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diff --git a/36852.txt b/36852.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..958c972 --- /dev/null +++ b/36852.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19013 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Story of Antony Grace, by George Manville Fenn + +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: The Story of Antony Grace + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: Gordon Browne + +Release Date: July 25, 2011 [EBook #36852] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF ANTONY GRACE *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Story of Antony Grace +By George Manville Fenn +Illustrations by Gordon Browne +Published by D. Appleton and Company, New York. +This edition dated 1888. +The Story of Antony Grace, by George Manville Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE STORY OF ANTONY GRACE, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE MAN IN POSSESSION. + +Mr Rowle came the day after the funeral, walking straight in, and, +nodding to cook, who opened the door, hung up his shabby hat in the +hall. Then, to my surprise, he took it down again, and after gazing +into it as Mr Blakeford used to do in his when he came over to our +church, he turned it round, made an offer as if about to put it on wrong +way first, reconsidered the matter, put it on in the regular way, and as +it seemed to me drew his sword. + +But it was not his sword, only a very long clay pipe which he had been +carrying up his left sleeve, with the bowl in his hand. Then, thrusting +the said hand into his tail-pocket, he brought out a little roll of +tobacco, upon which was printed, as I afterwards saw, a small woodcut, +and the conundrum, "When is a door not a door?" + +"Ho!" said cook; "I suppose you're the--" + +"That's just what I am, my dear," said the stranger, interrupting her; +"and my name's Rowle. Introduced by Mr Blakeford; and just fetch me a +light." + +"Which you'd best fetch this gentleman a light, Master Antony," said +cook; "for I ain't going to bemean myself." + +As she spoke she made a sort of whirlwind in the hall, and whisked +herself out of the place, slamming the door at the end quite loudly. + +"Waxey!" said Mr Rowle, looking hard at me, and shutting one eye in a +peculiar way. "Got a light, young un?" + +"Yes," I said, feeling sorry that cook should have been so rude to the +visitor; and as I hurried into the study to get a match out of the +little bronze stand, and lit the curled-up wax taper that my father used +to seal his particular letters, I found that Mr Rowle had followed me, +tucking little bits of tobacco in the pipe-bowl as he came. + +He then proceeded to look about, stooped down and punched the big +leather-covered chair, uttered a grunt, took the taper, lit his pipe, +and began to smoke. + +"Now then, squire," he said, "suppose you and I have a look round." + +There was such a calm at-homeness about him that the thought struck me +that he must somehow belong to the place now; and I gazed at him with a +feeling akin to awe. + +He was a little man in a loose coat, and his face put me greatly in mind +of the cover of a new spelling-book. He was dressed in black, and his +tail-coat had an enormously high collar, which seemed to act as a screen +to the back of his half-bald head when he sat down, as he did +frequently, to try the different chairs or sofas. It never struck me +that the coat might have been made for another man, but that he had had +it shaped to come down to the tips of his fingers, and so keep him warm. +When he had taken off his hat I had noticed that his hair lay in +streaks across the top of his head, and the idea occurred to me that his +name might be Jacob, because he was in other respects so smooth. + +I followed Mr Rowle as he proceeded to have what he called "a look +round," and this consisted in going from room to room, in every one of +which he kept his hat on, and stood smoking as he gradually turned his +eyes on everything it contained, ending with a grunt as of satisfaction +at what he saw. + +Every room was taken in turn, even to the kitchen, where our entry +caused a sudden cessation of the conversation round the tea-table, and +the servants turned away their heads with a look of contempt. + +"That'll do," said Mr Rowle quietly; then, "Mary, my dear, you can +bring me my tea in the study." + +No one answered, and as we went back I remember thinking that if Mr +Rowle was to be the new master at Cedar Hill he would soon send our old +servants away. He walked back, smoking all the time, and seated himself +in my father's chair, staring hard at me the while. + +"Shut the door, young un," he said at last, and when I had obeyed, "sit +down, and make your miserable life happy." + +My face began to work, and I had to battle hard to keep back the tears, +as for a few minutes I could not speak, but sat there feeling sure Mr +Rowle must think me sulky and strange; and it troubled me, for the old +man seemed disposed to be kind. + +"Poor boy!" he said all at once, and his voice seemed to me to come out +of a cloud of smoke; "so you've lost both your father and your mother?" + +"Yes, sir!" I said piteously. + +"Hah! so have I," said Mr Rowle, and he went on smoking. + +I was thinking as I tried to stare at him through the smoke, that this +must have been a very long time ago, when he quite startled me by +seeming to read my thoughts, as he said suddenly: + +"Yes; that's a long time ago." + +"Yes, sir; I thought it must be," I ventured to say; and then there was +a long silence, during which I sat there wanting to go away, but not +daring to stir, lest Mr Rowle should think me rude, and still he smoked +on. + +"I say, young un," he exclaimed, making me start out of a reverie, in +which I was thinking how vexed mamma would have been to see Mr Rowle +smoking in all the bedrooms, "s'pose you'd just come here to stop, which +room should you sleep in?" + +"The blue room's the biggest and the best, sir," I said, "but I like the +little pink room the most." + +"Hah! then the pink room it must be," he said, sending out such a long +puff of smoke that I wondered how his mouth could have held it all. "I +say, young un, ain't it time Mary brought up my tea?" + +"It's past tea-time ever so much," I said, "and her name's Jane." + +He took hold of an old brass key hanging at the end of a thin steel +chain, and dragged out a very big old silver watch, looked at it, shook +it, and held it to his ear, and then lowered it down once more into its +particular pocket. + +"Then Mary--Jane won't bring it," said Mr Rowle. + +As he spoke the door opened, and Jane, our housemaid, exclaimed sharply, +"Now, Master Antony, I want you;" and I rose and followed her into the +dining-room, where my solitary tea was spread out for me. I stood +gazing at it when she left me in a miserable dejected way, for I felt as +if I could not eat, and as if the tea when I poured it out would be +bitter and salt as my tears; and then I began to think about Mr Rowle, +and stole to the door, opened it, and stood listening to the laughing +and talking in the kitchen. + +"I wonder whether they will take Mr Rowle his tea," I thought; and I +leaned against the door, listening still, but there was no sign of any +preparation. The strong smoke crept out into the hall, and in +imagination I could see the little yellow man sitting back and smoking +in the chair always used by my father. + +At last I summoned up my courage and went to the study door, opened it, +and asked Mr Rowle if he would come and have some tea. + +"I will that!" he said with alacrity; "I never despise my beer, but a +cup o' tea's my reglar drink." + +He followed me into the dining-room, and we sat down, I feeling very +awkward, especially as Mr Rowle leaned across, lifted the pot, and gave +me his peculiar wink. + +"Silver?" he said. + +"Yes, sir; and the coffee-pot and basin and jug too," I replied. + +"Hah! yes." + +It was very awkward, for there was only one teacup and saucer, and I did +not like to ring for another; so I filled that and passed it to Mr +Rowle, who sat smoking all the while. + +"Thankye!" he said, nodding, and he was about to pour it into the saucer +when he stopped short. "Hallo!" he said, "where's your'n?" + +"I--I have not got another cup," I stammered. + +"Worse disasters at sea!" he said. "Never mind; look ye here, I'll have +the saucer and you have the cup," and pouring out the tea, he passed me +back the cup, and the meal went on. + +For the first time since his arrival Mr Rowle laid down his pipe, and +after hewing off a great piece of bread, he proceeded to cut it up in +little cubes, all six sides of which he buttered before he ate them, +while I contented myself with a modest slice or two, for my appetite was +gone. + +It was a doleful meal, but he seemed to enjoy it, and after partaking of +five or six saucerfuls he nodded at me again, took up and refilled his +pipe, and then walked back to the study, where he sat smoking till ten +o'clock, when he went up to bed. + +I'm afraid that I was a very ignorant boy. Perhaps not so in the +ordinary sense of the word ignorant, for I had been fairly educated, and +besides being pretty forward with my Latin, I could have written a +letter or carried on a decent conversation in French; but, living in a +secluded part of the country, I was very ignorant about the matters of +ordinary every-day life, and I found it hard to understand how it was +that Mr Blakeford, the lawyer, should be allowed to do just as he +pleased in our old house. + +The terrible misfortunes that had come, one after the other, had seemed +to stun me and take away my breath. One day we seemed to be all so +happy together, and I was sitting reading to my invalid mother in the +pleasant old room opening on to the lawn. And the next day I was +holding my throbbing head in my bedroom, after crying till it ached as +if about to split, while I tried again and again to believe that it was +all some dreadful dream, that my father had been carried home dead, +killed in an instant by a fall from his horse, and that my mother lay +beside him in the darkened room, silent too in death, for the shock had +been too great for her delicate frame. + +All that followed seemed to me dreamlike and strange--the darkened house +and the rustling sounds of the black dresses that were made for the +servants; my own new black things and stiff black hat; the terrible +stillness of the place, and the awe with which I used to gaze at the +closed room upstairs; and lastly that dreadful darkest day when I was +the companion of Mr Blakeford and an old uncle in the mourning coach +which followed the hearse with its nodding plumes to the grave. + +I wanted to be alone and sit and think, but those about me seemed to +consider that it was their duty to try and comfort and cheer me in my +affliction, when all they did was to worry me and make me more wretched +than before. It troubled me, too, terribly, that people should think me +callous and indifferent to my loss, when all the time my heart was +throbbing, and I felt a sensation of desolation and misery that I tried +my best to conceal. + +I remember going on tiptoe towards the dining-room on the day of the +funeral, dreading lest my new boots should make a noise, when, as I +reached the mat at the door, I stopped short, for my uncle was saying +roughly-- + +"Don't seem to trouble _him_ much." + +"No, of course not," Mr Blakeford replied. "What can you expect? I +dare say he's thinking more of his new black clothes." + +I had to clench my hands and bite my lips to keep from bursting out into +a passionate fit of weeping, and I stood there for some minutes, unable +to move, as I heard all that was said. + +"Well, it's no business of mine," said my uncle. "It was his own +money." + +"Yes," said Mr Blakeford, with a sigh. "I was his legal adviser, but +he would not be advised." + +"Never would," said my uncle. "All he thought of was catching +butterflies and drying weeds in blotting-paper." + +"But he was a good man," said Mr Blakeford. + +"Bah! good? What, to plunge into speculation and ruin himself?" + +"We are none of us perfect," said Mr Blakeford. + +"Who wants to be?" said my uncle. "Well, I wash my hands of the whole +affair. You know where I am if you want me. He was never like a +brother to me. I will do as you said." + +"Yes," said Mr Blakeford, "of course. You may trust me, Mr Grace." + +"I don't trust anybody," said my uncle, just as one of the servants, +coming along the passage, said kindly-- + +"Why don't you go in, Master Tony?" + +There was a sudden movement of a chair, and I saw Mr Blakeford come +forward and look at me curiously as I entered in a shamefaced way. Then +he exchanged glances with my uncle, and my heart sank as I felt that +they both suspected me of having been listening on the mat. + +It was only at nights when I was alone in my own room that I could cry +as a half heart-broken boy of eleven can cry in the desolation of his +heart. My uncle had gone away the day after the funeral, telling me +shortly that I must be a man now, and mind what Mr Blakeford said; and +Mr Blakeford had looked at me in his peculiar way, tightening his thin +lips, and smiling strangely, but saying nothing. + +I knew that some arrangements had been made about my future, but though +I was the person most concerned, every one seemed to consider that I was +only a boy, and no explanation was vouchsafed. So it was, then, that I +rambled about the house and grounds almost alone, growing more and more +thoughtful and wretched as the change oppressed me like a weight of +lead. + +As the days went on, though, and the first passionate feelings of grief +gave way to a strange sense of despair, I began to take notice of what +was passing around me. It seemed as if the servants in their new black +dresses looked upon the change as a holiday. They had frequent +visitors; there seemed to be always a kind of lunch in progress, and as +I sat alone of an evening I could often hear laughter from the kitchen; +and at last, unable to bear the solitude, I used to go into the study +and sit down and stare at Mr Rowle. + +It was not cheerful, even there, for Mr Rowle used to sit and stare at +me. We rarely spoke. Still, it was company, and the old man did +sometimes give me a nod, and say, in allusion to a burst of mirth from +the kitchen-- + +"They're keeping the game alive, young un?" + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +MR ROWLE AND I BECOME FRIENDS. + +As I have said, in the days that followed, I used, when feeling very +lonely, to go and sit and stare at Mr Rowle and he at me. Few words +were spoken, but quite a friendship sprang up between us, and by degrees +I learned what his position really was--that of man in possession, +placed there by Mr Blakeford. + +Mr Rowle was not an active busy man, but somehow he had a way with him +that seemed to take charge of everything in the house. I verily believe +that in a few moments he made a mental inventory of the contents of the +room, and he quite offended Jane one morning by ringing the blue-room +bell. + +I was with him at the time, and after the ring had been twice repeated, +Jane came bouncing upstairs, and, quite ignoring the presence of Mr +Rowle, addressed herself sharply to me. + +"I'm surprised at you, Master Antony, ringing the bells like that, +knowing how busy I am. Whatever do you want?" + +"It was me as rung, Jane, my dear," said Mr Rowle. "What's gone of +those two little chayney candlesticks off this table?" + +"I've took 'em down to clean, Master Antony, if you must know," said +Jane, addressing me spitefully. "You don't suppose as I've took them +away?" + +She looked at me angrily, while I felt as if I had been accusing her +unjustly. + +"Oh no, my dear, of course not!" said Mr Rowle. "You're too highly +respectable a girl to do such a thing; but where I was once there was a +housemaid as stole a little bronze pen-tray out of the study, and she +was found out about it, and given into custody of the police, and got +three months." + +Jane looked fiercely at him and whisked out of the room. + +"Please, Mr Rowle," I said, "the little pen-tray that mamma gave poor +papa has--has--" + +I could say no more, for the recollection of that birthday present, +towards which I had subscribed some of my pocket-money, caused such a +choking sensation that I was ready to break down once more, and I had to +strive hard to keep it back. + +"Gone out of the study, young un? Oh no, not it. You fancy as it has." + +"I'm sure it has gone, sir," I said eagerly. "I was looking for it +yesterday." + +"Ah, well, you'll see when we get downstairs," said Mr Rowle, and he +went on from room to room, always sending a few puffs of smoke into +each, till we went downstairs, meeting Jane on the way, looking very hot +and indignant as she carried up the little china candlesticks, and sure +enough, to my great surprise, on entering the study, there was the +pen-tray in its familiar place. + +"There; what did I tell you?" said Mr Rowle, laughing. "It was +underneath some papers, or p'raps Jane took it down to give it a rub or +two." + +"That must have been it, sir," I said; and I went out to have a walk +round the garden. But somehow everything looked so different: the grass +had not been cut for days, the beds were rapidly growing weedy, and the +flowers and fruit looked so different, or seemed to look so different, +that I was glad to go back into the house, where I found another +stranger, a little dapper, red-faced man, who nodded to me familiarly, +and then resumed a conversation with Mr Rowle. + +"My clerk will be here directly," I heard him say, "and we'll soon run +over the inventory." + +"The sooner the better, I say, Mr Jevins, sir," said Mr Rowle, "and +then we shall know what we're at." + +"You don't mean--" began the newcomer. + +"No, sir, I don't, because I've had too sharp a hye on 'em; but there's +one young lady here as wouldn't take nothing out of her reach, and if I +was Mr Blakeford I'd make a clean sweep out, and the sooner the +better." + +The little man drew a silver pencil-case out of his pocket, slid out a +pen, and then, taking a little ink-bottle from another pocket, he took +out the cork and balanced it on the top of a china figure; then, +securing the ink-bottle to one of the buttons of his coat by a little +loop, he pulled out a long pocket-book, drew from it an elastic band +with a snap, opened it, and fastened the leaves back with the band, just +as a tall, gaunt, elderly man came in with a pen behind one ear, a +pencil behind the other, making him look in profile like some peculiar +kind of horned snail. + +I watched their acts with boyish interest as they proceeded methodically +to set down the contents of room after room, punching the chairs, +turning up the settees, feeling the curtains, and tapping the mirrors, +till at the end of the second day, all being done, they closed their +books with a snap, nodded to me, and after a short chat with Mr Rowle +took their departure. + +"Sale's on Toosday week," said that gentleman as I looked at him +inquiringly. "What's going to be done o' you?" + +"Done with me?" I said. + +"Yes; where are you going to be?" + +"I'm going to stop here," I said. + +"That can't be, anyhow, young un. Haven't you got any friends?" + +"Yes," I said; "there's Dick Wilmot, but he's at school." + +"I say, young un, what a precious innocent you are! Haven't you never +been away at school?" + +"No, sir." + +"Where have you been, then?" + +"Here at home with papa and mamma." + +"Lor', what a shame, to be sure! Why, you don't seem to know nothin'." + +"Indeed I do," I said indignantly. "I can read, and write, and cipher, +and I know a little botany, and Latin, and French, and papa was teaching +me the violin." + +"What, the fiddle? Well, that may be some use to you; but as for +t'others, bah! I never found the want of any on 'em. How old are you?" + +"Just turned eleven, sir." + +"'Leven, and bless your 'art, young un, you're about as innocent as a +baby." + +"If you please, sir, I'm very sorry." + +"Sorry? So am I. Why, up in London I've seen boys of 'leven as was +reglar old men, and know'd a'most everything. Lookye here, young un, +don't you know as your poor guv'nor died ever so much in debt through +some bank breaking?" + +"I heard poor papa say that the bank had shut its doors." + +"That's right," said Mr Rowle, nodding. "Well, young un; and don't you +know what that means for you?" + +"No, sir," I said. + +"Phew?" replied, Mr Rowle, whistling; "well, p'raps it's kindest to +tell you, after all. Why, look here, young un, this place, with every +stick in it, is going to be sold up--plate, linen, furniture, chayney, +glass, and the house and all, and you'll have to go to some of your +friends, unless Mr Blakeford's got his plans made for you." + +"Please, sir, I don't think I've got any friends to go to," I said; "I +thought I was going to stay at home--at least, I hoped so," I added +despondently. + +"It's a rum go," muttered Mr Rowle, as he raised his hat with one hand +and re-arranged his hair with the stem of his pipe. "Ah, well, I s'pose +I've no call to be putting things into your head, only I should like to +see you not quite so innocent, and better able to look after yourself." + +Mr Rowle and I had many such conversations during the interval before +the sale, in all of which he was so much troubled by what he called my +innocence, that I began to look upon my ignorance of the world as +something approaching a crime. I saw no more of Mr Blakeford or my +uncle, and the days glided slowly by till just before the sale, when the +servants came upon me one evening in the dining-room, to announce that +they were going, and to say "good-bye." + +"Going?" I said; "what, all?" + +"Yes," said cook sharply, and I think there was a twinkle of moisture in +her eyes; "yes, Master Antony, we're all going, and we've come to say +good-bye." + +I believe that cook would have taken me in her arms and hugged me in +good motherly fashion, but for the third person. As it was, she shook +hands very warmly and looked tenderly at me for a moment--not more--for +her soul seemed to be aroused within her at the presence of Mr Rowle, +at whom she darted the most furious of glances, an example followed by +the other two maids; and then we were alone. + +"Bless 'em!" said Mr Rowle, taking his pipe for a moment from his lips, +and then going on smoking. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +MR BLAKEFORD SHOWS HIS TEETH. + +The morning of the sale arrived, and still no one took any notice of me. +I had stood by in a melancholy fashion, and seen little tickets pasted +or tied upon the various articles of furniture; the stair rods done up +in bundles and the carpets in rolls. The chimney ornaments seemed to be +holding a meeting in a corner of the sideboard recess, presided over by +a bronze Neptune; and apparently deceived by the reflection of the +sunshine, the steel fender had settled itself calmly on a table before +the tall pier-glass as if it were a fire; the pictures looked down in +the most melancholy way from the walls at the doleful chaos of +furniture, all except one of her Majesty the Queen, and that seemed to +follow me in a sorrowful, pitying fashion that made me gaze up at it +again and again. + +Wearied with wandering from room to room--all dust and confusion now--I +turned to go upstairs. As I did so I passed the study, whose door was +wide open, with Mr Rowle in the easy-chair smoking away, his hat on, +and the wretchedness of the place with its piled-up bundles of books +seeming to have no effect upon him whatever. + +Upstairs matters appeared even worse, though it struck me that the rooms +were not so dusty. After the "view" on the previous day the +auctioneer's men had arranged the things so that they would be handy for +taking downstairs, and the grotesque positions they were now in +suggested endless ideas. Pairs of sheets and blankets hung from pegs +like so many culprits; towel-horses stood upon their heads, while chairs +did acrobatic tricks, one at the bottom sustaining four or five piled up +in a state of equilibrium; the tooth-brush trays all seemed to have been +frightened into taking refuge in the ewers; while the bedsteads and +toilet-tables appeared to think the place so dirty and untidy that they +were holding up their trailing garments to keep them from being soiled. + +On the previous day I had taken refuge in my favourite haunt, the +summer-house, till the strangers had gone, and now, hearing the +auctioneer's men below, I was hurriedly taking a farewell glance round +before once more making my retreat. + +I had heard footsteps on the stairs, and supposed it to be one of the +owners of the carpet-caps and aprons that lay tucked in a corner, when +suddenly passing out of one of the bedrooms into the passage I came face +to face with Mr Blakeford. + +"Oh! you're there, are you?" he said, in quite an ill-used tone, as if +he had been hunting for me for days. "Why, where have you been hiding +yourself?" + +"Please, sir, I've been here all the time." + +"It's false, sir. How dare you tell me such a lie! I was hunting for +you all day yesterday and you were not here. I supposed you had run +away." + +"If you please, sir," I said, "I was in the summer-house--indeed!" + +"Then how dare you tell me, sir, that you were here! Now look here, +Master Antony Grace; don't you try to trifle with me, for I'm not the +man to be played with. You've been allowed to grow up in sloth, +ignorance, and idleness; and now that out of pure charity I am going to +take you into my office, you had better try to make yourself of some +use, unless you want to be turned adrift and starved;" and he bent down +and shook his finger in my face. + +"Come to your office, sir?" I cried, wondering. + +"Come to my office, sir, yes," he snarled. "What else were you going to +do? Did you think you were going to spend your life sticking pins +through butterflies and running about picking buttercups and daisies, as +you did with your defrauding scoundrel of a father?" + +"How dare you say that!" I cried, as a fierce burst of passion swept +over me at hearing him speak thus of my poor dead father. + +I have some recollection of rushing at him with clenched fists, and +being caught roughly by a strong hand, of being shaken, my ears sharply +boxed, and of being then thrown panting, sobbing, and half heart-broken +upon the floor, as Mr Blakeford stood over me. + +"That's your temper, is it, you young dog?" he cried; "but I'll soon +tame that down. What, am I to lose thousands of pounds by your cheating +scoundrel of a father, and then, when to save his wretched brat from +starvation I have arranged to give him a home, I am to have him turn and +rend me? But I'll soon cure all that, my fine fellow. You've got the +wrong man to deal with, and it was quite time your career of spoiled +child was over." + +He turned and left the room, and after crouching there sobbing for a few +minutes, I got up in a stunned, hopeless way, brushed the dust off my +clothes, and as I turned I caught a glimpse of my hot red face and wet +eyes in the glass. + +I was hastily removing the traces of the childish tears when I smelt the +pungent odour of tobacco, and my first impulse was to run away and hide; +but there was no way of escape, and I had to turn round and face Mr +Rowle, who stood smoking in the doorway. + +"What's he been leathering you for?" he said, without removing his pipe. + +"I--I struck him!" I panted out, trembling with shame and indignation. + +"You? You hit Lawyer Blakeford?" he said, with a broad grin +overspreading his face. "Come, I like that. I didn't think there was +so much stuff in you." + +"He--he--said false things about my poor dead father," I faltered. + +"And you tried to punch his head for it, young 'un; and serve him right, +that's what I say. Never mind: cheer up, young un; you'll grow a man +some day, see if you don't. But, I say, look here, where are you going +to stay? The house'll be full of people directly." + +"I'm--I'm to go to Mr Blakeford--to his office, he says." + +"Whee-ew!" whistled Mr Rowle. "That's it, is it? Your guv'nor owed +him money, eh, and he's going to take it out of you? I say, young un, +you're in for it." + +"Am I, sir?" I said, in a dull, despairing way, for I understood by his +words that my future was not to be a very pleasant one, but just then I +heard Mr Blakeford's voice below, and Mr Rowle gave me a friendly nod +and turned away, while I stood listening, expecting to be called. + +I can recall those feelings that came over me to this day--shame, +mortification, wounded pride, misery, and despair. What was to become +of me? How could I ever live with a man who spoke so cruelly of one who +had always been so firm and yet so gentle with me? No mother, no +father, no one to say one kind and encouraging word to me but that poor +rough man in possession, towards whom in those hours of misery my young +heart went out with all its passion of childlike affection. + +I was half stunned. Had I been so idle and spoiled a boy? I did not +know, only that I had been very happy--that every lesson had been a +pleasure, and those summer-day entomological and botanical rambles with +my father times of joy and delight. It was all a puzzle, too, about my +father and Mr Blakeford and their money matters, and of course I was +too young to comprehend the legal instruments which empowered the +solicitor to take possession of everything of which my father died +possessed. + +The entry of one of the porters made me creep hurriedly away, and going +downstairs, I found room after room filling with the people coming to +the sale, with the result that I crept into the garden and down the old +laurel walk to the little summer-house at the bottom, where I shut +myself in to lean my head against my arm and try to check the miserable +tears that would come. + +It was very weak and girlish, but I was only eleven, and during the past +few days there had been so much to give me pain. I was heartily ashamed +of my weakness, feeling all the time a kind of instinct that I ought to +be more manly, and trying hard to become so, though now I can smile at +the thought of the little, slight boy of eleven battling with his +natural emotions, and striving to school them to his will. + +It was very quiet and lonely down there, and in a few minutes I felt +calmer and better, seating myself and wondering whether I ought not to +go up and look for Mr Blakeford, as I watched the robin--an old friend +of mine--hopping about amongst the twigs. + +Perhaps it was a foolish idea. But it seemed to me then as if that +bird, as it gazed at me with its large round eyes, could feel for my +sorrow, and I felt a kind of envy of the little thing's freedom from +pain and care. + +While I sat there thinking in my despondent way, the low humming of +voices up at the house came to me, and now and then I could hear steps +on the gravel paths, but that leading up to the summer-house was of +short turf, so that I was suddenly surprised by hearing a fresh young +voice exclaim: + +"Oh, look here, mamma! What a nice summer-house!" + +"Yes, my dear," said some one, in cold, harsh tones. "The Graces knew +pretty well how to take care of themselves. I haven't patience with +such ways." + +I jumped up angrily to go away, but I was too late, for the door opened +suddenly, and I was face to face with a young girl of about my own age, +and a tall thin lady, with a careworn, ill-used expression of +countenance; and as she seemed to know who I was, she caught the girl's +arm and gave her a snatch, exclaiming: + +"Come away, Hetty; it's young Grace." + +The girl took her eyes unwillingly from mine, and as she accompanied the +lady away, she turned round once, and I fancied I read in her looks +sorrow for my position, and a desire to come and lay her little hand in +mine. + +I sat all through that dreary day alone, and getting faint and hungry-- +though my memories of my encounter with Mr Blakeford kept me from +thinking much about the latter, and it must have been nearly five +o'clock when the door once more opened, and Mr Rowle stood there, +holding a bundle tied up in a red handkerchief in one hand; his pipe in +the other. + +"Why, here you are then, young 'un," he said. "I thought old Blakeford +had carried you off. Lookye here! you're just right. I'm going to have +a bit of wittles down here in peace, and you'll join in." + +As he unfastened the bundle handkerchief and displayed a pork pie and a +small loaf, he took a couple of table-knives from his tail-pocket. + +"Borrowed," he said, holding them up. "They're a part of lot hundred +and forty-seven. Stop a moment, let's make sure." + +One hand dived into the breast-pocket of his old coat to bring out a +dirty catalogue, leaf after leaf of which he turned over, and then, +running a dirty thumb down one page he read out: + +"Lot hundred and forty-seven: sixteen black--No, that ain't it. Here it +is, young 'un. Lot hundred and fifty-seven: two dozen and seven ivory +balance-handle knives. Them's them, and they won't be none the worse +for my using on 'em." + +Mr Rowle's intentions were most friendly, but I could hardly eat a +mouthful, and I was sitting watching him making heavy onslaughts upon +the loaf when I heard Mr Blakeford's voice calling me, and I started +up, feeling as if I must run away. + +"What are you up to?" said Mr Rowle, with his mouth full. + +"Let me go," I cried excitedly. "Let me run somewhere." + +"Gammon! Why, what for? You go out like a man and meet him, and if he +gives it to you again, why, there, if I was you I'd take it like a man, +that I would." + +I hesitated for a moment, and then took my rough friend's advice by +going out into the garden, where I found Mr Blakeford with a black bag +in his hand. + +"Take that," he said harshly, and threw the bag towards me. + +I was taken by surprise, caught at and dropped the bag, which burst +open, and a number of papers tied with red tape fell out. + +"Bah! you clumsy oaf," he exclaimed angrily. "There, pick them up." + +I hastily stooped, gathered them together, and tremblingly replaced the +packets in the bag, and as soon as it was closed followed my new master +towards the gate, through which he passed to where a man was holding a +thin pony attached to a shabby four-wheeled chaise. + +"Jump up behind," he said; and I climbed into the back seat, while he +took the reins, got into the front, and fumbled in one pocket. "Here, +catch!" he cried to the man, as he gave the reins a shake. The pony +started off, and we had not gone a dozen yards before something hard hit +me in the back, and turning sharply, I saw one of the big old-fashioned +penny-pieces fall into the road, while the man who had thrown it after +us was making a derisive gesture at Mr Blakeford, by which I concluded +that he was dissatisfied with the amount that had been given him. + +"Sold badly, very badly," Mr Blakeford kept muttering, and at every +word he gave the reins a jerk which made the pony throw up its head; and +so he kept on muttering during our four-miles ride into the town, when +he drove into a little yard where a rough-looking man was waiting, threw +him the reins, and then turned to me. + +"Jump down, and bring that bag." + +I jumped down, and as I did so leaped aside, for a large dog rushed out +to the full extent of his chain and stood baying at me, till Mr +Blakeford gave him a kick, and he disappeared into a kennel that had +once been green. I followed the lawyer through a side door and into a +blank-looking office cut in two by a wooden partition topped with little +rails, over which hung old and new posting-bills, many of which papered +the wall, so that look which way I would my eye rested on, "To be sold +by auction," "Estate," or "Property," in big black letters. + +On one side of the partition were a high double desk and a couple of +tall stools; on the other some cocoa-nut matting, a table covered with +papers, a number of shelves on which stood black-japanned boxes, each of +which had upon it somebody's name or only initials in white letters, +with perhaps the word "Exors." after them; while on the chimney-piece +were a letter-weigher, two or three large ink-bottles, and a bundle of +quill pens. + +It was growing dusk, and Mr Blakeford struck a match and lit a gas-jet +over the fireplace, just in front of a yellow-looking almanack; and now +I could see that the place was one litter of papers, parchments, and +dust, save at the end, which was occupied by a bookcase full of great +volumes all bound in leather about the colour of Mr Rowle's skin. + +"Sit down there," he said shortly, and he pointed to one of the tall +stools by the great desk; and as I climbed upon it he picked up the bag +I had placed upon the desk, threw it upon the table, and walked out of +the place. + +"Like a man--take it like a man," I said to myself as I recalled Mr +Rowle's words; and, pressing my teeth tightly and clenching my fists, I +sat there fighting down the depressing feelings that came upon me in a +flood, and wondering what I should have to do. + +My musings were interrupted by the loud entry at the end of about half +an hour of a cross-looking servant-girl, who banged a small tray +containing a mug and a plate of bread and butter down before me. + +"There's your tea," she said roughly; "and look here, I'm not going to +wait on you. Bring the mug to the kitchen when you've done, and you'll +have to fetch it in future." + +I looked up at her very wistfully as she scowled at me, but I did not +speak. + +"Sulky, eh?" she said. "You'll soon get that taken out of you here, I +can tell you." + +With these words she whisked herself out of the office, the swing-door +creaked dismally and banged behind her, and I was left to enjoy my meal. + +At first I felt that I could not touch it, but I was faint and hungry, +and after a few mouthfuls a boy's young healthy appetite asserted +itself, and I drank all the mean thin tea and finished the bread and +butter. + +Then I remembered that I was to take the things back to the kitchen. +Where was the kitchen, and dare I leave that stool without Mr +Blakeford's orders? + +I felt that I dare not, and therefore sat there patiently gazing about +the room, my eyes resting longest on those bills which told of sales of +furniture, as I wondered whether those who had belonged to the furniture +had died and left a son alone in the world, as I seemed to be just then. + +There was a clock, I found, in one corner--an old Dutch clock--that +ticked away in a very silent, reserved fashion, giving further every +hour a curious running-down noise, as if it were about to strike; but +though I watched it patiently as the minute-hand passed on, it never +fulfilled the expectations given, but confined itself to its soft +subdued _tick, tick, tick, tick_, hour after hour. + +Seven, eight, nine, ten had been marked off by that clock, and still I +sat there, waiting, and wondering whether I was to sleep there as well +as to have my meals; and then I heard a door bang, the sound of a +footstep, and with a great tin candlestick in his hand Mr Blakeford +entered the room. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +I BECOME A LAWYER'S CLERK. + +"This way!" he said abruptly, and there was a curious look in his face +that I could not understand. "Here, hold this," he cried, thrusting the +candlestick into my hand; and I held it trembling as he crossed +unsteadily to the gas-jet, turned it down, and then strode out of the +office. + +"There!" he said, opening a door, "up there; and get down in good time. +You'll have to clean the boots and things." + +"Up there" was up a flight of steps which led into a low sloping-ceiled +chamber that had been evidently meant for a lumber-room, but had now +been fitted up with an old stump bedstead with a coloured counterpane, a +little corner washstand with a cracked jug, a strip of carpet, and a +three-legged painted chest of drawers, which had gone down at one +corner, and left a corresponding leg slightly raised in the air. + +The place was cold and miserable, chilling to a degree, but it was +clean; and as I looked round I was surprised by seeing on a chair a heap +of my clothes and a brush and comb. + +I had just finished looking round when I heard a noise below. + +"You Antony!" shouted Mr Blakeford; "mind you put that candle out +safely, and look sharp into bed." + +I obeyed by hastily undressing and putting out the candle to get quickly +into bed. It was not to lie down, but, after once more battling with my +weakness, to offer up the simple prayers I had been taught, and then, +still upon my knees, but with my head drooping on to the pillow, falling +fast asleep. + +I awoke terribly depressed at daybreak, to listen to some noisy fowls +close by, and then I could hear that the rain was pattering heavily +down. + +Ought I to get up then, or should I lie a little longer? I could not +tell, but I recollected Mr Blakeford's words, and as I did so the same +wretched despondent feeling came over me as I thought of my +helplessness, and trembled, feeling sure I should give offence. + +There are few people who thoroughly realise the sufferings of a tenderly +nurtured, sensitive boy when first called upon to battle with the world +amongst unsympathising strangers. He is only a boy in their eyes, and +they fail to give him credit for the same feelings as themselves, when +too often he is far more finely strung, and suffers acutely from every +unkind word and look. The very act of going from home is distressing +enough, but when it is supplemented by his finding himself forced to +make his first _essays_ in some uncongenial task to which his hands and +the brain that should guide are totally unaccustomed, a feeling of +despair often takes possession of his young spirit, and is accompanied +by a hopeless despondency that is long before it wears away. + +I had had painful afflictions enough during the past weeks, so that I +was anything but well prepared for my new life. Besides, I had been +badly fed, and the natural sinking caused by the want of proper food +terribly augmented my sense of misery. + +The rain pattered down on the slates and skylight, while the water ran +along the gutter and gurgled strangely in a pipe close to the corner +where my bed was placed, as I lay wondering what I had better do. The +office was below me, with its silent clock, but perhaps I should not be +doing right, I thought, if I got up and went down to see the time. +Perhaps, too, the place might be locked up. + +I lay thinking in this undecided way till all my doubts were set aside, +for there was a loud continuous ringing just outside my door, one which +was kept up as if some angry person were sawing away at the wire with +the full intention of dragging it down. + +It agonised me as I jumped out of bed and began hastily to dress, for I +felt as if it must be to rouse me up, and as if I had inadvertently been +guilty of some lapse. + +The bell stopped ringing as suddenly as it had begun, and with a feeling +of relief I continued dressing, but only to start nervously as I heard +Mr Blakeford's voice at the foot of the stairs shouting my name. + +"Do you hear that bell, sir?" he cried. