Elizabeth had determined to be her own collector. The fees for the duty
would be of the greatest service to her in her impoverished condition;
and she did not wish the Broadbents and Whaleys to know what
disposition was made of the revenue of Hallam.
But the Whaleys were much offended at the change. They had so long
managed the business of Hallam, that they said the supposition was
unavoidable, that Elizabeth suspected them of wronging her, as soon
as there was no man to overlook matters. They declared that they had
done their duty as faithfully as if she had been able to check them
at every turn, and even said they would prefer to do that duty gratis,
rather than relinquish a charge with which the Whaleys had been
identified for three generations.
But Elizabeth had reasons for her conduct which she could not explain;
and the transfer was finally made in a spirit of anger at a supposed
wrong. It grieved her very much, for she was unused to disputes, and
she could not look at the affair in a merely business light. With some
of the older tenants her interviews were scarcely more pleasant. They
had been accustomed to meeting one of the Whaleys at "The Rose and
Crown Inn," and having a good dinner and a few pints of strong ale
over their own accounts. There was no prospect of "makkin' a day o'
it" with Miss Hallam; and they had, besides, a dim idea that they
rather lowered their dignity in doing business with a woman.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236