"Glad, Judith B. - Anonymous Amanuensis" - читать интересную книгу автора (Glad Judith B)

The night was pitch black when she awoke from her troubled sleep. From the relative quiet, it must have been very late. A dream had come to her, one in which all her problems had been solved, but she could not remember it. She lay quietly, trying to recapture the vision.
Something had been different about her appearanceЕbut what?
Finally Eve recalled the substance of the dream. She had been walking with Tom along the serpentine, two young men taking the air together. She could still feel the peculiar sensation of having her legs clad in trousers, the constriction of a cravat about her neck.
Eve sat up in her bed, staring into darkness.
Could she?
Unthinkable!
Where would she obtain the garments, and how could she carry off such a masquerade?
She fumbled to light her candle. Carrying it to the small mirror over the commode, she stared at her face in the dim light. The features that she had always deplored as being too harsh and unfeminine were reflected back into her eyes. With her hair cut short, she would look like a young man, she was sure. Dipping her fingers into the ewer, she used it to smooth her wiry hair against her head. Yes, if her hair were to be cut very short, her face would lose what little aspect of femininity it possessed.
Shivering, Eve climbed back into her bed and extinguished the candle.
Perhaps. Just perhaps she could do it.
~*~
"That young man of yours is here again, Eve," the landlady called.
"Good. Please tell him I will be down immediately, Mrs. Storridge," Eve replied. She ran into her room to get her pelisse and hurried down the stairs. What a day this had been, waiting for Tom answer her summons.
Mrs. Storridge stood at the bottom of the stairs, arms akimbo. "Well, and when is he going to offer for you, thatТs what IТd like to know," she said sternly, as Eve rounded the newel post. "HeТs been hanging about you for nearly two months and should have made up his mind by now."
"Mrs. Storridge, Tom and I are just friends. I do not want a husbandЧI want a position."
"Well, and youТre not having much luck, are you? Take my advice, Eve, and look about you for a husband. СTisnТt natural for a young lady like yourself to be unwed. Now, you be in by eight oТclock, mind. Friend or no, I donТt want that young man keeping you out too late."
"I promise," Eve answered with a laugh. She pulled on her pelisse and hurried through the door.
Tom was standing on the stoop, waiting for her. She took his arm and they walked into the busy street.
"I got your note but could not get away before this. What is so urgent, Eve, that you wrote to me at Lord ArduinТs?"
"Oh, Tom," she said, "I have had the most wonderful idea. But I will need your help."
"You have it, naturally; but how can I help you?" Tom was clearly mystified.
"You can purchase some clothing for me. Trousers, a waistcoat, shirts...I have not the slightest idea of what to buy, nor where to purchase it. And I could never do so if I did. I will give you the money, if you will only tell me how much you need, and I have my measurements right here..." She dug into her reticule and offered Tom a slip of paper.
"Whoa, there, Eve. WhatТs wrong with the garments you borrowed from me before?"
"They will not do. I had to hike the trousers up under my armpits, and the coat fit me no better than a horse blanket." Once again she tendered the slip of paper.
"First you must tell me why you need the clothing. What wild start are you up to?"
"I awoke in the middle of the night with the solution, Tom. I shall apply for the position as Mr. QuintonТs secretary, but I shall do it as a man."
Tom gaped at her.
Quickly Eve went on. "So you must obtain the garments for me tomorrow, so that I can be ready for an interview. I have already written to Mr. Quinton, requesting one. I told him that I would be free to call on him any time after Monday. Please, Tom," she pleaded, seeing the doubtful expression on his face. "Say you will do this for me."
"You must be insane!" Tom said. "You could never hope to get away with such an imposture."
"Why should I not? I am taller than many men. My voice is nearly as low in pitch as yours. And I certainly do not appear dainty and feminine, as young women are expected to be." Caught up in her enthusiasm, Eve grinned up at him. "This may be my only opportunity, Tom. Do say that you will help me."
It took much persuasion to convince Tom. Finally, however, he agreed, although reluctantly. Once she was assured of his cooperation, Eve told him the whole of her plans.
"Here are the measurements. I have allowed for the garments, particularly the trousers, to fit loosely. Here is every penny I can spare, nearly five pounds. See if you can obtain several changes of clothing for me. I will purchase my own shoes, for there is nothing too unusual for a woman to wish to have stout shoes. And do not forget a nightshirt. And underclothing. Do you think there will be enough money?"
"What I think is that I shall live to regret this, Eve. WonТt you change your mind?" Tom asked, his voice filled with concern.
"No. I am determined. Oh, Tom, please do not worry about me. I shall go on swimmingly, you will see."
"I hope so, but I fear that you are more likely to end up in disgrace, or even in gaol."
"Nonsense! Now, will you remember that I cannot wear the pale shades? In fact, I would prefer that you would purchase all my clothing in somber brown and dark blue."
"Just like my sister. Worrying about colors, even in menТs garb." Tom smiled, although to EveТs eyes, the expression seemed strained. "Very well, Eve. I will do as I am bid, although I have a terrible premonition that no good will come of this. But what will you do about a hat?"
"Oh, heavens! I had forgot. I have no idea of my hat size. May I try yours?" Eve took the beaver that Tom handed her and set it upon her head. It fell down to rest on her ears. Before she could remove it, Tom caught her hand. He raised it to sit properly and slipped his fingers inside, pulling the hat against the back of her head. Holding it carefully, he removed it and put it upon his own head, still with his fingers inside. It sat high on his forehead.
"There, I think that I can estimate your size from this. Have you any objection to used clothing, Eve? It would be less costly."
"Not at all, as long as it is clean. I cannot indulge in false pride if I am to succeed in my scheme." Eve could hardly contain her excitement. "Do stop looking so worried, Tom. The very worst that could occur is that Mr. Quinton would unmask and discharge me. But at least I will have made the attempt."
"At least Quinton is a gentleman. Your virtue should be safe if he does twig that youТre a female."
Eve became aware that the sky had darkened. She opened her pelisse to look at her watch. "Oh, dear, I must hurry. Will you call tomorrow with the clothing, then, Tom?"
"Either that, or I will send you a note. Have you thought about where you will go to make the transformation?"
Eve admitted she had not. They decided that Tom would engage an inexpensive room at a nearby inn and would call for her the next evening to escort her there.

CHAPTER TWO
The young person who ran down the outer stairs of the Blue Bear the next evening was handsome enough, clad in loose garments of good fabric and acceptable style.
Still certain he had let himself be talked into the worst sort of imprudence, Tom watched as Eve doffed her beaver and bowed. Her golden hair was cut to approximate a fashionable brutus, although a bit shorter than usual and somewhat shaggy in the back. The bow, however, was less than graceful.
"Good God, Eve, that was no bow! And you walk like a girl. It will never do."
"Then how should I walk, Tom? Will you show me? And how to bow properly?"