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then make haste down; don't be all the morning dressing." + +Then there was the loud banging of a door, and I hastily finished, and +went down cautiously, found the office door at the end of the dim +passage, and was just going in when the sharp voice of the servant +arrested me. + +"Here, you--what's your name?" she said harshly. + +"Antony, ma'am." + +"Ho! Then, Mister Antony, missus says you're to make yourself useful. +They've pretty well worked the flesh off my bones since I've been here, +so you must just help to put a little on." + +I looked at her in amazement, and she certainly was not at all +prepossessing, being a tall raw-boned woman of some three or four and +twenty, in a hastily-put-on cotton dress, her hair rough and untidy, and +displaying a general aspect of having spent as little time as possible +upon her toilet. + +"Now, then, don't stand staring like that!" she said. "Come along here, +and fill this scuttle." + +She led the way into the kitchen and pointed to a large coalscuttle, +which I had to take and fill for her, after which she seemed to hesitate +as to whether she should place the broom she held in my hands; but, +probably under the impression that it would save her no trouble, she +altered her mind, and went and fetched a large pair of dirty Wellington +boots, which she threw down upon the floor. + +"There, go into that shed and clean them and your own too, and mind you +do 'em well," she cried. "He's a reg'lar wunner about his boots." + +My experience in boot-cleaning consisted in having seen the groom at +home occasionally polish a pair, so I was no adept: but hastily setting +to, I worked hard at the task, and succeeded indifferently well with the +big Wellingtons before bestowing the same pains upon my own shoes. + +I need hardly say that I was not very quick over my task, and so it +happened that when I returned to the kitchen the fire was brightly +burning, the kettle boiling, and my new friend, or enemy, seated at her +breakfast. + +"There, you can put 'em down," she said, with her mouth full of bread +and butter. "And now you'd best go and wait in the orfice till he +comes. You're too much of a gent, I s'pose, to have meals with me?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," I said, rather piteously. + +"Don't you? Well, then, I do. You're to have your victuals in the +orfice, and I s'pose they'll send some out to you when they're done, +seeing as you're took here out o' charity." + +I felt a red spot burn in each cheek at these words, but I said nothing, +only went sadly to the office, which looked terribly dim and gloomy in +the morning light. The dust lay thick upon bill and parchment, and the +drab books with their red patches upon their backs I could see by this +light were old, discoloured, and worn. + +Judging from the appearance of the place, in spite of the ink marks and +well-stained blotting-paper, there was not much work carried on there, +though, of course, I could not judge that then. All that struck me was +that the place looked most melancholy, and that a gloomy yew-tree that +half shaded one window was heavily laden with drops of rain. + +Seeing my mug and plate upon the big desk, I remembered the words of the +servant, and hastened to take them to the kitchen, where I was received +with a scowl, and hastened to retreat back to the office. + +I had been standing there about an hour, and had just noticed that the +clock pointed to half-past eight, when I heard a light step behind me, +and, turning round, there stood the girl I had seen in the garden at +home. + +Her bright, fresh young face was the first pleasant thing upon which my +eyes had rested since I came the night before, and as we stood gazing at +each other it seemed to me that I could read sympathy and welcome in her +frank smile. + +"Good-morning," she said quietly, and held out her hand, which I was in +the act of taking, when a wiry sharp voice cried loudly-- + +"Hetty! Hetty! where are you?" + +"Here, mamma," cried my visitor. + +"Then you've no business there," cried the same voice; and the owner--to +wit, the lady I had seen in the garden--came in. "Go back to the +parlour directly, miss; and mind this, you are never to come in here at +all." + +The girl looked eagerly at me again, nodded, and tripped away, leaving a +hopeful feeling behind that I could not explain. + +"So you are young Grace," said the lady, whom I presumed to be Mrs +Blakeford, and I gazed wonderingly at her pained wrinkled face and +weak-looking, wandering eyes. "Mind this: you are to keep in the +office. I won't have you in my rooms; and Mr Blakeford says you are +not to be in the kitchen on account of the neighbours' remarks. I'm +sure I don't know why we study people who never study us; and I'm +pinched enough for money now, without having you thrown on to my +housekeeping." + +"Now then, what are you doing there?" cried Mr Blakeford harshly, as he +entered in his slippers. "Go and make the tea; what do you want to +begin chattering to that boy for about our private affairs?" + +Mrs Blakeford muttered something about being always wrong, and turned +to go. + +"Always wrong? Of course you are, when you will come meddling with what +don't concern you. Now then," he cried, turning sharply round to me, +"what are you staring at? Get a cloth and rub down that desk and table. +Can't you see how dusty they are?" + +"Yes, sir," I said, for it was very evident. "Then why don't you go and +do it, blockhead?" + +I started to perform the task in great alarm; but I had no duster, and +dared not ask him. Fortunately he was called away just then to his +breakfast; but he seemed to me to be there still, gazing at me with his +keen dark eyes, while his tightly closed thin lips seemed as if they +were about to be drawn aside to bite. + +As soon as I was alone I stole into the kitchen to ask for a duster. + +"Don't bother me; can't you see I'm making toast?" was my greeting. + +I could see she was making toast, and my attention was further called to +it by the sharp ringing of a bell. + +"Ah, ring away," said the woman, going on with her task. "You may ring +the bell down, and then I shan't come till the toast's done, do now +then!" + +"Please, Mary, is the--" + +I turned upon hearing the pleasant little voice again, which stopped +short as I looked round, and our eyes met once more. + +"No, Miss Hetty, my dear, the toast ain't done," said the woman more +softly; "and you may tell your ma that if she is in a hurry she must +wait till her hurry's over." + +"Don't be cross, Mary," said the child; and tripping across the kitchen, +she ran up to where the woman was kneeling before the fender, kissed her +cheek, and tripped out again. + +"They may thank her for it, that they may," grumbled Mary, as if +speaking to the fire, "for if it wasn't for her I wouldn't stop a day +longer in their nasty, disagreeable old house. There!" + +The toast was by this time done, and Mary was scraping away at a burnt +spot, when the bell began to ring more violently than before, with the +result that, instead of running off with the toast, Mary deliberately +placed it upon the fender and went across to one of the dresser drawers, +out of which she took a clean duster. + +"Ring away!" she grumbled. "There's a duster for you, boy. And look +here; you must be hungry. Stop a minute and I'll cut you a slice. Ah, +ring away! You don't frighten me." + +To my horror, she coolly spread thickly a slice of bread, cut it, and +handed it to me before buttering the toast with which she at last +crawled out of the kitchen, while I literally fled to the office, laid +the bread and butter on the desk, and stopped to listen. + +At the end of half an hour the bell rang again, and soon after Mary came +sulkily into the office with a mug of half-cold weak tea and some lumps, +not slices, of bread and butter. These she thrust before me, and I was +sadly making my breakfast when Mr Blakeford entered the place. + +"Come, make haste!" he said sharply; and as I glanced up at him I read +in his face that for some reason or another he had taken a great dislike +to me. I could not tell then, nor did I know for long afterwards, why +this was; but it grew more evident hour by hour that he hated the sight +of my anxious young face, and that my sojourn with him was to be far +from pleasant. + +He took his seat at the table while I tried to finish my breakfast, but +his coming had completely taken away my appetite, and at the end of a +few minutes I hastened to take the mug and plate to the kitchen, and +then returned to the office. + +"Now, sir," Mr Blakeford began, "just look here. Your father owed me a +large sum of money when he died, and I have taken you on here quite out +of compassion. Do you hear?" + +"Yes, sir," I faltered. + +"Well, you've got to learn to be of use to me as soon as you can. You +can write, I suppose?" + +"Yes, sir--not very well," I faltered. + +"Of course you can't. No boy brought up as you have been, without going +to a school, could be expected to write a decent hand. But look here, +you'll have to try and write well; so take that paper to the desk and +copy it out in a neat round hand." + +I took the paper with trembling hands, climbed to the desk, spread the +sheet of foolscap ready upon a big piece of blotting-paper, and took up +one of the pens before me. + +Those were the days before steel nibs had become common, and the pen I +took was a quill split up and spoiled. + +I took another and another, but they were all the same; and then, +glancing at the inkstand, I found that it was dry. + +I hardly dared to do it, but he glanced up at me to see if I had begun, +and I ventured to say that there was neither pen nor ink. + +"Of course not, blockhead. Get down and fetch some off the +chimney-piece." + +I gladly obeyed; and then, resuming my seat, with the words on the paper +dancing before my eyes, made my first essay as Mr Blakeford's clerk. + +The writing before me was not very distinct, but I managed to decipher +it pretty well, getting a little puzzled as to the meaning of "ads." and +"exors.," with various other legal contractions, but after the first +line or two going steadily on, for, bad as my education had been, I was +able to write a boy's neat round hand, consequent upon often copying out +lists for my father, or names to label the collections we made. + +I had been writing about half an hour, working away diligently enough, +when I heard the chair on the other side of the partition scroop, and +Mr Blakeford came up behind me. I fully expected a severe scolding or +a blow when he took up my sheet of foolscap and scanned it over, but he +threw it down before me again with a grunt. + +Soon afterwards he rose and went out, leaving me busy over my task, +writing till I grew giddy and my head began to ache. + +About the middle of the day Mary came in with some bread and meat; and +about six o'clock there was another mug of thin tea and some pieces of +bread and butter. Then the night came on, the gas was lighted, and I +finished my first day in what seemed to be, and really was, as I look +back upon it now, little better than a prison. + +The days crept slowly by as I took my place each morning at the desk, +finding always something fresh to copy in a neat round hand, and at this +I patiently toiled on, with my old griefs growing more dull as a little +hope began to arise that I might soon see little Hetty to speak to +again; but though from time to time I heard the voice and the sound of a +piano upon which some one was industriously practising, she never came +near the office. + +Mr Blakeford seemed as brutal to everyone in the house as he was to me. +The only person who did not seem afraid of him was Mary, and upon her +his angry scoldings had no effect whatever. To me she was harsh and +uncouth as on my first arrival, but, seeing that the amount given me for +my meals was disgracefully small, after the first week she did take care +that I had a sufficiency of food, although it only took one form. + +I remember upon one occasion, having to go to the kitchen door, and +finding her muttering angrily to herself, while upon seeing me she +exclaimed: + +"They've been going on about too much butter being used again. Come +here!" + +I went closer to her, and she hurried into the larder, and came out with +a roll of fresh butter and a new loaf, cutting off a thick piece and +plastering it excessively with butter. + +"There!" she exclaimed, "you go back into the office, and don't you show +your face here again until you've eaten up every scrap of that. I'll +teach 'em to grumble about the butter." + +From that day forward Mary was always cutting me great slices of new +bread and thickly spreading them with butter. + +"There," she used to say ungraciously, "I don't like boys, but they +shan't half-starve you while I'm here." + +I was so moved by her unexpected kindness--for it really was done out of +goodness of heart--that, having become somewhat hardened to being a +confederate in this unlawful acquisition of provender, on one occasion I +threw my arms round her neck and kissed her. + +"Why, you impudent young scamp, what d'yer mean?" she exclaimed, in +astonishment. + +"Please, Mary," I said, "I didn't mean to be impudent; it was because +you were so good to me." + +"Good? Stuff!" she said roughly, "I'm not good. There, get along with +you, and don't you do that again." + +I certainly should have run a good chance of being half-starved but for +Mary and another friend. + +One day when I opened my desk, I found just inside it a plate with an +appetising piece of pudding therein, and concluded that it was Mary's +doing; but I could not be sure, for her benevolence always took the form +of thick slices of bread and butter. + +The next day there was a piece of cake; another day some apples; +another, a couple of tartlets; and at last I determined to hide and see +who was the donor of these presents, so welcome to a growing boy. I had +made up my mind at last that they came from Hetty, and I was right; for +going inside the large paper cupboard one day, instead of going out to +fetch the newspaper according to custom, this being one of my new +duties, I saw the office door gently open and Hetty's little head +peering cautiously in. Then, satisfied that no one was near, she ran +lightly to the big desk; I heard it shut down hastily, and then there +was a quiet rustling noise, the office door closed and she was gone. + +This went on regularly, and at last one day it occurred to me that I +should like to make her a present in return. I had a few shillings, the +remains of my pocket-money, and I turned over in my own mind what I +should give her. Cakes or sweets I voted too trifling, a doll too +childish. What should I buy then? Suddenly I recollected that there +were in a window in the little town some pretty silver brooches formed +like a knot of twisted ribbon, and one of these I determined to buy. + +It took three out of my five shillings; but it looked very pretty in its +little box, reposing on pink cottonwool; and having secured it, I +returned to my copying at the desk, to think out how I could make my +gift. + +Nothing was more simple. I wrapped up the little box neatly in a +quarter-sheet of foolscap, sealed it with the office wax, and directed +it in my best hand to "Miss Hetty Blakeford. From one who is very +grateful." + +I felt very conscious and excited as I finished and laid it in the +bottom of the desk, just where the presents were always placed for me, +and to my great delight, when I looked again there was a plate of tart +which the poor child had saved from her own dinner, and the packet was +gone. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +MR BLAKEFORD SUFFERS, AND I CATCH THE ECHO. + +My life at Mr Blakeford's knew but little change. It was one regular +monotonous occupation--copy, copy, copy, from morning till night; and +but for stolen bits of reading I believe I should have gone melancholy +mad. I had no companions of my own age, no older friends to whom I +could confide my troubles or ask for advice. Mr Blakeford was always +stern and repellent; Mrs Blakeford, on the rare occasions when I +encountered her, ill-used, and ready to say something about my being an +extra expense. Only at rare intervals did I see little Hetty, and then +it would be in the street, when I had been sent to the post, to fetch +stamps, or on some such errand. Then I had a smile and a pleasant look +to think about till our next encounter. + +A year glided by in this fashion, during which time, in spite of his +constant complaints, I must have grown very useful to Mr Blakeford, for +my handwriting was clear and firm, and I copied a great many documents +in the course of the month. + +He was as brutal to me as ever, and never lost an opportunity of abusing +me for my being an incumbrance, or saying something which sent me +miserable to my room. + +My tender point, and he knew it well enough, was an allusion to my +father's debt to him; and afterwards, when I went up wretched and +low-spirited to bed, I used to make a vow that some day or another I +would save enough money to pay him all my father owed, and so free his +memory from what the lawyer always told me was a disgrace. + +Quite eighteen months had elapsed, when it became evident to me that Mr +Blakeford was in some trouble with one of his clients. This latter, a +tall florid-looking farmer, had, as I learned from what I heard of their +conversation, borrowed money from my employer upon some security, with +the understanding that payment was not to be enforced so long as the +heavy interest was provided for. + +Mr Blakeford's business seemed to consist a great deal in +money-lending, and every now and then my old acquaintance, Mr Rowle, +came to the office for instructions, and found time for a friendly chat. + +Upon this occasion I noticed that Mr Blakeford was very anxious about +the coming of some one to the office, and he spent a good deal of time +in watching from one of the windows. + +He was sternly examining a piece of copying that I had just finished, +when there came three heavy knocks with a stick upon the outer door of +the office. + +Mr Blakeford turned yellow, and, catching me by the arm, whispered-- + +"It's Mr Wooster. Antony, say I'm not at home. Say I've gone out. +Quick." + +He pushed me towards the door, and I went to open it just as there were +three more heavy knocks, and on drawing back the fastening, there stood +Mr Wooster, the stout, tall, farmer-looking man, scowling and angry. + +"Where's Mr Blakeford?" he cried, catching me fiercely by the collar, +and shaking a stout ash stick he carried. + +"Please, sir--" I began. + +"It's a lie!" he roared; "he's not out. Didn't he tell you to say he +was out?" + +"Yes, sir," I faltered, and he strode straight in; and as I followed, I +saw him catch Mr Blakeford by the throat and pin him in his chair. + +"Fetch the constable, Antony," cried Mr Blakeford. "Quick!" + +"Stop where you are, you young dog," roared the farmer, "or I'll kill +you. Now, you scoundrel, what do you mean by seizing my goods, by +putting your rascally man in possession after promising me in this +office that you would never put me to any inconvenience?" + +"If you have any complaint to make against me, Mr Wooster, employ your +solicitor," cried Mr Blakeford hoarsely. + +"Hang your solicitor and the whole crew, you scoundrelly serpent!" +roared the farmer. "You've ruined me, as you ruined that poor boy's +father, and a score more before him." + +"Antony--a constable--help!" cried Mr Blakeford, for he was yellow and +green with fear. + +"If Antony Grace stirs, I'll crush him like I would a snail," cried the +farmer. "And now look here, you crawling snake; I trusted you because I +didn't believe any one could deliberately ruin another for the sake of a +few pounds." + +"Mr Wooster, if you dare to strike me," cried the miserable coward, "I +shall proceed against you for assault." + +"So you may," cried the farmer, with a bitter laugh; "and as you've got +every penny I had, much good may it do you. Look here, Blakeford; if I +knew that I should be transported for life to Botany Bay for what I'm +going to do, I'd do it now." + +As he spoke, he spat in his hand, took a fresh grip of the ash stick, +and, in spite or Mr Blakeford's cries for help and mercy, he thrashed +him till the stick broke in pieces; and then, taking him by the collar +with both hands, he shook him till he was tired, and ended by throwing +him back in his chair. + +"There!" cried the farmer; "now do your worst, you cheating scoundrel. +I'm satisfied; go and satisfy yourself, and much good may the money you +have stolen from the poor, the fatherless, and the widow do you." + +As he said this he strode out of the office and banged the door. + +I was half stunned with fear and horror, and I remember how thankful I +felt that I had seen Mrs Blakeford go out with Hetty half an hour +before. While the thrashing was going on Mary had opened the door and +looked in, but as if it were no business of hers, she had gone out +again, and I was left the sole spectator. + +"Are you much hurt, sir?" I said in trembling tones as soon as we were +alone. + +"Yes," he whispered hoarsely, and showing his teeth, "a good deal." + +"Shall I get you something, sir?" + +"Yes," he said, panting less hoarsely, "fetch that leather case out of +the passage." + +I ran and fetched the heavy leather-covered box he meant, and placed it +beside him, watching him anxiously, to see if he were better. + +"Now, fasten both the doors," he whispered, laying his hand upon his +breast to keep down the panting as he drew his breath more easily, and +wiped the perspiration from his face. + +I obeyed him, and then returned to his side. + +"Now unfasten that case, Antony," he said in quite a faint whisper; and +going down on one knee I unbuckled a thick strap that was round it, and +was about to raise the lid, but it was locked. + +"That will do," he said, suddenly changing his tone as he seized me by +the jacket collar with one hand, the strap with the other. "You young +villain!" he hissed; "you dog! Didn't I tell you to say I was out, and +you let that bully in? I'll give you such a lesson as you will never +forget." + +I was half stupefied as he raised the thick strap, and then brought it +heavily down in blow after blow, cutting me all over the body, across +the face, hands, legs, anywhere, and causing the most intense pain. I +writhed and twined and screamed out under the first few blows in my +agony; then a feeling of blind passion came over me, and I caught at and +struggled with him for the possession of the strap, but in vain; for he +kept me at bay with one hand and continued to beat me cruelly till I +fell and then, placing one foot upon my chest, he beat me again till his +arm fell in weariness to his side. + +"I'll teach you to mind me another time," he panted, as he gloated over +me in his pitiful revenge for the beating he had himself received. +"I'll give you something to remember this day by;" and, as I rose, he +once more began to strike me; but this time I caught at the strap and +held it with hands and teeth, twisting it round me and holding on while +he strove to drag it away. + +My resistance seemed to half madden him as I still held on. + +"Let go, you dog!" he roared, "let go!" but I held on the more tightly; +when, beside himself with rage, as a loud knocking came now at the inner +door, he caught up a heavy office ruler from the table and struck me so +cruel a blow across the head that I staggered backwards, and should have +fallen to the floor if the door had not been dashed in and Mary caught +me up. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +UNDER MARY'S MASK. + +"You great coward!" she cried in a rage, as, sick, faint, and heavy, and +seeing everything now as in a dream, I was lifted in her stout arms. + +"Leave this room, woman!" I heard him say. + +"Yes, and your house too, you wretch?" she retorted; and then I heard no +more till I seemed to wake in a heavy, dull, throbbing fashion in the +kitchen, where some one seemed to be wetting my head with water smelling +very strongly of pickles. + +The place looked as if it was early morning, and the walls, with the +dresser, plates, and tureens, and the bright tin dish-covers, seemed to +be going round and round, but not regularly, for it was as if they went +up and down in a wavy billowy way, and all the time I seemed to feel +terribly sick. + +"Oh, if I was a man!" I heard Mary mutter; and then more softly, +"There, don't you cry, Miss Hetty; he ain't killed. It's left off +bleeding now. You go to your mar's work-basket and get me a strip of +rag. You ain't got any sticking-plaister, have you?" + +"I've got some black court-plaister, Mary." + +"That'll do, chucky; go and get it. Poor boy, he has had a beating!" +she muttered as I heard Hetty's steps crossing the kitchen floor. + +"I'm--I'm better now, Mary," I said faintly; and I tried to rise. + +"No, you ain't better, neither; and you'll just lie quite still till +your head's done," said Mary, in her rough ungracious way. "You needn't +be afraid about him; he's gone to bed and sent for the doctor, because +he pretends he's so bad, and Mr Emmett the constable is upstairs with +him, about going to the magistrates and taking up Mr Wooster for +beating him; but he didn't say nothing about taking his self up for +beating you, a great ugly coward! Oh! here you are, are you?" + +"Here's some clean soft linen and the court-plaister," I heard Hetty say +with a sob. + +"Where's your mar?" said Mary. + +"Upstairs in papa's room." + +"Ho?" ejaculated Mary, "and I hope she'll stay there. There, don't you +begin a-crying again. Hold his hair back while I put this bit on. +There, it's not going to bleed any more, and you needn't get shuddering +like that at the sight of a little blood. That's the way. Poor boy, it +was enough to knock down a hox. Never mind the wet hair; it's only +vinegar and water. That's the way; we'll soon strap it up. I don't +want to hurt your feelings, Miss Hetty, but your par's a brute." + +"Oh, Mary! I won't stop in the kitchen if you say such things," cried +Hetty, stamping her little foot. + +"Then you'd better go back into the parlour, my dear, for I shall say +what I like in my own kitchen; so there now." + +"It's very cruel and unkind of you, Mary." + +"And it's very cruel and unkind of your par to keep this poor boy +half-starved in that orfis." + +"He did not, Mary. I'm sure papa would not do such a thing." + +"And that's why you go without half your dinner, and then take and put +it in Antony's desk." + +"Mary!" + +"Ah, you may Mary as long as you like, but I've seen you do it." + +"Hush! pray don't, Mary; he'll hear you." + +"Not he, my dear. Poor boy! he's dropped off asleep, and the best thing +too. You're asleep, aren't you?" + +I tried to answer "No," but the faint deathly feeling came over me again +as strongly as ever, and all seemed dark and silent once more. + +It was getting dark when I awoke; for, from fainting, I must have lapsed +into a heavy sleep, the result of exhaustion and the shock. My head +ached, and I was very stiff and in great pain as I tried to raise myself +from the pillow which propped me up in the great Windsor chair. Mary +was seated opposite to me, crooning some ditty in a low voice as she sat +sewing, the needle clicking against her thimble as she thrust it through +the work. + +The fire was burning brightly, the tea-things on the table, the pot on +the hob, and some buttered toast upon the fender. + +As I was gazing at her, and noticing the play of the flames over her red +and rugged countenance, she suddenly raised her eyes, gazed full at me, +and the harsh repulsive look passed away as she showed a set of white +teeth in a pleasant smile, and rose and came to me, bending down and +laying her hand upon my burning forehead. + +"You won't want no doctor," she said; and to my utter astonishment she +bent lower, kissed me, and then softly patted my cheek. "Poor boy," she +said, "it was a shame!" + +I gazed up piteously and wildly, I believe, in her face, for it was so +strange. She had always been so rough and harsh towards me, and her +frequent donations of bread and butter seemed to have been given to me +more out of spite to her employers than out of kindness to me; but now +it was plain enough that under her rugged crust she possessed a true +woman's nature, and the ill-treatment I had received had completely made +her my friend. + +"I've been waiting all this time for you to wake and have tea," she +said, placing the pot and the toast on the table. "Now then, see if you +can't sit up and have some." + +"I couldn't drink any, thank you," I said faintly. + +"Such stuff and nonsense! It's quite fresh, and I've put in some extra +as Miss Hetty give me. Come now, sit up and try, there's a dear." + +I tried to sit up, but the pain was so great that I sank back, having +hard work not to cry out; and seeing this, with a tenderness for which I +should not have given her credit, she gently raised me and backed the +pillows up, so as to support me; and then, finding that this was not +sufficient, she ran out of the kitchen, to return in a few minutes, +doubling up what I knew was her best shawl, which she now formed into a +cushion. + +"There, now we shall do," she said cheerily; and, pouring out a cup of +tea, she tasted and added milk till it was to her liking, and then held +it to my lips. + +It was like nectar, and I gave her a grateful look for that which seemed +to impart new life to my bruised body. + +"Now, you've got to eat some toast," she said, and I stared at her in +wonder, for it seemed to be a new Mary upon whom I gazed. + +"I couldn't eat a bit," I said helplessly. + +"But you must," she said imperatively. "Now look here, you have had +hardly anything since breakfast, and if you don't eat, you can't get +well." + +I took the toast she held to me, and managed to eat it. That done, I +had another cup of tea, and the sickly faint feeling I had had every +time I moved seemed less overpowering; and at last I lay back there, +listening helplessly to Mary as she chatted to me and washed up the +tea-things. + +"Don't you trouble about them; they won't come in my kitchen. He's ill +in bed, or pretending to be, and the doctor says he ain't to move for a +week. I hope he mayn't for a month--a brute! I never see such a +cowardly trick. I wish my William had him. He's going to have the law +of Mr Wooster, so Mr Emmett the constable told me; and him and the +doctor'll make out a nice case between 'em, I know. Pah! I hate +lawyers and doctors. So you make yourself comfortable. I'll be your +doctor, and if they ain't pretty civil to me, I'll be your lawyer, too, +and go to the madgistrits, see if I don't. If I was you I wouldn't stay +with 'em a minnit after I got well. I shan't; I'm sick of 'em." + +"I wish I could go, Mary," I said, "but I don't want to go now you've +been so kind." + +"Kind! Stuff! It's only my way. There ain't a better-tempered girl +nowheres than I am; only when you come to live in a house where the +master's a snarling, biting, growling hound, and the missus is a +fault-finding, scolding, murmuring himidge, it's enough to put out a +hartchangel. But I say, if I was you, and could write such a lovely +hand, I should send and tell my father and mother. Oh, I am sorry, +dear--I forgot about your poor father and mother. But I would write and +tell somebody." + +Mary's allusion to my lovely handwriting was consequent upon my having +copied a letter for her to one Mr William Revitts, who was a policeman +in London. She had asked me to copy it for her, and direct it "proper," +because her hands were so dirty when she wrote that she was afraid he +might not be able to read it. All the same, Mary's hands seemed to have +been perfectly clean, though the probabilities were that the said Mr +William Revitts, "mi one dere willim," would certainly not have been +able to read the letter. In fact, I broke down over the very beginning +by mistaking "one" for the number, and had to be corrected, Mary having +meant to say _own_. + +Her allusion to my parents touched a tender chord, and my face worked as +I recalled the happy times gone by. "I have nobody to write to," I said +at last--"only my uncle." + +"Then I'd write and tell him, that I would." + +"I am not quite sure where he lives," I said. "I never saw him till-- +till he came to the funeral." + +"But haven't you got nobody belonging to you--no friends at all?" + +"I think not," I said helplessly. "No one who would help me." + +"Well, you are a one," said Mary, pausing in the act of wiping out the +tea-tray after half filling it and pouring the dirty water off at one +corner. "Why, I've got no end o' people belonging to me; and if that +brute upstairs--as I wish he may ache bad for a week!--was to raise his +hand against me, my William would be down and serve him worse than Mr +Wooster did, I can tell him--a wretch!" + +"Is that Mr William Revitts," I asked, "the policeman?" + +"Yes; but he wouldn't come down here as a policeman, but as a gentleman, +and he'd soon teach Mr Blakeford what he ought to--Yes! What is it?" + +This was in answer to a shrill call for Mary in Mrs Blakeford's voice, +and that lady came in immediately after, to Mary's great disgust. + +"You must get hot water ready directly, Mary," she began in an ill-used +way. "I'm sure _I_ don't know what I shall do. He's very bad indeed." + +"Oh, there's lots of hot water," said Mary shortly. "Biler's full, and +kettle's full, and I'll put on the great black saucepan and light the +copper if you like." + +As she spoke Mary seized the big poker, and began stoking and hammering +away at the fire in a most vicious manner, as if determined to vent her +spleen upon Mr Blakeford's coals. + +"Your poor master's dreadfully bad," said Mrs Blakeford again, and she +kept on looking at me in a way that seemed quite to indicate that I +alone was to blame. + +"Oh, yes, mum, I dessay he is, and so's other people too, and wuss. I +dessay he'll get better again if he don't die." + +Mrs Blakeford stared at Mary in a half-terrified way, and backed to the +door. + +"You ring the bell when you want it, and I'll bring you a can of water +upstairs," continued Mary ungraciously. + +"And couldn't you help me a little in attending upon your master, Mary?" + +"No, I couldn't, mum," she said shortly, "for I'm the worst nuss as ever +was; and besides, I've got my kitchen work to do; and if you wants a +nuss, there's Mrs Jumfreys over the way would be glad to come, I +dessay, only I ain't going to have her here in my kitchen." + +Mrs Blakeford hastily backed out of the kitchen and retreated upstairs, +while Mary's rough mask dropped off as soon as she had gone. + +"I wasn't going to tell her as I nussed an invalid lady two years 'fore +I came here," she said, smiling. "Besides, I didn't want to have +nothing to do with him, for fear I should be tempted to give him his +lotion 'stead of his physic, he aggravates me so. Lotions is pison, you +know--outward happlication only." + +That night I had a bed made up down in the kitchen, and passed a weary, +feverish time; but towards morning a pleasant feeling of drowsiness came +over me. I fell asleep to dream that I was at home once more, and all +was bright and sunshiny as I sat half asleep in the summer-house, when +my mother came and laid her hand upon my forehead, and I opened my eyes +to find it was Mary, ready to ask me whether I was better; and though +the sweet, bright dream had gone, there was something very tender in the +eyes that looked in mine. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +DREAMS OF THE GREAT MAGNET. + +I was very stiff and sore, and there was a peculiar giddiness ready to +assail me as soon as I moved, so Mary, in her double capacity of doctor +and nurse, decided that I was not to attempt to walk about that day. + +The consequence was that she made no scruple about dragging a little +couch out of the parlour into the kitchen, and after I was dressed, +making me lie down near the fire. + +"If they don't like it about the sofy, they must do the other thing," +she said, laughing. "I say, do you know what time it is?" + +"No," I replied. + +"Half-past ten, and I've been waiting breakfast till you woke. You +_have_ had a sleep. I wouldn't wake you, for I thought it would do you +good." + +"I am better, a great deal," I said. + +"Yes; so you are. He ain't, or pretends he ain't. Miss Hetty's been +catching it." + +"Has she?" + +"Yes; for wanting to know about you. Missus told her you were a wicked +young wretch, and had half killed your master, and she was never to +mention your name again." + +I was decidedly better, and in the course of the afternoon I got up and +found that the various objects had ceased to waltz around. I made my +way up to my bedroom, and for the first time had a look at myself in the +glass, where I found that a sore feeling upon my face was caused by a +couple of black marks which crossed each other at a sharp angle, and +that high up above my temple, and just where the hair would cover it, +there was a patch of black court-plaister, which was placed across and +across in strips to cover a long and painful cut. + +The days glided by; the weals on my face changed colour and began to +fade, while the cut on my head grew less painful. I was thrown a good +deal with Mary, for no work had been set me in the office, and Mr +Blakeford kept his bed, being regularly attended by the doctor. + +I found--Mary being my informant--that there was to be quite a serious +case made of it, and Mrs Blakeford had told her that I was to be an +important witness to the assault. + +A fortnight had passed; and as I sat alone day after day in the office +thinking of a plan that had suggested itself to my mind, but fearing to +put it into execution, I had two visitors who completely altered my +career in life. + +The first came one morning as I was writing a letter to my uncle--a +letter destined never to reach him--in the shape of the big farmer, Mr +Wooster, who rapped sharply at the office door, and gazed sternly at me +as I opened it and stood in the little passage. + +"Where's Blakeford?" he said sharply. + +"Ill in bed, sir," I said. + +"It's a lie, you young rascal," he cried, catching me by the collar. +"Here, how old are you?" + +"Thirteen, sir." + +"And you can tell lies like that, eh? and without blushing?" + +"It is not a lie, sir," I said stoutly. "Mr Blakeford hasn't been down +since--since--" + +"I thrashed him, eh?" he said, laughing. "It was a good thrashing too, +eh, youngster? But, hallo! what's the matter with your head?" + +"A cut, sir." + +"What! Did you tumble down?" + +"No, sir. It was done the day you--you beat Mr Blakeford." + +"How?" + +I was silent. + +"He--he didn't dare to do it, did he?" + +I was still silent. + +"Look here, youngster, tell me the truth and I'll give you a shilling." + +"I never told a lie yet, sir," I said stoutly, "and I don't want your +shilling." + +He looked at me intently for a few moments, and then held out his hand. +"Shake hands," he said. + +I placed mine in his, and he squeezed it so that he hurt me, but I did +not flinch. + +"I believe you, my lad. You don't look like a lying sort, and I wish +you were out of this. Now, tell me, did he make that cut on your head?" +I nodded. "What with?" + +"That ruler." + +"Humph! And what for?" + +"Because I let you in on that day." + +"Hang him!" he cried, striding up and down the office, for he had walked +straight in, "he's a bigger scoundrel than I thought him. Now, look +here, my man, there's going to be an action, or a trial, or something, +against me, and you'll be the principal witness. Now, what are you +going to do?" + +"Going to do, sir?" + +"Yes," he said impatiently; "you'll have to appear before the +magistrates, and you'll be asked all about my thrashing your master. +What are you going to say?" + +"I shall tell them the truth, sir." + +"No, you won't, my boy. You'll say what Mr Blakeford tells you to +say." + +"I shall tell the truth, sir," I said stoutly. + +"Look here, my lad, if you tell the truth, that's all I want; if you +don't, you'll ruin me." + +"I'm sure I shall tell the truth, sir," I said, colouring up and +speaking earnestly. + +"You'll tell the magistrates, then, that I snatched up the poker and +beat Mr Blakeford with that, eh?" + +"No, sir, it was your walking-stick." + +"Was it anything like that?" he said, holding out the one he carried. + +"Yes, sir, just like it. Here are the pieces, sir," I said; and I took +them out of my desk, where I had placed them. + +"You're a brave boy," he cried, rubbing his hands; "so they are. Now +look here, my boy: Mr Blakeford says I assaulted him with the poker. +Just you button those pieces of stick up in your socket--no, give them +to me; I'll take them. Now; when the day comes, and I ask you to tell +the truth about it, you speak out honestly, or, better still, go and +hide yourself and never come near the court at all. There's +half-a-crown for you. What, you won't take it! Well, just as you like. +Good-bye!" + +He shook hands with me again, and nodding in a friendly way, left the +office. + +He had not been, gone more than an hour when there was another knock at +the door, and on opening it, I admitted Mr Rowle, who smiled at me as +he took off his hat and smoothed his thin streaky hair across his bald +head. + +"Well, young un," he said, "why, you're growing quite a man. But what's +the matter with your forehead?" + +I told him, and he gave a low, long whistle. + +"I say, young un," he said, "I dare say it ain't no business of mine, +but if I was you, I should look after another place. Perhaps, though, +he wouldn't let you go." + +"Mr Blakeford often says, Mr Rowle, that he wishes I was out of his +sight." + +"Gammon!" said my visitor; "don't you believe him. You do as you like; +but if I was a boy like you, I wouldn't stay here." + +I looked up at him guiltily, and he stared hard at me, as if reading my +thoughts. + +"Why, what's wrong?" he said; "you look as red as a turkey cock!" + +"Please, Mr Rowle--but you won't tell Mr Blakeford?" + +"Tell Mr Blakeford? Not I." + +"I mean to go up to London, and try and find my uncle." + +"Try and find him? What, don't you know where he lives?" + +"No, sir." + +"Humph! London's a big place, you know." + +"Yes, sir, but I dare say I could find him." + +"What is he--a gentleman?" + +"Yes, sir, I think so." + +"So don't I, my boy, or he'd never have left you in charge of old +Pouncewax. But lookye here now; out with it! What do you mean to do-- +give notice to leave, or are you going to cut?" + +"Cut what, sir?" + +"Cut what! Why, cut away--run up to London." + +I hesitated for a few moments and hung my head; then, looking up in my +old friend's face, as he thrust his hand into his cuff--and I expected +to see him draw his pipe--I felt that I had nothing to fear from him, +and I spoke out. + +"Please, Mr Rowle, I'm so unhappy here, that I was going to run away." + +He caught me by the collar so sharply that I thought he was going to +punish me; but it was only touring down his other hand with a sharp clap +upon my shoulder. + +"I'm glad of it, young un. Run away, then, before he crushes all the +hope and spirit out of you." + +"Then you don't think it would be very wrong, sir?" + +"I think it would be very right, young un; and I hope if you find your +uncle, he won't send you back. If he wants to, don't come: but run away +again. Look here; you'll want a friend in London. Go and see my +brother." + +"Your brother, sir?" + +"Yes, my brother Jabez. You'll know him as soon as you see him; he's +just like me. How old do you think I am?" + +"I should think you're fifty, sir." + +"Fifty-eight, young un; and so's Jabez. There, you go and put his name +and address down. Fifty-eight he is, and I'm fifty-eight, so there's a +pair of us. Now, then, write away: Mr Jabez Rowle, Ruddle and Lister." + +"Mr Jabez Rowle," I said, writing it carefully down, "Good. Now Ruddle +and Lister." + +"Ruddle and Lister." + +"Commercial printers." + +"Com-mer-cial prin-ters." + +"Short Street, Fetter Lane." + +"Fetter Lane." + +"And now let's look." I handed him the scrap of paper. + +"Why, it's lovely. Copper-plate's nothing to it, young un. There, you +go up and see him, and tell him you've come up to London to make your +fortune, and he'll help you, I went up to London to make mine, young +un." + +"And did you make it, sir?" I said eagerly. He looked down at his +shabby clothes, smoothed his hair, and then, with a curious smile upon +his face-- + +"No, young un, I didn't make it. I made something else instead." + +"Did you, sir?" + +"Yes, young un--a mess of it. Look here, I might have got on, but I +learned to drink like a fish. Don't you. Mind this: drink means going +downwards into the mud; leaving it alone means climbing up to the top of +the tree. Bless your young heart, whatever you do, don't drink." + +"No, sir," I said, "I will not;" but I did not appreciate his advice. + +"There, you stick to that paper. And now, how much money have you got?" + +"Money, sir?" + +"Yes, money. London's a hundred miles away, and you can't walk." + +"I think I could, sir." + +"Well, try it; and ride when you're tired. How much have you got?" + +I took out my little blue silk purse, and counted in sixpences +half-a-crown. + +He looked at me for some few moments, and then stood thinking, as if +trying to make up his mind about something. + +"I'll do it," he muttered. "Look here, young un, you and I are old +friends, ain't we?" + +"Oh, yes!" I said eagerly. + +"Then I will do it," he said, and untying his neckerchief, he, to my +great surprise, began to unroll it, to show me the two ends that were +hidden in the folds. "For a rainy day," he said, "and this is a rainy +day for you. Look here, young un; this is my purse. Here's two +half-sovs tied up in these two corners--that's one for you, and one for +me." + +"Oh, no, sir," I said, "I'd rather not take it!" and I shrank away, for +he seemed so poor and shabby, that the idea troubled me. + +"I don't care whether you'd rather or not," he said, untying one corner +with his teeth. "You take it, and some day when you've made your +fortune, you give it me back--if so be as you find I haven't succeeded +to my estate." + +"Do you expect to come in for an estate some day, sir?" I said eagerly. + +"Bless your young innocence, yes. A piece of old mother earth, my boy, +six foot long, and two foot wide. Just enough to bury me in." + +I understood him now, and a pang shot through me at the idea of another +one who had been kind to me dying. He saw my look and nodded sadly. + +"Yes, my lad, perhaps I shall be dead and gone long before then." + +"Oh, sir, don't; it's so dreadful!" I said. + +"No, no, my boy," he said quietly; and he patted my shoulder, as he +pressed the half-sovereign into my hand. "Not so dreadful as you think. +It sounds very awful to you youngsters, with the world before you, and +all hope and brightness; but some day, please God you live long enough, +you'll begin to grow very tired, and then it will seem to you more like +going to take a long rest. But there, there, we won't talk like that. +Here, give me that money back?" + +I handed it to him, thinking that he had repented of what he had done, +and he hastily rolled the other half-sovereign up, and re-tied his +handkerchief. + +"Here," he said, "stop a minute, and don't shut the door. I shall soon +be back." + +He hurried out, and in five minutes was back again to gaze at me +smiling. + +"Stop a moment," he said, "I must get sixpence out of another pocket. I +had to buy an ounce o' 'bacco so as to get change. Now, here you are-- +hold out your hand." + +I held it out unwillingly, and he counted eight shillings and four +sixpences into it. + +"That's ten," he said; "it's better for you so. Now you put some in one +pocket and some in another, and tie some up just the same as I have, and +put a couple of shillings anywhere else you can; and mind and never show +your money, and never tell anybody how much you've got. And mind this, +too, when anybody asks you to give him something to drink, take him to +the pump. That's all. Stop. Don't lose that address. Gov'nor's not +down, I s'pose?" + +"No, sir," I said. + +"All right then, I shan't stay. Good-bye, young un. When are you +going?" + +"I'm not quite sure yet, sir." + +"No? Well, perhaps I shan't see you again. Jabez Rowle, mind you. +Tell him all about yourself, mind, and--good-bye." + +He trotted off, but came back directly, holding out his hand. + +"God bless you, young un," he said huskily. "Good-bye." + +Before I could speak again, the door closed sharply, and I was alone. