She had determined to begin acting upon her own account, and she was so eager to try what she could do that she lay longing for the morning to break. When she came down to breakfast, her plan of campaign was formed.
'I am coming up to town with you, Frank.'
'Delighted to hear it, dear.' When she had shopping to do, she frequently went up with him, so it did not surprise him. What would have surprised him was to know that she had despatched three telegrams, by means of Jemima, before he was up.
'To John Selby, 53 Fenchurch Street, E.C. Will call eleven o'clock. Important business. - MAUDE.'
'To Lieutenant Selby, the Depot, Canterbury. Please come up next train, meet me Fenchurch Street, eleven thirty. Important. - MAUDE.'
'To Owen, 14 Shirley Lane, E.C. Will call twelve o'clock. Important.--MRS. CROSSE.'
So she had opened her campaign.
'By the way, Frank,' said she, as they travelled up together, 'to- morrow is your birthday.'
'Yes, dear, it is,' he answered lugubriously.
'Dear me! What shall I give my boy for a birthday present? Nothing you particularly want?'
'I have all I want,' said he, looking at her.
'Oh, but I think I could find something. I must look round when I am in town.'
She began her looking round by a visit to her father in Fenchurch Street. It was something new for him to get telegrams from Maude upon business, and he was very much surprised.
'Looking remarkably well, my dear. Your appearance is a certificate of character to your husband. Well, and how is all at Woking? I hope the second cook proved to be a success.'
But Maude was not there for small talk. 'Dear dad,' said she, 'I want you to stand by me, for I am in trouble. Now, my dear good dad, please see things from my point of view, and don't make objections, and do exactly what I ask you.' She threw her arms round his neck and gave him a hearty squeeze.
'Now I call that exerting undue pressure,' said he, extricating his white head. 'If this sort of thing is allowed in the city of London, there is an end of all business.' However, his eyes twinkled and looked as if he liked it. 'Now madame, what can I do for you?'
'I'm going to be perfectly business-like,' said she, and gave him another squeeze before sitting down. 'Look here, dad. You give me an income of fifty pounds a year, don't you?'
'My dear girl, I can't raise it. Jack's expenses in the Hussars--'
'I don't want you to raise it.'
'What do you want?'
'I seem to remember, dad, that you told me that this fifty pounds was the interest on a thousand pounds which was invested for me.'
'So it is--five per cent. debentures.'
'Well, dad, if I were content with an income of twenty-five pounds a year instead of fifty pounds, then I could take five hundred pounds out of my money, and nobody would be the worse.'
'Except yourself.'
Maude laughed at that.
'I want the use of the money just for one day. I certainly won't need it all. I just want to feel that I have as much as that in case I need it. Now, my dear old daddy, do please not ask any questions, but be very nice and good, and tell me how I can get these five hundred pounds.'
'And you won't tell me why you want them?'
'I had rather not--but I will if you insist.'
Old Selby looked into the brave, clear eyes of his daughter, and he did not insist.
'Look here! You've got your own little banking account, have you not?'
'Yes, dad.'
'That's right. Never mix it up with your husband's.' He scribbled a cheque. 'Pay that in! It is for five hundred pounds. I will sell half your debentures and charge you with brokerage. I believe in strict business between relatives. When you pay back the five hundred pounds, your allowance will be fifty a year once more.'
Maude then and there endorsed the cheque and posted it to her bank. Then with a final embrace to her father, she hastened out to further victories. Jack Selby was smoking a cigarette upon the doorstep.
'Hullo, Maude! Calling up the reserves? What's the matter? Jolly lucky it wasn't my day on duty.