Jenny Jenkins "General."

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 40, 17 December 1920, Page 14

Jenny Jenkins "General."

On the kitchen table lay the unwa&hedup crockery from dinner; it had beon there since oue o'clock. and it was now five , and at half-past two Jennv had plumped down in a chair in front of the fire and gone "on strike." This strike of hers had a rcal grievance behind it. It was her montlily "haJf day out," and a stupid telegram from husband of "the missus," reauestirtg uer immediate presence, had bronghi ihai i&6y into the kitchen, just as Jenny w&3 expecting to go out. "You can't have your half-day. after all. Tha master wires me to meet him in the city. You'll have to have it anolhei day next week. And without another word she had gone, and the sullen fit had come. Five o'clock struck, and the girl glanced hopelessly at the clock. Then a vmdict-iv.o look crossed her face. "I'll go out! Yes, I will ! I'll go out. I clon't care what her ladyship says. It isn't fair! It isn't fair ! Why should I be the one to be put about? Out I go. If she doesn't come hack before me she needn't know ; if she does — oh, she can go hangi" Into the boxroom of the flat, called her bedrocfrn, she dashed, tore off her apron and dress, washed her face and hands,_put on her b.est dress and liat and boots, and humming defiantly, "I care for nobody and nobody cares for me," she opened the frout door. "Oh!" A fgentleman, high hatted and smartlooking, was standing tlxere ; but Jenny's action stariled hiin as she came out. "I was just going to ring," he said pleasantly. "TheyTe out!" she snapped. "And l'xn just going out, too." "I wa-nted a Miss Geneva Jenkins," he remarked. "I undersland she is employed here." "That's a fact," she said. "She is. I'rn the young lady in question. What do you want?" "Well, it's a lor:g story. May I come in?" "Not half ! How do I know you're not a buxgiar ? Say wliat you want to say right here now, where other folk can see you." He smiled. "You seem a very original young person," he remarked. "Stiil, if you prefer it I will talk here. You are Geneva Jenkins, daughter of the late Tom Jenkins, of Esseter, in Essex, I believe?" "That's a fact." "Well, your father had a brother who went to New Zealand, didn't- he?" "That's a fact!" "He's dead. But before he cded he rnade some money, and it seems he lef t it all to you." "How did you know I was here?" suspieiously. "I went to the clergyman at Esseter, and he found out your address from one of the old neighbours. So if you are the young lady in question I congratulate you on coming into a very nice littlo fortune, and I shall be ' pleased to act for you in anv way. If, for instance you want any money at the present, I'll " "Oh, will you?" she said sarcastically. "Perhaps you'll hand.me over £5 on the spot." "Certainly !" he said. "Here it is." And he produced a five-pound note, and gave it to her. She. took it, felt it between her thumb and fin-ger, held it up to the light. It was clearly all right. "Come in!" she said, throwing cpen the door. "I guess you'll want a receipt. Now, sir"— pointing him to a chair — "sit down and tell me all about it. How much is it? Five hundred?" "He left £50,000, and a very nice little sum it is. It will make a great difference to you. You are, I presume, the rnaid here?" "No," bitterly. "Only 'the slavey.' At it from six in the morning till half-past ten, and lights out at eleven. Every other Sunday night off and a half-day a month. But do you mean to tell me that I— me, Geneva Jenkins — have got £50,000 to do as I like with? Oh, I "can't believe it!" she said desperately. "You are up to some game, and I'm here all alone." "Now, Miss Jenkins, be a sensible girl; bo sensible ! Here is my eard. The addres3 of my office is on it. Come and see me. And just to convince you that I am in earnest, here's the rest oi £50 — you have £5." And he handed her £45 more. That did it.