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +I TAKE A BOLD STEP. + +My head was in a whirl as soon as Mr Rowle had gone, and I sat at my +desk thinking over my project, for I had felt for days past that I could +not stay where I was--that I would sooner die; and night after night I +had lain awake thinking of the, to me, terrible step I proposed to take. +My life at Mr Blakeford's had been such a scene of misery and torture, +that I should have gone long enough before, had I dared. Now that I had +grown older, and a little more confident, I had gradually nurtured the +idea as my only hope, and the events of the past weeks had pretty well +ripened my scheme. + +As I sat there, I laid my arms on the big desk, and my head down upon +them, trembling at my daring, as the idea took a far more positive shape +than ever; and now a feeling of reluctance to leave had come upon me. +Mary had been so kind; and then there was little Hetty, who had silently +shown me so many tokens of her girlish goodwill. + +I felt as I sat there, with the money and address in my pocket, that I +must go now; and to act as a spur to my intentions, the words of Mr +Wooster came trooping across my memory. + +Would Mr Blakeford want me to go to the magistrates and say what was +not true? + +In imagination, I saw his threatening dark face before me, and his thin +lips just parting to display his white teeth in that doglike smile of +his, and I shuddered, as I felt how I feared him. It would be horrible +to be threatened till I promised to say what he wished, and to lie to +the magistrates with Mr Wooster's threatening face watching me the +while. + +But he would not ask me to tell a lie, I thought, and I could not run +away. Mary would never forgive me, and Hetty would think that I really +did cause her father to be so beaten. No: I felt I could not go, and +that somehow I must get away from the house, go straight to Mr Rowle's +lodgings, and give him back the money, which I had received upon such a +false pretence. + +It was all over. I felt the idea of freeing myself from my wretched +slavery was one that could never be carried out, and I must wait +patiently and bear my miserable lot. + +_Crack_! + +I leaped up as if I had been shot, to see Mr Blakeford, in +dressing-gown and slippers, his hair cut short, and looking very pale, +standing in the office, the ruler in his hand, with which he had just +struck the table and made me start. + +"Asleep?" he said sharply. + +"No, sir," I said, trembling as I looked at him over the partition. +"No, sir, I was not asleep." + +"It's a lie, sir, you were asleep. Come here." + +I descended from the stool, and opening the partition door, went slowly +into his part of the office, and stood by the table, his dark eyes +seeming to pierce me through and through. + +"Been worked so hard since I was ill, eh?" he said sneeringly. + +"No, sir, I--" + +"Hold your tongue. What's the matter with your head?" + +"My head, sir?" I stammered. + +"Yes, that half-healed cut. Oh, I remember, you fell down didn't you?" + +"Fell down, sir! No, I--" + +"You fell down--pitched down--I remember, while climbing." + +"No, sir, I--" + +"Look here, you dog," he hissed between his teeth; "you fell down, do +you hear? and cut your head when climbing. Do you understand?" + +"No, sir, I--" + +"Once more, Antony Grace, listen to me. If anyone asks you how you came +by that cut, mind--you fell down when climbing--you fell down when +climbing. If you forget that--" + +He did not finish, but seemed to hold me with his eye as he played with +the ruler and made it go up and down. + +"Look here, my boy, you are my clerk, and you are to do exactly as I +tell you. Now, listen to me. The day after to-morrow there is to be a +case of assault brought before the magistrates, and you will be sworn as +a witness. You let Mr Wooster in--curse him!--and you saw him come up +to my table where I was sitting, and make a demand for money." + +"Please, sir, I did not hear him ask for money." + +"You did, sir," he thundered; "and you saw him strike me with his +stick." + +"Yes, sir, I saw him strike you," I cried hastily. "Oh, you did see +that, did you?" he said in sneering tones. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did you see the stick break?" + +"Yes, sir," I said eagerly. + +"Oh, come; I'm glad you can remember that. Then he caught up the poker +and beat me with it heavily across the body, till the poker was bent +right round; and at last, when I was quite stunned and senseless, and +with the blood streaming from my lips, he left me half dead and went +away." + +There was a pause here, during which I could not take my eyes from his. +"You saw all that, didn't you?" + +"No, sir," I said, "he did not take the poker." + +"What?" + +"He did not take the poker, sir." + +"Oh! and he did not beat me with it till it was bent?" + +"No, sir." + +"Go and fetch that poker," he said quietly; and I went trembling, and +picked it up, to find it quite bent. "There, you see?" he said. + +"Yes, sir, it is bent." + +"Of course it is, Antony. You don't remember that he struck me with it, +eh?" + +"No, sir," I said, trembling. + +"Ah, I shall have to refresh your memory, my boy. You remember, of +course, about the blood?" + +"No, sir." + +"What's that on the floor?" + +I looked down at the place to which he pointed with the bent poker, and +there were some dark stains where I had fallen. Then, raising my eyes +to his again, I looked at him imploringly. + +"I shall soon refresh your memory, Antony," he said, laughing silently, +and looking at me so that I shivered again. "You will find, on sitting +down and thinking a little, that you recollect perfectly well how Mr +Wooster beat me cruelly with the poker, till it was bent like this, and +left me bleeding terribly on the office floor. There, hold your tongue. +You'll recollect it all. Sit down and try and remember it, there's a +good boy. I'm better now, but I can't talk much. Let me see, Antony, +what time do you go to bed?" + +"Nine o'clock, sir," I faltered. + +"Exactly. Well, don't go to sleep, my boy. I'll come up to you after +you are in bed, and see if you remember it any better. Go back to your +desk." + +I crept back, watching him the while, as he stood balancing the poker in +his hand, and smiling at me in a way that made my blood turn cold. +Then, throwing the poker back with a crash into the grate, he went out +as silently as he had come, and I sat there thinking for quite two +hours. + +At the end of that time, I took a sheet of paper, and wrote upon it as +well as my wet trembling hands would let me-- + + "My dear Mary,-- + + "Please don't think me a very ungrateful boy, but I cannot, and I dare + not, stay here any longer. When you read this I shall be gone, never + to come back any more. Please tell Miss Hetty I shall never forget + her kindness, and I shall never forget yours. + + "I remain, your affectionate friend,-- + + "Antony Grace. + + "P.S.--Some day, perhaps, we shall meet somewhere. I am very unhappy, + and I cannot write any more. Mr Blakeford frightens me." + +This letter I doubled and sealed up in the old fashion, and kept in my +pocket, meaning to post it, and at last, when I went into the kitchen to +tea, I was half afraid to meet Mary. She noticed my pale face, and I +told her the truth, that I had a bad headache, making it an excuse for +going up to bed at eight o'clock, feeling as if the greatest event in my +life were about to take place, and shaking like a leaf. + +I felt that I had an hour to spare, and spent part of the time in making +a bundle of my best clothes and linen. I tied up in a handkerchief, +too, some thick slices of bread and butter, and some bread and meat that +I had found that afternoon in my desk. Then, as the night grew darker, +I sat thinking and asking myself, after placing my bundles ready, +whether I should go at once, or wait till I heard Mr Blakeford coming. + +I had just decided to go at once, feeling that I dare not face Mr +Blakeford again, when I heard his voice downstairs, and started up, +trembling in every limb. + +"Where's that boy?" + +"Gone to bed," said Mary surlily. Then I heard a door shut directly +after, and breathed more freely. I felt that I must go at once, and +stood in the middle of the room, shivering with nervous excitement, as I +thought of the madness of the step I was about to undertake. + +A dozen times over I felt that I dare not go, till the recollection of +Mr Blakeford's dark threatening face and sneering smile gave me +strength, and made me call up the picture of myself before the +magistrates telling all I knew about the assault, of course not saying +anything about the poker, or my employer's injuries; and then I began to +think about meeting him afterwards. + +"He'll half kill me," I thought; and stopping at this, I nerved myself +for what I had to do, and putting on my cap, went to the door and +listened. + +I had spent so much time in indecision that the church clock was +striking ten, and I started as I thought of Mr Blakeford being already +upon the stairs. + +From where I stood I could have seen the light shining out of the +kitchen where Mary sat at work; but it was not there, and I knew that +she must have gone up to bed. + +It now flashed upon me that this was why Mr Blakeford had been +waiting--he did not want Mary to interfere; and a cold chill came over +me as I felt that he meant to beat me till I consented to say what he +wished. + +There was no time to lose, so, darting back, I caught up my two bundles, +crept to the door, descended the stairs on tiptoe, and felt my heart +beat violently at every creak the woodwork of the wretched steps gave. + +Twice over a noise in the house made me turn to run back, but as there +was silence once more, I crept down, and at last reached the mat in +front of the office door. + +At the end of the passage was the parlour, where I knew Mr Blakeford +would be sitting, and as I looked towards it in the darkness, I could +see a faint glimmer of light beneath the door, and then heard Mr +Blakeford cough slightly and move his chair. + +Turning hastily, I felt for the handle of the office door, which was +half glass, with a black muslin blind over it, and moving the handle, I +found the door locked. The key was in, though, and turning it, there +was a sharp crack as the bolt shot back, and then as I unclosed this +door, I heard that of the parlour open, and a light shone down the +passage. + +"He's coming?" I said in despair; and for a moment, my heart failed me, +so great an influence over me had this man obtained, and I stood as if +nailed to the floor. The next moment, though, with my heart beating so +painfully that it was as if I was being suffocated, I glided into the +office and closed the door, holding it shut, without daring to let the +handle turn and the catch slip back. + +If he came into the office, I was lost, and in imagination, I saw myself +with my cap on, and my bundles under my arm, standing trembling and +detected before him. Trembling, indeed, as the light came nearer, and I +saw him dimly through the black blind approaching the office door. + +He was coming into the office, and all was over! Closer, closer he +came, till he was opposite the door, when he stopped short, as if +listening. + +His face was not a yard from mine, and as I gazed at him through the +blind, with starting eyes, seeing his evil-looking countenance lit up by +the chamber candlestick he carried, and the grim smile upon his lips, I +felt that he must hear me breathe. + +I was paralysed, for it seemed to me that his eyes were gazing straight +into mine--fascinating me as it were, where I stood. + +He was only listening, though, and instead of coming straight into the +office, he turned off sharp to the left, and began to ascend the stairs +leading to my bedroom. + +There was not a moment to lose, but I was as if in a nightmare, and +could not stir, till, wrenching myself away, I darted across the office +to the outer door, slipped the bolts, and turned the key with frantic +haste, just as his steps sounded overhead, and I heard him calling me by +name. + +The door stuck, and I could not get it open, and all the time I could +hear him coming. He ran across the room, every footstep seeming to come +down upon my head like lead. He was descending the stairs, and still +that door stuck fast at the top. + +In a despairing moment, I looked behind me to see the light shining in +at the glass door as he descended, and then my hand glided to the top of +the door, and I found that I had not quite shot back the bolt. + +The next moment it was free, the door open, and I was through; but, +feeling that he would catch me in the yard, I tore out the key, thrust +it into the hole with trembling fingers, and as he dashed open the inner +door I closed the one where I stood, and locked it from the outside. + +I had somehow held on to my bundles, and was about to run across the +yard to the pump in the corner, place one foot upon the spout, and by +this means reach the top of the wall, when I stopped, paralysed once +more by the fierce barking of the dog. + +To my horror I found that he was loose, for his hoarse growling came +from quite another part of the yard to that where his kennel was fixed; +and I stood outside the door, between two enemies, as a faint streak of +light shot out through the keyhole, playing strangely upon the bright +handle of the key.--"Are you there, Antony? Come back this moment, sir. +Unlock this door." + +I did not answer, but stood fast, as the handle was tried and shaken +again and again. + +"You scoundrel! come back, or it will be worse for you. Leo, Leo, Leo!" + +The dog answered the indistinctly heard voice with a sharp burst of +barking; and as the sound came nearer, I seemed to see the animal's +heavy bull-head, and his sharp teeth about to be fixed in my throat. + +The perspiration dripped from me, and in my horror I heard Mr Blakeford +exclaim-- + +"You are there, you scoundrel, I know. I heard you lock the door. Come +in directly, or I'll half kill you." + +My hoarse breathing was the only sound I heard. Then, directly after, +there were hasty steps crossing the office, and I knew he had gone round +to reach the front. + +There was not a moment to lose, and I was about to risk the dog's +attack, sooner than face Mr Blakeford, when a thought struck me. + +I had the little bundle loosely tied up in a handkerchief, and in it the +bread and meat. + +This might quiet the dog; and with a courage I did not know I possessed, +I hastily tore it open, and taking a couple of steps into the yard, +called out, in a loud quick voice, "Here, Leo, Leo!" throwing the bread +and meat towards where I believed the dog to be. + +There was a rush, a snarling whine, and the dog was close to me for the +moment. The next, as I heard him in the darkness seize the meat, I was +across the yard, with one foot on the pump, and as I raised myself the +front door was flung open, and I heard Mr Blakeford rush out. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +ON THE ROAD TO LONDON. + +As Mr Blakeford ran down to the garden gate, I reached the top of the +wall, from whence I should have dropped down, but that he was already +outside, and would, I felt sure, have heard me. If I had then run away, +it seemed to me that it would be the easiest of tasks for him to pursue +me, and hunt me down. + +If I stayed where I was, I felt that he would see me against the sky, +and I knew he would pass close by me directly to reach the yard doors, +when, half in despair, I threw myself flat down, and lay as close as I +could, embracing the wall, and holding my bundle in my teeth. + +I heard him pass beneath the wall directly, and enter the yard by the +gate, which he closed after him, before running up to the office door +and unlocking it, allowing a stream of light to issue forth just across +where the dog was peaceably eating my provender. + +"Curse him, he has gone!" I heard Mr Blakeford mutter, and my blood +ran cold, as he made a hasty tour of the place. "I'll have him back if +it costs me five hundred pounds," he snarled. "Antony, Antony! Come +here, my boy, and I'll forgive you." + +He stopped, listening, but of course I did not move; and then, in an +access of rage, he turned upon the dog. + +"You beast, what are you eating there?" he roared. "Why didn't you +seize him? Take that!" + +There was a dull thud as of a heavy kick, a yelp, a whine, a snarl, and +then a dull worrying noise, as if the dog had flown at his master, who +uttered a loud cry of pain, followed by one for help; but I waited to +hear no more, for, trembling in every limb, I had grasped my bundle and +dropped from the wall, when with the noise growing faint behind me I ran +with all my might in the direction of the London Road. + +Hearing steps, though, coming towards me directly after, I stopped +short, and ran into a garden, cowering down amongst the shrubs, for I +felt certain that whoever it was in front would be in Mr Blakeford's +pay, and I waited some time after he had passed before continuing my +flight. + +I ran on that night till there was a hot feeling of blood in my throat, +and then I staggered up to, and leaned panting upon, a hedge by the +roadside, listening for the sounds of pursuit. A dog barking in the +distance sounded to me like Leo, and I felt sure that Mr Blakeford was +in hot chase; then I stumbled slowly on, but not for any great distance, +my pace soon degenerating into a walk, till I regained my breath, when I +ran on again for a time, but at a steady trot now, for I had not since +heard the barking of the dog. Still I did not feel safe, knowing that +at any moment Mr Blakeford might overtake me in his pony-chaise, when, +unless I could escape by running off across country, I should be +ignominiously dragged back. + +At last, after several attempts to keep up my running, I was compelled +to be content with a steady fast walk, and thus I trudged on hour after +hour, till Rowford town, where I had spent so many wretched hours, was a +long way behind. + +I had passed through two villages, but so far I had not met another soul +since leaving Rowford, nor heard the sound of wheels. + +It was a very solitary road, leading through a pretty woodland tract of +the country, and often, as I toiled on, I came to dark overshadowed +parts, passing through woods, and I paused, not caring to go on. But +there was a real tangible danger in the rear which drove me onwards, +and, daring the imaginary dangers, I pushed on with beating heart, +thinking of robbers, poachers, and highway men, as I tried to rejoice +that there were no dangerous wild beasts in England. + +At last, I could go no farther, but sank down perfectly exhausted upon a +heap of stones that had been placed there for mending the road; and, in +spite of my fears of pursuit, nature would have her way, and I fell fast +asleep. + +The sun was shining full upon me when I awoke, stiff and sore, wondering +for a moment where I was; and when at last I recalled all the past, I +sprang up in dread, and started off at once, feeling that I had been +slothfully wasting my opportunity, and that now I might at any moment be +overtaken. + +As I hurried on, I looked down at my feet, to find that my boots and +trousers were thickly covered with dust; but there was no one to see me, +and I kept on, awaking fully to the fact that I was faint and hungry. + +These sensations reminded me of the contents of the little handkerchief, +and I wistfully thought of the bread and butter that I might have saved. + +Then I stopped short, for the recollection of one bundle reminded me of +the other, and it was gone. Where was it? I had it when I sank down +upon that stone-heap, and I must have come away and left it behind. + +In my faint, hungry state, this discovery was terribly depressing, for +the bundle contained my good suit of mourning, besides my linen and a +few trifles, my only valuables in this world. + +"I must have them back," I thought; and I started off to retrace my +steps at a run, knowing that I had come at least a couple of miles. + +It was dreadfully disheartening, but I persevered, gazing straight +before me, lest I should run into danger. + +It seemed as if that stone-heap would never come into sight, but at last +I saw it lying grey in the distant sunshine, and forgetting my hunger, I +ran on till I reached the spot, and began to look round. + +I had expected to see the bundle lying beside the stone-heap, as soon as +I came in sight, but there were no traces of it; and though I searched +round, and in the long grass at the side, there was no bundle. + +Yes; I was certain that I had it when I sank down, and therefore +somebody must have taken it while I slept, for no one had passed me on +the road. + +I could have sat down and cried with vexation, but I had pretty well +outgrown that weakness; and after a final glance round I was about to go +on again, when something a hundred yards nearer the town took my +attention, and, running up to it, I saw a pair of worn-out boots lying +on the grass by the roadside. + +They seemed to be nothing to me, and, sick at heart, I turned back and +continued my journey, longing now for the sight of some village, where I +could buy a little milk and a few slices of bread. + +The sun was growing hot, and licking up the dew beside the dusty road, +but it was a glorious morning, and in spite of my loss there was a +feeling of hopefulness in my heart at being free from the slavery I had +endured at Mr Blakeford's. I thought of it all, and wondered what Mary +would say, what Hetty would think, and whether Mr Blakeford would try +to fetch me back. + +As I thought on, I recovered the ground I had lost, and reached a pretty +part of the road, where it dipped down in a hollow as it passed through +a wood. It was very delicious and shady, and the birds were singing as +they used to sing from the woods around my old home; and so sweet and +full of pleasant memories were these sounds, that for the moment I +forgot my hunger, and stood by a gate leading into the woods and +listened. + +My reverie was broken by the sound of wheels coming up behind me, and +taking alarm on the instant, I climbed over the gate and hid myself, +crouching down amongst the thick bracken that showed its silvery green +fronds around. + +I made sure it was Mr Blakeford in pursuit, and, once secure of my +hiding-place, I rose up gently, so that I could peer in between the +trees and over the high bank to the sloping road, down which, just as I +had pictured, the four-wheeled chaise was coming at a smart trot, with +Mr Blakeford driving, and somebody beside him. + +My first impulse was to turn round and dash wildly through the wood; but +I partly restrained myself, partly felt too much in dread, and crouched +there, watching through the bracken till, as the chaise came nearer, I +saw that a common, dusty, tramp-looking boy was seated beside Mr +Blakeford, and the next moment I saw that he had my bundle upon his +knee. + +For a moment I thought I might be deceived; but no, there was no doubt +about it. There was my bundle, sure enough, and that boy must have +taken it from me as I lay asleep, and then met and told Mr Blakeford +where he had seen me. + +I was pretty nearly right, but not quite, as it afterwards proved. But +meanwhile the chaise had passed on, Mr Blakeford urging the pony to a +pretty good speed, and gazing sharply to right and left as he went +along. + +I had hardly dared to breathe as he passed, but crouched lower and +lower, fancying that a robin hopping about on the twigs near seemed +ready to betray me: and not until the chaise had gone by some ten +minutes or so did I dare to sit up and think about my future movements. + +The recollection of the dusty, wretched look of the lad who held my +bundle set me brushing my boots and trousers with some fronds of fern, +and feeling then somewhat less disreputable-looking, I ventured at last +to creep back into the road and look to right and left. + +I was terribly undecided as to what I ought to do. Go back I would not, +and to go forward seemed like rushing straight into danger. To right or +left was nothing but tangled wood, wherein I should soon lose myself, +and therefore nothing was left for me to do but go straight on, and this +I did in fear and trembling, keeping a sharp look-out in front, and +meaning to take to the woods and fields should Mr Blakeford's chaise +again appear in sight. + +For quite an hour I journeyed on, and then the roofs of cottages and a +church tower appeared, making me at one moment press eagerly forward, +the next shrink back for fear Mr Blakeford should be there. But at +last hunger prevailed, and making a bold rush, I walked right on, and +seeing no sign of danger, I went into the village shop and bought a +little loaf and some wonderfully strong-smelling cheese. + +"Did you see a gentleman go by here in a chaise?" I ventured to say. + +"What, with a boy in it?" said the woman who served me. + +I nodded. + +"Yes, he went by ever so long ago. You'll have to look sharp if you +want to catch them. The gentleman was asking after you." + +I felt that I turned pale and red by turns, as I walked out into the +road, wondering what it would be best to do, when, to my great delight I +saw that there was a side lane off to the left, just a little way +through the village, and hurrying on, I found that it was quite a byway +off the main road. Where it led to I did not know, only that there was +a finger-post with the words "To Charlock Bridge" upon it, and turning +down I walked quite a couple of miles before, completely worn out, I sat +down beside a little brook that rippled across the clean-washed stones +of the road, and made the most delicious meal I ever ate in my life. + +Bread and cheese and spring water under the shade of a high hedge, in +which a robin sat--it looked to me like the one I had seen in the wood-- +and darted down and picked up the crumbs I threw it from time to time. +As my hunger began to be appeased, and I had thoroughly slaked my +burning thirst, by using my closed hand for a scoop, I began to throw +crumbs into the bubbling brook, to see them float down for some +distance, and then be snapped up by the silvery little fishes with which +the stream seemed to swarm. All the while, though, my head had been +constantly turning from side to side, in search of danger, and at last +just as I was about to continue my journey, hoping to gain the London +Road once more, I saw the danger I sought, in the shape of the boy with +my bundle running across the fields, as if he had come from the high +road, and was trying to get into the lane below me to cut me off. + +I looked sharply behind me, expecting to see the chaise of Mr +Blakeford, but it was not in sight; so, stooping down, I waded quickly +through the brook, kept under the shelter of the hedge, and ran on +steadily, so as not to be out of breath. + +The water filled my boots, but it only felt pleasantly cool, and, as I +thought, made me better able to run, while, as I raised my head from +time to time, I could catch sight of the boy with the bundle running +hard across field after field, and losing so much time in getting +through hedges or over gates that I felt that I should be past the spot +where he would enter the lane before he could reach it. + +To my surprise, though, I found that the lane curved sharply round to +the right, giving him less distance to run, so that when I tried hard to +get by him, having given up all idea of hiding, I found that he had +jumped over into the lane before I came up. Then to my horror, as I +turned a sharp corner, I came straight upon him, he being evidently +quite as much surprised as I at the suddenness of our encounter--the +winding of the lane and the height of the hedges having kept us out of +sight the one of the other, until the very last moment, when we came +face to face, both dusty, hot, weary, and excited as two lads could be, +and for the moment neither of us moved. + +I don't know how it was that I did not try to run off by the fields in +another direction, but it seems to me now that I was stirred by the same +savage instincts as an ostrich, who, seeing any hunter riding as if to +cut him off, immediately forgets that there is plenty of room behind, +and gallops across his pursuer's track, instead of right away. + +As I ran panting up, the lad stopped short, and my eyes falling upon my +bundle, a new set of thoughts came flashing across my mind, making me +forget my pursuer in the high road. + +As for the lad, he stood staring at me in a shifty way, and it soon +became evident that he gave me as much credit for chasing him as I did +him for chasing me. + +He was the first to speak, and calling up the low cunning of his nature, +he advanced a step or two, saying: + +"I say, you'd better hook it; that, gent's a-looking for you." + +"You give me my bundle," I said, making a snatch at it, and getting hold +with one hand, to which I soon joined the other. + +"'Taint your bundle," he said fiercely. "Let go, or I'll soon let you +know. Let go, will yer?" + +He shook at it savagely, and dragged me here and there, for he was the +bigger and stronger; but I held on with all my might. I was horribly +frightened of him, for he was a coarse, ruffianly-looking fellow; but +inside that bundle was my little all, and I determined not to give it up +without a struggle. + +"Here, you wait till I get my knife out," he roared. "It's my bundle, +yer young thief!" + +"It is not," I panted: "you stole it from me while I lay asleep." + +"Yer lie! Take that!" + +_That_ was a heavy blow on my chin which cut my lip, and seemed to +loosen my teeth, causing me intense pain; but though for a moment I +staggered back, the blow had just the opposite effect to that intended +by the boy. A few moments before, I was so horribly afraid of him, that +I felt that I must give up; now the pain seemed to have driven all the +fear out of me, for, springing at him with clenched fists, I struck out +wildly, and with all my might; the bundle went down in the dust, and, +after a minutes scuffle, and a shower of blows, there, to my intense +astonishment, lay the boy too, grovelling and twisting about, rubbing +his eyes with his fists, and howling dismally. + +"You let me alone; I never did nothing to you," he whined. + +"You did; you stole my bundle," I cried, in the heat of my triumph. + +"No, I didn't. I on'y picked it up. I didn't know it was yourn." + +"You knew I was by it," I said. + +"Yes; but I thought perhaps it weren't yourn," he howled. + +"Now look here," I said, "you give me what you took out of it." + +"I didn't take nothing out of it," he whined. "I was only going to, +when that gent came along on the shay, and asked me where you was." + +"You've got my best shoes on," I said. "Take them off." + +He pulled them off, having half spoiled them by cutting the fronts, to +let his feet go in. + +"Where's that gentleman now?" I said. + +"I don't know," he whined. "He said if I didn't show him where you was, +he'd hand me over to the police; and I cut off across the fields, when +we was walking the pony up a hill." + +"You're a nice blackguard," I said, cooling down fast now, as the fear +of Mr Blakeford came back. I was wondering, too, how to get rid of my +conquest, when, just as I stooped to pick up the shoes, he shrank away, +uttering a cowardly howl, as if I had aimed a blow at him; and, starting +up, he ran back along the lane shoeless, and seemed making for the high +road. + +"He'll tell Mr Blakeford," I thought; and catching up the bundle, I +hurried on in the opposite direction, till, finding the brook again +cross the road, I hastily stooped down and washed my bleeding knuckles, +before starting off once more, getting rid of the marks of the struggle +a fast as I could, and looking back from time to time, in momentary +expectation of seeing Mr Blakeford's head above the hedge. