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diff --git a/20809.txt b/20809.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1e8b97 --- /dev/null +++ b/20809.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1598 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Archie's Mistake, by G. E. Wyatt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Archie's Mistake + +Author: G. E. Wyatt + +Release Date: March 13, 2007 [EBook #20809] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARCHIE'S MISTAKE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sam W. and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + ARCHIE'S MISTAKE + + BY + + G. E. WYATT + + +_Author of "Follow the Right," "Archie Digby,"_ + _"Johnnie Venture,"_ + _&c. &c._ + + + THOMAS NELSON AND SONS + + _London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and New York_ + + 1912 + + +[Illustration: _"Simon Bond's strong hands grasped Stephen's ear and +collar."_ +(1,680) Page 32.] + + + + +ARCHIE'S MISTAKE. + + +"Father, why do you have such a beggarly-looking hand at the mill as +that young Bennett?" asked Archie Fairfax of the great mill-owner of +Longcross. + +"Why shouldn't I?" he replied. "He comes with an excellent character +from the foreman he has been under at Morfield. He does his work very +well, Munster says, and that's all I care for. I don't pay for his +clothes." + +Archie said no more, but he still felt aggrieved. As a rule, his +father's work-people were a superior, tidy-looking set, but this new +lad was literally in rags, and his worn, haggard face and great, +hungry-looking eyes seemed, in Archie's mind, to bring discredit on +the cotton-mill. + +"He's no business here," he said to himself.--"I wish you'd send him +away." + +Archie had only lately had anything to do with the mill, as he had +been at a large public school. But now he was eighteen, and had left +school. He had come into his father's office as secretary, that he +might learn a little about the business which was to be his some day. + +Mr. Fairfax had some excuse for the pride he took in his manufactory, +for a better looked after, better managed, or more prosperous one it +would have been difficult to find, though of course there were _some_ +rough people among the workers. Long experience had taught his +work-people to respect and trust an employer who acted justly and +honourably in every transaction; and it was Mr. Fairfax's boast that +there had never yet been a "strike" among his men, nor any difficulty +about work or wages which had not been settled at last in a friendly +spirit. + +But this very "superiority" was a snare to the mill-hands. For if they +once took a dislike to any one who had been "taken on," they left him +no peace until they got rid of him. It was looked on as a sort of +privilege in Longcross to belong to the Fairfax mills, and the men +chose to be very particular as to whom they would admit among +themselves. + +They all disapproved of poor Stephen Bennett from the first day of his +coming. + +As they walked away that evening they discussed his appearance with +eager disapprobation. + +"Who is he?" "Where does he come from?" "Where's he living?" "What's +made the master take such a ragamuffin on?" + +These were some of the questions asked, but no one was able to answer +them. + +"I'll get it all out of him to-morrow," said Simon Bond, a big +savage-looking lad, with his hat on one side, and his pipe in his +mouth. + +"P'raps he won't be quite so ready to tell as you are to ask," said +some one else. + +"He'd better be, then, if he's got any care for his skin," answered +the boy, and the others laughed. + +So the next day Simon followed the stranger out of the mill, and began +his questions in a rude, hectoring voice. + +To his utter astonishment, Stephen refused to answer them. He made no +reply while Simon poured out his questions, until the latter said,-- + +"Well, dunderhead, d'ye hear me speaking?" + +"Yes, I hear you," responded Stephen, looking at him with a +half-frightened, half-defiant expression. + +"Then why don't you answer?" he inquired with an oath. He was getting +angry. "If you cheek me, 'twill be the worse for you, I can tell you." + +"I don't want to cheek you," said Stephen; "but I don't see as my +affairs is your business, any more than your affairs is my business." + +Simon could hardly believe his ears as he listened to this answer. +This little shrimp to defy him like that! + +But his anger soon outweighed his amazement. + +He seized Stephen by the collar, saying, as he gave him a shake,-- + +"Answer my questions this instant, or--" + +His gestures completed the sentence. + +Stephen turned very white, but he replied firmly,-- + +"I've told you I ain't going to, and I sticks to my words. If you +threaten me like that, I'll go to the foreman and complain. There he +comes." + +Simon looked down the street, and saw Mr. Munster advancing just +behind two other mill-hands. He was obliged to let Stephen go, but +rage filled his heart. + +"I'll pay you out," he muttered, "one of these days." Then he turned +round a side street and disappeared. + +And what did Stephen do? + +He walked on till he came to a baker's shop, where he bought some +bread; then to a grocer's, where he got sugar, tea, and a candle; and +so on, till his arms and pockets were full of parcels. But the odd +thing was that he bought so much. That was what struck a man--one of +the mill-hands--who was in the shop. + +Most of the work-people lived in one particular quarter of the big +city--Fairfax Town it was called in consequence. But Stephen threaded +his way to quite a different part--a much poorer one--and turned into +an old tumble-down house, with all its windows broken and patched, +which had stood empty and deserted until he came to it. + +Weeks passed on, and still, in spite of constant persecution, Stephen +remained at the mill. Scarcely any one spoke a kind word to him except +Mr. Fairfax, but he very seldom saw him. Even old Mr. Munster, the +head foreman, addressed him sharply and contemptuously, which was not +his usual custom. The lad did his work well enough, but he was such a +miserable-looking fellow, and so untidy and shabby. + +Mr. Munster said something of the sort to Archie one day, when he met +him outside the office, just as Stephen was going away after receiving +his week's wages. + +"Yes," replied Archie eagerly; "did you ever see such a scarecrow? But +he has good pay, hasn't he?" + +"Yes, Mr. Archie; very good for such