"
To the surprise of Douglas Dale, the old man's countenance expressed
only grief and mortification on hearing an announcement which his
master had supposed would have been delightful to him.
"Begging your pardon, sir," he faltered; "but have you seen a younger
servant as you like better and as could serve you better, than poor
old Jarvis?"
"No, indeed," answered Douglas, "I have seen no such person. Nor do I
believe that any one in the world could serve me as well as you."
"Then why do you want to change, sir?"
"I don't want to change. I only want to make you happy, Jarvis."
"Then make me happy by letting me stay with you," pleaded the old
servant. "Let me stay, sir. Don't talk about annuities. I want nothing
from you but the pleasure of waiting on my dear old master's son. It's
as much delight to me to wait upon you now as it was to me twenty years
ago to carry you to the country fairs on my shoulder. Ah, we did have
rare times of it then, didn't we, sir? Let me stay, and when I die give
me a grave somewhere hard by where you live; and if, once in a way,
when you pass the churchyard where I lay, you should give a sigh, and
say, 'Poor old Jarvis!' that will be a full reward to me for having
loved you so dear ever since you was a baby."
Was this acting? Was this the perfect simulation of an accomplished
hypocrite? No, no, no; Douglas Dale could not believe it.
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