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +ALONG THE TOWING-PATH. + +I felt in better spirits now. My rest and breakfast, and my encounter +with the boy, had given me more confidence in myself. Then, too, I had +recovered my bundle, replacing in it my shoes, and, after carefully +wrapping them up, the remains of my bread and cheese. + +Hour after hour I walked on, always taking the turnings that led to the +right, in the belief that sooner or later they would bring me to the +London Road, which, however, they never did; and at last, in the +afternoon, I sat down under a tree and made a second delicious meal. + +I passed, during the rest of that day's journey, through a couple more +villages, at the latter of which I obtained a large mug of milk for a +penny; and at last, footsore and worn out, I found myself at nightfall +far away in a pleasant pastoral country, where haymaking seemed to be +carried on a good deal, from the stacks I passed. There were hills +behind me, and hills again straight before me, the part where I was +being very level. + +"What am I to do?" I asked myself, for I could go no farther, and a +feeling of desolation began to make my heart sink. "I must sleep +somewhere--but where?" + +The answer came in the shape of a haystack, one side of which was being +cut away, and soon after, I was seated on the sweet-scented, soft stuff, +feasting away once more, to drop at last, almost unconsciously, into a +sweet sleep, from which I started up to find it quite dark, and that I +was growing cold. + +There was plenty of loose straw close by, as if threshing had been going +on, and taking my bundle for a pillow, and nestling beneath the straw +which I drew over the hay, I was soon fast asleep once more, only to +wake up rested and refreshed as the birds were singing cheerily upon +another sunshiny morning. + +My toilet consisted in getting rid of the bits of straw and hay, after +which I started to walk on once more, following a winding lane, which +brought me out at a wooden bridge, crossing a river, down by whose +pebbly side I finished my toilet, and rose refreshed and decent-looking, +for my bundle contained my brush and comb. + +There was a little public-house on the other side of the stream, with +cows in a field hard by, and directing my steps there, after stopping on +the bridge for a few minutes to gaze at the fish glancing in the +sunshine, I found I could buy some bread and milk, the privilege being +given me of sitting down on a bench and watching the sparkling river as +I made my breakfast. + +With every mouthful came hope and confidence. I felt as if I really was +free, and that all I now had to do was to trudge steadily on to London. +How long it would take me I did not know--perhaps a month. But it did +not matter; I could continue to be very sparing of my money, so as to +make it last. + +It was a red-armed, apple-faced woman who gave me the mug, and she +stared at me curiously, frightening me so much, lest she should ask me +questions, that I hastily finished my milk, and, picking up the bread, +said "good-morning," and walked along by the side of the river, there +being here a towing-path, upon which I soon encountered a couple of +horses, the foremost of which was ridden by a boy with a whip, while +they dragged a long rope which kept plashing down into the river, and +then, being drawn taut, showered down pearly drops of water, which +seemed to be smoothed out by a long, low, narrow barge, painted yellow +and red, at the end of which was a man smoking, with his eyes half shut, +as he leaned upon the tiller gear. + +They were going against the stream, and their progress was slow, as I +sat down and watched them go out of sight round the bend of the river. + +"I wonder where this river runs to, and where I should go, if I walked +all along this path?" I said to myself, and then like a flash, the idea +came, right or wrong, I could not tell, that it must go on and on to +London. + +It was full of hope, that thought; so full that I leaped up, and trudged +on so steadily, that at the end of an hour I again saw a couple of +horses in front, drawing another barge, with the rope plashing in and +out of the river; but this barge was going on in the same direction as I +was, and as I drew nearer I began to envy the boy riding so idly on the +foremost horse, and wished it were my fate to change places with him, +for one of my feet was very sore. + +It pained me a good deal; but, all the same, there was a joyous feeling +of freedom to cheer me on, and I limped forward, thinking how I had +nothing to fear now, no dreary copying to do, and then stand shivering, +expecting blows, if I had omitted a word, or forgotten to cross some +_t_. All was bright and beautiful, with the glancing river, the +glorious green meadows, and the gliding barge going so easily with the +stream. + +There was a stolid-looking man holding the tiller of the barge, staring +dreamily before him, and smoking, looking as motionless, and smoking +nearly as much, as the chimney of the cabin beside him. The barge +itself was covered with great tarred cloths of a dingy black, but the +woodwork about the cabin was ornamented with yellow and scarlet diamonds +and ovals carved in the sides. + +The man took not the slightest notice of me as I limped on, gazing at +him and the gliding barge, but smoked away steadily, and I went on, +getting nearer and nearer to the horses, thinking as I did so of how +pleasant it would be to lie down on that black tarpaulin, and glide +along upon the shiny river without a care; and it seemed to me then, +ill-used and weary as I was, that the life of a bargeman would be +perfect happiness and bliss. + +As I drew near the boy, who was sitting sidewise on the foremost horse, +with a shallow round-bottomed zinc bucket hanging from the collar on the +other side, I found that he was watching me as he whistled some doleful +minor ditty, pausing every now and then to crack his whip and utter a +loud "Jeet!" + +This was evidently a command to the horses, one of which gave its head a +toss up and the other a toss down, but paid no further heed, both +continuing their steady way along the tow-path, while the boy went on +with his whistling. + +I gradually drew up closer and closer, as the whistling kept on, to find +that about every minute, as if calculated exactly, but of course from +mere habit, there was the crack of the whip, the loud "Jeet?" and the +nod up and nod down of the two horses. + +I trudged up close alongside the boy now, being anxious to learn where +the river really did run, but not liking at first to show my ignorance, +so we went on for some time in silence. + +He was a rough, common-looking lad, with fair curly hair, and the skin +of his face all in scaly patches where it had been blistered by the sun, +and I took him to be about my own age. He was dressed in a loose jacket +and a pair of cord trousers, both of which were several sizes too large +for him, but the jacket-sleeves had been cut off above the elbow, and +the trousers were rolled up above his knees, showing his bare legs and +clean white feet. His coarse shirt was clean, what could be seen of it, +but the tops of the trousers were drawn up by strings over his +shoulders, so that they took the place of vest. + +Altogether, even to his old, muddy, torn felt hat, through which showed +tufts of his curly hair, he was ragged to a degree; but he seemed as +happy as the day was long and as healthy as could be, as he whistled +away, stared at me, and uttered another loud "_Jeet_!" going a little +further this time, and making it "Jeet, Sammy--jeet, Tommair-y!" + +The horses this time tightened the rope a little, but only for a few +moments, when it fell back into the water with a plash, the barge glided +on, the horses' hoofs crushed the sandy gravel, and the rope whisked and +rustled as it brushed along the thick growth of sedge by the water-side. + +"Woss the matter with yer foot, matey?" said the boy at last, breaking +the ice as he gave his whip another crack, and then caught and examined +the thong. + +"Sore with walking," I said; and then there was another pause, during +which he kept on whistling the minor air over and over again, while I +waited for another opening. + +"Why don't you take off your shoes, matey?" he said. "They allus makes +my feet sore. I don't like shoes. Jeet, Tommair-y! Jeet, Sam-mair-y?" + +This was a new light, and I thought, perhaps, I should be easier, for +one shoe was constantly scraping the tendon at the back of my heel. So +sitting down on the grass, I untied and slipped off my shoes, my socks +following, to be thrust into my pocket, and I limped on, setting my feet +delicately on the gravel, which hurt them, till I changed on to the +short soft turf beside the path. + +The barge had passed me, but I soon overtook it, and then reached the +boy, who watched me complacently as I trudged on, certainly feeling +easier. + +"One on 'ems a-bleeding," said my new friend then. "Shoes allus hurts. +Jeet!" + +"Yes, when you walk far," I said, the conversation beginning to warm +now. + +"Walked far, matey?" + +"Yes, ever so far. Have you come far?" + +"_Pistol_," I thought he said. + +"Where?" I asked. + +"Bristol. Jeet, Sammy!" _Crack_! + +"All along by the river?" + +"We don't call it the river, we call it the canal here. It's river +farther up towards London." + +"Are you going to London?" I said. + +"Yes. Are you?" + +"Yes," I said; and my heart was at rest, for I knew now that which I +wanted to find out without asking. This river did go right to London, +and I must be on the upper part of the Thames. + +We went on for some little time in silence, and then my new friend +began: + +"Why don't you go and paddle yer feet in the water a bit?" + +It was a good suggestion, and the shallow sparkling water looked very +delicious and cool. + +"Tie your shoestrings together and hing 'em on to Tommy's collar. You +can hing yer bundle, too, if yer li-ak." + +I hesitated for a moment. One boy had already appropriated my bundle, +but he had not the frank honest look of the one on the horse, and +besides, I did not like to seem suspicious. So, tying the shoestrings +together, I hung them on the tall hame of the collar, and the bundle +beside them, before going quickly over the gravel down to the shallow +water. + +"Turn up yer trousers!" shouted the boy; and I obeyed his good advice, +ending by walking along the shallow water close behind the tow-rope, the +soft sand feeling delicious to my feet as the cool water laved and eased +the smarting wound. + +At last I walked out with my feet rested, and the blood-stain washed +away, to run forward and join my companion, who looked at me in a very +stolid manner. + +"Hev a ride?" he said at last. + +"May I?" + +"Fey-ther!" + +"Hel-lo-a!" came slowly from the barge. + +"May this chap hev a ri-ad?" + +"Ay-er!" + +The boy slipped down off the horse with the greatest ease, and stuck his +whip into a link of the trace. + +"Now, then," he said, "lay holt o' his collar, and I'll give yer a leg +up." + +I obeyed him, and seizing my leg, he nearly shot me right over the +horse, but by hanging tightly on to the collar I managed to save myself, +and shuffled round into the proper position for riding sidewise, feeling +the motion of the horse, in spite of a certain amount of boniness of +spine, delightfully easy and restful. + +"They're all right," the boy said, as I glanced at my bundle. "They +won't fall off. Are yer comf'able?" + +"Yes, capital," I said, and we journeyed on, my luck seeming almost too +good to be believed. + +We went on talking away, now and then passing another barge, when the +ropes were passed one over the other boat, and the journey continued. + +Soon afterwards I made my first acquaintance with a lock, and got down +off the horse to stand by the barge and gaze in wonderment at the +process. As it glided softly into the space between walls, a pair of +great doors were shut behind it, and I and my new companion helped to +turn handles, with the result that I saw the water foam and rush out, +and the barge slowly sink down to a lower level, when a couple of great +doors were swung open at the other end. There was a certain amount of +pushing and thrusting, and the barge glided out into the river ten feet +lower than it was before. + +Then the rope was once more made fast, the horses tugged, and we went on +again, but not far before a shrill voice shouted "Jack!" and my +companion stood still till the barge came abreast of him, being steered +close in, when I saw a woman lean over the side and hold out a basket, +which the boy caught, and then ran after me once more, where I was +mounted on the first horse. + +"My dinner," he said eagerly. "Got yourn?" + +"Yes," I said, colouring up as I pulled the remains of my bread and +cheese out of my pocket, there being a large piece of the latter. + +"Steak pudden to-day," said my companion, hanging his basket on to the +collar by my knee, and revealing a basin half full of savoury-odoured +beef-steak pudding, which was maddening to me in my hungry state. + +"I say, what a whacking great piece of cheese! I like cheese," said my +companion; "let's go halves." + +Pride kept me back for a moment, and then I said-- + +"I'll give you threepence if you'll give me half your dinner." + +"I don't want your threepence," he said scornfully. "You shall have +half if you give me half your new bread and cheese. Ourn's allus stale. +Look, here's some cold apple puff too." + +So there was, and delicious it looked, sufficiently so to make my mouth +water. + +"Got a knife, matey?" + +"Yes," I said, "but--" + +"I say, I tell you what," said my would-be host. "Have you really got +threepence?" + +"Yes," I said, and was about to say more, when Mr Rowle's words +occurred to me and I was silent. + +"Then we'll have half a pint o' cider at the next lock, and twopen'orth +o' apples, shall us?" + +"Yes," I said, delighted at the prospect; and the result was that we two +hearty boys soon finished pudding, puff, and the last scrap of the bread +and cheese, after which my new friend shouted, "Mother!" The boat was +steered in close, and the shrill-voiced woman took the basket back. + +"Is your name Jack?" I said, as I descended, and we trudged on together +slowly beside the horses, each of which was now furnished with a tin +bucket hung from the top of its head, and containing some beans and +chaff. + +"Yes; what's yourn?" + +"Antony." + +"Ho!" + +There was silence after this, for we came up to another lock, close by +which was a little public-house, where Jack was sent to get a stone +bottle filled with beer, and up to whose door he summoned me, and we +partook of our half-pint of cider, Jack proving most honourable as to +his ideas of half. + +Then the beer having been passed on board, Jack's mother and father +taking not the slightest notice of me, the barge was passed through the +lock, and Jack beckoned and waved his hand. + +"You give me the twopence, and I'll buy," he said. "If we ask Mother +Burke for twopen'orth all at once she won't give us more than she would +for a penny. Stop a moment," he said, "you only give me a penny, and +we'll keep t'other for to-morrow." + +I handed a penny to him, and we went into the lock cottage, in whose +lattice window were displayed two bottles of ginger-beer, a couple of +glasses of sugar-sticks, and a pile of apples. + +Our penny in that out-of-the-way place bought us a dozen good apples, +and these we munched behind the horses as we trudged on slowly, mile +after mile. + +I did not feel tired now, and we boys found so much to talk about that +the time went rapidly by. Jack's father and mother did not trouble +themselves about my being there, but towards six o'clock handed the boy +out his tea in a bottle, whose neck stuck out of the basket that had +held his dinner, and in which were some half a dozen slices of bread and +butter. + +"'Tain't full," said Jack, holding the bottle up to the light; "she +might ha' filled it. There is more brem-butter. Never mind, I'll fill +it up with water. You won't mind?" + +"No," I said; but as a lock was then coming in sight, and a +decent-looking village, an idea occurred to me. "Let's buy a pen'orth +of milk and put to it," I said. + +Jack's eyes sparkled, and hanging the basket _pro tem._ on the hames, he +cracked his whip, and we proceeded a little more quickly towards the +lock, where I bought a twopenny loaf and some milk for our tea. I say +_ours_, for Jack literally shared his with me. + +"Where are you going to sleep?" said Jack to me at last, as the evening +mists were beginning to rise on the meadows. + +"I don't know," I said rather dolefully, for the idea had not occurred +to me before. + +"Come and bunk along o' me." + +"Where?" I asked. + +"Under the tarpaulin in front o' the barge," he said; "I allus sleeps +there now, cos father says my legs gets in the way in the cabin." + +"But would your father mind?" + +"Not he. He'll go ashore as soon as we make fast for the night and lets +the horses loose to feed. He wouldn't mind." + +And so it turned out, for the barge was made fast to a couple of stout +posts in a wider part of the canal, close to a lock where there was a +public-house. The horses were turned out to graze on the thick grass +beside the tow-path, and after a little hesitation I took my bundle and +shoes and crept in beneath a tarpaulin raised up in the middle to make +quite a tent, which Jack had contrived in the fore port of the barge. + +"Ain't it jolly and snug?" he cried. + +"Ye-es," I replied. + +"On'y it won't do to stop in when the sun gets on it, 'cos it's so hot +and sticky. I like it. Feyther can't kick you here." + +This was a revelation. I had been thinking Jack's life must be one of +perfect bliss. + +"Does your father kick you, then?" + +"Not now. He used to when he came home after being to the public, when +he was cross; but he didn't mean nothing. Feyther's werry fond o' me. +I wouldn't go back to sleep in the cabin now for no money." + +Jack's conversation suddenly stopped, and I knew by his hard breathing +that he was asleep: but I lay awake for some time, peering out through a +little hole left by the tarpaulin folds at the stars, thinking of Mr +Blakeford and his pursuit; of what Mary would say when she read my +letter; and from time to time I changed the position of my bundle, to +try and turn it into a comfortable pillow; but, try how I would, it +seemed as if the heel of one or other of my shoes insisted upon getting +under my ear, and I dropped asleep at last, dreaming that they were +walking all over my head. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +MY VAGABOND LIFE COMES TO AN END. + +Somehow or other that idea about my boots being in antagonism to me +seemed to pervade the whole of my slumbers till morning, when one of +them, I fancied, had turned terribly vicious, and was kicking me hard in +the side. + +I could not move, and the kicking seemed to go on, till a more vigorous +blow than before roused me to consciousness; but still for a few moments +I could not make out where I was, only that it was very dark and stuffy, +and that. I felt stiff and sore. + +Just then a gruff voice awoke my mind as well as my body, and I found +that some one was administering heavy pokes through the tarpaulin with +what seemed to be a piece of wood. + +"All right, feyther," cried Jack just then; and as we scrambled out from +beneath the tent I found it was grey dawn, that a heavy mist hung over +the river, and that Jack's father had been poking at the tarpaulin with +the end of a hitcher, the long iron-shod pole used in navigating the +barge. + +"Going to lie abed all day?" he growled. "Git them horses to." + +"Come along, matey; never mind your boots," cried Jack, and he leaped +ashore. + +I did not like leaving my bundle behind, but I felt bound to help, and +following Jack's example, I helped him to catch the horses, which were +soon attached to the tow-line thrown ashore by the bargeman, who cast +loose the mooring ropes, and with the stars still twinkling above our +heads we were once more on our way, Jack walking beside the horse and I +barefooted beside him. + +My feet did not pain me now, but I felt that to replace my boots would +be to chafe them again, so I contented myself with letting them ride, +while for the present I made my way afoot. + +My proceedings as we went along seemed to greatly interest Jack, who +stared hard as he saw me stoop down and wash my face and hands at a +convenient place in the river, for a shake and a rub of his curly head +seemed to constitute the whole of his toilet. My hair I smoothed as I +walked by his side, while he looked contemptuously at my little +pocket-comb. + +"That wouldn't go through my hair," he said at last. Then in the same +breath, "Old woman's up." + +I turned to see how he knew it, expecting his mother to be on the little +deck: but the only thing visible besides Jack's father was a little curl +of smoke from the iron chimney in front of the rudder. + +"That means brakfass," said Jack, grinning; "don't you want yourn?" + +I said I did, and asked how soon we should get to a lock where I could +buy some bread and milk. + +"Don't you waste your money on bread and milk," said my companion, +"there'll be lots o' brakfass for both on us. You wait till we get +farther on and we can get some apples and a bottle of ginger-beer." + +It seemed so fair an arrangement that when the shrill voice summoned +Jack to fetch his breakfast I shared it with him, and so I did his +dinner and tea, while we afterwards regaled ourselves with fruit, and +sweets, and cider, or ginger-beer. + +This went on day after day, for though the pace was slow I found that I +could not have got on faster. Besides which, I had endless rides, +Jack's proceedings with me never once seeming to awaken either interest +or excitement on the part of his parents. In fact, Jack's father seemed +to occupy the whole of his time in leaning upon the tiller and smoking, +with the very rare exceptions that he might occasionally make use of the +hitcher in rounding some corner. As for the passing of other barges, +the men upon them seemed to do the greater part of the necessary work in +lifting tow-ropes. At the locks, too, he would stolidly stare at Jack +and me as we turned the handles with the lock-keeper, and then perhaps +grunt approval. + +Jack's mother appeared to spend all her time in cooking and other +domestic arrangements, for she never showed herself on deck except to +announce the readiness of a meal by a shrill shout for her boy, rarely +speaking a word to him at such times as he took his food from her hands. + +Life on the river seemed to breed taciturnity, and though we boys +generally had something to say, for the most part we jogged on silently +with the horses, who hung their heads and kept on their course as if +half asleep. + +To me it was a dreamy time of constant journeying by the shining river; +for at last we passed through a lock into the Isis, and then continued +our way on and on through locks innumerable till we passed out again +into what I suppose must have been the Grand Junction or Regent's +Canal--to this day I am not sure which. The hundred miles or so I was +to have walked to London must have been more than doubled by the +turnings and doublings of the river; but I was never tired, and Jack +never wearied of my society. There was always something to see in the +ever-changing scenery, and sometimes, if we came to a stoppage early in +the evening, Jack brought out a rough line and a willow wand, and we +fished for perch by some rushing weir. + +I could have been content to go on for ever leading such a free, +enjoyable life, like some young gipsy, so peaceable and happy seemed my +existence as compared to that with Mr Blakeford; but at last, after a +very long, slow journey, we began to near the metropolis, the goal of my +wanderings, and one evening the pleasant communings of Jack and myself +were suddenly brought to an end. + +We had been making slow progress along the canal as it wound now amongst +houses and large buildings. The pleasant fields were far behind, and +the water was no longer bright. It seemed, too, as if we had left the +sun behind, while the tow-path had long grown so hard and rough that I +was glad to get my boots out of the bundle in which they were tied up +and wear them once again. + +"Here, you sir," Jack's father shouted to me from the barge, "you must +sheer off now." + +It was said in a rough, peremptory fashion that was startling: but he +took no further notice of me, only went on smoking, and I went back to +Jack, who was now seated on the horse just as at our first meeting. + +"Feyther say you must go now?" + +"Yes," I said dolefully. + +"Then you'd better cut off. I say, feyther!" + +"Hullo!" + +"Lash the tiller, and go and get his bundle and chuck it ashore." + +The great rough fellow methodically did as he was told--fastening the +rudder, going slowly forward, and fishing out my bundle from under the +tarpaulin, and turning to me: + +"Ketch!" he shouted, and he threw the bundle from the barge to the +shore, where I caught it, and he slowly plodded back, after giving me a +friendly nod. + +I took my bundle under my arm and rejoined Jack, who was whistling his +minor air, and then we boys looked at each other dolefully. + +"Aintcher going?" said Jack at last. + +"Yes," I said, "I'm going directly." Then, quickly pulling out a little +penknife I had in my pocket, I held it to Jack. "Will you have that, +Jack?" I said. + +His eyes sparkled as he took it, but he did not speak. + +"Do you think I might give your father something for letting me come up +along with you?" I said. + +Jack stared in a dull, stolid way for a moment, the idea being so novel +to him. Then his face lit up and he checked the horses. + +"Hold on, fey-ther," he shouted; and as if it was quite right to obey +his son's words, the great fellow steered the long barge so that it came +close in. + +"There's a beer-shop," said Jack, pointing to a place close by the +towing-path, all glorious with blue and gold announcements of Barclay, +Perkins and Co.'s Entire. "You go and get a pot o' porter--it's +threepence ha'penny, mind--and give it the old man; we'll wait." + +I ran up to the door of the public-house and asked the man in +shirt-sleeves and white apron for a pot of porter, which he drew in the +bright pewter vessel, and I paid for it with one of my sixpences, +received my change, and then had to make solemn assurance that I would +bring back the pot before I was allowed to take it down to the +canal-side, where Jack and his father were waiting. + +The latter's face was as stolid as ever as I went up to him; but there +was a little extra opening of his eyes as he saw the foaming liquid in +the bright pewter and stretched out his hand. + +"Beer ain't good for boys," he said gruffly; and then, blowing off the +froth, he put the vessel to his lips, and slowly poured it all down, +without stopping, to the very last drop; after which he uttered a heavy +sigh of either pleasure or regret, and brought his eyes to bear on me. + +"Feyther likes a drop o' beer," said Jack. + +"Ketch!" said "father," and he threw the empty pot to me, which luckily +I caught, and stood watching him as he went to the tiller. "Go on!" + +Jack gave me a nod, cracked his whip, and the horses drew the slack rope +along the cindery tow-path till it was tight. Jack's father paused in +the act of refilling his pipe and gave me another nod, and Jack's +mother's head came above the hatchway to stare at me as the barge moved, +and I stood watching it with my bundle under my arm and the bright +pewter vessel in my hand. + +My reverie was interrupted by a shout from the public-house door, and I +took the pot back, to return once more to the towing-path, sick at heart +and despondent, as I thought of the pleasant days of my short vagabond +career. + +It was like parting with very good friends, and I sat down at last upon +a log, one of a pile of timber, full of regrets; for these rough people +had in their way been very kind to me, and I thought that perhaps I +should never see them any more. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +MY FIRST NIGHT IN TOWN. + +I did not sit thinking long, for I felt that I must be up and doing. +The long barge had crept silently away and was out of sight, but I felt +that after my dismissal I ought not to follow it; so I crossed a bridge +over the canal and went on and on between rows of houses and along +streets busy with vehicles coming and going, and plenty of people. + +For the first half-hour I felt that everybody knew me and was staring at +the boy who had run away from Mr Blakeford's office; but by degrees +that idea passed off and gave place to another, namely, that I was all +alone in this great city, and that it seemed very solitary and strange. + +For above an hour I walked on, with the streets growing thicker and the +noise and bustle more confusing. I had at last reached a busy +thoroughfare; gas was burning, and the shops looked showy and +attractive. The one, however, that took my attention was a coffee-shop +in a side street, with a great teapot in the window, and a framed card +on which I read the list of prices, and found that a half-pint cup of +coffee would be one penny, and a loaf and butter twopence. + +My money was getting scarce, but I was tired and hungry, and after +staring at that card for a long time I thought I would venture to go in, +and walked right up to the door. I dared, however, go no farther, but +walked straight on, turned, and came back, and so on several times, +without being able to make up my mind; but at last, as I was still +hovering about the place, I caught sight of a policeman advancing in the +distance, and, fully assured that it must be Mary's friend, Mr Revitts, +in search of me, I walked breathlessly into the coffee-house and sat +down at the nearest table. + +There were several men and lads seated about, but they were all, to my +great relief, reading papers or periodicals, and I was recovering my +equanimity somewhat, when it was upset by a bustling maid, who came as I +thought fiercely up to me with a sharp "What's for you?" + +"A cup of coffee, if you please," I stammered out. + +"And roll and butter?" + +"Yes, please," I said, somewhat taken aback that she should, as I felt, +have divined my thoughts; and then, in an incredibly short space of +time, a large cup of steaming coffee and a roll and pat of butter were +placed on the table. + +After timidly glancing round to find that it was no novel thing for any +one to enter a coffee-house and partake of the fare before me, I +proceeded to make my meal, wishing all the while that Jack had been +there to share it, and wondering where he was, till at last the coffee +was all drunk, the roll and butter eaten, and after paying what was due +I stole off once more into the streets. I went on and on in a +motiveless way, staring at the wonders ever unfolding before me, till, +utterly wearied out, the thought struck me that I must find a +resting-place somewhere, for there were no haystacks here, there was no +friendly tarpaulin to share with Jack, and, look where I would, nothing +that seemed likely to suggest a bed. + +I had wandered on through wide, well-lighted streets, and through +narrow, poverty-stricken places, till I was in a busy, noisy row, along +the pavement of which were broad barrows with flaming lamps, and laden +with fish, greengrocery, and fruit. There was noise enough to confuse +anyone used to London; to me it was absolutely deafening. + +I had seen by a clock a short time before that it was nearly ten, and my +legs ached so that I could scarcely stand; and yet, in the midst of the +busy throng of people hurrying here and there, I alone seemed to be +without friend or home. + +I had been wandering about in a purposeless way for a long time, trying +to see some one who would win my confidence enough to make me ask where +I could obtain a night's lodging, when I suddenly became aware that a +big lad with a long narrow face and little eyes seemed to be watching +me, and I saw what seemed to me so marked a resemblance to the young +scoundrel who had stolen my bundle, that I instinctively grasped it more +tightly and hurried away. + +On glancing back, I found that the boy was following, and this alarmed +me so that I hastened back into the big street, walked along some +distance, then turned and ran as hard as I could up one street and down +another, till at last I was obliged to stop and listen to make sure +whether I was pursued. + +To my horror I heard advancing steps, and I had just time to shrink back +into a doorway before, by the dim light of the gas, I saw the lad I +sought to avoid run by, and as soon as his heavy boots had ceased to +echo, I crept out and ran in the other direction, till, completely worn +out, I sat down upon a doorstep in a deserted street, and at last +dropped off fast asleep. + +I was startled into wakefulness by a strange glare shining in my face, +and, looking up, there was a round glowing eye of light seeming to +search me through and through. + +For a few moments I could do nothing but stare helplessly and then +started nervously as a gruff voice exclaimed--"Here; what's in that +bundle?" + +"My clothes and clean shirt, sir," I faltered. "Let's look." + +My hands shook so that I was some time before I could get the +handkerchief undone; but in the meantime I had been able to make out +that the speaker was a policeman, and in my confusion at being awakened +out of a deep sleep, I associated his coming with instructions from Mr +Blakeford. + +At last, though, I laid my bundle open on the step, and my questioner +seemed satisfied. + +"Tie it up," he said, and I hastened to obey. "Now, then, young +fellow," he continued, "how is it you are sitting here asleep? Why +don't you go home?" + +"Please, sir, I came up from the country to-day, and I ran away from a +boy who wanted to steal my bundle, and then I sat down and fell asleep." + +"That's a likely story," he said, making the light of the lantern play +upon my face. "Where were you going?" + +"I don't know, sir. Yes I do--to Mr Rowle." + +"And where's Mr Rowle's?" + +"It's--it's--stop a minute, sir. I've got the address written down. +It's at a great printing-office." + +As I spoke I felt in my pockets one after the other for the address of +Mr Rowle's brother, but to my dismay I found that it was gone, and, +search how I would, there was no sign of it in either pocket. At last I +looked up full in the policeman's face, to exclaim pitifully--"Please, +sir, it's gone." + +"Is it now?" he said in a bantering, sneering tone. "That's a wonder, +that is: specially if it warn't never there. Look here, young fellow, +what have you come to London for?" + +"Please, sir, I've come to seek my fortune." + +"Oh, you have, have you? Now look here, which are you, a young innocent +from the country, or an artful one? You may just as well speak out, for +I'm sure to find out all about it." + +"Indeed I've come up from the country, sir, to try and get a place, for +I was so unhappy down there." + +"Then you've run away from your father and mother, eh?" + +"No, sir; they are both dead." + +"Well, then, you've run away from home, eh?" + +"No, sir," I said sadly; "I haven't any home." + +"Well, what's got to be done? You can't stop here all night." + +"Can't I, sir?" + +"Can't you, sir? Why, what a young gooseberry it is! Have you been to +London before?" + +"No, sir." + +"When did you come up?" + +"Only this evening, sir." + +"And don't you know that if I leave you here some one'll have your +bundle, and perhaps you too, before morning?" + +"I was so tired, sir, I fell asleep." + +"Come along o' me. The best thing I can do for you's to lock you up +till morning." + +"Thank you, sir." + +He burst out into a roar of laughter as he turned off the light of his +bull's-eye. + +"Come along, youngster," he said, "it's all right, I see. Why, you are +as green as a gooseberry." + +"Am I, sir?" I said piteously, for I felt very sorry that I was so +green, as he called it, but I was too much confused to thoroughly +understand what he meant. + +"Greener, ever so much. Why, if you'd gone down Covent Garden to sleep +amongst the baskets you'd have got swept up for cabbage leaves." + +"Covent Garden Market, sir? Is that close here?" I said. + +"As if you didn't know," he replied, returning to his doubting vein. + +"I've heard my papa speak of it," I said, eager to convince him that I +was speaking the truth. "He said the finest of all the fruit in the +country went there, and that the flowers in the central--central--" + +"Avenue?" suggested the constable. + +"Yes, central avenue--were always worth a visit." + +"That's so. And that's what your papa said, eh?" + +"Yes, sir, I have heard him say so more than once." + +"Then don't you think, young fellow, as it looks very suspicious for a +young gent as talks about his _papa_ to be found sleeping on a +doorstep?" + +"Yes, sir, I suppose it does," I said, "but I have no friends now." + +"Well, you'd better come along o' me, and tell your tale to the +inspector. I'm not going to leave you here. He'll soon get to know the +rights of it. You've run away, that's what you've done." + +"Yes, sir," I said; "I did run away, but--" + +"Never mind the buts, youngster. You'll have to be sent back to your +sorrowing friends, my absconding young sloper." + +"No, no, no?" I cried wildly, as he took hold of my cuff. "Don't send +me back, pray don't send me back." + +"None o' that 'ere now," he said, giving me a rough shake. "You just +come along quietly." + +"Oh, I will, sir, indeed I will!" I cried, "but don't, pray don't send +me back." + +"Why not? How do you know but it won't be best for yer? You come along +o' me sharp, and we'll soon physic your constitution into a right +state." + +The agony of dread that seized me at that moment was more than I could +bear. In imagination I saw myself dragged back to Mr Blakeford, and +saw the smile of triumph on his black-looking face, as he had me again +in his power, and, boy as I was then, and full of young life and +hopefulness, I believe that I would gladly have jumped into the river +sooner than have had to trust to his tender mercies again. + +In my horror, then, I flung myself on my knees before the policeman, and +clasped his leg as I appealed wildly to him to let me go. + +"If you sent me back, sir," I cried piteously, "he'd kill me." + +"And then we should kill him," he said, laughing. "Not as that would be +much comfort to you. Here, get up." + +"You don't know what I suffered, sir, after poor papa and mamma died. +He used me so cruelly, and he beat me, too, dreadfully. And now, after +I have run away, if he gets me back he will be more cruel than before." + +"Well, I s'pose he wouldn't make it very pleasant for you, youngster. +There, come: get up, and you shall tell the inspector, too, all about +it." + +"No, no, no," I cried wildly, as in spite of his efforts to get me up I +still clung to his leg. + +"Come, none of that, you know. I shall have to carry you. Get up." + +He seized me more roughly, and dragged me to my feet, when with a hoarse +cry of dread, I made a dash to escape, freed my arm and ran for freedom +once again, as if it were for my life. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +P.C. REVITTS. + +In my blind fear of capture I did not study which way I went, but +doubling down the first turning I came to, I ran on, and then along the +next, to stop short directly afterwards, being sharply caught by the +constable from whom I had fled, and who now held me fast. + +"Ah! you thought it, did you?" he said coolly, while, panting and +breathless, I feebly struggled to get away. "But it won't do, my lad. +You've got to come along o' me." + +"And then I shall be sent back," I cried, as I tried to wrestle myself +free. "I've never done any harm, sir; and he'll half kill me. You +don't know him. Pray let me go." + +"I know you to be a reglar young coward," he said roughly. "Why, when I +was your age, I shouldn't have begun snivelling like this. Now, then, +look here. You ain't come to London only to see your Mr Hot Roll, or +whatever you call him. Is there any one else you know as I can take you +to? I don't want to lock you up." + +"No, sir, nobody," I faltered. "Yes, there is--there's Mr Revitts." + +"Mr who?" + +"Mr Revitts, sir," I said excitedly. "He's a policeman, like you." + +"Ah, that's something like a respectable reference!" he said. "What +division?" + +"What did you say, sir?" + +"I said what division?" + +"Please, sir, I don't know what you mean." + +"Do you know P.C. Revitts, VV division?" + +"No, sir," I said, with my heart sinking. "It's Mr William Revitts I +know." + +"Which his name is William," he muttered. Then, aloud, "Here, come +along." + +"No, no, sir," I cried in alarm. "Don't send me back." + +"Come along, I tell yer." + +"What's up?" said a gruff voice; and a second policeman joined us. + +"Don't quite know yet," said the first man; and then he said something +in a low voice to the other, with the result that, without another word, +I was hurried up and down street after street till I felt ready to drop. +Suddenly my guide turned into a great blank-looking building and spoke +to another policeman, and soon, after a little shouting, a tall, +burly-looking constable in his buttoned-up greatcoat came slowly towards +us in the whitewashed room. + +"Here's a lad been absconding," said my guide, "and he says he'll give +you for a reference." + +"Eh! me?" said the newcomer, making me start as he stared hard in my +face. "Who are you, boy. I don't know you." + +"Antony Grace, please, sir," I faltered. + +"And who's Antony Grace?" + +"There, I thought it was a do," said the first constable roughly. "What +d'yer mean by gammoning me in this way? Come along." + +"No, sir, please. Pray give me time," I cried. "Don't send me back. +Please, Mr Revitts, I have run away from Mr Blakeford, and if I am +sent back to Rowford he'll kill me. I know he will." + +"'Old 'ard, Smith," said the big constable. "Look here, boy. What did +you say? Where did you come from?" + +"Rowford, sir. Pray don't send me back." + +"And what's the name of the chap as you're afraid on?" + +"Mr Blakeford, sir." + +"I'm blest!" + +"What did you say, sir?" + +"I said I'm blest, boy." + +"Then you do know him?" said the first constable. + +"I don't quite know as I do, yet," was the reply. + +"Well, look here, I want to get back. You take charge of him. I found +him on a doorstep in Great Coram Street. There's his bundle. If he +don't give a good account of himself, have it entered and lock him up." + +"All right," said the other, after a few moments' hesitation. + +"Then I'm off," said the first man; and he left me in charge of the big +constable, who stood staring down at me so fiercely, as I thought, that +I looked to right and left for a way of escape. + +"None o' that, sir," he said sharply, in the words and way of the other, +whose heavy footsteps were now echoing down the passage. "Lookye here, +if you try to run away, I've only got to shout, and hundreds of +thousands of pleecemen will start round about to stop yer." + +As he spoke he pushed me into a Windsor arm-chair, where I sat as if in +a cage, while he held up one finger to shake in my face. + +"As the Clerkenwell magistrate said t'other day, the law's a great +network, and spreads wide. You're new in the net o' the law, young +fellow, and you can't get out. Just look here, we knows a deal in the +law and police, and I can find out in two twos whether you are telling +me the truth or doing the artful." + +"Please, sir--" + +"Hold your tongue, sir! You can make your defence when your time comes; +and mind this, it's my dooty to tell you that what you says now may be +used in evidence again you." + +Thus silenced, I stood gazing up in his big-whiskered face, that seemed +to loom over me, in the gaslight, and wondered why there should be so +much form and ceremony over taking my word. + +"Now look here," he said pulling out a notebook and pencil, like the +auctioneer's, only smaller, and seeming as if he were going to take an +inventory of my small person. "Now, look here," he repeated, moistening +the point of his pencil, "you told Joe Smith you knowed me, and I never +set eyes on you afore." + +"Please, sir," I said hastily, "I told him I know Mr Revitts, who's in +the police." + +"Yes, and you said you had run away from Rowford and a Mr Blake-- +Blake--What's his name?" + +"Blakeford, sir," I said despondently, for it seemed that this was not +my Mr Revitts. + +"Blakeford. That's right; and he ill-used you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"He's a little fair man, ain't he, with blue eyes?" And he rustled the +leaves of his notebook as if about to take down my answer. + +"No, sir," I cried eagerly; "he's tall and dark, and has short hair, and +very white teeth." + +"Ho! Tall, is he?" said the constable, making believe to write, and +then holding out his pencil at me. "He's a nice, kind, amiable man, +ain't he, as wouldn't say an unkind word to a dorg?" + +"Oh no, sir," I said, shuddering; "that's not my Mr Blakeford." + +"Ho! Now, then, once more. There's a servant lives there at that +house, and her name's Jane--ain't it?" + +"No, sir, Mary." + +"And she's got red hair and freckles, and she--she's very little and--" + +"No, no," I cried excitedly, for after my heart had seemed to sink +terribly low, it now leaped at his words. "That isn't Mary, and you are +saying all this to try me, sir. You--you are Mr William Revitts, I +know you are;" and I caught him eagerly by the arm. + +"Which I don't deny it, boy," he said, still looking at me suspiciously, +and removing my hand. "Revitts is my name. P.C. Revitts, VV 240; and I +ain't ashamed of it. But only to think of it. How did you know of me, +though?" + +"I wrote Mary's letters for her, sir." + +"Whew! That's how it was she had so improved in her writing. And so +you've been living in the same house along a her?" + +"Yes, sir," I said, "and she was so good and kind." + +"When she wasn't in a tantrum, eh?" + +"Yes, sir, when she wasn't in a--" + +"Tantrum, that's it, boy. We should ha' been spliced afore now if it +hadn't been for her tantrums. But only to think o' your being picked up +in the street like this. And what am I to do now? You've absconded, +you have; you know you've absconded in the eyes of the law." + +"Write to Mary, please, sir, and ask her if it wasn't enough to make me +run away." + +"Abscond, my lad, abscond," said the constable. + +"Yes, sir," I said, with a shiver, "abscond." + +"You didn't--you didn't," he said in a half hesitating way, as he felt +and pinched my bundle, and then ran his hand down by my jacket-pocket. +"You didn't--these are all your own things in this, are they?" + +"Oh yes, sir!" I said. + +"Because some boys when they absconds, makes mistakes, and takes what +isn't theirs." + +"Do they, sir?" + +"Yes, my lad, and I'm puzzled about you. You see, it's my duty to treat +you like a runaway 'prentice, and I'm uneasy in my mind about what to +do. You see, you did run away." + +"Oh yes, sir, I did run away. I was obliged to. Mr Blakeford wanted +me to tell lies." + +"Well, that seems to come easy enough to most people," he said. + +"But I am telling the truth, sir," I said. "Write down to Rowford, and +ask Mary if I'm not telling the truth." + +"Truth! Oh, I know that, my boy," he said kindly. "Here, give's your +hand. Come along." + +"But you won't send me back, sir?" + +"Send you back? Not I, boy. He's a blackguard, that Blakeford. I know +him, and I only wish he'd do something, and I had him to take up for it. +Mary's told me all about him, and if ever we meets, even if it's five +pounds or a month, I'll punch his head: that's what I'll do for him. Do +yer hear?" + +"Yes, sir," I said. + +"Now, what's to be done with you?" + +I shook my head and looked at him helplessly. + +He stood looking at me for a few moments and then went into another +room, where there was a policeman sitting at a desk, like a clerk, with +a big book before him. I could see him through the other doorway, and +they talked for a few minutes; and then Mr Revitts came back, and stood +staring at me. + +"P'r'aps I'm a fool," he muttered. "P'r'aps I ain't. Anyhow, I'll do +it. Look here, youngster, I'm going to trust you, though as you've +absconded I ought to take you before a magistrate or the inspector, but +I won't, as you're a friend of my Mary." + +"Thank you, sir," I said. + +"And if you turn out badly, why, woe betide you." + +"Please, sir, I won't turn out badly if I can help it; but Mr Blakeford +said I was good for nothing." + +"Mr Blakeford be blowed! I wouldn't ask him for a character for a +dorg; and as for Mary, she don't want his character, and he may keep it. +I'll take her without. I wouldn't speak to any one like this, +youngster; but you know that gal's got a temper, though she's that good +at heart that--that--" + +"She'd nurse you so tenderly if you were ill," I said enthusiastically, +"that you wouldn't wish to be better." + +He held out his hand and gave mine a long and solemn shake. + +"Thankye, youngster," he said, "thankye for that. You and I will be +good friends, I see. I _will_ trust your word, hang me if I don't. +Here, come along." + +"Are you--are you going to take me up, sir?" I faltered, with a shiver +of apprehension. + +"I'm a-going to give you the door-key where I lodges, my lad. I'm on +night duty, and shan't be home till quarter-past six, so you may have my +bed and welcome. Now, look here," he said, "don't you go and let +anybody fool you. I'm going to show you the end of a long street, and +you'll go right to the top, then turn to the right along the road till +you come to the fourth turning, and on the right-hand side, number +twenty-seven, is where I lodges. Here's the key. You puts it in the +lock, turns it, shuts the door after you, and then goes gently upstairs +to the second-pair back." + +"Second-pair back, sir?" I said dubiously. + +"Well there, then, to the back room atop of the house, and there you may +sleep till I come. Now then, this way out." + +It was a change that I could not have believed in, and I accompanied the +constable wonderingly as he led me out of the police-station and through +several dark-looking streets, till he stopped short before a long dim +vista, where straight before me two lines of gaslights stretched right +away till they seemed to end in a bright point. + +"Now, then," he said, "you can't make any mistake there." + +"No, sir." + +"Off you go then to the top, and then you'll find yourself in a big +road." