Chapter Twenty-Eight

Clara struggled out of her chair and buried the lachrymose lady in her bosom. Blathers was preparing to place young Childers’ teeth in the back of his throat, but Mr. Varden stepped between the two. “Now, now, gentlemen, none of that. You, young man, what is the meaning of this intrusion?”

“Alice, Miss Martin and I are…” He paused. “I am…” Another pause. “We are…” He shrugged. “We’re very close friends. I don’t like seeing her pawed by the likes of him. I see how he looks at her. I don’ want him touching her. If he does, I’ll…”

Blathers raised his fist again. “You’ll do what? You young dandies think you’re something, but all you have to do is take off your dandy coat, and I’ll give you a dandy sleep. What do you think a fine woman like Miss Martin would see in a sissy toff like you?”

Varden said, “Please, now, that will be enough from both of you. What is your name, young man?”

“Edward Childers. My father is Harold Childers, the industrialist. You may have heard of him.”

“That Childers. Yes, indeed, I have heard of him. Now, Mr. Blathers was simply attempting to comfort the young lady. I am quite sure his motives were honorable. So what exactly is your claim to her, that can justify your behavior?”

“Miss Martin was in the employ of my family, and my father and I have taken on the responsibility for her wellbeing.”

At that moment, Harold Childers burst into the room. “What are you doing here again, Edward?”

“Father, are you following me?”

“Never mind. Answer me. Have I not forbidden you to come here?”

“But I love Alice. I have come here to ask her to marry me. Alice, will you marry me?”

Alice stopped sobbing, took a deep breath, looked at the floor, sighed, and looked at young Childers. “Edward, I am very fond of you. I may even love you, but I can never marry you. I would never be happy living the life you would expect of me if I were your wife. I want to live so that at the end of my day I can say I have helped someone live better. I cannot do this if I marry you.”

This little speech deeply affected two people. Edward Childers became downcast, as could be expected. What I did not expect was to see Blathers’ reaction. His eyes watered, and he stared at the young lady. After all these years, Blathers was in love.

But Alice was not finished with her announcement. “I should also tell you all, since you have all been so kind to me and become my closest friends, I do intend to marry. Before this all started, I promised to wed with George Williams, the man Mr. Blathers and Mr. Duff know from the YMCA.”

Blathers’ expression changed from melancholy to astonishment. Alice noticed the change. “Oh, don’t worry, Mr. Blathers. I will continue to tutor you until you can read and write as well as Mr. Dickens himself.”