a young hand. He has fifteen +shillings a week." + +"He drinks--depend upon it he drinks spirits, and that's what gives +him that hang-dog look," said Archie. + +"You've never seen him the worse for drink, have you?" asked Mr. +Munster, not unwilling to have an excuse for getting rid of the ragged +stranger. + +"Well, I don't know," he answered. "He was leaning up against a wall +the other day when I passed, and when he saw me coming he tried to +stand upright, and he regularly staggered. I could see it was as much +as ever he could do." + +"H'm!" said Mr. Munster thoughtfully; "I shall watch him, then. If I +catch him like that at his work, I shall soon send him packing." + +"And there's another thing," Archie went on. "What does he do with the +things he buys? What do you think I saw him getting last week?" + +"Couldn't say, sir, I'm sure." + +"Why, three boys' fur caps, and a lot of serge, and a girl's cloak, +and four pairs of cheap stockings, and other things besides. I was in +Dutton's shop when he came in. He didn't see me because of a pile of +blankets, and I heard him buy all those things, and carry them off. He +paid for half, and the rest he said he'd pay for this week. He must +have bought things there before, or they wouldn't have trusted him. +But, you know, they'd come to very nearly as much as his wages." + +"Yes; I don't understand it," said Mr. Munster. "But, after all, it +isn't our business if he does his duty at the mill." + +"No, I know," said Archie; "but I believe there's something wrong +about him, and I should like to know what it is." + +"Well, 'give him enough rope and he'll hang himself,' as they say," +rejoined Mr. Munster--"that is, if your ideas about him are true." + +Archie said no more on the subject then, but he made up his mind to +keep a sharp look-out upon Stephen's conduct. Whenever he met him, +therefore, he looked keenly at him; and he would sometimes come +through the great room where Stephen worked, with a number of other +men and lads, and stand close to him, silently scrutinizing him. If he +spoke to him, it was always to ask a question which obliged young +Bennett to say a good deal in reply; and Archie was forced to own that +he displayed a considerable knowledge of the branch of business in +which he was occupied. + +But Stephen soon discovered that he was regarded with suspicion, and +he came to dread his young master's approach, and the cold, searching +glance of his blue eyes. + +Stephen had looked haggard and careworn from the first, but as weeks +passed on he seemed to get worse. He still did his duty as well, or +almost as well, as ever, but he grew perceptibly weaker every day, and +at last he could hardly drag himself along. + +"I doubt if I'll last much longer," he said to himself, as he reached +the mill one morning about three months after his first arrival at +Longcross, "but father's time will be out next week. I must write to +him to-day or to-morrow and warn him what may be coming." + +There was only one man at the mill who had ever been the least civil +to Stephen. This was a gay, thoughtless young fellow named Timothy +Lingard. + +He always rather prided himself on taking a different side from the +other men, and in his light, careless way he had rather patronized +Stephen when he saw him. + +Not that they met very often, for Timothy's work was to stay in the +mill all night, and go round the premises at intervals in order to see +that there was no danger of fire. + +Sometimes he was not gone when Stephen came in the morning; and then, +as the latter waited outside for the doors to be opened, Timothy would +enter into a conversation with him, just to show the other men that he +took a different line from theirs. + +One evening--it was about a week after the discussion about Stephen +between Archie and Mr. Munster--Timothy met the pale, careworn lad +dragging himself wearily home from the mill. He looked more ragged +than ever--his clothes seemed almost ready to drop off. + +"Hullo!" said Timothy; "you look as if you hadn't too many pennies to +chink against each other. What d'ye do with your wages? They don't go +in clothes--that's clear enough." + +Stephen flushed deeply, in the sudden way that people do who are in a +very weak state, but he made no answer. + +"I can put you in the way of earning an extra pound, if you like," +said Timothy carelessly. + +"Oh, how--how?" cried Stephen with sudden animation, clutching at +Timothy in his eagerness, and then holding on to him to keep himself +from falling. + +"There--don't go and faint over it," said Timothy, pushing him off; +"and don't throttle a man either for doing you a good turn. That ain't +no encouragement. What I mean is, that I've a rather partic'lar +engagement to-morrow night, and for several nights to come--in fact, +till next Friday--and I want to get some one to take my place at the +mill." + +"But will Mr. Munster let any one else come?" + +"I ain't a-going to ask him. It don't matter to _him_ who's there, so +long as there _is_ some one to look after the premises. I'm going to +put in my own man; and you can have the job if you like, and take +two-thirds o' my pay--that's twenty shillings. I shall be back by +three or four o'clock in the morning, so as to give you time for a nap +before your own work begins. But if you ain't feeling up to the double +work, just say so. Now I look at you, I have my doubts, and it won't +do for you to go falling off asleep, or fainting, mind. What d'you say +to it?" + +"I could do it--I'm sure I could. I wouldn't go to sleep--I promise +you I wouldn't. The only thing is, I should like--I think--if you say +it won't matter--yes, I really should like--" + +"Have it out, and have done with it, and don't stand spluttering there +like a water-pipe gone wrong. Will you do it, or not?" + +"Yes," said Stephen, in a low voice. + +"Then mind, you ain't to say a word about it to any one--not as +there's any harm in it, but I don't want the foreman to hear of it +sideways. I shall come here as usual at six o'clock, and if you'll +come up about seven--it's pretty near dark by then--I'll let you in, +and be off myself." + +"All right. But--but, Tim, I--I was going to ask--" + +"Well? Do get on--what an ass you are! What do you want?" interrupted +the other impatiently. + +"'Twas about the money. Could you--I mean, would you mind paying me +first? I'll do the work--I will, indeed." + +"It'll be the worse for you if you don't," said Timothy. "But as for +paying first, I don't know as