Because I'd never loved
before I saw her, and even an elderly man--and a butler's always elderly
by virtue of his calling--has a charm to the female mind if she knows he's
never loved before. In me Jenny saw a well-set-up and personable party,
inclined a thought to a full body, but smart and active, clean-shaven and
spotlessly clean every way, with brown eyes and a serious disposition, yet
a nice taste for a seemly bit of fun. My hair was black and kept sleek and
short, of course, and my voice was slow and deep, and my natural way of
approaching all women most dignified, whether they belonged to the kitchen
or the drawing-room. And, of course, she well knew I was a snug man and
her worldly fortune would be made if she came to me. That was what I had
to offer, while for her part she was a high-spirited thing and good as
gold, aged twenty-five, with a cheerful nature and a great art for taking
what pleasure life had to offer the second kitchen-maid at Oakshotts,
which weren't very much. But she never groused about her hard career, or
was sorry for herself, or anything like that. I liked her character and I
liked her good sense and I much liked her nice and musical voice; and if
she'd been educated, she'd have shone among the highest by reason of her
back answers, which I never knew equalled. Not that she had any chances in
that direction with me, because I'm not a man to let my inferiors joke
with me, though none knows how to put 'em in their place quicker than I
do.
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