The Observations by Jane Harris Read Free Book Online

galleon.
    I hung up his coat and turned round. He was still nodding away shrewdly.
    “Aahh-hah,” he goes another time. A new girl, eh.“ He contemplated this notion fondly for several moments. At length he says, ”I imagine you have a charming name.“
    “My name is Bessy, sir.”
    “Oh,” he says. “Well never mind. Names are not important… it is how a person is guided by God that counts. And also observation of the Sabbath… that goes without saying.”
    “Yes sir.”
    “Aye well,” he says. “I’m sure you’ll be
very
happy here… Yes, you have a
wonderful
mistress… Aye indeed… She and I are… very good friends.
    He had the air about him of a man that was preparing to launch into a long speech punctuated by great pauses so I butt in. “If you would like to come this way, sir,” I says and hurried over to the parlour. But instead of following, he stayed where he was, smiling in a self-satisfied kind of way with his arms by his sides and his shoulders hunched up around his ears. Obviously he hadn’t finished with me yet and I would lay good money we would still be there today if I hadn’t just ignored him and went ahead and knocked on the parlour door.
    “Come!” says the missus.
    As I went in, she glanced up from where she was sat by the fire at her needlework. She had changed her gown again and dressed her hair lovely by Jove she was pretty as a picture, I could just see it hanging in a gallery, it would have been entitled “The Fair Lady of the House‘.
    I was about to announce the Reverend when he thrust past me with a smug smile but he had a glint in his eye now he knew I would not be indulging him.
    “The Reverend Bollock, marm,” I says.
    Missus shot me a look as she rose to greet him, I think she was not sure if she had heard right or was it my accent but all his attention was on her as he moved across the room with one hand outstretched.
    “Reverend Pollock,” she says. “How good of you to visit.”
    “Ah-hahh!” he goes.
    This was my cue to boil the kettle.
    I returned a while later with the tray and could hear their voices murmuring inside the parlour but when I knocked and went in they fell silent, it was as though they had been discussing something they did not wish me to hear.
    They was sat either side of the fire, the Reverend had took possession of the big leather armchair, his feet splayed in the hearth. He looked to be quite at home.
    “Ah, very good,” says the missus to me. She gestured to the table between them where I was to lay out the tea things. I began the process very slow, hoping they would resume their conversation. I set out one saucer—and then the next. And then I set out one cup—and then the next. One spoon—The Reverend cleared his throat.
    “I don’t know if I tellt you, Arabella,” he says. “But I have had some rather—well, flattering news.”
    I was a bit ticked off for this was clearly a change of subject.
    “Oh?” says the missus. “What is it?”
    “Well,” he says, very pleased with himself. “I have been prevailed upon to deliver a Monday Evening discourse in Glasgow.”
    “Really?” says the missus. “That is good news.”
    Aye indeed,“ he says. At the Corporation Galleries or perhaps the Queens Rooms… it is not yet decided. In any case, it will not be until next year. However these affairs being so—important—it takes quite a long wee while to organise the publicity and what have you. I’m given to understand this lecture series is very well attended.”
    “How wonderful!” says the missus. Dear knows she
sounded
impressed. I couldn’t help but wonder how she put up with the old goat.
    “Well I hope the committee have been right to put their faith in me,” he says. “They did say that I had been highly recommended. People do tell me that I am one of the best speakers they have ever heard although I don’t go along with that myself. And of course now I have to give some consideration to what I will have as