I've got the money. What d'you want it +for?" + +"I can't tell you--at least, I mean, for food and clothes," answered +Stephen, looking extremely distressed and embarrassed. "But never +mind, Tim; if you can't do it, I'll wait." + +"No; you can have it. I daresay I'll be making more to-night," said +the reckless Timothy, and he got out two half-sovereigns and gave them +to Stephen. + +"Now, remember," he said, "if you say I ain't paid you, or if you +don't do the work properly, and anything happens while I'm away, I'll +break every bone in your body." + +No one could look at the two and doubt Timothy's power to wreak his +anger on the slim, weakly-looking youth, some ten years younger than +himself. + +"All right; I'll take care," answered Stephen, who never wasted words; +and they separated. + +The following evening Stephen arrived, as arranged, in the twilight, +at the big mill, and was admitted by Timothy at a little side-door. + +"Mind," said the latter, "you ain't supposed to go to sleep. You goes +your rounds four times. There's the rules." He pointed to a card on +the wall, and added--"I take forty winks myself every now and then, +but _I_ can wake up if a fly jumps on the table. Now, I'm off. I'll be +back in lots o' time." + +He departed, whistling as he went, and not feeling the least ashamed +of betraying the trust reposed in him, by thus entrusting the safety +of the whole mill to a comparative stranger. Timothy was not in the +habit of asking whether things were _right_ before he did them, but +only whether they were pleasant or convenient. + +He did not notice Archie Fairfax, who was standing at the office-door +as he walked quickly by, just under a newly-lighted lamp. + +There was some one else watching too, from under the shadow of a +projecting buttress, whom neither Archie nor Timothy perceived. It was +Simon Bond--Stephen's bitterest enemy. + +Ever since the day when the lad had refused to answer his rude +questions, Simon had been on the look-out for his revenge. Twice he +had waylaid Stephen, and tried to give him the thrashing he had +promised him. + +But once Stephen had eluded him by going through a big shop which had +an opening on the other side; once some one had come up just as Simon +had got his foe into a quiet corner. + +It was of no use for him to track Stephen to his home, for he knew how +crowded it was in those narrow streets; and though a "row" would +probably be a matter of daily occurrence, there was every likelihood +that the men who looked on might take the side of their own neighbour +against a stranger like Simon. + +"But my time'll come yet," he said to himself, "if I wait long +enough." + +He contented himself, while waiting for the longed-for day of +vengeance, with adding what he could to Stephen's load of trouble. + +His work was in the same big room, and he took care that Stephen +should have the draughtiest corner of it, and be the last to get into +the office on pay-day. And he managed that if anything did go wrong, +suspicion should fall on Stephen--in which Archie was his unconscious +helper. Then, if Stephen ventured to speak while waiting outside for +admittance in the morning--which he did very seldom--Simon would +repeat his words in a loud, mocking voice, and comment upon them, and +turn them into ridicule, till poor Stephen dreaded the sight of him +more than of all the other men put together. + +"What's up now, I wonder," thought Simon, as he watched Timothy come +out and Stephen go in at the little door of the manufactory. "Why, +there's Tim Lingard going off right away. Is he gone for the night? I +should like to know. If he is, now's my time. I don't suppose the +little chap will lock the door, so I'll just slip in while he's going +his rounds, and be ready for him when he comes back--that'll all be as +easy as sneezing. I'll make it pretty hot, though, for Master Stephen +when I've got him." + +He went home to his tea; and Stephen, all unconscious of the plots +being laid against him, entered the little room where the night-watch +sat, and got out his meagre supper, which he had had no time yet to +swallow. The room had two doors; one led to the courtyard through +which Stephen had entered, and the other, the upper half of which was +glass, took into Mr. Fairfax's private office and the larger +counting-house beyond, out of which the passages leading to the +general workrooms opened. + +"I hope the little 'uns 'ull get on all safe for a few nights without +me," he said to himself, as he ate his slice of bread. "Polly's so +sensible, she'll do all right, if those rackety boys 'ull do as she +tells 'em. They promised me they would, but there's no tellin'." + +He sat thinking for some time, and then started off on his first round +of inspection. + +Meanwhile Archie Fairfax had gone home to dinner, his mind full of +the proofs he thought he had acquired of Stephen Bennett's +untrustworthiness. He said nothing about it, however, until he and +his father were left alone after dinner. + +"Who's the caretaker at night now, father?" he asked, as he peeled an +apple. + +"Timothy Lingard," was the answer. "Why do you want to know?" + +"Oh, only because he isn't there to-night; so I thought he might have +been dismissed." + +"Not there to-night! What do you mean, Archie?" + +"Why, I saw him come away this evening, just before I came back here, +and Stephen Bennett went in instead. I can't say he looks quite the +sort of fellow to be in charge of a big place like that all night--a +fellow of his habits, too." + +"What do you know about his habits?" + +"Oh, nothing particular. But, of course, one can't help suspecting +there's something wrong about a chap who draws the pay he does, and +goes staggering about the streets with his arms full of children's +clothes, and his own things looking like a beggar's." + +"Do you mean you think the lad drinks, or is dishonest? Speak out, +Archie, like a man, and don't throw stones in the dark." + +"I don't want to do the fellow any harm," responded Archie, who felt +that, in spite of his watching, he knew far too little to speak +definitely; "but what I have seen of him I don't like, and that's a +fact. I can't help thinking there's something behind. What business +has he to be at the mill to-night, when the regular man's away?" + +"None at all, of course. Most likely Lingard has gone off on some +errand of his own, and paid Bennett to take his place. But it is not +regular or right, by any means; I don't like the idea of it at all.... +I think