Out of office-hours,she corresponded with the English writer on the treatment of insane persons,whose work she had discovered in her late husband's library,and assisted him in attracting public attention to the humane system which he advocated.Even the plan for the employment of respectable girls,in suitable departments of the office,was not left neglected by this indefatigable woman.The same friendly consideration which had induced her to spare Mr.Keller any allusion to the subject,while his health was not yet completely restored,still kept her silent until time had reconciled him to the calamity of his partner's death.
Privately,however,she had caused inquiries to be made in Frankfort,which would assist her in choosing worthy candidates for employment,when the favorable time came--probably after the celebration of Fritz's marriage--for acting in the interests of the proposed reform.
"Pray send me away,if I interrupt you,"said Madame Fontaine,pausing modestly on the threshold before she entered the room.She spoke English admirably,and made a point of ignoring Mrs.Wagner's equally perfect knowledge of German,by addressing her always in the English language.
"Come in by all means,"Mrs.Wagner answered."I am only writing to David Glenney,to tell him (at Minna's request)that the wedding-day is fixed.""Give your nephew my kind regards,Mrs.Wagner.He will be one of the party at the wedding,of course?""Yes--if he can be spared from his duties in London.Is there anything Ican do for you,Madame Fontaine?"
"Nothing,thank you--except to excuse my intrusion.I am afraid I have offended our little friend there,with the pretty straw hat in his hand,and I want to make my peace with him."Jack looked up from his work with an air of lofty disdain."Oh,dear me,it doesn't matter,"he said,in his most magnificent manner.
"I was dressing when he knocked at my door,"pursued Madame Fontaine;"and I asked him to come back,and show me his keys in half an hour.Why didn't you return,Jack?Won't you show me the keys now?""You see it's a matter of business,"Jack replied as loftily as ever."Iam in the business--Keeper of the Keys.Mistress is in the business;Mr.
Keller is in the business.You are not in the business.It doesn't matter.Upon my soul,it doesn't matter."Mrs.Wagner held up her forefinger reprovingly."Jack!don't forget you are speaking to a lady."Jack audaciously put his hand to his head,as if this was an effort of memory which was a little too much to expect of him.
"Anything to please you,Mistress,"he said."I'll show her the bag."He exhibited to Madame Fontaine a leather bag,with a strap fastened round it."The keys are inside,"he explained."I wore them loose this morning:and they made a fine jingle.Quite musical to _my_ear.But Mistress thought the noise likely to be a nuisance in the long run.So Istrapped them up in a bag to keep them quiet.And when I move about,the bag hangs from my shoulder,like this,by another strap.When the keys are wanted,I open the bag.You don't want them--you're not in the business.Besides,I'm thinking of going out,and showing myself and my bag in the fashionable quarter of the town.On such an occasion,I think I ought to present the appearance of a gentleman--I ought to wear gloves.
Oh,it doesn't matter!I needn't detain you any longer.Good morning."He made one of his fantastic bows,and waved his hand,dismissing Madame Fontaine from further attendance on him.Secretly,he was as eager as ever to show the keys.But the inordinate vanity which was still the mad side of him and the incurable side of him,shrank from opening the leather bag unless the widow first made a special request and a special favor of it.Feeling no sort of interest in the subject,she took the shorter way of making her peace with him.She took out her purse.
"Let me make you a present of the gloves,"she said,with her irresistible smile.
Jack lost all his dignity in an instant.
He leapt off the window seat and snatched at the money,like a famished animal snatching at a piece of meat.Mrs.Wagner caught him by the arm,and looked at him.He lifted his eyes to hers,then lowered them again as if he was ashamed of himself.
"Oh,to be sure!"he said,"I have forgotten my manners,I haven't said Thank you.A lapse of memory,I suppose.Thank you,Mrs.Housekeeper."In a moment more,he and his bag were on their way to the fashionable quarter of the town.
"You will make allowances for my poor little Jack,I am sure,"said Mrs.
Wagner.
"My dear madam,Jack amuses me!"
Mrs.Wagner winced a little at the tone of the widow's reply."I have cured him of all the worst results of his cruel imprisonment in the mad-house,"she went on."But his harmless vanity seems to be inbred;Ican do nothing with him on that side of his character.He is proud of being trusted with anything,especially with keys;and he has been kept waiting for them,while I had far more important matters to occupy me.In a day or two he will be more accustomed to his great responsibility,as he calls it.""Of course you don't trust him,"said Madame Fontaine,"with keys that are of any importance;like the key of your desk there,for instance."Mrs.Wagner's steady gray eyes began to brighten."I can trust him with anything,"she answered emphatically.
Madame Fontaine arched her handsome brows in a mutely polite expression of extreme surprise.
"In my experience of the world,"Mrs.Wagner went on,"I have found that the rarest of all human virtues is the virtue of gratitude.In a hundred little ways my poor friendless Jack has shown me that he is grateful.To my mind that is reason enough for trusting him.""With money?"the widow inquired.