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Turn to the right, and then count four streets on the right-hand side. +Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Go down that street about halfway, till you see a gaslight shining on a +door with number twenty-seven upon it. Twenty-seven Caroline Street. +Now, do you understand? Straight up to the top, and then it's right, +right, right, all the way." + +"I understand, sir." + +"Good luck to you then, be off; here's my sergeant." + +I should have stopped to thank him, but he hurried me away; and half +forgetting my weariness, I went along the street, found at last the road +at the end, followed it as directed, and then in the street of little +houses found one where the light from the lamp shone as my guide had +said. + +I paused with the key in my hand, half fearing to use it, but summoning +up my courage, I found the door opened easily and closed quietly, when I +stood in a narrow passage with the stairs before me, and following them +to the top, I hesitated, hardly knowing back from front. A deep heavy +breathing from one room, however, convinced me that that could not be +the back, so I tried the other door, to find it yield, and there was +just light enough from the window to enable me to find the bed, on which +I threw myself half dressed, and slept soundly till morning, when I +opened my eyes to find Mr Revitts taking off his stiff uniform coat. + +"Look here, youngster," he said, throwing himself upon the bed, "I +dessay you're tired, so don't you get up. Have another nap, and then +call me at ten, and we'll have some breakfast. How--how--" he said, +yawning. + +"What did you say, sir?" + +"How--Mary look?" + +"Very well indeed, sir. She has looked much better lately, and--" + +I stopped short, for a long-drawn breath from where Mr Revitts had +thrown himself upon the bed told me plainly enough that he was asleep. + +I was too wakeful now to follow his example, and raising myself softly +upon my elbow, I had a good look at my new friend, to see that he did +not look so big and burly without his greatcoat, but all the same he was +a stoutly built, fine-looking man, with a bluff, honest expression of +countenance. + +I stayed there for some minutes, thinking about him, and then about +Mary, and Mr Blakeford, and Hetty, and I wondered how the lawyer had +got on before the magistrates without me. Then, rising as quietly as I +could, I washed and finished dressing myself before sitting down to wait +patiently for my host's awakening. + +The first hour passed very tediously, for there was nothing to see from +the window but chimney-pots, and though it was early I began to feel +that I had not breakfasted, and three hours or so was a long time to +wait. The room was clean, but shabbily furnished, and as I glanced +round offered little in the way of recreation, till my eyes lit on a set +of hanging shelves with a few books thereon, and going on tiptoe across +the room, I began to read their backs, considering which I should +choose. + +There was the "Farmer of Inglewood Forest," close by the "Old English +Baron," with the "Children of the Abbey," and "Robinson Crusoe." Side +by side with them was a gilt-edged Prayer-book, upon opening which I +found that it was the property of "Mr William Revitts, a present from +his effectinat friend Mary Bloxam." On the opposite leaf was the +following verse:-- + + "When this yu see, remember me, + And bare me in yure mind; + And don't forget old Ingerland, + And the lass yu lef behind." + +The Bible on the shelf was from the same source. Besides these were +several books in shabby covers--Bogatsky's "Golden Treasury," the +"Pilgrim's Progress," and the "Young Man's Best Companion." + +I stood looking at them for a few minutes, and then reached down poor +old "Robinson Crusoe," bore it to the window, and for the fourth time in +my life began its perusal. + +In a very short time my past troubles, my precarious future, and my +present hunger were all forgotten, and I was far away from the attic in +North London, watching the proceedings of Robinson in that wonderful +island, having skipped over a good many of the early adventures for the +sake of getting as soon as possible into that far-away home of mystery +and romance. + +The strengthening of his house, the coming of the savages, the intensely +interesting occurrences of the story, so enchained me, that I read on +and on till I was suddenly startled by the voice of Mr Revitts +exclaiming: + +"Hallo, you! I say, what's o'clock?" + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +BREAKFAST WITH THE LAW, AND WHAT FOLLOWED. + +I let the book fall in a shamefaced way as my host took a great, ugly +old silver watch from beneath his pillow, looked at it, shook it, looked +at it again, and then exclaimed: + +"It's either 'levin o'clock or else she's been up to her larks. Hush!" + +He held up his hand, for just then a clock began to strike, and we both +counted eleven. + +"Then she was right for once in a way. Why didn't you call me at ten?" + +"I forgot, sir. I was reading," I faltered; for I felt I had been +guilty of a great breach of trust. + +"And you haven't had no breakfast," he said, dressing himself quickly, +and then plunging his face into the basin of water, to splash and blow +loudly, before having a most vigorous rub with the towel. "Why, you +must be as hungry as a hunter," he continued, as he halted in what was +apparently his morning costume of flannel shirt and trousers. "We'll +very soon have it ready, though. Shove the cloth on, youngster; the +cups and saucers are in that cupboard, that's right, look alive." + +I hastened to do what he wished, and in a few minutes had spread the +table after the fashion observed by Mary at Mr Blakeford's, while Mr +Revitts took a couple of rashers of bacon out of a piece of newspaper on +the top of the bookshelf, and some bread and a preserve jar containing +butter out of a box under the table. Next he poured some coffee out of +a canister into the pot, and having inserted his feet into slippers, he +prepared to go out of the room. + +"Bedroom, with use of the kitchen, for a single gentleman," he said, +winking one eye. "That's me. Back in five minutes, youngster." + +It must have been ten minutes before he returned, with the coffee-pot in +one hand and the two rashers of hot sputtering bacon in the other, when +in the most friendly spirit he drew a chair to the table, and saying, +"Help yourself, youngster," placed one rasher upon my plate and took the +other upon his own. + +"I say, only to think of my mate coming upon you fast asleep in London," +he said, tearing me off a piece of bread. "Why, if he'd been looking +for you, he couldn't ha' done it. Don't be afraid o' the sugar. There +ain't no milk." + +I was very hungry, and I gladly began my breakfast, since it was offered +in so sociable a spirit. + +"Let's see. How did you say Mary looked?" + +"Very well indeed, sir," I replied. + +"Send me--come, tuck in, my lad, you're welcome--send me any message?" + +"She did not know I was coming, sir." + +"No, of course not. So you've come to London to seek your fortune, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where are you going to look for it first?" he said, grinning. + +"I don't know, sir," I said, rather despondently. + +"More don't I. Pour me out another cup o' coffee, my lad, while I cut +some more bread and scrape. Only to think o' my mate meeting you! And +so Mary looks well, does she?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And ain't very comfortable, eh?" + +"Oh no, sir! It's a very uncomfortable place." + +"Ah, I shall have to find her a place after all! She might just as well +have said _yes_ last time, instead of going into a tantrum. I say, +come; you ain't half eating. I shall write and tell her I've seen you." + +If I was half eating before, I was eating nothing now, for his words +suggested discovery, and my being given up to Mr Blakeford: when, +seeing my dismay, my host laughed at me. + +"There, get on with your toke, youngster. If I tell Mary where you are, +you don't suppose she'll go and tell old Blakeford?" + +"Oh no, sir! she wouldn't do that," I said, taking heart again, and +resuming my breakfast. + +"And I say, youngster, suppose you don't say _sir_ to me any more. I'm +only a policeman, you know. I say, you were a bit scared last night, +weren't you?" + +"Yes, sir--yes, I mean, I was very much afraid." + +"Ah, that's the majesty of the law, that is! Do you know, I've only got +to go into a crowd, and just give my head a nod, and they disperse +directly. The police have wonderful power in London." + +"Have they, sir?" + +"Wonderful, my lad. We can do anything we like, so long as it's men. +Hundreds of 'em 'll give way before a half-dozen of us. It's only when +we've got to deal with the women that we get beat; and that ain't no +shame, is it?" + +"No, sir," I said, though I had not the faintest notion why. "You're +quite right," he said; "it ain't no shame. What! Have you done?" + +"Yes, sir--yes, I mean." + +"Won't you have that other cup of coffee?" + +"No, thank you." + +"Then I will," he said, suiting the action to the word. "Well, now +then, youngster, what are you going to do, eh?" + +"I'm going to try and find Mr Rowle's brother, sir, at a great +printing-office," I said, searching my pockets, and at last finding the +address given me. "Perhaps he'll help me to find a situation." + +"Ah, p'r'aps so. They do have boys in printing-offices. Now, if you +were a bit bigger you might have joined the police, and got to be a +sergeant some day. It's a bad job, but it can't be helped. You must +grow." + +"I am growing fast, sir," I replied. + +"Ah, I s'pose so. Well, now lookye here. You go and see Mr Rowle, and +hear what he says, and then come back to me." + +"Come back here?" I said, hesitating. + +"Unless you've got somewhere better to go, my lad. There, don't you +mind coming. You're an old friend o' my Mary, and so you're an old +friend o' mine. So, for a week, or a fortnight, or a month, if you like +to bunk down along o' me till you can get settled, why, you're welcome; +and if a man can say a better word than that, why, tell him how." + +"I--I should be very, very grateful if you would give me a night or +two's lodging, sir," I said, "and--and I've got six shillings yet." + +"Then don't you spend more than you can help, youngster. Do you know +what's the cheapest dinner you can get?" + +"No, sir--no, I mean." + +"Penny loaf and a pen'orth o' cheese. You come back here and have tea +along o' me. I don't go on duty till night. There, no shuffling," he +said, grinning. "If you don't come back I'll write and tell old +Blakeford." + +I could see that he did not mean it, and soon after I left my bundle +there, and started off to try if I could find Mr Rowle's brother at the +great printing-office in Short Street, Fetter Lane. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +"BOYS WANTED." + +I went over the address in my own mind to make sure, and also repeated +the directions given me by Mr Revitts, so as to make no mistake in +going into the City. Then I thought over again Mr Rowle's remarks +about his brother, his name, Jabez, his age, and his being exactly like +himself. That would, I thought, make it easy for me to recognise him; +and in this spirit I walked on through the busy streets, feeling a good +deal confused at being pushed and hustled about so much, while twice I +was nearly run over in crossing the roads. + +At last, after asking, by Mr Revitts' advice, my way of different +policemen when I was at fault, I found myself soon after two in Short +Street, Fetter Lane, facing a pile of buildings from the base of which +came the hiss and pant of steam, with the whirr, clang, and roar of +machinery; while on the doorpost was a bright zinc plate with the legend +"Ruddle and Lister, General Printers;" and above that, written on a card +in a large legible hand, and tacked against the woodwork, the words +"Boys Wanted." + +This announcement seemed to take away my breath, and I hesitated for a +few minutes before I dared approach the place; but I went up at last, +and then, seeing a severe-looking man in a glass box reading a +newspaper, I shrank back and walked on a little way, forgetting all +about Mr Jabez Rowle in my anxiety to try and obtain a situation by +whose means I could earn my living. + +At last, in a fit of desperation, I went up to the glass case, and the +man reading the newspaper let it fall upon his knees and opened a little +window. + +"Now then, what is it?" he said in a gruff voice. + +"If you please, sir, there's a notice about boys wanted--" + +"Down that passage, upstairs, first floor," said the man gruffly, and +banged down the window. + +I was a little taken aback, but I pushed a swing-door, and went with a +beating heart along the passage, on one side of which were rooms fitted +up something like Mr Blakeford's office, and on the other side a great +open floor stacked with reams of paper, and with laths all over the +ceiling, upon which boys with curious pieces of wood, something like +long wooden crutches, were hanging up sheets of paper to dry, while at +broad tables by the windows I could see women busily folding more sheets +of paper, as if making books. + +It was but a casual glance I had as I passed on, and then went by a room +with the door half open and the floor carpeted inside. There was a +pleasant, musical voice speaking, and then there was a burst of +laughter, all of which seemed out of keeping in that dingy place, full +of the throb of machinery, and the odour of oil and steam. + +At the end of the passage was the staircase, and going up, I was nearly +knocked over by a tall, fat-headed boy, who blundered roughly against +me, and then turned round to cry indignantly-- + +"Now, stoopid, where are yer a-coming to?" + +"Can you tell me, please, where I am to ask about boys being wanted?" I +said mildly. + +"Oh, find out! There ain't no boys wanted here." + +"Not wanted here!" I faltered, with my hopes terribly dashed, for I had +been building castles high in the air. + +"No; be off!" he said roughly, when a new character appeared on the +scene in the shape of a business-looking man in a white apron, carrying +down an iron frame, and having one hand at liberty, he made use of it to +give the big lad a cuff on the ear. + +"You make haste and fetch up those galleys, Jem Smith;" and the boy went +on down three stairs at a time. "What do you want, my man?" he +continued, turning to me. + +"I saw there were boys wanted, sir, and I was going upstairs." + +"When that young scoundrel told you a lie. There, go on, and in at that +swing-door; the overseer's office is at the end." + +I thanked him, and went on, pausing before a door blackened by dirty +hands, and listened for a moment before going in. + +The hum of machinery sounded distant here, and all within seemed very +still, save a faint clicking noise, till suddenly I heard a loud +clap-clapping, as if a flat piece of wood were being banged down and +then struck with a mallet; and directly after came a hammering, as if +some one was driving a wooden peg. + +There were footsteps below, and I dared not hesitate longer; so, pushing +the door, it yielded, and I found myself in a great room, where some +forty men in aprons and shirt-sleeves were busy at what at the first +glance seemed to be desks full of little compartments, from which they +were picking something as they stood, but I was too much confused to +notice more than that they took not the slightest notice of me, as I +stopped short, wondering where the overseer's room would be. + +At one corner I could see an old man at a desk, with a boy standing +beside him, both of them shut up in a glass case, as if they were +curiosities; in another corner there was a second glass case, in which a +fierce-looking man with a shiny bald head and glittering spectacles was +gesticulating angrily to one of the men in white aprons, and pointing to +a long, narrow slip of paper. + +I waited for a moment, and then turned to the man nearest to me. + +"Can you tell me, please, which is the overseer's office?" I said, cap +in hand. + +"Folio forty-seven--who's got folio forty-seven?" he said aloud. + +"Here!" cried a voice close by. + +"Make even.--Get out; don't bother me." + +I shrank away, confused and perplexed, and a dark, curly-haired man on +the other side turned upon me a pair of deeply set stern eyes, as he +rattled some little square pieces of lead into something he held in his +hand. + +"What is it, boy?" he said in a deep, low voice. + +"Can you direct me to the overseer's office, sir?" + +"That's it, boy, where that gentleman in spectacles is talking." + +"Wigging old Morgan," said another man, laughing. + +"Ah!" said the first speaker, "that's the place, boy;" and he turned his +eyes upon a slip of paper in front of his desk. + +I said, "Thank you!" and went on along the passage between two rows of +the frame desks to where the fierce-looking bald man was still +gesticulating, and as I drew near I could hear what he said. + +"I've spoken till I'm tired of speaking; your slips are as foul as a +ditch. Confound you, sir, you're a perfect disgrace to the whole +chapel. Do you think your employers keep readers to do nothing else but +correct your confounded mistakes? Read your stick, sir--read your +stick!" + +"Very sorry," grumbled the man, "but it was two o'clock this morning, +and I was tired as a dog." + +"Don't talk to me, sir; I don't care if it was two o'clock, or twelve +o'clock, or twenty-four o'clock. I say that slip's a disgrace to you; +and for two pins, sir--for two pins I'd have it framed and stuck up for +the men to see. Be off and correct it.--Now, then, what do you want?" + +This was to me, and I was terribly awe-stricken at the fierce aspect of +the speaker, whose forehead was now of a lively pink. + +"If you please, sir, I saw that you wanted boys, and--" + +"No; I don't want boys," he raved. "I'm sick of the young monkeys; but +I'm obliged to have them." + +"I am sorry, sir--" I faltered. + +"Oh yes; of course. Here, stop! where are you going?" + +"Please, sir, you said you didn't want any boys." + +"You're very sharp, ain't you? Now hold your tongue, and then answer +what I ask and no more. What are you--a machine boy or reader?" + +"If you please, sir, I--I don't know--I thought--I want--" + +"Confound you; hold your tongue!" he roared. "Where did you work last?" + +"At--at Mr Blakeford's," I faltered, feeling bound to speak the truth. + +"Blakeford's! Blakeford's!--I know no Blakeford's. At machine?" + +"No, sir! I wrote all day." + +"Wrote? What, wasn't it a printing-office?" + +"No, sir." + +"How dare you come wasting my time like this, you insolent young +scoundrel! Be off! Get out with you! I never knew such insolence in +my life." + +I shrank away, trembling, and began to retreat down the avenue, this +time with the men's faces towards me, ready to gaze in my red and guilty +countenance, for I felt as if I had been guilty of some insult to the +majesty of the printing-office. To my great relief, though, the men +were too busy to notice me; but I heard one say to another, "Old +Brimstone's hot this morning." Then I passed on, and saw the dark man +looking at me silently from beneath his overhanging brows; and the next +moment, heartsick and choking with the effects of this rebuff, the +swing-door was thrown open by the fat-headed boy coming in, and as I +passed out, unaccustomed to its spring, the boy contrived that it would +strike me full in the back, just as if the overseer had given me a rude +push to drive me away. + +I descended the stairs with the spirit for the moment crushed out of me; +and with my eyes dim with disappointment, I was passing along the +passage, when, as I came to the open door of the carpeted room, a man's +voice exclaimed-- + +"No, no, Miss Carr, you really shall not. We'll send it on by one of +the boys." + +"Oh, nonsense, Mr Lister; I can carry it." + +"Yes, yes; of course you can, but I shall not let you. Here, boy, come +here." + +I entered the room nervously, to find myself in presence of a handsome, +well-dressed man, another who was stout and elderly, and two young +ladies, while upon the table lay a parcel of books, probably the subject +of the remark. + +"Hallo! what boy are you?" said the younger man. "Oh! one of the new +ones, I suppose." + +"No, sir," I said, with voice trembling and my face working, for I was +unnerved by the treatment I had just received and the dashing of my +hopes; "I came to be engaged, but--but the gentleman upstairs turned me +away." + +"Why?" said the elder man sharply. + +"Because I had not been in the printing-office, sir." + +"Oh, of course!" he said, nodding. "Of course. We want lads accustomed +to the trade, my man." + +"You should teach him the trade, Mr Ruddle," said one of the young +ladies quickly, and I darted a look of gratitude at her. + +"Too busy, Miss Carr," he said, smiling at her. "We don't keep a +printer's school." + +"I'll teach him," whispered the young man eagerly, though I heard him; +"I'll teach him anything, if you'll promise not to be so cruel." + +"What a bargain!" she replied, laughing; and she turned away. + +"I don't think we need keep you, my lad," said the young man bitterly. + +"Indeed!" said the other young lady; "why, I thought he was to carry our +parcel of books?" + +"But he is a strange boy, my dear young ladies," said the elder man; +"I'll ring for one from the office." + +"No; don't, pray!" said the lady addressed as Miss Carr quickly. "I +don't think we will carry the parcel. You will carry it for us, will +you not?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed I will!" I cried eagerly; and I stepped forward, for +there was something very winning in the speakers voice. + +"Stop a moment, my man," said the elder gentleman rather sternly, while +the younger stood biting his lips; "where do your father and mother +live?" + +Those words made something rise in my throat, and I looked wildly at +him, but could not speak. + +He did not see my face, for he had taken up a pen and drawn a memorandum +slip towards him. + +"Well; why don't you speak?" he said sharply, and as he raised his eyes +I tried, but could not get out a word, only pointed mutely to the shabby +band of crape upon my cap. + +"Ah!" + +There was a deep sigh close by me, and I saw that the young lady +addressed as Miss Carr was deadly pale, and for the first time I noticed +that she was in deep mourning. + +"My dear Miss Carr!" whispered the young man earnestly. + +"Don't speak to me for a minute," she said in the same tone; and then I +saw her face working and lip quivering as she gazed wistfully at me. + +"Poor lad!" said the elder man abruptly. Then, "Your friends, my boy, +your relatives?" + +"I have none, sir," I said huskily, "only an uncle, and I don't know for +certain where he lives." + +"But you don't mean that you are alone in the world?" said the young man +quickly, and he glanced at the lady as he spoke. + +"Yes, sir," I said quietly, for I had now recovered myself, "I am quite +alone, and I want to get a situation to earn my living." + +The elder gentleman turned upon me and seemed to look me through and +through. + +"Now, look here, young fellow," he said, "you are either a very +unfortunate boy or a designing young impostor." + +"Mr Ruddle!" exclaimed Miss Carr indignantly; and I saw the young man's +eyes glitter as he gazed at her sweet, sad face, twenty times more +attractive now than when she was speaking lightly a minute before. + +"I don't want to be harsh, my dear, but here we are obliged to be firm +and business-like. Now, boy, answer me; have you been to a good +school?" + +"No, sir," I said, speaking sharply now, for his use of the word +"impostor" stung me; "I was educated at home." + +"Humph! where do you come from?" + +"Rowford, sir." + +"Town on a tall hill?" + +"No, sir," I said in surprise; "Rowford is quite in a hole; but we lived +four miles from Rowford, sir, on the Cawleigh road." + +"Then you know Leydon Wood." + +"Oh yes, sir! that's where papa used to take me to collect specimens." + +"Humph! Don't say _papa_, my boy. Boys who go into the world to get +their living don't speak of their papas. John Lister!" + +"Wait a minute, Ruddle," said the younger man, whose back was towards +us; and I saw that he was leaning over Miss Carr and holding her hand. +"If you wish it," he whispered softly, "it shall be done." + +"I do wish it," she said with an earnest look in her large eyes as she +gazed kindly at me; and the young man turned round, flushed and excited. + +I was shrinking away towards the door, pained and troubled, for I felt +that I had no business there, when Mr Lister motioned me to stop, and +said something to the elder gentleman. + +He in turn screwed up his face, and gave the younger a comical look. + +"Your father would not have done so, John Lister," he said. "What am I +to say, Miss Carr?" + +For answer the young lady rose and went and laid her hands in one of +his. + +"If you please, Mr Ruddle," she said in a low musical voice, "it will +be a kindly act." + +"God bless you, my dear," he said tenderly. "I believe if I were with +you long you'd make me as much your slave as you have John Lister." + +"Then you will?" + +"Yes, my dear, yes, if it is really as he says." + +She darted an intelligent look at me, and then hastily pulled down her +crape veil as Mr Lister followed her to her chair. + +"Come here, my lad," said Mr Ruddle, in quiet business-like tones. "We +want boys here, but boys used to the printing trade, for it does not +answer our purpose to teach them; we have no time. But as you seem a +sharp, respectable boy, and pretty well educated, you might, perhaps, be +willing to try." + +"Oh, if you'll try me, I'll strive so hard to learn, sir!" I cried +excitedly. + +"I hope you will, my boy," he said drily, "but don't profess too much; +and mind this, you are not coming here as a young gentleman, but as a +reading-boy--to work." + +"Yes, sir. I want to work," I said earnestly. + +"That's well. Now, look here. I want to know a little more about you. +If, as you say, you came from near Rowford, you can tell me the names of +some of the principal people there?" + +"Yes, sir; there's Doctor Heston, and the Reverend James Wyatt, and Mr +Elton." + +"Exactly," he said gruffly; and he opened a large book and turned over a +number of pages. "Humph! here it is," he said to himself, and he seemed +to check off the names. "Now, look here, my man. What is the name of +the principal solicitor at Rowford?" + +"Mr Blakeford, sir," I said with a shiver, lest he should want to write +to him about me. + +"Oh, you know him?" he said sharply. + +"Yes, sir. He managed papa's--my father's--affairs," I said, correcting +myself. + +"Then I'm sorry for your poor father's affairs," he said, tightening his +lips. "That will do, my lad. You can come to work here. Be honest and +industrious, and you'll get on. Never mind about having been a +gentleman, but learn to be a true man. Go and wait outside." + +I tried to speak. I wanted to catch his hands in mine. I wanted to +fling my arms round Miss Carr, and kiss and bless her for her goodness. +I was so weak and sentimental a boy then. But I had to fight it all +down, and satisfy myself by casting a grateful glance at her as I went +out to wait. + +I was no listener, but I heard every word that passed as the ladies rose +to go. + +"Are you satisfied, my dear?" said Mr Ruddle. + +"God bless you?" she said; and I saw her raise her veil and kiss him. + +"God bless you, my dear!" he said softly. "So this little affair has +regularly settled it all, eh? And you are to be John's wife. Well, +well, well, my dear, I'm glad of it, very glad of it. John, my boy, I +would my old partner were alive to see your choice; and as for you, my +child, you've won a good man, and I hope your sister will be as +fortunate." + +"I hope I shall, Mr Ruddle," said the other lady softly. + +"If I were not sixty, and you nineteen, my dear, I'd propose for you +myself," he went on laughingly. "But come, come, I can't have you giddy +girls coming to our works to settle your affairs. There, be off with +you, and you dine with us on Tuesday next. The old lady says you are to +come early. I'm afraid John Lister here won't be able to leave the +office till twelve o'clock; but we can do without him, eh?" + +"Don't you mind what he says, Miriam," said Mr Lister. "But stop, +here's the parcel. I'll send it on." + +"No, no. Please let that youth carry it for us," said Miss Carr. + +"Anything you wish," he whispered earnestly; and the next moment he was +at the door. + +"You'll carry this parcel for these ladies," he said; "and to-morrow +morning be here at ten o'clock, and we'll find you something to do." + +"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," I said eagerly; and taking the parcel, I +followed the ladies into Holborn, and then along Oxford Street to a +substantial row of houses near Cavendish Square, where the one I looked +upon as my friend paused at a large door and held out her hand to me. + +"I shall hope to hear from Mr Lister that you have got on well at the +office," she said in her sweet musical voice. "Recollect that you are +my _protege_, and I hope you will do me credit. I shall not forget to +ask about you. You will try, will you not?" + +"Oh yes," I said hoarsely, "so hard--so very hard!" + +"I believe you will," she said, taking the parcel from my hand; "and now +good-bye." + +The next moment I was standing alone upon the pavement, feeling as if a +cloudiness had come over the day, while, as I looked down into my hand, +it was to see there a bright new sovereign. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. + +I went straight back to Mr Revitts, and only when nearly there did I +remember that I had not thought to ask about Mr Rowle. But I felt it +did not matter now, for I had obtained a situation, and he could not be +annoyed to find that I was coming to the same establishment. + +Mr Revitts was enjoying himself when I reached his room; that is to +say, he was sitting in his dingy old red-flannel shirt and his blue +uniform trousers, with his sleeves rolled well up above the elbow, +reading the police news in a daily paper and smoking a short black pipe, +with the wreaths of smoke floating out of the open window. + +"Here you are then, my lad," he said, "just in time. You and I will go +out and have a bit o' something at the cookshop. Did you find your +friend?" + +"No, sir--no Mr Revitts," I said, correcting myself, "I forgot to ask +for him." + +He let his paper fall in his lap and stared hard at me. + +"Now, look here, my lad," he said, expelling a large cloud of smoke, "I +don't want you to commit yourself, and it's my dooty to tell you that +whatever you say will be--No, no, nonsense. Come, speak out. What are +you laughing at? What have you been doing?" + +Hereupon I told him my adventure, my eyes sparkling with delight. + +"And a whole sovereign into the bargain!" he cried as I finished. +"Let's look at it." + +I handed him the bright new golden coin, and he span it up in the air, +caught it dexterously, and bit it. Then he tried it three or four times +on the table, as a shopman would a piece of money on a counter, and +ended by making believe to thrust it into his pocket. + +"It's a good one," he said, "and I think I shall stick to it for your +board and lodging last night and this morning. What do you say?" + +"I think you ought to be paid, sir," I said eagerly, "for you were very +good to me." + +He stared hard at me for a few moments, and then thrust the sovereign +back in my hand. + +"I've seen a good many boys in my time," he said, "but I'm blessed if +ever I run again one like you. Why, you've got plenty of pluck, or else +you wouldn't have run away; but of all the simple--well, I won't say +simple, but green--of the green chaps I ever did come across you are +about the greenest." + +I flushed up far from that tint at his words, for there was the old +complaint again about my greenness. + +"Please, Mr Revitts, I'm very sorry I'm so green," I said, looking at +him wistfully; "perhaps it's because I've always lived in the country." + +He stared harder at me. + +"Come here," he said sharply, and going to the window, he placed me +between his knees, laid a great hand upon each of my shoulders grasping +them firmly, and gazed straight into my eyes. "Look here, youngster," +he said angrily, "is it R or F? Are you trying to humbug me? Because, +if so, it won't do: I'm too old." + +"Humbug you, sir?" I said wonderingly. "I don't know what you mean." + +"That you don't," he said, dropping his fierce way and sinking back +smiling. "'Struth, what a boy you are!" + +I gazed at him in a troubled way, for I felt hurt. + +"I'm very sorry, Mr Revitts," I said, "and I hope you don't think I +would do anything to deceive you," for that "R or F" puzzled me. + +"Deceive me? Not you, my boy. Why, you couldn't deceive a sparrer or a +hoyster. Why, you're as transparent as a pane of glass. I can see +right through you and out on the other side." + +"I'm afraid I am very stupid, sir," I said sadly. "I'll try to learn to +be more clever. I don't know much, only about books, and natural +history, and botany, but I'll try very hard not--not to be so--so-- +green." + +"Why, bless your young heart, where have you been all your life? You're +either as cunning as--No, you ain't, you really are as innocent as a +lamb." + +"I've always been at home with papa and mamma, sir." + +"Sir, be hanged! My name's William Revitts; and if you and me's going +to be good friends, my boy, you'll drop that sir-ing and mistering, and +call me plain Bill." + +"Should you like it, sir, if I did?" I asked anxiously. + +"No, _sir_, I shouldn't. Yes, I should. Now then, is it to be friends +or enemies?" + +"Oh, friends, please," I said, holding out my hand. + +"Then there's mine, young Antony," he cried seizing it in his great, +fingers. "And mind, I'm Bill, or old Bill, whichever you like." + +"I'm sure--Bill, I should be glad to be the best of friends," I said, +"for I have none." + +"Oh, come now, you said that Polly was very good to you." + +"What, Mary? Oh yes!" + +"Well, then, that's one. But, I say, you know you mustn't be so +precious innocent." + +"Mustn't I, sir?" + +"What!" he cried, bringing his hand down crash on the table. + +"Mustn't I, Bill?" + +"That's better. No: that you mustn't. I seem to look upon you as quite +an old friend since you lived so long with my Polly. But, I say, your +education has been horribly neglected. You're quite a baby to the boys +up here at your age." + +"But papa was so anxious that I should learn everything," I said, as I +thought of Mr Ruddle's words, "and we had lessons every day." + +"Hah! Yes; but you can't learn everything out o' books," he continued, +looking at me curiously. "You never went away to school, then?" + +"No. I was going in a month or two." + +"Hah! and it was put off. Well, we can't help it now, only you mustn't +be so jolly easy-going. Everybody here will glory in taking you in." + +"Do you mean cheating me?" + +"That's just what I do mean. Why, some chaps would have nailed that sov +like a shot, and you'd never have seen it again. You see, I'm in the +police, and we couldn't stoop to such a thing, but I know lots o' men as +would say as a sov was no use to a boy like you, and think as they ought +to take care of it for you." + +"Well, wouldn't that be right, Mr Revitts?" I said. + +"No, it wouldn't, young greenhorn," he cried sharply, "because they'd +take care of it their way." + +"Greenhorn?" I said eagerly. "Oh, that's what you mean by my being +green! You mean ignorant and unripe in the world's ways." + +"That's just what I do mean," he cried, slapping me on the shoulder. +"Brayvo! that's the result of my first lesson," he continued admiringly. +"Why, I'm blessed if I don't think that if I had you here six months, +and took pains, I could make a man of you." + +"Oh, I wish you would," I cried excitedly. "I do so want to be a true, +good man--one such as papa used to speak of--one who could carve his way +to a noble and honourable career, and grow to be loved and venerated and +held in high esteem by the world at large. Oh, I would try so hard--I'd +work night and day, and feel at last, that I had not tried in vain." + +"He-ar! he-ar! Brayvo, brayvo, youngster! Well done our side! That's +your style!" he cried, clapping his hands and stamping his feet as I +stopped short, flushed and excited with the ideas that had come +thronging to my brain, and then gazed at him in a shamefaced and bashful +manner. "That's your sort, my boy, I like that. I say, did your father +teach you that sorter thing." + +"Yes. Mr Rev--Yes, Bill." + +"I say, your par, as you called him, wasn't a fool." + +"My papa," I said proudly, "I mean my dear father, was the best and +kindest of men." + +"That I'll lay sixpence he was. Why, I was feeling quite out of heart +about you, and thinking you such a hinnocent young goose that I +shouldn't know how to help you. Why, lookye here, I've been kicking +about in the world ever since I was ten, and been in the police six +years, and I couldn't make a speech like that." + +"Couldn't you, sir--Mr--I mean Bill?" + +"No, that I couldn't. Why, I tell you what. You and I'll stick +together and I don't know what we mightn't make of you at last--p'r'aps +Lord Mayor o' London. Or, look here, after a few years we might get you +in the police." + +"In the police?" I faltered. + +"To be sure, and you being such a scholard and writing such a hand--I +know it, you know. Lookye here," he continued, pulling out a +pocket-book, from one of the wallets in which he drew a note I had +written for Mary, "I say, you writing such a hand, and being well up in +your spelling, you'd rise like a air balloon, and get to be sergeant, +and inspector, and perhaps superintendent, and wear a sword! You mark +my words, youngster; you've got a future before you." + +"Do you think so?" + +"I just do. I like you, young Antony, hang me if I don't; and if you +stick to me I'll teach you all I know." + +"Will you?" I said eagerly. + +"Well, all I can. Just hand me that paper o' tobacco. Thankye. I'll +have just one more pipe, and then we'll go to dinner." + +He filled and lit his pipe, and went on talking. + +"First and foremost, don't you get trying to smoke." + +"No, I will not," I said. + +"That's right. It's all very well for men, a little of it; but I don't +like to see boys at it, as too many tries just now. I often sees 'em on +my beat, and I never feel so jolly happy as when I come across one +looking white after it about the gills, and so sick he can't hold his +head straight up. But, as I was a-saying, you stick to me and I'll +teach you all I can, and I know two or three things," he continued, +closing one eye and opening it again. + +"You must, sir." + +"Yes; there's some clever chaps I have to deal with sometimes--roughs +and thieves and the like; but they have to get up very early in the +morning to take me in." + +"Do they, sir--Bill?" I said wonderingly. + +"There, now you're getting innocent again," he said sharply. "You don't +mean to tell me as you don't understand that?" + +"Oh yes, I do: you mean that they would have to get up very early to +master you--say at daybreak." + +"What a young innocent you are," he cried, laughing; and then seeing my +pained look, he slapped me on the shoulder again. "It's all right, my +boy. You can't help it; and you'll soon learn all these things. I know +a lot, but so do you--a sight o' things I don't. Why, I'll be bound to +say you could write a long letter without making a single mistake in the +spelling." + +"Yes, I think I could," I said innocently. "Both papa and mamma took +great pains with me over that." + +"Look at that, now!" he said. "Why, I couldn't write two lines in my +pocket-book without putting down something as the sergeant would chaff." + +"Chaff?" I said, "cut-up stuff for horses?" + +"Yes: that's it," he said, grinning. "Stuff as they cut up. There, +you'll soon know what chaff is, my lad. But, you know, all the same, +and speaking quite fair, I do maintain as spelling ain't square." + +"Not square?" + +"I mean