I shall go round myself presently, and find out all about it." + +By the time Stephen got back from his round it was nearly nine +o'clock. He sank into a chair, and leaning his elbows on the table, +rested his head in his hands. + +"I'm a deal weaker than I was last week," he murmured; "but I must +try and last out till father's back. I'll write to him now, and tell +him how fast I'm going. If there was any one a bit friendly, I'd tell +'em about it all, and ask 'em to look after the little 'uns if I go +quicker; but there isn't. They all seem against me and my rags. I +thought Mr. Archie looked so kind at first, but I can see now he +thinks worse of me than any." + +He got out some sheets of paper he had in his pocket, and pulled the +pens and ink on the table towards him. + +He did not write very fast, and as he had a good deal to say, he was +some time over his letter. About twenty minutes had passed, when the +room seemed to get very misty. The pen dropped out of Stephen's hand, +and he fell back, with his eyes shut, and his head against the rail of +the chair. + +He had remained thus, asleep from very weakness, for about an hour, +when he was suddenly aroused by a rough voice in his ear. + +"Wake up, skulker! your time's come at last." + +He opened his eyes, his heart throbbing violently, and there stood the +burly form of Simon Bond. He looked bigger than ever in the +dimly-lighted room; and as his great grimy face came nearer, and his +strong hands grasped Stephen's ear and collar, he felt that his last +moment had come, and even sooner than he had expected. + +"Get up!" said his enemy, giving him a kick, and dragging him roughly +from the chair. "Now," he went on, "I think you refused to answer my +questions last time I asked 'em. You'll please to alter your ways from +to-night, or you'll get more o' _these_ than you'll quite like." + +As he spoke he let go of the lad's collar with his right hand, and +brought it swinging down with all his force on the side of Stephen's +head. + +Instantly the boy dropped like one dead at his feet. + +At the same moment the office-door opened, and the appalling sight +appeared of Mr. Fairfax's tall form, followed closely by his son +Archie. + +Not a second did Simon lose. He turned to the door, and was off like a +flash of lightning. + +Archie made a rush, as though to follow him. + +"Cowardly lout!" he cried. + +"No; stop, Archie," said his father. "You couldn't catch him; and if +you did, you couldn't keep him. We'll examine him to-morrow--we both +saw who it was. Now let us look after this poor lad." + +"See, father, he was writing a letter," said Archie. + +Mr. Fairfax took up the paper. This is what it said:-- + +"DEAR FATHER,--The little 'uns is all well, and I've got money now to +last 'em till you are out, if I'm took before, which I'm that bad and +low I can't hardly creep along. I've give Polly the money to use when +wanted. She's been a good girl all along. Come to the above address as +soon as you are out. I done my best, father, as you told me. And now +good-bye, if I'm gone.--Your loving son, + + "STEPHEN BENNETT. + +"_P.S._--I never believed as you did it, father, and I don't now. God +will make it right, so don't fret." + +The envelope lay by the letter. It was directed to-- + + _Ambrose Bennett, No. 357,_ + _Eastwood Jail._ + +Mr. Fairfax gave them both to his son. "There, Archie," he said; +"read these, and see if you still think you were right." + +Then he went to Stephen, and did what he could to restore him to +consciousness. But he was in such a weak state that nothing seemed of +any use. + +"Father, I've been a suspicious _brute_," cried Archie, flinging down +the letter. "But for my cold looks and constant spying, which I +daresay he's noticed, he might have told me all this, and I might have +helped him. Now he's starving and friendless. But I'll try to make up +now, if it isn't too late. Do let me carry him home, father--may I?" + +"No," said Mr. Fairfax; "I'll go back and order some brandy, and send +for the doctor. You stay here and take care of him and the mill." + +He went away, and very long did the time seem to Archie before the +doctor arrived. Now he had time to think over his own unkind--nay, +cruel--suspicions, founded on nothing but Stephen's shabby appearance. + +"It's my way, I know, to make up my mind too quickly, and by a +fellow's outside," he thought. Then, somehow, the words of the last +Sunday's epistle came into his mind--"Charity thinketh no evil." He +knew that charity means love. + +"No," he said to himself, "I shouldn't have thought evil of him, and I +certainly had no right to say what I did to father and Mr. Munster. +Poor fellow! how lonely and miserable he must have been; and I might +have stood his friend, if I'd only given him the chance of speaking +about his troubles, instead of glaring at him as I did. Is it too late +now to make up?" + +Just then the doctor came in; but for a long, long time he could not +restore Stephen to consciousness. + +He was trying still when three o'clock struck. + +"Now he is really coming to--look, Dr. Grey," cried Archie, who had +watched all the doctor's efforts with breathless anxiety. + +Just then Stephen gave a great sigh, and opened his eyes. + +"Where am I?" he asked feebly. + +"All among friends," said Archie, "and going to have a jolly time, and +be nursed up, and made as strong as a horse.--Now, Dr. Grey, let's get +a cab. I'll go and call one," and he bustled off. + +Outside he met a disgusting sight. It was Timothy Lingard, staggering +towards the mill, very much the worse for what he had been drinking. + +"You can't go there; go home at once," said Archie. + +"Night-watch--caretaker--said I'd be here," mumbled Timothy, trying +to brush past him; and then finding Archie still stood as a hindrance +in front of him, he tried to strike him--of course not knowing who it +was--only he missed his aim, and fell down into the gutter. + +There Archie left him, to seek a cab, which is not an easy thing to +find at three o'clock in the morning. However, before long he did +succeed in procuring one, and in it Stephen was conveyed to the +nearest hospital. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Fairfax was just starting for his office the next morning when he +was accosted by a respectable-looking working-man. + +"Do I speak to Mr. Fairfax, sir?" he asked, touching his hat. + +"Yes, that is my name. Can I do anything for you?" + +"Would you be good enough, sir, to tell me where my son, Stephen +Bennett, is? I hear he was taken ill last night." + +"He's in the hospital. I'll take you--I was just going there myself," +said Archie, who was with his father. + +"Your son has had a hard life, I fear, in your absence," said Mr. +Fairfax, glancing curiously at the stranger, who did not look at all +like a man capable of crime. + +"Yes, sir," he answered somewhat bitterly; "it has pleased the +Almighty to send me a heavy trial. First, I lost my wife; then I was +accused, along with my fellow-workers in a brick-yard, of stealing +fagots. I was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and my time +would have been out next week. My boy, which he's one in a +thousand--though he was that weakly he was hardly fit for work--he +brought the little 'uns, five of 'em, all under fourteen, to this +place. 'We shan't be known at Longcross, father,' he says, 'and I'll +work for 'em all till you're out.' So he come here. And yesterday they +come to me in the jail, and they says, 'Bennett, we find you're +innocent. The man what took the fagots, he's up and confessed, and he +says as you've had nothing to do with it.' So they wrote me this paper +to say I'm pardoned, as they call it, and I come away; but they +couldn't give me back the three months of my life." + +"No," said Mr. Fairfax; "you have suffered indeed. But I trust that +even yet you may find good come out of evil, as it so often does. We +have come to know and respect Stephen, and as soon as he is well he +shall be moved into a comfortable house, which I have now to let, and +which is at your disposal, if you like to take it. Other help, too, I +hope to be able to render you." + +Thus talking, they arrived at the hospital. Stephen had not made much +progress, and was still alarmingly weak. Scanty food and constant +anxiety had told terribly on his delicate constitution. But when he +saw his father, and heard that he had been set free, and declared +innocent, a new life seemed to come into him. + +"I shall get well now, father," he said; "I feel I shall--only my +head's so bad where the blow came that I can't think much. But that +doesn't matter now; you'll look after the little 'uns. 'Twas the +having all them on me, and thinking about you, that seemed to crush me +down; though I knew you was innocent, father--I knew it all along. +Thank God for making it clear, though. I asked Him to do it, night and +day, and He's done it." + + * * * * * + +"Now, Archie, my boy," said Mr. Fairfax, as he and his son walked back +together, "you see how entirely wrong you were in your hasty +judgment." + +"Yes, father, I do see;" and the lad's voice was full of feeling. +"Stephen may never lose the effects of this time of cruel hardship. I +might have been his friend, and I was his enemy instead." + +"If I had listened, or allowed the foreman to listen, to your guesses, +he might have been turned off altogether. It should be a lesson to +you, Archie, never to injure another person's character again without +absolute certainty, and even then only if it is necessary for the +general good. Once gone, it is sometimes impossible to win back." + +"I know--I know, father. I _will_ try to be careful, and not so +hasty." + +"Don't judge merely by appearances, Archie. Above all, remember those +words of the Great Teacher, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.'" + + + + +"I KNOW BEST." + + +"So the choir treat is fixed for Thursday, and we're all going to the +Crystal Palace! What jolly fun we shall have!" + +The speaker was Walter Franklin, a village lad of eighteen. But +Christopher Swallow, the friend to whom he addressed himself, a youth +who looked rather older, did not receive the news with the pleasure +Walter expected. + +"The old Crystal Palace again!" he grumbled. "Bother! What's the good +of going to the same place twice over? _I_ call it foolery and +rubbish." + +"Oh, but the rector said that no one but you and three of the older +men had been before; and when he asked them whether they would like +anything else better, they said no. Benjamin Sorrell said that once +for seeing all over such a big place was nothing, and he'd like to +spend a week there." + +"Let him, then; one day's enough for me. Of course, we must go as it's +settled; but you won't catch _me_ staying dawdling about, looking at +the same old things over and over again as I see two years ago. I +shall be off and enjoy myself somewhere else." + +"But, Christopher, Mr. Richardson said most partic'lar we _must_ all +keep together or we should get lost; and we're all to wear red +rosettes on our left shoulders, that we may know each other at a +distance, if we should get separated by any accident." + +"Oh, did he indeed?" replied Christopher scornfully. "P'raps some'll +do it. I think I know _one_ as won't." + +Walter said no more. Chris was well known to be what the others called +"cranky" in his temper; and when he considered, as he generally did, +that he was right, and every one else wrong, there was nothing for it +but to leave him alone. + +When Thursday came, it was a most lovely September day. There was +hardly any one among the thirty members of the Hartfield Parish Choir, +who drove in two big wagonettes to the station, that did not look +prepared to enjoy the day's outing to the utmost. + +"Christopher don't look best pleased, though," thought Walter, as +they drove along, glancing at his friend's gloomy face. "And there's +Miss Richardson getting out the rosettes. I hope he won't go and make +a row; but there's no telling." + +The Hartfield Choir consisted of men, lads, and boys, with about half +a dozen little girls. The boys and girls, of course, sang alto and +treble; the lads alto, if they could manage nothing better; and the +men bass and tenor. There were eight men between thirty and fifty +years of age, six lads like Walter, and sixteen children. + +Half were in one long brake with the rector, and half in another with +the schoolmaster and Miss Richardson. About half-way between Hartfield +and the station, Miss Richardson produced a white cardboard box, which +she opened. + +"Here," she said, taking out a very bright rosette made of red +ribbon, and a packet of pins, "I want each of you to put one of these +on your left shoulder, and then we shall know one another when we are +too far off to see each other's faces. There, I've put mine on." + +As she spoke she fastened one on to her jacket. Every one else did the +same, amidst a good deal of laughing and joking--every one, that is, +except