JAN AND HER JOB
[Illustration: "But surely," said Peter, "I _am_ your job--part of it, anyway."]
JAN AND HER JOB
BY
L. ALLEN HARKER
AUTHOR OF "A ROMANCE OF THE NURSERY"; "MISS ESPERANCE AND MR. WYCHERLY"; "MR. WYCHERLY'S WARDS"; "THE FFOLLIOTS OF REDMARLEY," ETC.
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1917
Copyright, 1917, by Charles Scribner's Sons
***
Published March, 1917
TO
F. R. P.
"_Chary of praise and prodigal of counsel-- Who but thou?_" R. L. S.
_CONTENTS_
CHAPTER PAGE
I. JAN 1
II. JAN'S MAIL 13
III. BOMBAY 19
IV. THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB 39
V. THE CHILDREN 52
VI. THE SHADOW BEFORE 62
VII. THE HUMAN TOUCH 78
VIII. THE END OF THE DREAM 91
IX. MEG 97
X. PLANS 124
XI. THE STATE OF PETER 139
XII. "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" 149
XIII. THE WHEELS OF CHANCE 162
XIV. PERPLEXITIES 173
XV. WREN'S END 184
XVI. "THE BLUDGEONINGS OF CHANCE" 201
XVII. "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" 212
XVIII. MEG AND CAPTAIN MIDDLETON 220
XIX. THE YOUNG IDEA 240
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Jan and Her Job by L. Allen Harker
- 2: The sharp eyed Australian lady
- 3: Sir Langham made his presence felt wherever he was
- 4: Sir Langham never made any bones about interrupting people
- 5: She was not looking at Sir Langham
- 6: Sir Langham declared magnanimously
- 7: Be unable to meet you on your arrival in Bombay
- 8: Tiresome journey to Dariawarpur
- 9: What Hugo Tancred had actually done
- 10: She was stern with Sir Langham
- 11: And the scene set was the harbour of Bombay
- 12: Peter Ledgard looked straight in front of him
- 13: Jan and Fay were both tall women
- 14: Fay clung to her again and whispered
- 15: Fay asked before Jan could start the second verse
- 16: Now let me advise you about your topee
- 17: Then in desperation she introduced Sir Langham to Peter
- 18: The good natured Goanese ayah salaamed and
- 19: Nobody would mack plitty little Fay
- 20: Fay leant against her sister and held her close
- 21: Davidson too I know somebody wrote
- 22: Jan had the feeling that in some dreadful
- 23: He liked little Fay because she's so pretty
- 24: While Ayah wrestled with a struggling Tony
- 25: Ayah salaamed and hurried away
- 26: He would ask her about Coln St
- 27: Auntie Jan never mentioned him
- 28: He told me it wasn't safe in Dariawarpur
- 29: Fay leant forward and said eagerly
- 30: Fallen violently in love with Fay
- 31: And reconstruct something of a future for Fay
- 32: Anthony made no marriage settlement on Fay
- 33: Any crowd in Bombay is always extremely varied
- 34: You don't think he'll molest Fay
- 35: Jan turned on the light in the verandah
- 36: Fay was always restless and nervous
- 37: Jan held out her hand and Tony took it doubtfully
- 38: Somehow she couldn't bear The Garden of Khama just then
- 39: Jan walked round the outer aisles
- 40: Could Hugo take the children from me
- 41: Hugo Tancred might marry again
- 42: Breakfasted and dined at Ribston Hall
- 43: Cousin Amelia is only incidental
- 44: Anthony Ross was wholly surprising to Meg
- 45: Meg looked so serious that Fay and Jan
- 46: Was your papa a fruitarian too
- 47: The queer clothes were kept for wear at Ribston Hall
- 48: Major Morton decided to remove Meg from Ribston Hall
- 49: Anthony was certainly startled
- 50: For Meg paused as though unable to go on
- 51: And write to the Trents from there
- 52: Meg rushed after him You'll let her see me
- 53: Was very much in love with Meg
- 54: Tony turned even greener than before
- 55: Ayah might not be exactly beautiful
- 56: Jan put out her hand across the table
- 57: Fay wanted it too she said so
- 58: Meg danced gleefully round the table
- 59: Why didn't you tell Auntie Jan
- 60: And Auntie Jan got into bed beside him
- 61: Yet he had never felt this with Jan
- 62: Lalkhan could have thrown some light upon the subject
- 63: Peter said something to Lalkhan
- 64: Crosbie exclaimed a deeply disappointed Oh
- 65: Can plitty little Fay have it to keep
- 66: Ayahs don't wear zose kind of hats
- 67: Engliss Ayah in nasty hat not wass me
- 68: My Ayah always dave me a choccly
- 69: As little Fay had not yet come