fair and square and above-board. Them as invented spelling +couldn't have been very clever, or they'd have made everything spelt as +it sounded. Why, it only seems natural to spell doctor's stuff +f-i-z-z-i-k, and here you have to stick in _p's_, and _h's_, and _y's_, +and _s's_, and _c's_, as ain't wanted at all." + +"It is puzzling, certainly," I said. + +"Puzzling? Puzzling ain't nothing to it. I can write a fair round +hand, and spell fast enough my way. Our sergeant says there isn't a man +on our station as can write such a nice looking report; but when it +comes to the spelling--there, I won't tell you what he said about that!" + +"But you could soon improve your spelling." + +"Think so?" he said eagerly. "Oh no, I don't fancy we could." + +"I am sure you could," I said. "The best way is to do dictation." + +"Dictation? What, ordering about?" + +"Oh no; not that sort of dictation. I mean for me to read to you from a +book and you write it down, and then I mark all the misspelt words, and +you write them down and learn them." + +"Look at that now!" he exclaimed. "To be sure, that's the way. Now, +you know, I bought a spelling-book, that didn't seem to do no good; so I +bought a pocket dictionary, and that was such a job to go through, so +full of breakneck words as no one never heard of before, that I give +that up. Why, you ain't innocent after all. Would you mind trying me?" + +"Mind! no," I cried; "we could use either a slate or paper." + +"So we could, and do it with either a pencil or a pen. I say, come: +fair and square, I'll teach you all I know if you'll teach me all you +know." + +"That's agreed," I said. + +"Done for you," he cried, shaking hands. "And now my pipe's out, and +we'll go and have dinner. Wait till I roll down my sleeves and get on +my stock. Why, you and I will be as jolly as can be here. It's rather +a long way to go to your work, but you must get up a bit earlier. Two +miles night and morning won't kill you; and I've been thinking what +we'll do. You've got your sovereign. We'll go to a place I know, and +buy one o' them little iron fold-up bedsteads and a mattress and pillow +and blanket, and stand it there. It's breaking into your sov, but then +you'll have the bit o' furniture, which will be your property, so the +money won't be wasted. What do you say?" + +I was delighted, and said so. + +"Well, then, lookye here," he continued, as he took great pains with his +hair and whiskers before the glass, and then put on and buttoned up his +uniform coat, to stand before me a frank, manly fellow of about thirty, +"you're my company this week, and after that you shall put so much of +your salary into the stock to pay for living, and we shall both be free +and independent, and what's left you can shove in the bank." + +"In the bank?" + +"Yes, savings-bank. I don't mind telling you as an old friend I've got +forty-four pun ten there." + +"Mary has thirty-seven pounds in a savings-bank," I said. + +"Now there's for you!" he said. + +"Yes, she told me so; but perhaps I oughtn't to have told you." + +"Well," he said seriously, "I s'pose you oughtn't, because it was told +you in confidence, but I'm glad you did. She never told me." + +"Did you ever tell her how much you had saved?" + +"No, that I didn't, only as I was saving, so it's all fair. Look here, +youngster--I mean Antony," he said, after standing staring in the glass +for a few minutes, "I tell you what it is, you coming up has about +brought matters to a head." + +"Has it, Bill?" + +"Yes, it hayve, my boy. Do you know, I don't for the life of me know +why we two have been waiting; do you?" + +"No," I said shaking my head. + +"No, nor more don't Mary, I'll bet a sixpence. We got engaged to one +another, and then we said as it wouldn't be sensible, to get married at +once, as we might both see some one we liked better, don't you see?" + +"Yes," I said, feeling puzzled all the same, "it was very prudent." + +"I could have got married lots o' times since, but I've never seen a +girl as I liked so well, and I s'pose Mary hasn't seen a chap, for she +keeps on writing." + +"Oh yes; and she thinks a deal of you. She's very proud of you." + +"Is she, though?" he said, with a satisfied smile, and giving his head a +shake in his stock. "Well, then, I tell you what: I'll write and ask +Mary to say the day, and then meet her at the station. We'll take a +little bigger place, and she'll come up and make us both comfortable. +What do you say to that?" + +I clapped my hands, and he stood smiling in an exceedingly simple way, +and looking like a very big overgrown boy, for a few moments, before +turning himself round to me. + +"See that," he said, in a quiet business-like way. "I was laughing at +you for being soft and green just now, and I'm blessed if I don't feel +as if I was ten times worse. Come along, company, it's ever so late, +and my report says hot mutton chop, a cup of tea, and some bread and +butter." + +That evening, after a hearty meal, for which Revitts insisted upon +paying, there was just time to make the purchases he proposed, which +almost melted the whole of my sovereign, and then it was time for him to +go on duty. + +"They've cost a deal," he said thoughtfully, "but then you've still got +the money, only in another shape. Now, you get back home and take in +the things when they come, and then sit and read a bit, and afterwards +go to bed. I wouldn't go out, if I was you." + +We parted, and I followed out his directions, being shrewd enough to see +that he thought me hardly fit to be trusted alone. + +The next morning I woke to find it was half-past six, and that Revitts +had come home and was preparing for bed. He looked tired out, and was +very black and dirty, having been, he said, at a fire; but he was not +too much fatigued to give me a friendly bit or two of advice as to +getting my breakfast and going down to the office. + +"Have a good breakfast before you start, my boy, and get some bread and +cheese for your lunch--that's twopence. When you come back you'll find +the tea-things out, and you can make dinner and tea too." + +In good time I started, leaving Revitts sleeping off his night's +fatigue, and about ten minutes to ten I was at the door of the great +printing-office, flushed with exercise and dread, but eager all the same +to make a beginning. + +I hesitated as to whether I should go in at once or wait till it struck +ten, but I thought that perhaps I might be some time before I saw Mr +Ruddle, so I walked straight in, and the man reading the paper in his +gloss case looked up at me in a very ill-used way as I stopped at his +window. + +"You again?" he said gruffly. "Well, what is it?" + +"If you please, I've come to work," I said. + +"Work? Why, it's ten o'clock. Why weren't you here at eight?" + +"Mr Ruddle said ten o'clock, sir, and I want to see him." + +"Oh!" he said gruffly, as if he were the gatekeeper of an earthly +paradise. "Well, I s'pose you must pass in. Go on." + +I went on into the passage, feeling as if the doorkeeper was the most +important personage there, and as if the proprietors must make a +practice of asking permission to go into their own place. + +I went, then, nervously down the passage till I came to the door of the +room where I had seen Messrs. Ruddle and Lister. It was ajar, and there +were loud voices talking, and though I knocked they went on. + +"Stern firmness is one thing, Grimstone," I heard Mr Ruddle saying, +"and bullying another." + +"But you don't consider, sir, that I bully the men, do you?" said +another voice which was quite familiar to me. + +"You may call it what you like, Grimstone. There, I'm busy now." + +There was a sharp step, and the door was flung wide open and closed, +when my friend the overseer, who had been so rough to me on the previous +day, came out and pretty nearly knocked me down. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +MY FIRST LITERARY EFFORTS. I MAKE ANOTHER FRIEND. + +The overseer and I stood in the dim light gazing at one another for a +few moments, during which I seemed to read in his sharp, harsh face an +air of resentment at my presence. + +"Hallo!" he said, in an angry voice, and evidently rejoicing at having +encountered some one upon whom he could vent a little of the anger +seething within him. "What, are you here again, you young vagabond? +Didn't I tell you yesterday to go about your business? Be off with you, +or I'll send for a policeman. How dare you! What do you mean?" + +"But please, sir," I remonstrated. + +"Will you be off?" he roared; and I felt that I was about to be driven +from the place, when the proprietor's door was sharply opened and Mr +Lister appeared. + +"Confound it all, Grimstone," he cried, "what's the matter now? Look +here, sir; I will not have this bullying and noise in the place." + +"Your father never spoke to me like that, Mr John, when he was alive." + +"My father put up with a great deal from you, Grimstone, because you +were an old and faithful servant of the firm; but that is no reason why +I, his son, should submit to what is sometimes bordering on insolence." + +"Insolence, Mr John?" + +"Yes, Grimstone, insolence." + +"What _is_ the matter?" said Mr Ruddle, coming out. + +"Mr John says I'm insolent, Mr Ruddle," said the overseer angrily; +"was I ever insolent to you, sir, or his father?" + +"Well, if you want the truth, Grimstone, you often were very insolent, +only we put up with it for old acquaintance' sake. But what's the +matter now?" + +"I was just speaking to this young vagabond, who persists in hanging +about the place, sir, when Mr John came out and attacked me, sir." + +"Don't call names, Grimstone," said Mr Lister hotly. "This young +vagabond, as you call him, is a fresh boy whom Mr Ruddle has taken on, +and whom I desire you to treat kindly." + +"Why didn't he speak, then," said the overseer angrily; "how was I to +know that he was engaged? In Mr Lister senior's time the engaging of +boys for the office was left to the overseer." + +He stalked off, evidently in high dudgeon, leaving the masters gazing at +one another. + +"He grows insufferable," said Mr Lister angrily. "One would think the +place belonged to him." + +"Yes, he is rough," said Mr Ruddle; "but he's a good overseer, John, +and a faithful old servant. He was with us when we first began. Well, +my boy, you've come then; now go upstairs to the composing-room, and ask +Mr Grimstone to give you a job; he'll be a bit cross, I dare say, but +you must not mind that." + +"No; sir; I'll try not." + +"That's right," he said, giving me a friendly nod, and I hurried +upstairs and walked right through the composing-room to Mr Grimstone's +glass case. + +He saw me coming, but, though I tapped softly at the door several times, +he refused to take any notice of me for some minutes, during which I had +to stand uncomfortably aware of the fact that I had given terrible +offence to this man in authority, by allowing myself to be engaged +downstairs after he had bade me go. + +He was busy, pen in hand, looking over some long, narrow pieces of +paper, and kept on turning them over and over, making his spectacles +flash as he changed his position, and directing the top of his very +shiny bald head at me, till at last he raised it, gave a start, and +turned as if astonished at seeing me there; but it was poor pantomime +and badly done. + +"Well, what is it?" he said. + +"If you please, sir, Mr Lister sent me up to ask you to give me a job." + +"Me give you a job," he said, in a menacing tone; "why, I thought you +would be hanger-on down below, and not come up into the office, where +you'd get your nice white hands dirtied. What job can I give you? What +can you do? What do you know? Here, Smith, take this boy, and give him +a page of pie to dis." + +The big, fat-headed boy came up from a distant part of the room, scowled +at me, and led me to one of the desk-like frames, upon which were four +large open trays full of compartments of various sizes. + +"Here you are!" he said, "lay holt;" and he thrust a little heavy square +paper packet into my hands. "It's burjoyce,"--so it sounded to me; +"look alive, and then come for another." + +He went away, leaving me balancing the heavy packet in my hand. It was +about the size and thickness of a small book, but what next to do with +it, or how I was to do it, I, did not know. + +Of course I know now that it was the petty, contemptible revenge of a +little-minded man to set me, a totally uninstructed novice, to do that +which an old practised compositor will shelve if he can, as an +uncongenial task. To "dis a page of burjoyce pie" was, in fact, to +distribute--that is, place in its proper compartments, or in the case-- +every large and small letter, space and point, of a quantity of +_bourgeois_, or ordinary newspaper type, that had been accidentally +mixed, or "pied" as it is technically termed. The distribution of an +ordinary page or column of type is comparatively easy, for the skilled +workman reads it off word by word, and drops the letters dexterously in +the compartment assigned; but in "pie" the letters and spaces are all +jumbled, and the task is troublesome and slow. + +There was I, then, with about as easy a task as if I had been suddenly +handed the various parts of a watch, and told to put them together; and +I felt helpless and ashamed, not daring to interrupt any of the busy men +intent upon their work at the various frames. + +An hour must have elapsed before I felt that I dare venture to go +towards Mr Grimstone's glass case, and I was about desperately to tell +him that I was ignorant and helpless, and quite unfit to do what he had +set me, when the dark, stern-eyed man I had seen on the previous day +came round by where I stood. + +He gazed at me curiously, and gave me a nod, and was passing on, when I +desperately exclaimed: + +"If you please, sir--" + +"Eh? What, is it, my boy?" he said. + +"I was told, sir, to dis this pie," I said, fearful that I was making +some absurd blunder about the word _pie_. + +"Well, why don't you do it? Get the sponge off the stone and give it a +good soaking in a galley." + +"I'm very sorry, sir," I said, encouraged by his quiet, kind way, "but I +don't know how." + +"Haven't you been in a printing-office before?" + +"No, sir." + +"And never distributed type?" + +"No, sir." + +"How absurd! Who set you to do it?" + +"Mr Grimstone, sir." + +"But does he know that you have never handled type?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Ass?" he muttered. "Here, come along with me, my man. No; better not, +perhaps. Leave that packet alone, my boy. There, lay it down. Stand +here and try and learn the case." + +"Learn the case, sir?" I said, with my heart sinking within me at being +given another impossible task. + +"Yes, it's very easy; only wants time," he said kindly; "Here, pick up +one of these pieces of type," he continued, dexterously taking up a +little thin bit of black metal, "like this, and turn it in your fingers, +and see what letter is stamped on the end, and then put it back in the +same compartment of the case." + +"Is that tray the case, sir?" + +"Yes, quite right, go on. You can come and ask me anything you don't +know." + +I darted a grateful look at him, and eagerly began my task, though in +fear and trembling, lest Mr Grimstone should come and find fault +because I had not "dis'd the pie." + +Few people, I think, realise the sufferings of a sensitive boy at +school, or at his first launching into life, when set to some task +beyond his perception or powers. The dread of being considered stupid; +the fear of the task-masters, the strangeness, the uncongenial +surroundings, all combine to make up a state of mental torture that +produces illness; and yet it is often ridiculed, and the sufferer +treated with cruelty for non-performance of that which, simple to the +initiated, is to him in his ignorance an utter impossibility. + +It was with a sense of relief I cannot describe that I began to lift the +metal types one by one, looked at them, and put them back; and I was not +long in finding out that, while the capital letters in the upper of the +two trays before me ran nearly regularly A, B, C, D, and so on, and +beneath them the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, etc, the lower case was a perfect +puzzle. + +The compartments were not like those above, all small squares, and the +same size, but some were very large, and some very small; some were +long, and some were square; but I found that they were made upon a +regular plan. For instance, there was one very large compartment nearly +in the middle at the top of the lower tray, that was evidently six times +as big as the small compartments; while below and beside it were many +more that were four times as big as the small ones; others being only +twice as big. + +I naturally examined the large compartment first, and found it full of +little thin slips of metal nearly an inch long, at the end of each of +which, and beautifully formed, was the letter _e_. There was no doubt +about it, and it was evident that there were more _e's_ than anything +else. Then under it I found the compartment full of _h's_, and away to +the left, _n's_ and _m's_; _t's_, _d's_, _u's_, _o's_, _a's_, and _r's_ +were in other large compartments, and it gradually dawned upon my mind +that these letters were placed where they would be handiest for use, and +that there was the largest number of those that would be most frequently +required. + +My surmise was quite right, and with this idea as the key, I soon found +out that little-used _x_ and _z_ were in very small numbers, in the most +out-of-the-way parts of the tray, just as were the double letters _ae_ +and _oe_, etc. One compartment close under my hand, and very full, +puzzled me the most, for the pieces of metal therein were short, and had +no letters on the end; and at last, after trying in vain to understand +their meaning, I determined to ask the dark man next time he passed, and +went on trying to master my task with the strange clicking noise made by +the men going on all round. + +I hardly dared glance about, but in the casual glimpses I stole, I began +to understand now that the men about me were picking up, letter by +letter, the types, to form words, and arranging them in little curiously +shaped tools they held in their hands. + +I had been busily learning my letters for about half an hour, when the +big, fat-headed boy came up to me. + +"Now then!" he said, in a bullying tone that was a very good imitation +of the overseer's, "done that page?" + +"No!" I said. + +"You ain't?" + +"No; I did not know how." + +"Oh, you'll catch it, just, when Mr Grimstone knows. You ain't coming +here to do just as you like; and I tell you what it is--" + +"Well, what is it, boy?" said a quiet, stern voice, and my heart, gave a +joyful thump as I saw the dark man come up. + +"Please, he ain't dis'd this here pie." + +"No; he did not know how. I set him to learn the case." + +"But Mr Grimstone said he was to--" + +"Jem Smith, do you know you are a fool?" said the dark man quietly. + +"I dessay I am, Mr Hallett, but Mr Grimstone said as this boy was +to--" + +"And if you don't go about your business I shall box your ears." + +"No, you--" + +He did not finish his sentence, for there was something in the deep-set +dark eyes which had such an effect upon him that he sneaked off, and I +turned to my protector. + +"Would you please tell me why these little things have no letters on +their ends, sir?" I said. + +"Because they are spaces, my boy. Don't you remember in reading a book +there is a little distance between every word?" + +"Yes, sir," I said eagerly; "and after a full stop there's a bigger +space." + +"To be sure!" he said, smiling, and his pale face looked less stern and +severe. "Look: these little things, as you call them, but as we call +them, thick spaces, go between every word, and these square ones after a +full stop. How are you getting on?" + +"I know that's _e_, sir." + +"Yes; go on." + +"And that's _h_, and that _o_, and +_u_--_m_--_a_--_r_--_i_--_s_--_o_--_n_--_t_," I said, touching the boxes +in turn. + +"Good, very good," he said, "and what is that?" + +"That, sir?--_d_." + +"No, it is _p_. And that?" + +"Oh, that is _b_." + +"No, it is _q_. Now you know the meaning of mind your _p's_ and _q's_. +You must learn the difference, and try to recollect this; all the +letters, you see, are reversed, like a seal." + +"Like the motto on papa's seal. Yes, I see, sir," I said eagerly. + +"That's right, my boy," he said looking at me curiously. "Go on, I am +too busy to stay." + +"Now! what's all this?" said Mr Grimstone, bustling up with Jem Smith. + +"Please, sir," said the latter, "I telled him as he was to--" + +"I found the boy unable to do what was set him, Mr Grimstone," said my +protector quietly, "and told him to go on with learning his case. The +boy has never been in an office before." + +"That was for me to know, Mr Hallett," cried the overseer, growing red +in the face. "What the devil do you mean by--" + +"Interfering, Mr Grimstone? I did it because I was sure you were too +good a manager to wish time to be wasted in this large office. And--I +must ask you, please when you speak to me, to omit these coarse +expressions." + +"Of all the insolence--" + +"Insolent or not, sir," said the dark man sternly, "have the goodness to +remember that I always treat you with respect, and I expect the same +from you. Excuse me, but a quarrel between us will not improve your +position with the men." + +Mr Grimstone looked at him furiously; and turning redder in the face +than ever, seemed about to burst into a tirade of angry language, but my +protector met his look in a way that quelled him, and turning upon the +fat-headed boy, who was looking on open-mouthed, the overseer gave him a +sounding box on the ear. + +"What are you standing gaping there for, you lazy young scoundrel?" he +roared; "go and wash those galleys, and do them well." + +Then, striding off, he went into his glass case, while Jem Smith, in a +compartment at the end of an avenue of cases, began to brush some long +lengths of type, and whenever I glanced at him, he shook his fist, as he +showed his inflamed eyes red with crying and his face blackened by +contact with his dirty hands. + +My protector, Mr Hallett, had left me at once, and I saw no more of him +for some time, as I worked away, sorry at having been the innocent means +of getting him into a quarrel. At last, just as I was very intent in +puzzling out the difference between _p's_ and _q's_ I started, for the +great lubberly boy came up close behind me. + +"I'll give you a warming when you goes out to dinner, see if I don't," +he whispered; but he shuffled off directly, as Mr Hallett came towards +me, saw that I was busy, and after giving me a friendly nod, went back, +leaving his calm, strangely stern face so impressed upon me, that I kept +finding myself thinking of him, his eyes seeming to stare at me from out +of every box. + +But still I worked on, feeling each moment more and more sure of my way, +and at last in a fit of enterprise I set to work and managed to find the +letters forming my own name, and laid them side by side. + +I felt no little nervous dread as dinner-time approached, for Jem +Smith's warming was in waiting; but as one o'clock struck, Mr Hallett +came up to me while the other men were hurrying off, and said kindly: + +"Did that boy threaten you?" + +"He--he said something, sir," I replied, hesitating. + +"I thought so. He's gone now, so don't go out to dinner, my man. I can +give you a little of mine. I'll speak to him before you go to-night." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +MY FRIEND JEM SMITH MAKES ME AMBITIOUS. + +I was receiving my first lessons in the fact that there is as much +good-will as ill-will in the world--in other words, that there really +is, as has been so poetically expressed, a silver lining to every cloud; +and I gladly availed myself of Mr Hallett's kind offer, following him +to his frame, as they called the skeleton desks that supported the +cases, and there sitting down close by him to partake of some bread and +meat which he brought out carefully wrapped in a clean white napkin. + +"Don't be afraid, my boy," he said, "make a good meal; and I should +advise you, for the present, to bring your dinner with you and eat it +here. Better than going into the streets." + +He then ate his own dinner quickly, and without taking the slightest +notice of me beyond seeing once that I had a sufficiency of the bread +and meat, but took out an oblong memorandum-book, and began busily +drawing and making some calculation. + +As he worked at this, I sat and had a good look at him, and could see +that his large, massive head was covered with crisp dark hair that was +already slightly sprinkled with grey. From time to time he raised his +eyes from his book to look up, as if diving into the distance, or trying +to catch some idea that was wandering away from him, and at such moments +his deeply set eyes had a curiously intense look about them, while his +forehead was deeply marked with thoughtful lines. + +I don't think he was more than thirty, but he looked, so to speak, +vigorously old, or, rather, worn like some piece of steel that has been +used hard, but has grown sharper and more elastic by that use. He was a +tall, well-made man, but thin and spare, giving the idea of one who was +ascetic in his habits and devoting himself to some particular end. + +He did not speak to me again, and I was not sorry, for there was that in +his face and ways that rather repelled than attracted, and I somehow +felt that if he, in his quiet, firm way, were angry with me, I should be +more alarmed than by the noisy bullying of Mr Grimstone, the overseer. + +Two o'clock was signalled by the coming back of the compositors, who +resumed their white aprons and rolled up their sleeves, when the sharp +clicking noise went on as before. Mr Hallett, at the first entrance of +one of his fellow-workmen, had shut his book with a snap, and thrust it +into his breast, rolled up the napkin, and then, turning to me with a +nod,-- + +"Two o'clock, my boy," he said. "Get on with your work." + +As he spoke he resumed his own, and I went back to my case. + +I had hardly been there ten seconds, and was diligently making sure +which was the compartment containing the letter _u_, which had a +terribly strong resemblance to the letter _n_, when Mr Grimstone +suddenly pounced on me from round the end of the case. I say pounced, +for it was so wonderfully like a cat coming upon a mouse. He seemed +surprised and disappointed at finding me there, though I did not +comprehend his looks then, and after staring hard for a moment or two, +he went away. + +The hours glided away, and I was so interested in what I was doing, that +I hardly noticed the lapse of time, while, long before the afternoon was +past, the work the men were engaged upon seemed so attractive that I +felt impelled to imitate them by trying to pick up the letters forming +various words, and then replacing them in the different boxes. + +The first time it was rather difficult, but the second time I got on +pretty well, and I was just beginning for the third time, when Mr +Hallett came round my way and caught me in the act. I felt very guilty, +but he seemed to approve, and walked away, to return directly with a +little sliding steel thing, such as the men were using. + +"Here's a stick, my boy; try and place the letters, nick uppermost, in +that." + +I took the stick, as he called it, and found that as fast as I placed a +letter in, it seemed to do its best to jump out again; then one letter +got upon another, or two or three appeared to quarrel and join in a +regular squabble, so that their awkwardness and utter refusal to lie +quietly side by side at last put me in a profuse perspiration. + +I was busily fumbling about when Mr Grimstone, whose voice I had often +heard scolding different men, came round, saw what I was doing, and +snatched the composing-stick away. + +"Tchah! What waste of time! Come along here," he cried angrily, and I +followed him to his glass office, where he sat down upon a worn stool. +"Now then," he said, sharply, "I've decided to give you a trial." + +I remember thinking that he was very stupid to assume that he had full +authority, when I knew that he had not, but, of course, I was silent. + +"And now mind this, sir: I am overseer here, and what I say I will have +done, I have done. You hear?" + +"Yes, sir," I said. + +"And now we understand one another." + +Saying this, he bounced down from his stool again, and led me to the end +of the large room and through a door into a dirty place with a great +leaden sink, water, and brushes, and a pot containing some liquid. + +Jem Smith was there, having just brought in a long narrow tray +containing a column of type. + +"Here, Smith, show this boy how to wash a galley; and see that he does +it well." + +Jem Smith grinned at me as soon as we were left alone, and I saw plainly +enough that he meant to have some compensation for the box on the ear he +had received; but I tried hard to contain myself, and meant to submit +patiently to anything that might follow. + +"Here, ketch hold o' that galley," he said sharply, "and look here, +young man, don't you get trying to play the sneak here, and begin +getting old Hallett to take your part. He's only a sneak, and everybody +here hates him 'cause he won't take his beer. You keep away from him, +or it'll be the worse for you. I've only got to tell the other boys, +and they'll make it so warm for you as you'll wish as you'd never come +here. Now, then, why don't you ketch hold o' that galley?" + +"I don't know what a galley is," I said sturdily. + +"Don't know what a galley is," he said, imitating my way of speaking; +"you're a pretty sort of fellow to come and get work at a +printing-office. There, ketch holt, stoopid: that's the galley; put it +here, and you needn't be so precious frightened of getting your fingers +black. There's the brush, dip it, and fetch all that ink off." + +I took the brush, dipped it in the liquor in the pot, and on brushing +the surface of the type found that the strong solution easily brought +off all the black ink; and I ended as instructed, by thoroughly rinsing +the type and placing it to drain. + +This done, I had to wash several more galleys, with the result that I +was made tolerably black; and to make matters worse, my companion +brought in a black roller of some soft material, and dabbed it against +my cheek. + +I plucked up my spirit and felt ready to strike out, but somehow I kept +my anger down, and after washing the roller in turn, I was allowed to +dry my hands and clean my face, which Jem Smith persuaded me to do with +the strong solution of potash, making it tingle smartly; and, but for +the rapid application of pure water, I believe the skin would have been +made sore. + +This seemed to afford the young ruffian intense delight, and taking up +the brush, he dipped it in the potash and tried to brush my hair. + +I retreated from him as far as I could, but he got between me and the +door, and with the malignant pleasure felt by some boys in persecuting +those who are weaker than themselves, he caught me by the collar. + +"Just you call out, that's all," he said, "and I'll half kill you. Hold +still, you little sneak. You make so much noise as'll reach outside, +and I'll jump on you." + +We were close beside the lead sink and the pot of solution-lye, as the +printers call it; and now a new idea seemed to come into the spiteful +young wretch's mind, for, throwing down the brush, he seized hold of me +with both hands, and as we struggled, being much the stronger, he got +behind me, thrust his knee violently into my back, and brought me down +kneeling before the great earthen pot. And now for the first time I saw +what he intended to do, namely, to thrust my face and head into the +black caustic solution, and, in spite of my resistance, he got it down +lower and lower. + +I might have shrieked out for help, and I might have cried for mercy; +but, moved partly by his threats, partly by shame, I refrained, and made +use of all my strength to escape, but in vain; strive as I would, he +forced me down lower and lower, and then by one quick effort placed a +hand on the back of my head and thrust it right into the filthy water. + +Fortunately for me it was but a momentary affair, and the next instant +he allowed me to struggle up and run blindly to the sink, where, +perhaps, a little alarmed by his success, he filled a bowl with clean +water, leaving the tap running, as I strove to sluice off the blinding, +tingling fluid. + +I was in the midst of this, and with soaked necktie and collar, kept on +bathing my face and hair, when I heard Mr Grimstone's voice at the +door, and hastily thrust my fingers into my ears to clear them. + +"What's he doing?" + +"Washing hisself, sir." + +"Washing himself?" + +"Yes, sir; he said it was such a nasty dirty job to brush galleys that +he must have a good clean." + +"Where's the towel?" I said blindly, for my eyes smarted so that I dare +not open them, and they grew so painful that I hurried once more to the +sink and bathed them with clear water before pressing my hair as dry as +I could, and then using my handkerchief to wipe my face. + +I now opened my eyes, and saw that there was a very dirty jack-towel on +a roller behind the door, to which I hastily ran. + +"Look here, sir," said Mr Grimstone, as I hastily rubbed away at my +head; "we can't have these goings-on here. What have you been doing?" + +"I think he's been using the lye, sir," cried the young hypocrite. "I +told him it was only for the type." + +"It isn't true, sir," I cried indignantly; when a compositor came up to +the door, and Mr Grimstone was called away. + +The moment he was gone, Smith darted at me, and thrust his doubled fist +hard against my face. + +"You say a word agen me," he said, "and I'll half kill yer. I'll smash +yer, that I will, so look out." + +He went out of the place, leaving me hot and indignant, rubbing away at +my tingling head, which I at length got pretty dry and combed before a +scrap of glass stuck by four tacks in a corner; and when I had finished +it was in time to see the men just returning from their tea and resuming +their work. + +Not being told to do anything else, I went back to the case, and +continued to learn the boxes, not much the worse for my adventure, only +feeling uncomfortably wet about the neck. + +At last the clock pointed to eight, and, following the example of the +rest, I hurried out of the great office, eager to get back to Mr +Revitts before he went on duty, for I wanted to ask him a question. + +I got up to the street in Pentonville just as he was coming out of the +house, and in answer to his "Halloa! here you are, then," I caught hold +of his arm. + +"Bill!" I exclaimed, panting with excitement, "can you teach me how to +fight?" + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +WILLIAM REVITTS ON LESSONS. + +Sometime passed before William Revitts replied in full to my question. +He had, of course, asked me what I meant, and I had explained to him the +treatment I had received, but his duties and mine kept us a great deal +apart. One night, however, when he had returned to day-duty, he was +seated in his shirt-sleeves talking to me, and said all of a sudden: +"Yes, I could teach you how to fight, Antony." + +"And will you?" I said eagerly. + +"Give me my 'bacco and pipe off the chimney-piece." + +I handed them to him, and waited patiently while he filled and lighted +his pipe, and then all at once, along with a puff of smoke, he +exclaimed: + +"No, I sha'n't. Fighting's all blackguardism, as I know as well as most +men. I've had the taking up of some of the beauties as go in for it, +and beauties they are. I don't say as if I was you I wouldn't give that +Master Jem Smith an awful crack for himself if he meddled with me again; +but I should do it when I was in a passion, and when he'd hurt me. +You'll hit as hard again then, and serve him right. Now let's have a +turn at spelling." + +We did "have a turn at spelling," and I dictated while Revitts wrote, +varying the task with bits of advice to me--absurd enough, some of them, +while others were as shrewd and full of common-sense. + +By that time I had rapidly begun to fish up odds and ends of experience, +such as stood me in good stead, and, in spite of what was really little +better than contemptible persecution on the overseer's part, I was +making some little way at the printing-office. + +I shall not soon forget the feeling of pride with which on the first +Friday night I heard my name called out by a business-like clerk with a +book, after he had summoned everyone in the room, and received from him +a little paper-bag containing my wages. + +"You haven't been full time, Grace," he said, entering the sum paid in a +book; "but the firm said I was to pay you for the week, as you were a +beginner." + +As soon as I thought I was unobserved, I counted out seven shillings, a +sum that showed that I was a little favoured, for honestly I believe +that I was not worth that amount to my employers. + +Hardly had I made sure of my good fortune than I had a visit from Jem +Smith, who came up grinning. + +"Now, then," he said, "old Grim's gone for the night, and you've got to +come down and pay your footing." + +I stared at him in my ignorance, but, fully under the impression that +something unpleasant was meant, I resolutely determined to stay where I +was, and I was saved from further persecution by Mr Hallett coming up, +which was the signal for Jem Smith to sneak off. I asked Hallett what +was meant, and he explained to me that it was a custom for working men +on entering a new place to pay for some beer for their fellow-workmen. + +"But don't you pay a penny to the young wolves," he said, and I +determined that I would not. + +I was well on in the second week, and during the intervening days I had +been set to every dirty and objectionable task Mr Grimstone could +invent for me, but I did them patiently and well. I had seen nothing of +my employers, and but little of Mr Hallett, who seemed too busy to take +much notice of me; but he somehow had a knack of turning up in +emergencies, just when I required help and counsel, showing that he kept +an eye upon me for my good. + +I noticed as I sat beneath a frame eating my dinner in the +composing-room that he always employed a good deal of his time in +drawing or calculating, and I found, too, that he was no great favourite +with his fellow-workmen, who nicknamed him the steam-engine, because he +worked so rapidly and did so much. It was very plain, too, that the +overseer hated him, giving him the most difficult and unpleasant tasks, +but they were always willingly done by Mr Hallett, who was too good a +workman to be spared. + +I had just completed the washing of some very dirty type one day, and, +according to orders, made my way up to Mr Grimstone's glass case, very +dirty and grubby-looking, no doubt, when I stared with surprise on +seeing there before me a little cleanly-shaven man who, except in +clothes, was the exact counterpart of Mr Rowle. + +Somehow or other I had been so occupied, and my mind so intent upon the +task given me, that I had thought no more about asking to see him; and +now, here he was, Mr Rowle's twin brother, in angry altercation with +the overseer, while Jem Smith stood in the door. The latter had been +let off a good many dirty, tasks of late, and I had succeeded to them, +but the promotion he had received did not seem to have been attended +with success. + +"Now look hero, Grimstone," the little man was saying, "you needn't bark +at me, for I don't care a pinch of snuff for all your snarls. I asked +you to send me up the best boy you had, to read, and you sent me your +worst." + +"Mr Rowle, it is false, sir." + +"And I say it is true, and that you did it all out of your crass +obstinacy and determination to be as disagreeable as you can to +everybody in the place." + +"I sent you up one of my best boys, Mr Rowle." + +"And I say you sent me your very worst--as thick-headed, stupid a dunce +as ever entered the place. Look here," he continued, flourishing a +sheet of manuscript in one hand, a long slip of printed paper in the +other. "He can't read that plain piece of writing, and as to the print, +why, he's little better." + +"No such thing, sir," said Mr Grimstone, fuming. + +"Don't tell me `no such thing,'" said the little man fiercely. "Why, +the biggest fool in the office would do better. Here, boy," he cried to +me, as I stood there with my hands as black as dirty type could make +them; "come here." + +I went up to him. + +"He's no good," said Mr Grimstone sharply. "He has only just come." + +"Don't talk to me, sir," cried Mr Rowle angrily. "You can't pick out a +decent boy, so I must do it myself. Here, boy, read that out aloud." + +I took the piece of paper with trembling hands, doubting my own power to +read the lines of crabbed writing, and feeling that even if I could read +it I should give dire offence to the overseer by so doing; but I could +not help myself, and raising the piece of manuscript written closely on +a sheet of ruled foolscap, I saw that it was just such a legal document +as I had often copied at Mr Blakeford's. In fact, something of the old +feeling of dread that I used to experience when receiving such a paper +from him made a huskiness come in my throat, but clearing my voice, I +began: + +"`And the aforesaid deponent also saith that in such a case it would be +necessary for the said lessor, his heirs, executors, administrators, and +assigns, to make over and deliver, whenever and wheresoever the +aforesaid lessee, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns should +desire him so to do--" + +"Stop!" said the little man tightening his lips and taking a pinch of +snuff. "You did not read that exactly as it's written there." + +"No, sir," I said, "`executors, administrators, and assigns,' were all +contracted." + +"There!" he exclaimed, turning to the overseer triumphantly, "What did I +say? Here's the first boy I meet, fresh from the lye-tub, and he reads +it straight off without a blunder, and better than you could have read +it yourself. Here, boy, read that." + +He took a letter from his pocket, written in a terribly puzzling hand, +and placed it before me. + +I took it, hesitated for a moment, and then began: + +"`My dear sir,--I have given the most careful consideration to your +proposal, and I am quite willing to--to--to--to--' If you please, sir, +I'm very sorry," I stammered, "but I can't make out that word." + +"No, boy, nor I neither. I don't believe the writer can. There, go and +wash those dirty hands," he continued, snatching the letter from me. + +"No: stop!" cried Mr Grimstone wrathfully; "I want that boy here." + +"Then you may take your great clever noodle, Jem Smith," said the little +man. + +"Mr Rowle, I