one. + +"Christopher, where's _your_ badge?" asked Mr. White, the +schoolmaster. + +"In my pocket, sir," was the answer. + +"We can't see through that, man; it isn't transparent, like a glass +window. Get out the rosette and put it on." + +Christopher plunged his hands into his two jacket-pockets and fumbled. +Mr. White thought he was going to do as he was told, and took no +further notice. + +"Chris, you haven't put it on, now," whispered Walter, as the horses +drew up at the station. "Ain't you going to?" + +"Be quiet, will you? _You_ ain't master," said Christopher roughly; +and Walter was silent. + +He noticed, though, that his friend kept well out of sight behind the +others, and also that in the train he took a seat on the same side as +Mr. White, and as far off as possible. Miss Richardson was with the +little girls in another carriage. + +When the party reached the Crystal Palace station, they proceeded up +the steps to the gardens. + +"Now," said Mr. Richardson, when they got to the final flight leading +into the great glass building--"now, I think we may as well separate +for a bit. I will stay inside and take any who wish to see the poultry +and rabbit show. The girls will like, I daresay, to go with Miss +Richardson, and those who don't care for the animals can follow Mr. +White to the garden; only be sure you all come to the terrace by one +o'clock for dinner." + +So saying, he turned towards the corridor where an immense cackling +and cooing announced the presence of the poultry and pigeons, followed +by four of the lads and some of the men and boys. + +"What shall you do, Chris?" whispered Walter. + +"I shall see what schoolmaster's up to; and if I don't like what he +does, I shall make off and get some jolly good fun by myself," was the +answer. "You stick to me, Walter. I s'pose you don't want to be the +only big chap among all them little 'uns?" + +"No; I'll stick to you, Chris," he replied, but he did not feel very +comfortable. + +Walter was a well-meaning lad, but he was very weak, and easily led by +the stronger-willed Christopher. + +Mr. White knew the Crystal Palace well, and all its many attractions. +He took his party to see a show where cardboard figures were made to +walk and jump and open their eyes, just like real people. + +Then he proposed that they should try throwing sticks, provided for +the purpose, at a row of penknives, and if any one knocked a knife +over it would be his. This was amusing for a little while; but when no +one could get anywhere near a knife, the boys grew tired of trying, +especially as they each had to pay a penny for three tries. + +At last they arrived at the place where a man has tricycles to let +out. Every boy pulled out the rest of his money and begged for a ride. +In a few minutes half a dozen little green tricycles where whirling +round the curve. + +Walter and Christopher despised the idea at first of doing what the +little boys did; but when they saw some other youths like themselves +get on, they put their pride in their pockets, and each mounted a +tricycle. How they did waggle from side to side; and how impossible it +was not to laugh and shout at the absurd feeling of the thing! + +"This is rare good sport," said Chris at last. + +He had but just spoken when he met Mr. White. + +"It's ten minutes to one," said the latter. "We must go, or we shan't +be on the terrace as soon as the rector. Come along, boys; it's +dinner-time." + +There was a general turning round of tricycles, and in a few minutes +the little party were making their way towards the palace. + +"What's the matter, Chris?" asked Walter. "I thought you liked that." + +"So I did; 'twas the only bit of fun I've had. It's a regular +nuisance to be at some one else's beck and call like this, just when +one _is_ getting a little pleasure. Why should we come before we want +to?" + +"Why? Because it's dinner-time. Aren't you hungry? I am, I know." + +Christopher grunted sulkily, but in spite of his ill-humour he managed +to get through the meat-patties and plum-pudding with a most excellent +appetite. + +Dinner over, the rector proposed that every one should come with him +to see a panorama of the siege of Paris, which was to begin at three +o'clock. + +"I should like it awfully. Wouldn't you, Chris?" said Walter. + +"I don't know. No--it sounds dull and schoolish," replied Chris, who +was no scholar. "I won't be led about like a monkey on a chain, +either. I know best how to amuse myself, and I tell you what--I'm +going back for another ride on that tricycle. You'd better come too, +Wat. The panorama doesn't really begin till half-past three. I saw it +up on the board outside." + +"But I've only got three half-pence left," said Walter, "so _I_ can't +ride any more." + +"Oh, I'll lend you the money. I've got heaps." + +"But could you find your way back, Chris? This is such a thundering +big place," urged Walter doubtfully. + +"Yes, you idiot, of course I can. But don't come if you're afraid." + +Chris knew very well that such a suggestion would break down Walter's +hesitation at once; and so it did. He followed his friend, and soon +forgot all about the panorama in his delight at having improved so +much since the morning in the management of his tricycle. + +Suddenly a clock struck. One, two, three, FOUR. + +"Chris, Chris, _did_ you hear? It's four o'clock!" he cried. + +"Well, what of that?" was the cool rejoinder. + +"Get off at once, Chris. The panorama must be half over. Bother it +all! and I did so want to see it." + +Chris proceeded slowly and leisurely back to the starting-point, and +got off his tricycle. + +"How much?" he asked the man in charge. + +"One and sixpence each, please." + +"What a plague you are, Wat, to have come without any money," said +Chris, as he paid the three shillings. "I didn't come to spend all my +cash on you." + +"How do you come to have so much?" inquired Walter. + +"Why, my jolly old brick of an uncle gave me five shillings when he +heard I was coming here." + +"I wish he was _my_ uncle," sighed Walter, whose parents were very +poor. "But I say, Chris, is this the way to the panorama?" + +"No, but I'm thirsty. I'm going into the palace to get a glass of +beer. You can go on to the panorama if you're so anxious about it." + +But Walter was far too much afraid of getting lost among the crowds of +people in the "thundering big garden" to part from his companion. He +had never been more than ten miles from his native village until +to-day, and he felt quite bewildered at