He became again
restless and fidgety, scarcely giving Job Legh the greeting
necessary for a host in his own house. Job, however, did not stand
upon ceremony. He had come to pay a visit, and was not to be
daunted from his purpose. He was interested in John Barton's
mission to Glasgow, and wanted to hear all about it; so he sat down,
and made himself comfortable, in a manner that Mary saw was meant to
be stationary.
"So thou'rt off to Glasgow, art thou?" he began his catechism.
"Ay."
"When art starting?"
"To-night."
"That I knowed. But by what train?"
That was just what Mary wanted to know; but what apparently her
father was in no mood to tell. He got up without speaking, and went
upstairs. Mary knew from his step, and his way, how much he was put
out, and feared Job would see it too! But no! Job seemed
imperturbable. So much the better, and perhaps she could cover her
father's rudeness by her own civility to so kind a friend.
So, half-listening to her father's movements upstairs (passionate,
violent, restless motions they were), and half-attending to Job
Legh, she tried to pay him all due regard.
Pages:
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409