- 70: But Bloomsbury certainly prevailed
- 71: Captain Middleton said proudly
- 72: While little Fay waved delightedly to the drivers
- 73: Only left Meg pallid with fatigue
- 74: With many interruptions from Fay
- 75: What did Fay say about his sisters
- 76: One lives at Blackpool she's married to
- 77: Ledgard has a friend in the Police
- 78: Meg lit her cigarette and clearly showed her real enjoyment
- 79: But you can imagine how they glared at me
- 80: If aught disturb the wrens that build
- 81: Presently in Hannah's train came Anne Chitt
- 82: Deah Med and Tony nodded gaily to one another
- 83: Earley looked after the chickens
- 84: As Anne Chitt was busy upstairs
- 85: Then I will go to her and say ' Jao
- 86: I saw him take all her pretty twinkly things
- 87: Jan felt her temper getting edgy
- 88: Ledgard he's not what you'd call a beautiful person
- 89: While Tony watched her solemnly
- 90: Jan had hoped great things of adversity for Hugo Tancred
- 91: If the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo
- 92: Meg saw that something was troubling Jan
- 93: He trotted out of the pew and Jan followed him
- 94: Thinking that Tony and Jan were probably in the nursery
- 95: Little Meg was supremely happy
- 96: Lady Mary Walcote was his mother's only sister
- 97: Trent looked searchingly at Miles
- 98: Trent sat on where she was and smiled at Miles
- 99: And knew Amber Guiting and its inhabitants
- 100: I'll give the vicar a turn in the evening
- 101: Jan had swung the hammock very high
- 102: Miles and Meg smiled at one another
- 103: Meg opened her eyes and turned crimson
- 104: Do loo mind if I climb over loo
- 105: And little Fay demanded Clipture
- 106: Didn't deah littoo Mophez have dleams
- 107: Owing to her exact and thorough knowledge of Clipture
- 108: Anne Chitt would listen open mouthed in astonishment
- 109: But he was much puzzled by Meg
- 110: Jan satisfied his fastidious requirements
- 111: Withells stood stock still where he was
- 112: His cheeks were a bit puffy near the nostrils
- 113: Meg ejaculated between the whacks
- 114: We have thanked him does he want backsheesh
- 115: Very gently he took the little pram from her
- 116: Earley took the pram with her for Earley to clean
- 117: And he was very desirous of being that same for Meg
- 118: Lives exactly a sheltered life
- 119: And she generally sided with Meg
- 120: Tony rubbed the shiny head ruefully
- 121: Tony stared after the stranger
- 122: And take quinine and drink hot tea
- 123: While Jan rapidly explained the situation to Meg
- 124: For directly Hugo was able for it
- 125: Ledgard waiting for his visit
- 126: Withells enjoyed being consulted about Hugo's plans
- 127: Loo can't play p'oply lying zere
- 128: You can be a nengine and I'll be the tlain
- 129: Were quite absurd about Meg Morton
- 130: Hugo followed her into the hall and out into the garden
- 131: Square handwriting with character in every stroke
- 132: Withells inspected the flowers
- 133: And Peter looked at Jan a good deal
- 134: Withells in his clear staccato
- 135: The station at Amber Guiting is seldom crowded
- 136: Am going to Cheltenham To Cheltenham
- 137: And Meg would undoubtedly have been half starved
- 138: Lady Penelope Pottinger and her husband
- 139: But the Trents would never believe it
- 140: He had got no money out of Jan
- 141: Hugo confessed his sister in law puzzled him
- 142: He'd a lot to thank Ledgard for
- 143: At the drive gate he met Earley carrying the can of cream
- 144: For Amber Guiting was the terminus
- 145: Did Auntie Jan know he had gone at all
- 146: Earley looked at her and over his broad
- 147: She would drive to the junction
- 148: There's some sort of a misteree
- 149: Jan was undoubtedly distinguished
- 150: What's the sayin' 'Time tryeth thingummy'
- 151: Meg Morton knew I was against her about you
- 152: But Jan saw a thousand lions in the way
- 153: And hoped Meg would be their guest
- 154: But swearing him to secrecy as regarded Meg
- 155: Meg was brief and business like
- 156: Earley joined the Gloucesters because
- 157: For a moment Jan stood by the sun dial as though she
- 158: Tony remarked accusingly to Peter