all the strange sights and +sounds. + +He followed Chris, who proceeded to a refreshment counter, and asked +for beer. + +"We don't sell wine or beer, or anything of the sort, sir," was the +answer. "It's against the rules of the palace, and we've no licence." + +Nothing made Chris so savage as to be thwarted in anything he wanted +to do. + +"Then it's a stupid place, and it ought to be ashamed of itself," he +said angrily; "but if I can't get it here, I'll go where I can." + +He turned on his heel and walked quickly away, followed by the +much-vexed Walter. + +In vain did he ask Chris where he was going, and what he meant to +do--not a word could he extract. The other lad stalked on, looking +every now and then at the printed directions on the walls, telling +whither each turning led. + +He reached a sort of entrance-place at last, where there were the same +kind of turnstiles as those through which Mr. Richardson had brought +his party in the morning. + +"Way out" was written above one. Without a word to his companion, +Chris went through it. + +"But, Chris, that takes us outside. What _are_ you doing?" cried +Walter. + +"I know what I'm about," answered the other. "Are you coming or not +I? I can't wait all day. You'll never find your way back to the others +alone. You'd a deal better stick to me that knows the way." + +Walter looked round despairingly. + +"What shall I do?" he said to himself. "I _wish_ I hadn't come with +Chris. He's so cross and disagreeable, it's no fun to be with him; but +I could no more find my way back through all those twists and turns +than fly. I suppose I must keep with him now," and he went through the +turnstile and caught up his friend, who had grown tired of waiting and +had gone on some way. + +"Oh, you've come, have you?" said he, as Walter came running up. "I +thought you liked best wandering about all proper and lonely inside +that fine place you seem so fond of." + +Walter made no reply, but walked by the side of his companion, who +marched along as if he knew very well what he wanted, and meant to +have it. + +At length they came to a street corner, where they saw written up, +"Crystal Palace Arms." + +"Now, here's just the place for me," cried Chris, pushing the door +open and going in. + +Walter, though he felt more uncomfortable than ever, saw no choice but +to follow. + +"Me and my pal wants a glass of beer," said Chris loudly, throwing +down a sixpence with the air of one who had plenty more. + +"No, I don't want any, thanks, Chris," interrupted Walter hastily. + +"Then you can go without," answered Christopher, deeply offended. +"I'm not going to offer it to you again, nor anything else either, you +great hulking killjoy." + +He drank off his own beer, and then had some more, and some more +again. + +Walter began to feel really frightened now, for Chris was one of those +childish people who, having once begun drinking, cannot stop +themselves from taking more than is good for them. + +But on this occasion, to his comrade's surprise, he did stop before +long. + +"It's no good for me to try and persuade him," thought Walter; "it +'ud only make him go the other way. I _wish_ I hadn't gone with him; +it's quite spoilt my day. I didn't get a holiday and come all this way +from home just to spend the afternoon in a stuffy public-house, nor on +the pavement outside, neither. It's six o'clock--there's the clock +striking.--Chris, we shall only just get back to the palace in time to +meet Mr. Richardson," he said aloud, beginning to walk very fast. "You +know he's got all the tickets--we can't go without him." + +"All right--plenty o' time," rejoined Chris, speaking rather thickly, +and lagging behind in a most irritating way. + +Walter thought he never should get him to the gate, but they reached +it at last. He thought it was the same man and the same entrance they +had come in by before, but really both were quite different. The +gatekeeper said at once,-- + +"Where's your money? But you can only stay five minutes." + +"Oh, we paid this morning," replied Chris. "Don't you remember a big +party with red rosettes on?" + +"You can't come in again, anyhow, without paying. And _you_ haven't no +red rosettes." + +"Yes, I have; it's in my pocket," said Walter, beginning to feel for +it. But, alas! it was gone--drawn out, most likely, with his +handkerchief. + +"Why did you make me take it off?" he said crossly. "Get out yours, +Chris, and show it." + +"Mine? Threw the old thing away hours ago. Not such a fool as I look," +answered Chris rudely.--"I'm going through here, so you can just stop +your row," he continued insolently to the gatekeeper, with a vague +idea of obtaining admiration from the crowds now coming out through +the turnstile. + +The gatekeeper looked at him contemptuously for a moment, and then +gave a little whistle. Instantly two very tall policemen appeared. + +"Just turn these two chaps out, will you?" said he. "They're regular +holiday-keepers, they are. Been at the Palace Arms, I should say, most +of the day." + +"Now then, you clear out," said the policemen, with voice and manner +that even Chris dared not disregard. + +"Please, we want to go to the station. We're to meet the others to go +by the half-past six train," said Walter desperately. + +"You must look sharp, then--it's just off. There, be off down those +steps as hard as you can split." + +Walter obeyed. In his anxiety he forgot all about Chris; and not even +when he reached the bottom of the steps, and caught sight of Mr. +Richardson's troubled countenance looking for the truants from one of +the carriage windows, did he recollect his friend. + +The platform was crowded with people, and though Walter could see the +rector, the latter could not distinguish him. If he had but worn the +red badge upon his shoulder, matters might even yet have gone well; +but, as it was, all Walter's efforts to shoulder his way through the +masses of people only brought him to the front of the platform as the +train steamed off! + +At the last moment of all, Mr. Richardson's eye fell upon him, and he +called out something, but Walter could not hear what it was. + +A feeling of despair came over him as he turned back towards the +steps. He had just remembered Chris. + +"What _shall_ we do?" he thought. "I haven't a penny, and Chris can't +have much left either. Oh, there he is!" as he caught sight of the +other lad's ill-tempered, flushed face at the foot of the steps. + +"You sneak!" cried Chris angrily; "what d'ye mean by leaving me