”
“I expect she does,” said Miss Burke. “She looks as if she would.”
“Yes, insult us, dear,” said Emma. “It will be an outlet for you. You have had a shock. Plautus is so ashamed. He cannot lift his head or look you in the face.”
“I daresay not, as he is going to sleep. It is the best thing he can do.”
“Oh, but we do not see the changing expressions on his face,” said Hester.
“And he does not see those on ours,” said Miss Burke. “Mine would be new to him.”
“Oh, I don’t think he looks at us,” said Hester, as if this exalted Plautus.
“I am sure he does not,” said Miss Burke, as if it did not do so.
“It is an impressive thing, a cat’s complete self-absorption,” said Emma, dreamily. “There is nothing human that compares to it.”
“I hope not,” said Miss Burke. “We should not like it in each other.”