"Then it's true!" she declarcd. "I am very much obliged to vou, sir fcr your trouble iu finding me out, and I'll come l'ound and see you to-morrow, or soon. Are you one of the partners?" looking at Ihe card. "No; I'm only the managirg clerk." "Well, you manage very well," said Jennie gra-ciously. "Perhaps you won't mind taking one of these fivers for your trouble ?" "Nonsense!" he said. "It's my job. But if you don't mind, I should like to be allowed to wish you every happiness." "Thank you, sir," said Jennie. "Stay a ininute. If you're a lawyer tell me — t.eli me, am I bound to stay in this place a month ?" ■"Not if you forfeit your wages. "And if I broke a few things before I went and had a general bust up, could they do any thing to me." "You'd' better send to me m such an event," he smiled. "It might cost a . tribe, but we'd square any little cost. Why, do you want to get your own bac'k with thern for something?'' "Do I want to? Why, there's a kind of ins.ide fire here burnicg for it. Perhaps I shall have to wire you to come and help me." "Very weli," he said. "Now I'll go. Good luck!" Jenny let him out, and stood staiing after him; then, as soon as lie was out of sight she dashed out, too. "Taxi!" she ciied. "Kilbum High street. The Bon March ! ' ' "I'll get some ciothes there," she muttered. "I'll just have time between now and eight." The Kilburn business proved a- longer rnatter than Jenny expected ; but she ma-de her purchases, and in a taxi she whirled back to the flat. She let herself in with her lcey— they were not back yet. She poked out the kitchener, and la-id it rcady fcr the morning ; then lighting the gas in the little hall and in the diningroom, she went to bed. "No doubt they'd like to nnd me up, and it'd be, 'Jenny, get me a cup of tea, I'm -dying for it !' Well, she'll have to die, that's all. And t.here'11 be no cups of tea in the morning, missus. llow will you like that, 'Mrs Montagu.' " Suddenly her eyes gleamed with mischief, and going into th& kitchen, she lit the gas agaiu, and left it on. x nen she went to her box-room. It was eleven . before Mrs Montagu and her husband returned, and geeing the gas lit ready for them, the inistress naturally imagined Jenny had wait-ed up, so rang the dinmg-room bell. No Jenny ! "Jim, that girl's gone to bed, and left her gas on." "Go and make her get up and put it out," he growled. "I've put it out alraady," she said. "It's too bad she should. have gone to bed. I wanted a cup of tea." "Well, go and light it again, and cali out to her to get up instantly and turn it out. It will teach her a lesson ; and while she's up she can get your tea. I'd like a cup, too." That was the programme. This is what happcned : Bang ! Bang ! Rang ! ou Jenny's door. No answer. Jenny was hugging herself with glee. Then the missus opened the door. "Jenny ! Jenny !" "Yes, mum ?" sleepily. "Do you know you left the kitchen light on ?" "Did I?" "Yes, you did!" "Then put it out." "What?" "Didn't I spcak plain?" queried Jenny. "I said, 'put it out' !" "Jenny, I'm very much surprised at you!" And she was. Then Jenny sat bolt upright. "And I'm surprised at you," she said. '"What kind of a woman are you, I'd like to know, waking up a poor girl out of her first sleep to go and turn your silly gas out? Haven't you got hngers? Why don't you use them?" And she lay down again, saying : ' ' Shut that door ! ' ' "Jenny, you will have to leave." "Oh," came the reply, "I don't care when I leave if only you will go away and turn that gas out." Pale-faced, Mrs Montagu joined her grinning husband, who had ov.erheard the patter between them.

"What's come t-o her?" he said. And his wife made a hopeless gesture, Next morning Jenny ros.e with the lark. Instead of scrambling down anyhow, as usual, she carefully brushed her hair, donned one of the new prints, put on a smart linen apron, fastening crosswiso over the shoulders, and gave a glanc,e in the glass. "Fetchiu'!" she said. "Not half!" So Mr Montagu thought- as he breakfasted. "Smart this morning, Jenny?" No answer as she removed his plate in offended silence. But he laughed, and the laugh stung her. "What's it to do with you whether 1 m smart or not?" she demanded angrily. "You keep your place, and I'll keep mine." He remained at the table, very, very thoughtful ; and presently as he rose to rush away, he said : "I didn't mean anv harm. I'm not that kind. Buck up, and take your mistress in a cup of tea." "Take it in yourself, sir," she said. "It'd be a bit of a surprise." And went off into the kitchen. He starecl, then did it. "Brought you in some tea, my dear." "How good of you," she murmurcJ sleepily. "Breakfast is all right?" "Yes, the breakfast' s all right, but Jenny's all wrong. Guess you up.set her last night.". And he left for the city. Che lay back for a second sleep when — Crash ! ! "Good heavens! What's that?" Mrs Montagu cr!ed. She sprang out of bed, and rushing to the door called : "What have you done now? "Breakfast things, mum. Dropped the tray, that's all!" "Very well, then, you'll have the cost of the breakfast service stopped out of your month' s pay. It cost thirty shillings ; and I can't matc^i it." She waited for the retort, then she lieard something hit the wall near her. It was a soverign. Before she could get over her surprise a half -soverign followed. She picked them up dazed, and went back to her room. "Now where did slie get this?" she muttered. The owner of the next flat called in for a few minutes, and in that few minutes Jenny's character was torn to shreds. She had been seen talking to a young man, and after a little had asked him in. "He stayed, my dear." He had gone away, and Jenny had gone out soon after and taken a taxi ; and she came back dressed like a lady. It- was enough. "You will have to leave at once, jenny! Not another hour will you stay in a re- ! spectablt flat. And it is no good referring to nie for a character!" exclaimed her mistress, as sne recited all this. Jenny went red with indignation, and flounced out of the room, put on her hat, dashed to ihe 'phone, and summoned cne solicitor, who came rushing down in a taxi. "Now," said Jenny, as she let him in, "march in there! Here, mum." she said spitefuliy, "here's the gentleman wno came last night. He is my solicitor ! Tell her why yofi came and who you are ; and then bring an action against her for taking away a poor girl's character." And he very quietly told her. Mrs Montagu listened in amazed fashion. "Why, then you're an heiress," she said. "I see it all now. I — I wish you every joy in your fortune." "Oh, k,e quiet!" said Jenny. "What I want to know is, do you take back what you said about me and him?" "Certainly!" said Mrs Montagu. "Certainly ! But when you have a house of your own you will understanci my anxiety about servants." "When I have," Jenny retorted, "the^v'll be treated like human beings, not necessary evils. Well, my hour's up. And if you will wait, sir, I'll pack my boxes and come away with you. Have you got a wife?" "No," he said; "but I have a mother." "I meant perhaps your lady will take me for a little, as a paying guest," she suggested ; "till I deeid,e what to do. At present I only want to do one thing, and that's to start a home for servants that are put upon by the like of you," to Mrs Montagu. "Can your mother do that?" anxiously. "Certainly," he said. And in half an hour Jennie— neat, stylish-looking, far more of a lady than her mistress — -hailed the driver to help her with her box, and drove oif.