in the +lurch like this?" + +"But you wouldn't hurry, Chris; and as it is, we've lost the +train--that was ours that's just gone. What are we to do now? Have you +got any money?" + +"No; you know I ain't, else I shouldn't ha' left the 'public' so +quick. It's all your fault," answered Chris savagely, the beer +mounting to his head more and more every minute, and he as usual +growing more unpleasant and ill-tempered as his power of +self-restraint grew weaker. + +Walter was wise enough not to try arguing with or blaming him. He knew +it would be worse than useless. + +It was now getting dark, and the station was being lighted up. By some +happy chance, Walter found his way out of it, and into the town, still +holding on to Chris. + +"Leave go," said the latter roughly. "I ain't a baby, nor a +perambulator neither, to be pushed about by you." + +He walked, or rather stumbled, along some way without help, Walter +feeling utterly disgusted both with himself and his friend. + +"But he shan't be my friend no more after to-day--I've made up my mind +as to that," he said to himself. "Father's often told me he wasn't a +good companion, and I know I didn't believe him. I thought Chris was a +fine fellow, as really knew more than other folks--he always talked as +if he did--but I see now 'twas all talk, and he ain't near so sensible +nor so pleasant as some of the other chaps. I ain't going to tell +tales, but if Mr. Richardson could see him now, I don't think Chris +'ud stay much longer in the choir." + +By this time they had reached the Palace Arms again, and Christopher +once more turned in at the door. + +"What's he doing that for?" thought Walter, "when he said he hadn't a +farthing left. _I_ shan't go in--I've had enough of it." + +So he stayed in the street. He could hear voices--and very angry +ones--within. They rose louder and louder, and then there seemed a +sort of struggle. + +Walter's anxiety to know what was going on had just conquered his +reluctance to be mixed up in anything like a drunken row, when the +door was hastily opened, and several men, among them the landlord of +the tavern, appeared, all pushing and shoving at Chris in order to +turn him out. They succeeded at last, and a very disgusting spectacle +he presented as he half stood, half lounged against a lamp-post. His +hat was gone--some one threw it out to him a minute later--his coat +was torn, his collar and tie were all crooked, his eyes were +bloodshot, and his expression was a mixture of fury and helplessness. + +More than ever did Walter wish he was not obliged to claim +companionship with this degraded, low-looking man. + +As he stood watching the impotent rage with which Chris kicked the +lamp-post, as though he thought it was one of the enemies he wished to +punish, a policeman came suddenly round the corner. Chris made a sort +of rush at him with an angry yell. + +"Hullo! Drunk and disorderly, are you? Come along o' me," said the +constable coolly, quietly slipping a pair of handcuffs over Chris's +wrists. The latter, with renewed passion, struggled vehemently, but +the policeman took no notice; he merely led Chris along, without +uttering a word. It was not far to the police-station. When they had +got there, Chris's captor suddenly observed Walter, who had followed +at a little distance. + +"What do _you_ want?" he asked. "A night in the lock-up?" + +He spoke in jest, and was very much astonished when Walter answered,-- + +"Yes, please." + +"What? In here?" said the policeman in amazement, looking at the +respectable, quiet lad. "Why, man, it's a sort of a jail." + +"I don't _want_ to go there, of course," replied Walter; "but me and +him"--pointing to Chris--"has got lost, and if he's going there, why, +I s'pose I must too." + +"Is this your pal, then? You don't know how to choose your mates, I +should say," observed the policeman. "'Tis too late for you to see a +magistrate, or you could speak to Colonel Law. Where d'ye come from?" + +Walter related his story, Chris meanwhile sitting on the steps almost +asleep. + +"It seems to me it's all your fault for not doing as the gentleman +told you, but going by such as he," said the constable, looking +disdainfully at Chris. "Now, look here," he added; "if you'll wait at +the door while I take in this chap and speak to the superintendent, +when I've done I'll take you to the colonel, and p'raps he'll see +you." + +Walter thanked him, and waited patiently till he reappeared. + +They soon reached the colonel's house, and were admitted to see him, +when the policeman recounted Walter's adventures. The magistrate was a +tall, thin old man, with a bristling white moustache, and a very +sharp, quick manner. + +"Well," he said to Walter, "if your story is true, you've been a very +foolish fellow, and quite spoilt what might have been a very pleasant +day. You can go and sit in the kitchen and have some supper, while I +telegraph to your rector. If he says it is all as you say, I will lend +you the money to go back by the 9.30 train." + +"Oh, thank you, sir, thank you," cried Walter, feeling as if his +troubles were coming to an end at last. "But what about Chris?" + +"Your friend in the lock-up? He must stay there till he is let out. +When he is set free, I suppose his relations will send the money for +his journey--you can see about that when you get home--and he will +probably have to pay a fine also, before he can go." + +Never had Walter enjoyed a supper more. An hour passed quickly away, +and he was quite surprised at being summoned again so soon to the +colonel's library. He looked less fierce this time. + +"It's all right, Franklin," he said. "Mr. Richardson has requested me +to help you, so here is the money. I hope you will get home safely, +and learn from the events of to-day to choose your friends from among +the steady lads of the village, and not to listen to the big talkers, +who want you to despise your elders, and judge for yourself." + +"No, sir; I don't mean to be friends with Chris again," said Walter. +"Thank you for helping me, sir. Good-night." + +He shut the door, and as he walked away he said to himself,-- + +"I see now what it is that makes Chris so often go wrong. It's just +that whatever any one tells him to do, he always says, 'I know best.'" + + +THE END. + + +Transcriber's Note: + +The frontispiece illustration has been shifted to follow the title page. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Archie's Mistake, by G. E. 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