will not have my rules and regulations broken in this way, +sir." + +"Hang you and your rules," said the little man. "Have a pinch? No? +Then let it alone." + +"I cannot and will not spare that boy," cried Mr Grimstone, motioning +away the snuff-box. + +For answer the little man tightened his lips, snapped-to the lid of his +snuff-box, hastily took a pinch, snapped his fingers in the overseer's +face, and taking me by the shoulder, marched me before him towards the +door, and past Mr Hallett's frame. + +"Here, get your jacket, my lad," said the little man. "You can wash +your hands upstairs." + +Mr Hallett nodded to me and looked, as I thought, pleased as I passed +him, and preceding my new taskmaster, I went up to the next floor, where +he led me to a glass case, exactly like that occupied by Mr Grimstone +and the reader in his room, the sides being similarly decorated with +slips of paper hanging from nails. + +He showed me where to wash, and, this done, I was soon by his side, +reading steadily on to him various pieces of manuscript, while, +spectacles on nose, he pored over and made corrections on the margins of +the printed slips of paper that were constantly being brought to him by +a youth who printed them from the column galleys at a small hand-press. + +I got on pretty well, for my home training had made manuscript easy to +me. In fact, I had often copied pieces for my father, containing +letters from various naturalist friends, while my sojourn at Mr +Blakeford's had made anything of a legal character perfectly clear. + +That night, when it was time to go, and I had had no greater +unpleasantness to contend with than several severe fits of sneezing +brought on when the little man used his snuff-box, I timidly asked him +if I was wanted the next day, for as yet no opportunity had served for +making known my knowledge of his brother. + +"Wanted!" he cried; "why, I had serious thoughts of locking you up, boy, +so as to make sure of you to-morrow. Wanted! Yes: I've got you, and I +mean to keep you; and if Grimstone says another word--but only let him. +Look here: you are very stupid yet, but you'll soon improve; and mind +this, come with clean hands and face to-morrow, and clean apron." + +"Yes, sir," I said, and then I hesitated. + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Please, sir, you are Mr Jabez Rowle, are you not?" + +"Yes, and what then?" he said shortly. + +"Only, sir, that Mr Peter Rowle, who is a friend of mine, said I might +mention his name to you." + +"Oh, he did, did he? Well, he need not have taken the trouble. There, +be off, and mind you are here in good time." + +This was damping, especially as Mr Jabez Rowle took snuff viciously, +and stood staring before him, tapping his box, and muttering angrily, in +which state I left him, and made the best of my way home. + +I was in good time next morning, but, all the same, there sat Mr Jabez +Rowle in his glass case waiting for me, and as I entered and said +"Good-morning, sir," he just nodded shortly and pointed with the +penholder in his hand to a piece of paper. + +"Go on?" he said; and, taking it up, I began to read. + +"Not quite so fast, and say _par_ when you come to a fresh paragraph." + +I read on, making a good many blunders in my anxiety to be right, but, I +presume, getting on very well, for Mr Rowle found but little fault, as +he seemed to dart his pen down at every error in the slip proofs before +him--turned letters, _p's_ where _q's_ should be, and _b's_ for _d's_; +_c's_ were often in the place of _e's_; and then there were omissions, +repetitions, absence of spaces or points, a score of different little +omissions on the compositor's part; and, besides all these, the busy pen +made marks and signs that were cabalistic to me. + +This had gone on about a couple of days, and I was reading away to him +what I believed was a prayer in a chancery-bill, when Mr Jabez suddenly +laid down his pen, took out his snuff-box, and said, looking me full in +the face, "How's Peter?" + +"I beg your pardon, sir?" + +"I say, how's Peter?" + +"How's Peter, sir?" + +"Don't pretend to be stupid, boy, when you're as sharp as a needle," he +cried, tapping the desk angrily with his snuff-box. "Didn't you say you +knew my brother Peter?" + +"Oh yes, sir! he was very kind to me, but I haven't seen him for some +weeks. He was quite well then." + +"Humph! look old?" + +"He looks very much like you, sir." + +"Then he does look old. We're very fond of one another, boy, but we; +always quarrel; so we never meet. `And your petitioner furthermore +sayeth--'" + +"I beg your pardon, sir." + +"`And your petitioner furthermore sayeth'--get on, boy: go on." + +I dashed at the manuscript again, for he had resumed his work, and read +on to the end, for he made no further inquiries about his brother. + +I soon grew quite accustomed to reading, and found that Mr Jabez Rowle +meant what he said about keeping to me, for I was regularly installed as +reading-boy, and, as I have said, I was delighted with the change. I +often met Jem Smith, and, from his looks, it was evident that he bore me +no good will, and, to be frank, I felt rather revengeful for his +treatment. One day, during the dinner hour, I went down into the lower +part before the men came back, and, after getting some slips which Mr +Rowle had told me to have ready for him, my enemy pounced upon me, +coming in at the door just as I was about to leave. + +"Now I've got yer, then," he cried, with a malicious grin, and, rushing +at me, I had only time to evade the first onslaught by running round the +frames, when a hot chase ensued, ending in my being brought to bay, and +receiving blow after blow from my stronger antagonist. + +I did all I could to defend myself, till, closing with me, he held me +tight with one arm, and struck me so cruelly in the face, that it roused +me to greater efforts, and, after a short wrestle, I was free. + +It was but a moment's respite before he dashed at me again, and, in my +rage and desperation, I struck out at him so fiercely that my fist +caught him full between the eyes, making him stagger and catch at the +first object he could to save himself, and the result was that he pulled +over a full case of small type. There was a crash, I uttered a cry, and +some twenty pounds of type were scattered in confusion all over the +floor. + +Before I had recovered from my horror, the door was thrown open, and Mr +Grimstone came hurrying in. + +"What's this--what's this?" he cried. + +"Please, sir, Grace was playing larks with one of the cases, and he let +it fall." + +"Then Mr Grace shall soon find out what it is to destroy the property +of the firm in this wanton way," he cried. + +"Indeed, sir--" I began. + +"Not a word, sir--not a word!" he cried. "Smith, go about your work. +You, Grace, pick up every bit of that pie at once." + +"But please, sir, I did not knock it down, and Mr Rowle is waiting for +me." + +"Pick it up, sir." + +"But Mr Rowle--" + +"Pick it up, sir." + +I was so hot and excited that I was about to declare angrily that I +would not, when I caught Mr Hallett's eyes gazing fixedly at me, and +without a word, but feeling half-choked with anger and indignation, I +fetched a galley and began to pick up the fallen type. + +I had not been engaged in my uncongenial task many minutes before Mr +Jabez Rowle came down to see where I was, and I noticed that there was +quite a triumphant look in Mr Grimstone's eyes as he said I must stay +and pick up all the type, the matter being compromised on the +understanding that as soon as the metal was picked up I was to resume my +reading upstairs, and, by Mr Grimstone's orders, stay in every +dinner-time and get to the office an hour sooner every morning till I +had set up and distributed the whole of the pie. + +How I dwelt on the injustice of that task! It was one which seemed to +give Mr Grimstone great satisfaction, for it took my inexperienced +fingers many weeks, and I had to toil very hard. But all the same, it +was no waste of time, for it gave me dexterity in handling type such as +I should not otherwise have had. + +I had suffered a great deal from anxiety lest some morning Mr Blakeford +should step into the office and claim me; for, unpleasant as were my +dealings with Mr Grimstone, Jem Smith, and through the latter with +several of the other boys, I thoroughly enjoyed my present existence. +Revitts was very kind, and, in spite of his sharp abruptness, I did not +dislike quaint old Mr Jabez Rowle, who seemed never to be happy unless +he was correcting proofs. + +My dread arose from the thought that Revitts might in some communication +to Mary be the cause of her naming my whereabouts to the lawyer. Then I +was afraid that Mr Ruddle might write down and make inquiries. Lastly, +that Mr Jabez Rowle might mention me in writing to his brother. But I +grew more reassured as it became evident that Mr Ruddle had not +written, while Mr Jabez Rowle said one day, just in the middle of some +corrections: + +"Ah, I'm very fond of Peter, so I never write to him." + +Then, too, I found that Mr Revitts never wrote to Mary without, in a +half-bashful way, showing me the letter. + +"Lookye here," he would say, "we said we'd help one another, lad. Some +o' these days you'll want to write such a letter as this here, and so +you may as well see how it's done. Then you can just shove your pen +through where the spellin' ain't quite square, and I'll write it out +again. I don't know as it's quite right to let her get thinking as I'm +such a tip-topper at spellin', but she came the same game with me over +the writing, making me think as she'd improved wonderful, when it was +you; so it's six o' one and half-a-dozen o' t'other. What do you say?" + +"I don't think Mary meant to deceive you, Bill," I said. "Poor girl, +she had to work very hard, and her hands were not used to holding a pen. +I don't suppose she ever thought of saying who wrote for her. There's +nothing to be ashamed of in trying to improve your spelling." + +"No, there ain't, is there, lad?" + +"Nothing at all. Mr Hallett says we go on learning all our lives." + +"Hah! I suppose we do. What would you do then?" + +"I should tell Mary I helped you." + +"So I will--so I will," he said, in his quiet simple way; for as sure as +the subject _Mary_ was in question, all William Revitts' sharp +police-constable ways dropped off, and he was as simple and smiling as a +child. + +"Give my love to her, Bill," I said. + +He looked heavily and steadily at me for a few moments, and then in a +very stupid way he began: + +"I say, youngster, do you think Mary is fond of you?" + +"I'm sure she is--very," I said. + +He fidgeted in his chair, and then continued: + +"And you like her?" + +"Very, very, very much. She was horribly cross at first, but towards +the last nobody could have been kinder." + +"I say, how old are you?" + +"Between thirteen and fourteen," I said. + +"Ah, to be sure; of course, lad, so you are," he said, brightening up +and shaking hands. "Yes, I'll give your love to her. I say, boy, it +won't be long first," he continued, rubbing his hands. + +"Won't it?" I said, easily divining what he meant. + +"No, not long now, for we've been engaged a precious long while." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE WAYZEGOOSE. + +Long before the fallen type was sorted I had heard rumours of the annual +holiday and dinner of the _employes_ of the firm; and on a delicious +autumn morning I found myself in a great covered van, one of three +conveying the large party down to Epping Forest. + +According to old custom, the members of the firm did a great deal to +encourage the affair, supplying a large proportion of the funds +required, and presiding at the dinner at an inn in the forest. + +Boy-like, I was very eager to go, and looked forward to joining in a +projected game at cricket; but, somehow, when we reached the inn, after +a drive made noisy by a good deal of absurd mirth, the result of several +calls at public-houses on the way to give the horses hay and water, the +pleasure seemed to be taken a good deal out of the affair, and the +presence of Mr Grimstone did not tend to make me feel upon the highest +pinnacle of enjoyment. + +Somehow or another the boys seemed to look upon me as a sort of butt, +and, headed by Jem Smith, they had played several practical jokes upon +me already, so that at last I was standing wistfully looking on instead +of playing cricket, and wishing I was alone, when a handsome waggonette +was driven by, and to my surprise I saw in it Mr Ruddle, Mr Lister, +his partner, and the two young ladies whom I had met on my first day in +Short Street. + +As I started forward and took off my cap, Miss Carr saw me, and smiled +and nodded: and then as I stood gazing after the departing carriage, a +change seemed to have come over the day, and I began to wonder whether I +should see them again, and, if so, whether they would speak to me, when +a hand was laid upon my shoulder, and turning round, there stood Mr +Hallett. + +"Well, my solitary little philosopher," he said, in a quiet, +half-cynical way, "what are you doing? Not playing with the boys at +cricket, and not drinking more beer than is good for you, according to +the immemorial custom of a British workman taking a holiday?" + +"No," I said, "I was looking after that carriage." + +"Carriage? Oh, that! Well, what was there in it to take your +attention?" + +"Mr Ruddle and Mr Lister were in it, with Miss Carr and her sister." + +"What, in that?" he said. "Are you sure?" + +"Yes, sir, quite sure. Miss Carr nodded to me." + +"Nodded? to you, Grace?" + +"Oh yes, Mr Hallett, it was through Miss Carr that I was engaged;" and +I told him how it happened. + +"And so you are not going to play cricket?" he said dreamily, as he +stood gazing wistfully in the direction taken by the waggonette. + +"No, thank you," I replied sadly. "I'd rather not." + +"Well, I'm going for a ramble in the forest. Dinner will not be ready +for two hours. Will you come?" + +"Oh yes, sir." + +"Come along then, Grace, and well throw away the work for one day, and +enjoy the country." + +I had never seen him look so bright and pleasant before. The stern, +cold, distant air was gone, and his eyes were bright and eager. He +seemed to unbend, and it was delightful to find him take so much +interest in me as he did. + +"Well," he exclaimed, as we turned right into the wood by the first +narrow foot-path, "and how are you getting on with the pie?" + +"Very slowly, sir," I said sadly. + +"Never mind, my boy; patience, and you will do it all; and it will not +hurt you." + +"But it was so unjust, sir. It was Smith who upset it." + +"Ah! and he said it was you?" + +"Yes, sir; and it was a lie." + +"I thought as much; a young rascal! but never mind, Grace. I would +rather be the lad who manfully bears an injustice like a hero, than be +the big successful blackguard who escapes his punishment by a +contemptible lie." + +"So would I, sir," I said, swallowing down something which seemed to +rise in my throat as I gazed in his bright, intelligent face. + +"Bah! It was a pitiful bit of triumph for the young idiot; but never +mind, my lad: work at it and finish it like a man, and it will be a +piece of self-denial that you may be proud of to the end of your days." + +We walked on for some distance in silence, he evidently thoroughly +enjoying the beauty of the forest as we rambled on, knee-deep in ferns +and heather, and I feeling that the old days were coming back, such as I +used to love when wandering with my father through one of our woods, +botanising or collecting bird and insect. Almost involuntarily as Mr +Hallett took off his soft felt hat to let the breeze blow on his broad +white forehead, I began, as of old, to pick a specimen here and there, +till, after being in a musing fit for some time, he suddenly noticed +what I was doing, and became interested. + +"What have you got there?" he said, pointing to a plant I had just +picked. + +"Oh, that's a twayblade," I replied, "one of the orchis family." + +"Indeed," he said, looking at me curiously, "and what is this?" + +"Oh, a very common plant--dog's mercury." + +"And this, Grace?" he continued, pointing to another, with its bulbous +roots in the water. + +"Water hemlock, sir." + +"Why, Antony Grace, you are quite a young botanist," he said, smiling +and showing his white teeth, while I gazed up at him wonderingly, he +seemed so changed. + +"I only know a little that papa--I mean my father, taught me." + +"He used to take you for walks, then, my boy?" + +"Oh, such delicious walks, sir." + +"And you learned a good deal? Look! What a great toadstool! Don't +handle it, my boy, some of these things are very poisonous." + +"This is not, sir," I said eagerly; "this is _Boletus edulis_, and very +good eating." + +"Indeed; and pray what does _Boletus edulis_ mean?" + +"The eatable _boletus_, sir. There is a family of fungi called the +_boleti_, sir, and you can easily tell them, because they are all full +of pores, or little holes, underneath, while the ordinary agarics have +gills like this." + +I picked up one with a brilliant scarlet top as I spoke, and showed him +the white gills beneath. + +"And has that a name?" he said. + +"Oh yes; that is a very poisonous and rather rare specimen: it is +_Russula emetica_." + +"Why, Grace," he said, laying his hand on my shoulder, "you and I must +come for country walks together. You must take me for a pupil. Good +heavens?" he muttered, "how one does live to find out one's ignorance." + +His whole manner from that moment was changed towards me. He seemed to +throw off his mask of cold reserve, and laughed and chatted; ran up +banks to get rare ferns, and climbed a tree to look at a late +wood-pigeon's nest, so that the time flew by till, on referring to his +watch, he found that we should have enough to do to get back to the +dinner. + +"I would rather stay in the forest," he said. + +"So would I, sir," I replied rather dolefully. + +"But no," he continued, "the firm are very kind, and we should be +wanting in respect if we stayed away. Come along; you sit beside me, +and we'll slip off afterwards and have another run." + +We hurried back just in time for the dinner, but I did not get a place +by Mr Hallett; and as soon as this was over speech-making began. It +did not interest me, for my eyes were fixed upon a kind of gallery above +the heads of the people at the upper table, in which I could see Miss +Carr and her sister had taken their places, apparently to listen to the +speeches made by Mr Ruddle and Mr Lister in turn. + +They seemed, however, to pay little attention to them after the first, +and as I sat watching them, and wishing Miss Carr could see me, to my +disappointment I saw them rise to go, just as, after a good deal of +whispering between Mr Grimstone, Mr Jabez Rowle, and Mr Hallett, the +latter, evidently unwillingly, rose to propose the health of the firm. + +At the first sound of his voice I saw Miss Carr pause and stay her +sister, and as he went on, she paid more and more attention, leaning +over the rail to catch every word, while he, quite unconscious of the +presence of such listeners, warmed to his task, and in well-chosen +vigorous language, spoke in praise of the firm, and, at the same time, +urged his fellow-workmen to give them in the future their best support +as earnestly as they would promise it upon this present day. + +He grew eager and excited as he spoke, and carried his eloquent speech +on to such a climax that he sat down amidst a perfect tempest of +cheering, both Mr Ruddle and Mr Lister leaving their seats afterwards +to go and quietly shake hands with him, Mr Grimstone all the while +apparently seeing in him a rival, for he scowled ominously, and Mr +Jabez Rowle completely emptied his box of snuff. + +My eyes, though, were principally fixed upon the ladies in the little +gallery, and I was near enough to see that Miss Carr's lips were parted, +and her eyes looked eager and strange as she leaned forward more and +more, till the speech was at an end. The next time I looked, she was +gone. + +Soon after I felt some one pull my arm, and starting round, there stood +Mr Hallett, and hurriedly following him out of the hot, noisy room, we +made our way once more into the forest. + +As we rambled on, delighted with the delicious coolness and the sweet +scents of the woodlands, Mr Hallett asked me a few questions about +myself, soon learning my little history, while my respect for him had +increased as I found out more and more how different he was from the +ordinary workmen at the office. He was evidently a scholar, and seemed +to have a great depth of knowledge in mechanical contrivances. + +"We must know more of one another, Grace," he said; "I am glad we have +been together to-day. What do you do on Sundays?" + +I explained that when Mr Revitts was off duty we went for a walk. + +"And pray who is Mr Revitts?" he said. + +I explained that he was a policeman, and had been very kind to me since +I had lodged with him in town. + +"I am quite alone in London, you see, Mr Hallett," I said in an +old-fashioned way at which I now can smile. + +He nodded, and seemed thoughtful for a few minutes. + +"Mine is not a very cheerful home, Grace," he said at length; "but if +you will come and spend a Sunday--say Sunday week--with us, I shall be +glad to see you. Will you come?" + +"I should be so glad," I cried, and then I stopped short. + +"What is it?" he said. + +"Mr Revitts will be off duty that day, sir; and he would be so +disappointed if I were not at home. He has been so very kind to me." + +Mr Hallett looked amused. + +"Do you mind, sir?" I said. + +"No, Grace. You are quite right," he quietly said. "Always be faithful +to your friends. You shall come next Sunday instead," he added, as we +turned into a beautiful little glade that looked bright and golden with +the setting sun. "Never throw a trusted friend over for the sake of one +you believe to be--" + +He stopped short, for we had come suddenly upon two ladies, one of whom +was Miss Carr. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +IN THE FOREST. + +Miss Carr started slightly on seeing my companion, and it seemed to me +that she coloured for the moment, but she recovered her composure on the +instant, responded to Mr Hallett's salute with a quiet bend of the +head, and turned at once to me, talking in a sweet grave way, as if +there were no one else present, though Mr Hallett stood close by me, +hat in hand. + +"Antony," she said, laying; her hand upon my shoulder, "I am very glad +to see you again. Mr Ruddle tells me that you are striving very hard, +and that you have already made a step upwards. Mind, though I do not +see you, I always hear how you progress, and, now that you have begun so +well, I have no fear for your future. Are you happy and comfortable +where you are?" + +"Oh yes, ma'am," I said, flushing red with pride and pleasure, as I +gazed in her face; "and--and I have made such good friends." + +"Indeed!" she said quickly. "I hope you are careful." + +"Oh yes, ma'am; Mr Revitts is very good to me, and Mr Hallett, here." + +Miss Carr turned her face to him for the moment, and once more there was +a slight flush upon her cheeks; then she seemed very pale. + +"I am glad to hear it," she said, in a firm, distinct tone; "and I hope +your friend Mr Hallett will remember your unprotected position, and +advise you for your good." + +Mr Hallett was about to speak, but she had turned from him, and now +laid her other hand upon my shoulder. + +"Good-bye, Antony," she said; "you know where I live; come to me if ever +you should require help. And mind this, I shall expect you to fight +hard and rise. It is no disgrace to be a common workman,"--she glanced +hastily, and as if in apology, towards Mr Hallett, as she spoke--"My +dead father was but a workman, but he rose to a higher position in life, +and I think those who fight the battle well and are self-made, are quite +as worthy of honour and respect as those who are born to wealth. +Good-bye." + +I could not speak, but I stood there gazing in her bright animated face, +and listened to the sweet grave voice, whose every word seemed to fix +itself in my mind. I was only recalled from my dreamy state by those +words "good-bye," and the sight of the soft white hand that she held +out. + +It was from no sentimental feeling of politeness that I acted as I did, +for I felt moved to my very soul, and the same feelings came over me +that had animated me in the past days in my pleasant old home. I loved +Miss Carr--loved her with the same sweet wholesome love that, a boy +feels towards a tender mother, and my eyes felt suffused, and things +looked dim, as with quite a natural effort I took the hand extended to +me, kissed it, and held it for a moment against my cheek. Then it +seemed to glide from my hold, there was a faint rustle of silken +garments over the heath and grass, and Mr Hallett and I were alone. + +I turned to speak to him, to find that he was still standing, hat in +hand, gazing down the path by which the sisters had gone; then it seemed +to me that he drew a long breath as he stood looking at me apparently, +but evidently recalling that which was past. + +"Oh, Mr Hallett!" I cried enthusiastically, and with all the +impulsiveness of a boy; "isn't she beautiful?" + +"As beautiful as true, Grace," he said softly, and his manner seemed +reverent and strange. + +"She was so kind to me--spoke so kindly for me when I first came to the +office," I cried. + +"Yes, my boy," he said in the same low, soft voice; "you are very +fortunate--you have found a true friend." + +"And I will try," I cried. "She shall find that I have remembered what +she told me." + +"Come and sit down here, my boy," he said, throwing himself upon a patch +of heath and fern. "Let's forget the smell of oil and steam and +printing-ink for a time. Come and tell me all about your meeting with +Miss Carr." + +I was eager to tell him, and I had a willing listener, and as I sat +there at his feet I told him of the interview at the office, and all +about how Mr Lister seemed so attentive to Miss Carr: what he had said, +and how he seemed to love her. In my ignorance I dwelt at length upon +even Mr Ruddle's words of congratulation, talking rapidly and well in +my enthusiasm--blind and ignorant that I was--for I could not read then +why the lines in Stephen Hallett's face grew deeper and more marked, nor +yet why his eyelids should droop down, and then his head, till it rested +upon one hand, while the other plucked slowly at the strands of grass +and scraps of heath. + +Once or twice I thought he was asleep, but if I stopped he spoke to me +softly, asking some questions till I had done, when he startled me again +with inquiries about myself and my old life, gradually winning from me +all I had to tell. + +The sun had set, and the soft evening shadows were descending as we +still sat there drinking in the moist fresh air of the forest, till, as +if rousing himself from a dream, Mr Hallett rose hastily, and I too +sprang to my feet. + +"Come, Grace," he said, with an effort to be cheerful, "we must get back +to the inn, or we shall be left behind. One minute, though; let us walk +along here." + +I looked at him wonderingly as he strode hastily to where we had met the +ladies, and I saw that he had removed his hat as he stood gazing slowly +around. + +It might have been from the heat, but I do not think so now; and he was +just turning away, when I saw him stoop hastily and snatch from among +the ferns a grey kid glove. + +"Why, that must be Miss Carr's," I said eagerly. + +"Yes," he replied softly; "it is Miss Carr's." + +He stood holding it pressed in his hand; and his brow was knit, and he +stood gazing straight before him, struggling with himself before saying, +as he doubled the glove: + +"You must take it back, my boy. You will see her again; perhaps I never +shall." + +I looked at him curiously as I took the glove, for he seemed so strange, +but the next moment his dreamy manner was cast aside, as he clapped me +on the shoulder. + +"Come, Grace," he said; "no, I will not call you Grace," he added, +laughing; "it sounds as if you were a girl, and you are rather too +girlish, my boy; I will call you Antony in future." + +"Yes, do, please, Mr Hallett," I said; though I flushed a little at +being called girlish. + +"Come along, then. Our pleasant day has nearly come to an end." + +"Yes," I said with a sign; "pleasant days do so soon come to an end." + +"To be sure they do," he cried; "but never mind, my boy; others will +come." + +"Yes," I sighed; "and miserable ones, too, full of Grimstone, and Jem +Smith, and pie, and mistakes." + +"Of course," he cried; "bitters, all of them, to make life the sweeter. +Why, Antony--no, Tony's better--why, Tony, if you could be always +revelling in good things, such a day as this would not have seemed so +delightful as it has." + +"And it has been delightful!" I cried, as we walked on, my friend +resting his hand almost affectionately upon my shoulder. + +"Yes," he said softly; "a day to be marked with a white stone--a +tombstone over the grave of one's brightest hopes," he added, very, very +softly; but I caught the import of his words, and I turned to him quite +a troubled look, when there was a sound of cheering some distance away. +"Come, Tony," he said cheerfully, "there are our men hurrahing. We must +join them now." + +"Do you know what time we were to start back, sir?" I said. + +"Eight o'clock," he replied, taking out an old-fashioned gold watch, and +then starting. "Why, Tony, my lad, it's past nine. Come along, let's +run." + +We started off, and ran at a steady trot till we reached the inn, to +find that the cheering had been when the vans set out. + +"Yes, they was a-cheerin' away like fun," said our informant, a rather +beery-looking public-house hanger-on. "What, are you two left behind?" + +"Yes," said Mr Hallett, shortly. "How long have they been gone?" + +"More'n quarter of 'n 'our," said the man; "and I say, they just was +on--all of 'em. The driver o' the last one couldn't hardly hold his +reins." + +"What time did Messrs. Ruddle and Lister go?" + +"Who?" said the man. + +"The gentlemen with the waggonette." + +"What, with them two gals? Oh! more'n 'n 'our ago. They wasn't on." + +"How can we get back to town?" + +"Walk," said the man; "'less you like to take a fly." + +"It is very tiresome, Tony," said Mr Hallett. "Are you a good walker?" + +"Pretty well," I said. "How far is it?" + +"Twelve or thirteen miles. Shall we try it?" + +"Oh yes," I said. "It's a beautiful night, and we shall see plenty of +moths." + +"Come along, then, my boy," he cried; and away we went. + +Our long rest since dinner had made me better able to manage the task; +and I noticed that Mr Hallett did all he could to lighten the way by +talking, and he could talk well. As, then, we trudged along the wide, +firm road, he told me a little about himself and his home; and so it was +that I learned that he had an invalid mother and a sister, who were +dependent upon him; that his early life had been in the country, where +his father had been a surgeon, and that on his father's death he had +been compelled to come to London. + +"To seek your fortune, Mr Hallett?" I asked. + +"Well, yes, if you like to call it so, Tony," he said, laughing. "Ah, +my boy, let me give you advice that I am only too loth to take myself-- +don't degenerate into a dreamer." + +"A dreamer, Mr Hallett?" + +"Yes, boy; one whose mind is set on what people call making a fortune-- +that miserable style of enthusiast, who ignores the present in his +search for something that he may never find, and which, even if he does, +he may never enjoy. Tony, my boy, don't heed what people say about this +being a miserable world and a vale of tears; it is a very beautiful and +a very glorious world with heights and mountains bright in the sunshine +of truth. We all have to wander down into the valley sometimes, but +there are other times when we are in the sunshine on the heights. When +we are there, let's take it and enjoy it, and not sit down and grumble, +and strive to climb to another mountain, close by, that seems higher and +brighter than the one we are on. Take what fate sends you, my dear boy, +and take it patiently. Use your strength to bear it, and--there, let's +come back out of the imaginary into the rear--go on setting up your pied +type, and enjoy the pleasure after of having won a victory, or, in the +present case, stride out manfully. Every step takes us nearer to +London; and when we have got there, and have slept off our fatigue, we +can laugh at our adventure. Why, we must be halfway there now. But how +you limp!" + +"I'm afraid it's my boot rubs my foot, sir," I said, wincing. + +"Tut, tut!" he exclaimed. "This won't do. Sit down and have a rest, +and let's think, Tony." + +"Oh, I can go on yet, sir," I said hastily. + +"No, no; sit down, my boy, sit down," he said; and I sat down upon a +bank. "I can't carry you, Tony," he said kindly. "I could manage you +for a couple of miles or so; I don't think I could get you right up +home. We are unlucky to-night, and--there is something turning up." + +"On ahead, Tony. Yonder is a roadside inn, with a couple of hay-carts. +Come along, my lad, and well see if one of them cannot be turned into a +chariot to convey us to London Town." + +I limped on beside him to where the hay-carts were standing by a +water-trough at the roadside, the horses tossing their nose-bags so as +to get at the oats at the bottom, and the carters just coming out of the +public-house. + +"Can you give us a lift on to London?" said Mr Hallett. "This boy has +turned lame." + +"What'll you stand?" said the man heavily. + +"A couple of pints," said Mr Hallett. + +"All right; up you get," said the man. "You must lie atop o' the hay. +I only goes to Whitechapel, you know." + +"That will do," said Mr Hallett. And together we climbed up, and lay +down, twelve or fifteen feet above the road, on the top of the +sweet-scented trusses of hay; the carter cracked his whip, and away we +went jolting over the road, with the stars above us, and my couch +seeming delicious to my weary limbs, as the scent seemed to bring up my +sleeping place by the hay-rick, when I ran away from Rowford and my +slavery at Mr Blakeford's house. + +"That's one of the peculiarities of the true-born Briton, Tony," said +Mr Hallett, after a pause. + +"What is, sir?" + +"The love and reverence for beer. If I had offered that man sixpence or +a shilling to give us a ride, he would have laughed me to scorn. Two +pints of beer, you see, carry us right to town, and another pint would +have acted like a return ticket to bring us back." + +"To bring us back?" I said in drowsy accents; and, trusting to my +companion to save me from a fall, I dropped into a heavy dreamless +sleep, from which I was aroused by Mr Hallett, who shook my arm and +told me that we were once more in town. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +WILLIAM REVITTS IS ANGRY. + +Mr Hallett saw me right to the door of my lodgings before he left me, +shaking hands warmly as he said "Good-night," and altered it to +"Good-morning." + +I was thoroughly awake now, and somewhat refreshed as I ascended the +stairs very gently, having risen now to the honour of a latchkey. It +was Revitts' turn for day-duty, and I was unwilling to disturb him, so I +had slipped off my boots, and cautiously turning the handle of the door, +I entered, to find, to my surprise, a light burning, and Mr Revitts +buttoned up in his uniform and with his heavy hat upon his head. + +"Oh, here you are, then," he cried roughly. + +"What, not in bed!" I said. + +"In bed? How was I going to bed? I was just orf to the station to send +word round as you was missing, and to make inquiries where the vans went +from." + +"Oh, Mr Revitts! Oh, Bill, I am sorry!" I cried. + +"Don't you Bill me, young man," he cried. "Now, lookye here. Was it an +accident to the van as made you late?" + +"No," I said; "it was--" + +"There!" he cried, bringing his fist down heavily upon the table. "I +won't hear another word. I won't listen to you. Those vans was doo +back at ten thirty--say eleven, and it's now two forty-five." + +"Yes, Bill, but--" + +"Don't Bill me," he cried; and, running to the corner of the room, he +caught up a black silver-topped cane, with shabby silk tassels. "Look +here," he said; "for the last hour or two I've been thinking whether, as +your best friend, I oughtn't to give you a good wilting down, only +you're such a man now that I can't stoop to hit the feller as I've made +my friend." + +"But will you listen to me, Bill?" I cried angrily. + +"No, I won't," he said, throwing down the cane. "You've been up to your +larks, you have, and I tell you what it is, I won't have larks." + +"I haven't," I cried. + +"You have, sir, so don't deny it. What am I to say to my Mary when she +comes up, if she finds you going wrong? I won't have larks, so there's +an end of it, d'ye hear? There, you needn't look sulky, and you won't +go and lodge somewhere else. You'll stay here and I won't have no +larks. I know what it means; I've seen boys begin with stopping out o' +nights, and I know what sort o' chickens they turn out. Stopping out +late o' nights an' larks means going to the bad; and you ain't going to +the bad if I know it." + +"I couldn't help it, Bill; I've been along with Mr Hallett." + +"Then I'll punch Mr Hallett's head," he cried in a rage, as he stamped +up and down the room, till some one rapped at the ceiling of the floor +below. "No, I won't. I'll pay him a visit in full uniform with my +bracelet on, that's what I'll do with him." + +"Don't be so foolish, Bill," I cried, as in imagination I saw Mr +Revitts stalking along amongst the frames at the office, as if about to +take Mr Hallett into custody. + +"Foolish?" he cried. "And look here, once for all, don't you Bill me. +As for that Hallett, he's a bad 'un, that's what he is, and I'll let him +know--carrying on larks with a youngster like you." + +"Mr Hallett's a gentleman," I said indignantly. + +"Oh, is he?" said Revitts excitedly; "then I'd rather be a pore +police-constable. Why, I never so much as took you inside a public to +have half-a-pint o' beer, I was so particular over your morals; and your +precious gentleman takes you to dozens, and keeps you out till two +forty-five. Why, you make the whole room smell o' beer." + +"I don't, Bill," I cried; "it's that hay. Look here, it's sticking to +my clothes." + +"Then, what ha' yer been sleeping under haystacks for, when here was +your own bed waiting for you? That's the way. That's the first step to +being a rogue and a vagabond. Do you know, young fellow, as I could +have taken you and locked you up, and had you afore the magistrates next +morning, if I'd found you lying under haystacks?" + +"What a dear old stupid you are, Bill," I cried, half angry, half +amused; for he had talked so fast and been in such a rage, that I could +not get a chance to explain. + +"Am I?" he cried, just as if I had added fresh fuel to the flame. "If I +am--I'm honest, so now then. That's more than your Mr Hallett can say. +But I haven't done with him yet." + +"Why don't you be quiet, Bill?" I said. + +"Quiet, when you get out on larks?" + +"You won't let me speak." + +"Let you speak! No, I won't. Here have I been worried to death about +you, thinking all the chaps had got on, and that the van was upset, and +all the time it was your games." + +"We went strolling about the forest, Bill," I said, as I removed my +stockings and bathed my sore feet, "and had to walk ever so much of the +way home, and that's what made me so late." + +He snatched up my boots from where I had set them, and found that they +were covered with dust. + +"But you said you'd been sleeping in the hay," he said stubbornly. + +"Yes; on the top of a hay-cart, coming up to Whitechapel, and I went to +sleep." + +Revitts began rubbing his ear in a puzzled way; and then, as if seized +by a bright idea, he took out his notebook and pencil. + +"Now look here," he said, making believe to take down my words and +shaking his pencil at me in a magisterial way. "Why should you have to +walk nearly all the way home, because you went for a stroll in the woods +with that there Hallett?" + +This last with a contemptuous emphasis on the name of my companion. + +"Why, I told you, Bill. When we got back to the inn the last van had +gone." + +"There; now, you're shuffling," he said. "You never said a word about +the van being gone." + +"Didn't I, Bill? Well, I meant to say so. Mr Hallett thought it would +be much nicer to go for a walk in the woods than to sit in that hot room +where the men were drinking and smoking, so we did, only we stopped too +long." + +Revitts shut his pocket-book with a snap, scratched his head with the +end of his pencil, wetted the point between his lips, and had another +scratch; then pushed the pencil into the loop at the side, replaced the +book in his breast, and buttoned it up tight, as he stood staring hard +at me. Then he coughed behind his hand, rubbed his ear again, +unbuttoned his coat, buttoned it up tightly, cleared his throat again, +and then said: + +"Well, it was circumstantial evidence, cert'nly." + +"It's too bad, Bill," I said, in an injured tone; "you had no business +to doubt me." + +"More I hadn't, old lad," he replied in a deprecating way. "But you +know, Ant'ny, I had been a-sitting here wait-wait-waiting and thinking +all sorts o' things." + +"Why didn't you go to bed?" + +"I'd been thinking, old lad, that being a holiday, you might be hungry, +and look here." + +He opened the little cupboard and took out a raised pork pie and a +bottle of pale ale. + +"I'd got the cloth laid and the knives and forks out ready, but I got in +such a wax about one o'clock that I snatched 'em all off and cleared 'em +away." + +"And why did you get in a wax, Bill?" I said. "You ought to have known +me better." + +"So I ought, old lad," he said penitently; "but I got thinking you'd +chucked me over, and was out on larks with that there Hallett; and it +ain't nice to be chucked over for a chap like that, specially when you +seem to belong to me. You'll shake hands, won't you, Tony?" + +"Of course I will." + +"And I won't doubt you another time; let's have the pie, after all." + +We did; and in a dozen ways the good fellow strove to show me his sorrow +for his past doubts, picking me out the best bits of the pie, foaming up +my glass with the ale, and when I expressed my fears of not being awake +in time for the office, he promised to call me; and though he never +owned to it, I have good reason for believing that he sat up writing out +corrections in an old dictation lesson, calling me in excellent time, +and having the breakfast all ready upon the table. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +MR HALLETT AT HOME. + +Punctual to the appointed time, I rang the topmost of four bells on the +doorpost of one of the old-fashioned red-brick houses in Great Ormond +Street, and a few minutes after it was opened by Mr Hallett, whose face +lit up as he offered me his hand. + +"That's right, Antony!" he exclaimed; "now we'll go upstairs and see the +ladies, and then you and I will have a walk till dinner-time." + +I followed him up the well-worn, uncarpeted stairs to the second floor, +where he introduced me to his mother, a stern, pale, careworn-looking +woman in a widow's cap, half sitting, half reclining in a large +easy-chair. + +"How do you do?" she said, wearily, as she gazed at me through her +half-closed eyes. "You are Stephen's friend. I am glad to see you; but +you are very young," she added in an ill-used tone. + +"Not a very serious failing, mother dear," said Mr Hallett cheerfully. + +"No," said Mrs Hallett, "no. I am sorry we have not a better place to +receive him in." + +"Tut--tut, dear," said Mr Hallett. "Antony Grace comes to see us, not +our rooms or our furniture." + +I had already glanced round the large, old-fashioned room, which was +shabbily furnished, but scrupulously clean, while everything was in good +taste, and I hastened to say something about how glad I was to come. + +"Yes," said Mrs Hallett wearily; "it is very polite and nice of you to +say so, but it is not the home I expected for my old age." + +"My mother is--" + +"You always used to call me _mamma_, Stephen," said Mrs Hallett, with +the tears in her eyes. + +"Did I love you any more tenderly then, dear?" he said, bending over her +and kissing her wrinkled forehead with reverent affection, and then +placing his lips upon her hand. + +"No, Stephen, no," she cried, bursting into a fit of sobbing; "but--but +we might cling to some of our old respectability, even if you will +persist in being a workman and lowering our family by wearing aprons +like a common man." + +"There, there, dear, don't fret," he said cheerfully. "You are in pain +this morning. I am going for a walk with Antony Grace, and we'll bring +you back a bunch of flowers." + +"No, no, don't--pray don't, Stephen," said Mrs Hallett querulously; +"you cannot afford it, and it only puts me in mind of happier days, when +we had our own garden, and I was so fond of my conservatory. You +remember the camellias?" + +"Yes, yes, dear," he said, passing his arm round her; "and some day you +shall have your conservatory again." + +"Never, Stephen--never, while you are so obstinate." + +"Come, come, dear," he said, kissing her again; "let me put your pillow +a little more easy, and we won't talk of the past; it cannot interest +Antony Grace. Where has Linny hidden herself?" + +"I suppose she is seeing after the cooking," said Mrs Hallett +querulously. "We have no servants now, Mr Grace." + +"No, Antony," said Mr Hallett, laughing; and I could not help +contrasting the man I saw before me--so bright, airy, and tender in his +ways--with the stern, rather grim-looking workman of the office. "No +servants; I clean my own boots and help with the cooking, too. It is +inconvenient, for my dear mother here is a great invalid." + +"Helpless for seventeen years, Mr Grace," said the poor woman, looking +at me piteously. "We used to have a carriage, but we have none now. +Stephen is very kind to me, only he will be so thoughtless; and he is so +wanting in ambition, clever as he is." + +"There, dear, we won't talk about that now," said Mr Hallett. "Come +Antony; my sister will not show herself, so we'll find her blooming in +flour, or carving potato rings, or handling a truncheon bigger than that +of your friend Mr Revitts as she makes the paste. Oh, here she is!" + +A door opened as he spoke, and I quite started as a bright, pretty girl +entered, and came forward smiling pleasantly to shake hands. She seemed +to bring sunshine into the room, and, damped as I was by Mrs Hallett's +reception and the prospect of a dull, cheerless day, the coming of Miss +Hallett seemed quite to change the state of affairs. + +"I am very glad to see you," she said, showing her little white teeth. +"Stephen has so often talked about you, and said he would bring you +home." + +"Ah, me, yes, home!" sighed Mrs Hallett, glancing round the shabby +apartment. + +Not that it seemed shabby any longer to me, for Linny, in her tight, +well-fitting, plain holland dress, white collar and cuffs, and with her +long golden-brown, naturally curling hair, seemed to me to radiate +brightness all around. For she certainly was very pretty, and her +large, well-shaded eyes seemed to flash with animation as she spoke. + +"Antony Grace and I are going for a walk, Linny, and we shall come back +hungry as hunters. Don't make any mistake in the cooking." + +She nodded and laughed, and her fair curls glistened in the light, while +Mrs Hallett sighed again; and it struck me that she was about to say +something in disparagement of the dinner, but she did not speak. + +"Come along then, Antony," said Mr Hallett; and, after kissing the +invalid, he led the way down stairs, and we strolled off towards +Regent's Park. + +As we left the house, the shadow seemed to come down again over Mr +Hallett's face, and from that time I noticed that he seemed to lead a +double life--one in which he was bright and merry, almost playful, +before his mother and sister; the other, a life of stern, fixed purpose, +in which his soul was bent upon some pursuit. + +He shook off his gloom, though, directly, and we had a good walk, during +which he strove hard to make himself a pleasant companion, chatted to me +of myself, hoped that I made use of my spare time, and read or studied +in some way, promising to help me with my Latin if I would go on. + +"It wants an effort, Antony," he said; "especially after a hard day's +work at the office." + +"Yes," I said, with a sigh; "I do feel tired of reading when I get +back." + +"Never mind," he said; "make an effort and do something. It is only the +first start. You'll soon grow interested in what you are doing; and +recollect this, my boy, learning is a treasure that no one can take +away." + +"Yes, my father used to say so, Mr Hallett," I said thoughtfully, as I +glanced sidewise at my companion's face as we lay on the turf close by +the water. + +"What an imitation of the country this is, Antony!" he said, with a +sigh. "I love the country. I could live there always." + +"Yes, I don't like London, Mr Hallett," I said; "but--but do you study +anything in your spare hours?" + +He turned round upon me sharply, and his eyes seemed to look me through +and through. + +"Did my mother say anything to you?" he exclaimed. "Oh no! of course +not--you were not alone. Yes, Antony, I do study something--a great +deal--in my spare hours." + +"Oh yes, of course. I know you do, Mr Hallett," I cried. "I've seen +you take out your pocket-book and draw and make calculations." + +He looked at me again in a curious, suspicious way that set me +wondering, and then, jumping up: + +"Come, Antony," he cried, with a forced laugh, "it is time we were off. +Linny will be wanting to go to church, and we shall be punished if we +are late for dinner." + +He chatted merrily all the way back, and I had no opportunity of asking +him what he studied. Dinner was waiting, and a very pleasant simple +meal it was, only that Mrs Hallett would sprinkle everything with +tears. I noticed that really, as well as metaphorically, she dropped a +few into her glass of beer, a few more into the gravy, of which she had +the best share, soaked her bread with others, and still had a few left +to drop into her portion of red-currant and raspberry tart. Nothing was +nice, poor woman--nothing was comfortable; and while Linny took her +complaints with a pettish indifference, Mr Hallett left his place from +time to time, to attend to her at her little table in front of her +easy-chair, waiting upon her with the tenderness of a woman, smoothing +back her hair, and more than once kissing her on the forehead before +resuming his place. + +"No, Stephen," she said, several times; "I have no appetite--nothing +tempts me now." + +He bent over and whispered to her, evidently in a tender, endearing way, +but her tears only flowed the faster, and she shook her head +despondently. + +"Cheese, Stephen?" she said in her peevish way, towards the end of the +repast. "You know my digestion is such that it will not bear cheese. +At least," she said, "you would have known it if you had had ambition +enough to follow your father's profession." + +"Ah! I ought to have known better, dear," he said, smiling pleasantly; +"but doctors starve in London, mother. There are too many as it is." + +"Yes, of course, of course," said the poor woman tearfully; "my advice +is worthless, I suppose." + +"No, no, dear, it is not," said Mr Hallett, getting up and laying his +hand upon that of the invalid. "Come, let me take your plate. We'll +have the things away directly, and I'll read to you till tea-time, if +Antony won't mind." + +"Is Linny going out this afternoon?" said Mrs Hallett querulously. + +"Yes, mamma, and I shall be late," said Linny, colouring, apparently +with vexation, as she glanced at me, making me feel guilty, and the +cause of her disappointment. + +"We won't keep you, Linny," exclaimed Hallett; "go and get ready. +Antony, you will not mind, will you? My sister likes to go to church of +an afternoon; it is nicer for her than the evening." + +"Oh no, I won't mind," I said eagerly. + +"All right, then; be off, Linny. Antony and I will soon clear away the +pie--eh, Antony?" + +I laughed and coloured at this _double entendre_, which Mrs Hallett did +not comprehend, for as Linny with a grateful look hurried out of the +room, the invalid exclaimed fretfully: + +"I wish you would say _tart_, Stephen, my son. If you will persist in +working as a mechanic, and wasting your time in fruitless schemes--" + +"Hush, mother!" said Mr Hallett, with an uneasy glance at me. + +"Yes, my son; but I cannot bear you to forget all our old genteel ways. +We may be poor, but we can still be respectable." + +"Yes, yes; of course, dear," said Mr Hallett nastily, as he saw that +his mother was about to shed tears. "Come, Antony, let's be waiters." + +I jumped up to assist him, just as Linny, looking very rosy and pretty +in her bonnet and jacket, hurried out of a side room, and kissing her +mother, and nodding to us, hastened downstairs. + +"Ah?" said Mrs Hallett, with another sigh, "we ought not to be reduced +to that." + +"To what, dear?" said Mr Hallett, as he busily removed the dinner +things. + +"Letting that young and innocent girl go about the streets alone without +a protector, offering herself as a prey to every designing wretch who +casts his eyes upon her fresh, fair face." + +"My dear mother," said Mr Hallett, laughing, "London is not quite such +a sink of iniquity as you suppose, and you have tutored Linny too well +for there to be any occasion for fear. There, come, lean back and rest +till we have done, and then I will read you one of your favourites." + +Mrs Hallett allowed herself to be gently pressed back in her seat, and +lay there still complaining that a son of hers should have to stoop, and +also ask his visitor to stoop, to such a degrading toil. + +"Oh, Antony doesn't mind, dear," he said cheerfully. "We do worse +things than this at the office--eh, Antony?" + +"That we do, Mr Hallett," I cried, laughing. + +"Yes," said Mrs Hallett, "at the office. Ah, well, I suppose it is of +no use to complain." + +She complained all the same, at everything, while Mr Hallett bore it +with a most patient manner that set me wondering. He was never once +irritable, but took every murmur in a quiet, resigned way, evidently +excusing it on the score of his mother's sufferings. + +Then he got out a book to read to her, but it would not do. Then +another and another one, supposed to be her favourite authors; but +nothing would do but Dodd's "Thoughts in Prison," and the reading of +this cheerful volume went on till Linny came back, as I noticed, looking +hot and flushed, as if she had been hurrying; and she glanced, as I +thought, suspiciously at me, her brother not raising his eyes from his +reading. + +Then followed tea, and a walk with Mr Hallett, and after that supper, +when he walked part of the way home with me. + +"Good-night, Antony," he said. "I hope you have not found your visit +too gloomy an one to care to come again." + +"Will you ask me again?" I said eagerly. + +"To be sure. My poor mother is a little fretful, as you saw; but she +has been an invalid now these seventeen years, and she misses some of +the comforts of the past. Good-night, my boy." + +"Good-night, Mr Hallett;" and we parted--he to walk slowly away, bent +of head and serious, and I to begin thinking of his unwearying patience +and devotion to his invalid mother: after which I recalled a great deal +about Linny Hallett, and how pretty and petulant she seemed, wondering +at the same time that neither mother nor brother took any notice of her +flushed and excited look as she came in from church. + +"Hullo! got back, then?" said Mr Revitts, rather grumpily, as I entered +the room. "Had a pleasant day?" + +"Oh yes, Bill, very!" I exclaimed. + +"Oh yes! It's all very fine, though, and it'll be all Hallett soon. +But you have got back in decent time. Well, I'm tired, and I'm off to +bed." + +An example I followed directly after. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +LINNY'S SECRET. + +My visit to Great Ormond Street was the first of many. In a short time +the office labours with Mr Jabez Rowle were merely the mechanical +rounds of the day; and, like Stephen Hallett, I seemed to live only for +the evening, when I took my Latin exercises and translations to him, he +coming down from the attic, where he worked at some project of his own, +concerning which poor murmuring Mrs Hallett and her daughter were +forbidden to speak, and then returning, after making the corrections. + +I felt a good deal of curiosity about that attic, but Mr Hallett had +told me to wait, and I waited patiently, having, young as I was, learned +to school myself to some extent, and devoted myself to my studies, one +thought being always before my mind, namely, that I had to pay Mr +Blakeford all my father's debt, for that I meant to do. + +I had grown so much at home now at the Halletts', that, finding the door +open one evening, I walked straight in, knocked twice, and, receiving no +answer, tried the door, which yielded to my touch, swung open, and I +surprised Linny writing a letter, which, with a flaming face, she +shuffled under the blotting-paper, and held up a warning finger, for +Mrs Hallett was fast asleep. + +"Where's Mr Hallett?" I said. + +"In Bluebeard's chamber," cried Linny playfully; "I'll go and tell him +you are here." + +I nodded, thinking how pretty she looked with her flushed cheeks, and +she went softly to the door, but only to come back quickly. + +"Antony, dear," she whispered, laying her hand on my shoulder, "you like +me, don't you?" + +"Of course I do," I replied. + +"Did you see what I was doing?" she continued, busily readjusting my +neckerchief, and then looking me full in the face. + +"Yes; you were writing a letter." + +She nodded. + +"Don't tell Stephen," she whispered. + +"I was not going to." + +"He would want to know who I was writing to, and ask me such a lot of +questions. You won't tell him, will you?" + +"No," I said, "not unless he asks me, and then I must." + +"Oh, he won't ask you," she said merrily; "no fear. Now I'll go and +tell him." + +I sat down, wondering why she should want to keep things from her +brother, and then watched Mrs Hallett, and lastly began thinking about +the room upstairs--Old Bluebeard's chamber, as Linny playfully called +it--and tried to puzzle out what Stephen Hallett was making. That it +was something to improve his position I was sure, and I had often +thought of what hard work it must be, with so little time at his +disposal, and Mrs Hallett so dead set against what she openly declared +to be a folly, and miserable waste of money. + +My musings were brought to an end by the reappearance of Linny, who came +down holding her pretty little white hand to me. + +"There, sir," she said, "you may kiss my hand; and mind, you and I have +a secret between us, and you are not to tell." + +I kissed her hand, and she nodded playfully. + +"Now, sir, Bluebeard's chamber is open to you, and you may go up." + +"Go? Upstairs?" + +"Yes, sir," she said, stroking her pretty curls; "the ogre said you were +to go up." + +"Are you--sure?" I said. + +"Sure? Of course. There, go along, or you'll wake mamma." + +I went softly upstairs, with my heart beating with excitement, turning +my head, though, as I closed the door, and seeing Linny drawing her +letter hastily from under the blotting-paper. + +It was before the shabby door of a sloping-roofed back attic that I +paused for a moment to knock, Stephen Hallett's clear, calm voice +uttering a loud "Come in," and I entered to find him seated before a +large old deal kitchen table, upon which were strewed various tools, +pieces of iron and brass, old clock-wheels, and spindles. At one end +was fitted a vice, and at the other end what seemed to be the model of +some machine--or rather, a long, flat set of clock-works, upon which +Hallett was evidently engaged. + +"Well, Antony," he said, looking up at me in a weary, disappointed way; +"glad to see you, my boy." + +"Why, you are busy," I exclaimed, looking with all a boy's curiosity at +the model, or whatever it was before me. + +"Yes," he said, "I generally am. Well," he added, after a pause, as he +seemed to derive rest and amusement from my curiosity, "what do you +think of my sweetheart?" + +"Your sweetheart?" + +"Yes, my sweetheart, of which poor mother is so jealous. There she is." + +"I--I don't understand you," I said. + +"Well, the object of my worship--the thing on which I lavish so much +time, thought, and money." + +"Is--is that it?" I said. + +"That's it," he replied, enjoying my puzzled looks. "What do you think +of it?" + +I was silent for a few moments, gazing intently at the piece of +mechanism before I said: "I don't know." + +"Look here, Antony," he said, rising and sweeping away some files and +pieces of brass before seating himself upon the edge of the table: "do +you know why we are friends?" + +"No, but you have been very kind to me." + +"Have I?" he said. "Well, I have enjoyed it if I have. Antony, you are +a gentleman's son." I nodded. + +"And you know the meaning of the word honour?" + +"I hope so." + +"You do, Antony; and it has given me great pleasure to find that, +without assuming any fine airs, you have settled down steadily to your +work amongst rough boys and ignorant prejudiced men without losing any +of the teachings of your early life." I looked at him, wondering what +he was about to say. "Now look here, Antony, my boy," he continued; "I +am going to put implicit faith in your honour, merely warning you that +if you talk about what you have seen here you may do me a very serious +injury. You understand?" + +"Oh yes, Mr Hallett," I cried; "you may depend upon me." + +"I do, Antony," he said; "so let's have no more of that formal `Mr' Let +it be plain `yes' and `no;' and now, mind this, I am going to open out +before you my secret. Henceforth it will be our secret. Is it to be +so?" + +"Yes--oh yes!" I exclaimed, flushing with pride that a man to whom I +had looked up should have so much confidence in me. + +"That's settled, then," he said, shaking hands with me. "And now, +Antony, once more, what do you think of my model?" + +I had a good look at the contrivance as it stood upon the table, while +Hallett watched me curiously, and with no little interest. "It's a +puzzle," I said at last. "Do you give it up?" + +"No; not yet," I said, leaning my elbows on the table. "Wheels, a brass +table, a roller. Why, it looks something like a mangle." I looked at +him, and he nodded. + +"But you wouldn't try to make a mangle," I said. "It might do to grind +things in. May I move it?" + +"No; it is out of gear. Well, do you give it up?" He rose as he spoke, +and opened the attic window to let in the pleasant, cool night air, and +then leaned against the sloping ceiling gazing back at me. + +"I know what it would do for," I said eagerly, as the idea came to me +like a flash. "What?" + +"Why, it is--it is," I cried, clapping my hands, as he leaned towards +me; "it's a printing machine." + +"You're right, Antony," he said; "quite right. It is the model of a +printing machine." + +"Yes," I said, with all a boy's excitement; "and it's to do quickly what +the men do now so slowly in the presses, sheet by sheet." + +"Yes, and in the present machines," he said. "Have you noticed how the +machines work?" + +"Oh, yes!" I said; "often. The type runs backwards and forwards, and +the paper is laid on by boys and is drawn round the big roller and comes +out printed." + +"Exactly," he said. "Well, Antony, you have seen the men working at the +presses?" + +"Yes." + +"It is hard work, and they print about two hundred or two hundred and +fifty sheets an hour, do they not?" + +"Yes; I believe so." + +"And the great clumsy machines print six or seven hundred an hour. Some +a thousand." + +"And will your machine do more?" I asked. + +"Antony," he cried, catching my arm in his--and his face lit up as we +stood by that attic window--"if my machine succeeds it will be the +greatest invention of the age. Look, boy; do you see what I mean to +do?" + +"N-no," I said; "not yet." + +"No; of course not," he cried. "It has been the work of years to think +it out, and you cannot grasp it yet. It has grown month by month, my +boy, till it has assumed so great a magnitude that I shrink at times, +half crushed by my own offspring. There seems to be too much--that I +attempt to climb too high--and when I give up almost in despair it lures +me on--beckons me in my dreams, and points to the success that might be +achieved." + +I looked at him wonderingly; he seemed to be so transformed. + +"I began with quite a small idea, Antony," he continued. "I will show +you. My idea was this. You see now, my boy, that with the present +machine the type is laid on a table, and it goes backwards and forwards +under a great iron cylinder or roller, grinding continually, and being +worn out." + +"Yes, I know; the type gets thick and blurred in its fine upstrokes." + +"Exactly," he said, smiling. "Well, Antony, I tried to invent a simple +process of making a mould or seal, when the type was ready, and then--" + +"Making a solid block of fresh type in the big mould. I know," I cried. + +"Right, my boy, right," he cried; "and I have done it!" + +"But does it want a machine like that?" + +"Oh no," he replied: "that grew out of the idea. I was not satisfied +then with my solid block of type, which might be used and then melted +down again. It struck me, Antony, that it would be better if I made +that solid block curved, so as to fit on a big cylinder, and let it go +round instead of the paper. I could then print twice as many." + +"Ye-yes," I said, "but I hardly see it." + +"I will show you presently, my boy," he replied. "Well, I worked at +that idea till I felt satisfied that I could carry it out, when a +greater idea came." + +He paused and wiped his forehead, gazing now, though, out at the starry +night, and speaking in a low earnest voice. + +"It seemed to me then, Antony, that I ought to do away with the simple, +clumsy plan of making men or boys supply or lay-on paper, sheet by +sheets as the machine was at work." + +"What could you do?" I said. + +"Ah, that was the question. I was thinking it over, when going through +Saint Paul's Churchyard I saw in one of the draper's shops a basket of +rolls of ribbon, and the thing was done." + +"How?" I asked. + +"By having the paper in a long roll, a thousand yards upon a reel, to be +cut off sheet by sheet as it is printed between the cylinders." + +"But could you get paper made so long?" + +"To be sure," he said; "the paper-mills make it in long strips that are +cut up in sheets as they are finished. In my machine they would be cut +up only when printed. Now, what do you say?" + +"It's like trying to read Greek the first time, Mr Hallett," I said. +"My head feels all in a muddle." + +"Out of which the light will come in time, my boy. But suppose I could +make such a machine, Antony, what would you say then?" + +"It would be grand!" I exclaimed. + +"It would make a revolution in printing," he cried enthusiastically. +"Well, will you help me, Antony?" he said, with a smile. + +"Help you! May I?" + +"Of course. I shall be glad; only, remember, it is our secret." + +"You may trust me," I said. "But it must be patented." + +"To be sure. All in good time." + +"It will make your fortune." + +"I hope so," he said dreamily, "For others' sake more than mine." + +"Yes," I cried; "and then you could have a nice place and a carriage for +Mrs Hallett, and it would make her so much happier." + +"Yes," he said, with a sigh. + +"And you could be a gentleman again." + +He started, and a curious look came over his face; but it passed away +directly, and I saw him shake his head before turning to me with a +smile. + +"Antony," he said quietly, "suppose we build the machine, the castles in +the air will build themselves. I tell you what; you shall work +sometimes and help me to plan; but, as a rule, while I file and grind +you shall read some Latin or German author, and you and I can improve +ourselves as we go." + +"Agreed!" I cried, and then the rest of the night was spent--a very +short night, by the way--in examining the various parts of the little +model, Hallett seeming to give himself fresh ideas for improvements as +he explained the reason for each wheel and spindle, and told me of the +difficulties he had to contend with for want of proper tools and the +engineer's skill. + +"I want a lathe, Antony," he said; "and a good lathe costs many pounds, +so I have to botch and patch, and buy clock-wheels and file them down. +It takes me a whole evening sometimes wandering about Clerkenwell or the +New Cut hunting for what I want." + +"But I can often help you in that way," I said, "and I will." + +We went down soon after to a late supper, Hallett jealously locking up +his attic before we descended. Mrs Hallett had gone to bed and Linny +was reading, and jumped up as if startled at our entrance. + +Hallett spoke to her as we sat down to supper, and I noticed that he +seemed to be cold and stern towards her, while Linny was excited and +pettish, seeming to resent her brother's ways, and talked to me in a +light, pleasant, bantering manner about Bluebeard's secret chamber. + +I noticed, too, that she always avoided her brother's eye, and when we +parted that night Hallett seemed a good deal troubled, though he did not +tell me why. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +SEVEN-AND-A-HALF AND A BONUS. + +It was the common talk at the office that Mr Lister was going to be +married soon to the rich Miss Carr; and one day, when I was busily +reading to Mr Jabez Rowle--who, snuff-box before him, kept drawing in +his breath, hissing viciously, and sometimes smacking his lips as he dug +his pen into some blunder in the slips before him--Mr Grimstone came +bustling in, with his spectacles shining as much as his bald head, his +scanty hair standing straight up, and, what was very rarely the case, a +smile upon his face. + +"Well, Rowle," he said, rubbing his hands, "how is it this morning?" + +"Foul--foul foul," said Mr Jabez, with a dab at a stop he had missed +before. "Those fellows of yours make more literals every day." + +"I'm always telling them of it, Rowle, always," said Mr Grimstone, +nodding his head sharply. "How does this boy get on?" + +"Fairly--fairly," said Mr Rowle, screwing himself round upon his stool, +and gazing full in the overseers face. "Now, then, Grimstone, what is +it?--what's on the cards?" + +"Oh, nothing--nothing. I only looked in. Give me a pinch!" + +Mr Rowle handed his little brown box, and Mr Grimstone refreshed +himself with a pinch before handing back the snuff to Mr Rowle, who +also took a pinch loudly, and with a defiant flourish, while I took up a +slip and a pen, and began to practise reading and correcting, a thing +Mr Rowle always encouraged. + +Grimstone had evidently come in for a gossip, business being rather +slack, following a good deal of night-work and the finish of an +important order; and after another pinch and an allusion to the +political topic of the day, they seemed to forget my presence and went +on talking. + +"When's the happy day to be?" said Mr Grimstone. + +"What, Lister's? Oh, I don't know: soon, I suppose. Seen her?" + +"Yes, twice," said Mr Grimstone, giving his lips a smack; "beautiful!" + +"So I hear," said Mr Jabez Rowle; "plenty of money too, I suppose." + +"50,000 pounds, and more to come. I never had such luck." + +"I never wanted it," said Mr Jabez Rowle with a growl. "I don't know +why a man should want to tie himself up to a woman." + +"Not with 50,000 pounds and more to come, eh?" said Mr Grimstone +waggishly. + +"Might have tempted me twenty years ago," growled Mr Jabez; "it +wouldn't now." + +"S'pose not. You're too warm, Rowle--much too warm. I say, though," he +continued, lowering his voice, but quite ignoring me, "is a certain +person safe?" + +"A certain person?" + +"Yes, you know. Suppose, for instance, he quietly asked you to let him +have 500 pounds for a few months at seven-and-a-half and a bonus, would +you, always considering that he soon touches 50,000 pounds and more to +come, would you let him have it?" + +Mr Jabez took a pinch of snuff furiously, shut the box with a loud +snap, and, evidently completely thrown of his guard, exclaimed: + +"Hang him for a fool! Curse me if ever I do so again." + +"What do you mean?" said Mr Grimstone, milling up, "Do you mean to say +I'm a fool?" + +"No, no: he is, to go and blab." + +"Blab?" + +"Yes, to let it out to you." + +"I say! What do you mean?" said Mr Grimstone again. + +"Mean? Why, you as good as said he told you I had let him have 500 +pounds at seven-and-a-half and a bonus. Lent on the strength of his +going to marry a woman with 50,000 pounds and more to come." + +"I didn't." + +"You did." + +"Whew!" whistled Mr Grimstone, snatching the snuff-box out of Mr Jabez +Rowle's hand, taking a vigorous pinch, and scattering so much of the +fine brown dust in the air that I should have had a violent fit of +sneezing if I had not become hardened to its effects. + +The two stared at one another for a minute, and Mr Jabez now snatched +the box back and took a hearty pinch, some of which went on to his +shirt-front--and some upon his sleeve. + +"Why, you don't mean to say that he has borrowed 500 pounds of you?" +said Mr Grimstone, in a whisper. + +"But I do mean to say it," replied Mr Jabez. "How came he to tell you? +I never told a soul." + +"He didn't tell me," said Mr Grimstone thoughtfully. + +"Then who did?" + +"No one." + +"Then how came you to know?" said Mr Jabez, passing his box. "Why, you +don't mean to say he has been to you for five hundred?" + +Mr Grimstone nodded. + +"And offered you seven-and-a-half, and a bonus of thirty pounds?" + +Mr Grimstone nodded again, and this time it was Mr Jabez Rowle's turn +to whistle. + +"He wanted it done quietly, and I, after a bit, agreed to do it. But +though we ain't friends over business matters, Jabez Rowle, I know you +to be a man of strong common-sense and integrity, and I thought you +would give me a good bit of advice. But this seems to alter the case. +Would you lend it?" + +"Humph! Two five hundreds are not much out of fifty thousand," said Mr +Jabez; "but what does he want the money for? 'Tain't for the business." + +"No," said Mr Grimstone, "because he said he didn't want Mr Ruddle to +know. I say, what would you do? I shouldn't like to offend Lister." + +"Do? Well, I've lent the money," said Mr Jabez, taking a savage pinch. + +"And would you do the same if you were me?" replied Mr Grimstone. +"It's a lot of money; years of savings, you know, and--" + +He made some kind of gesticulation, and I fancy he pointed with his +thumb over his shoulder at me. + +"Look here, Grace," said Mr Rowle, "go downstairs and ask Mr Ruddle to +send me up Mr Hendry's letter about his book." + +I got down off my stool, and left them together in the glass case, going +straight down to the office, where, in place of Mr Ruddle, I round Mr +Lister, and told him my business. + +"I don't know where it is," he replied. "I leave it till Mr Ruddle +comes in. But look here, Grace, I wanted you. Miss Carr was asking how +you got on. Take this note there--you know where she lives--and give it +to her herself. But before you go up there take this note to Norfolk +Street, Strand. No answer." + +He took four written slips of stamped blue paper from his pocket, and I +saw him write across them, blot them hastily, and refold and place them +in a letter, which he carefully sealed. After which, I noticed that he +tore off and destroyed the piece of blotting-paper that he had used. I +thought no more of it then, but it came up in connection with matters +that afterwards occurred. + +I hurried upstairs, and told Mr Jabez Rowle that Mr Lister wanted me +to go out, Mr Grimstone being still in close conference with him in the +glass case. + +"Where are you going, boy?" said the latter. + +"To Miss Carr's with a note, sir," I said; and the two old men exchanged +glances of intelligence. + +"All right, Grace," said Mr Jabez, nodding; "we're not busy. You can +go." + +I hurried away, thinking no more of them or their conversation; but I +was obliged to go into the composing-room below, to hurry up to Mr +Hallett's frame, where, stern-looking and half-repellent, he was rapidly +setting a piece of manuscript. + +"I'm going to Miss Carr's," I whispered, while my face glowed with +pleasure. + +"Indeed!" he said, starting; and my bright face might have been +reflected in his, such a change passed over his speaking countenance. + +"I've to take a note from Mr Lister and to wait for an answer," I said; +and I felt startled at the rapid change as he heard these last words. +"Are you ill?" I cried anxiously. + +"No--no," he said hastily, and his voice sounded hard and harsh. "Go +away now, I am very much pressed for time." + +I left him, wondering, for I could not read him then, and bounding down +the stairs, I was soon in Fleet Street, and soon after in Norfolk +Street, Strand. + +I quickly found the number and the door, with a large brass plate +thereon bearing the name "Brandsheim," and in small letters in the +corner "Ground Floor." + +A boy clerk answered my knock, and I was told to sit down in an outer +office while the clerk went in with the note and to see if Mr +Brandsheim was at home. + +Mr Brandsheim was at home, and was ushered into his presence, to find +him a dark, yellow-looking man with a wrinkled face and very keen eyes. +He quite startled me for the moment, for, though not in personal +appearance in the slightest degree resembling Mr Blakeford, there was a +something about him that suggested that worthy and his ways. + +He was dressed in the first style of fashion, a little exaggerated. He +might have been a slave of the great Plutus himself, for round his neck +and lashing his chest was a thick gold chain; diamond rings were on the +fingers of each hand; a great opal and diamond pin was in his black +satin stock; at his wrists were jewelled sleeve-links that glistened and +sparkled when he moved. There was nothing sordid about him, for he sat +in an easy-chair at a polished secretary; there was a Turkey carpet +beneath his feet, and the furniture of the room was massive and good; +but, all the same, I had no sooner entered the place than I began to +think of Mr Blakeford and Mr Wooster, and I involuntarily wondered +whether this man could be in any way connected with my late employer, +and whether I had unconsciously walked into a trap. + +As my eyes wandered about the room in search of tin boxes containing +different people's affairs, of dusty parchments and sale bills, I felt +better; for they were all absent. In their place were large oil +pictures against the walls, hung, and leaning back, resting on the +floor. On a sideboard was a row of little stoppered bottles with labels +hanging from their necks in a jaunty fashion, and in the bottles were +richly tinted liquids--topaz, ruby, purple, and gold. They might have +been medicines, but they looked like wines, and I felt sure they were, +as I saw piled upon the floor some dozens of cigar-boxes. + +Mr Brandsheim might have been a picture dealer, a wine merchant, or an +importer of cigars, for in those days I had yet to learn that he was a +bill-discounter who contrived that his clients should have so much in +cash for an acceptance, and the rest in old masters, Whitechapel +Havanas, and Hambro-Spanish wines. + +Mr Brandsheim's words somewhat reassured me, as he nodded pleasantly to +me and smiled. + +"Sit down, my man," he said; "sit down, and I'll soon be ready for you. +Let me see--let me see." + +He busied himself behind his secretary, rustling papers and making +notes, and now and then looking at me and tapping his teeth with a heavy +gold pencil-case, while I furtively watched him and wondered how he +managed to make his jet black hair so shiny, and why it was he spoke as +if he had been poking cottonwool up his nose, till it suddenly occurred +to me that he must be a German. + +"Ah!" he said, at last; "let me see--let me see--let me see--see--see. +Mr Lister quite well?" + +"Yes, sir; quite well, thank you." + +"That's right. Let me see--let me--how's business?" + +"Oh! we've been very busy, sir. The men have often had to stop up all +night to get things finished." + +"Have they really, though?" he said, nodding and smiling; "and did you +stay up, too?" + +"No, sir; I read for Mr Jabez Rowle, and he said he wouldn't sit up all +night and upset himself for anybody." + +"Mr Jabez Rowle is quite right, my lad." + +"He said, sir, his work was so particular that after he had been +correcting for twelve hours his eyes and mind were exhausted, and he +could not do his work properly." + +"Mr Jabez Rowle is a man of business, my lad, evidently. And Mr +Lister, is he pretty busy?" + +"I think he comes to the office every day." + +"Have a glass of wine, my lad," he said, getting up and taking a +decanter, glass, and a dish of biscuits from a cellaret. "No. Good +sherry won't hurt you. Take some biscuits, then." + +I took some of the sweet biscuits, and Mr Brandsheim nodded approval. + +"I won't keep you long," he said; "but I must compare these papers. You +are not going anywhere else, I suppose?" + +"Yes, sir; I am going up to Westmouth Street, Cavendish Square." + +"Indeed! Hah! that's a good walk for you; or, no, I suppose Mr Lister +told you to take a cab?" + +"No, sir," I said colouring; "I am going to walk." + +"Oh, absurd! Too far. Lawrence," he cried, after touching a bell, and +the boy clerk appeared, "have a cab to the door in ten minutes." + +"Yes, sir." + +"That will pay for the cab, my lad," continued Mr Brandsheim, slipping +a couple of shillings into my hand. "I must keep you waiting a little +while. Let me see--let me see--you didn't go to the races, I suppose?" + +"Oh no, sir." + +"Mr Ruddle and Mr Lister did, eh?" + +"Mr Lister did, sir, I believe. Mr Ruddle never goes, I think." + +"Doesn't he, though? How strange! I always go. Let me see--five +hundred and sixty-six is--is--So Mr Lister's going to be married, eh?" + +"Yes, sir, I believe so." + +"That's right. Everybody should marry when the time comes. You will +some day. I hope the lady's young and rich." + +"She's beautiful, sir," I said, with animation, feeling sorry, though, +the next moment, for I did not like the idea of this man being so +interested in her. + +"Is she, though?" he said insidiously. "But you've not seen her." + +"Oh yes, sir, more than once." + +"Have you, though? Well, you are favoured. Let me see," he continued, +consulting a little thick book which he took from a drawer. "Seven +hundred and fifty and two hundred and--er--er--oh, to be sure, yes; I +think I heard who it was to be. Beautiful Miss Wilson, the doctor's +daughter. Let's see, she's very poor, though." + +I did not want to say more, but he seemed to lead me on, and get answers +from me in an insidious way that I could not combat; and in spite of +myself I said: + +"No, sir, it is Miss Carr; and she is very rich." + +"You don't say so!" he exclaimed, staring at me in surprise. "You don't +mean the Carrs of Westmouth Street?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, I am surprised," he exclaimed. "Lister's a lucky dog. Why, I +see, you dog!" he said, in a bantering way, "you carry the love-letters +backwards and forwards." + +"Oh no, sir, I--" + +"Hush, hush, hush! Not a word. I won't listen to you. Don't betray +your master's secrets, my lad. You're a confidential messenger, and +must clap a seal upon your lips." + +"But, sir, I--" + +"No, no. How much?" he said, with mock severity. "Don't speak, don't +interrupt me; I'm reckoning up. Let me see--let me see--ha! that's it +exactly. There we are," he continued, fastening down a note and handing +it to me. "Run along, my young Mercury, and if I were you I should make +cabby drive me to Oxford Street for a shilling, and save the other. +That's the way to grow rich. Off you go. Take care of this." + +He thrust a letter into my hands, and almost pushed me out of the room, +so that I had not time to speak; and before I had quite recovered from +my confusion, I was in the cab, and heard the boy clerk say: + +"Put him down at Oxford Circus." + +Then the wheels began to rattle, and the door to jangle, and I sit +feeling angry with myself for saying so much about Mr Lister and Miss +Carr, as I recalled William Revitts' advice, often given, to "let other +people talk while you make notes." + +The thought of where I was going soon drove my interview with Mr +Brandsheim out of my head, and getting out of the cab at the Circus, I +made the best of my way to the great imposing house in Westmouth Street, +rang, and asked to see Miss Carr. + +The man-servant looked at me rather dubiously, and asked my name. Then, +bidding me sit down in the great sombre-looking hall, he went up the +heavy staircase, and came back to bid me follow him. + +I noticed as I went upstairs that the place was heavily but handsomely +furnished. There were pictures on the walls of staircase and landing, +and the stone steps were covered with a rich thick carpet. The wealthy +look of the place, however, did not seem to abash me, for the atmosphere +of refinement in which I found myself recalled old days; and the +thoughts of the past seemed strengthened, as I was ushered into a +prettily furnished little drawing-room, all bright with flowers, +water-colour drawings, and books, from a table strewn with which latter +Miss Carr arose to welcome me. + +And again the feeling was strengthened at her first words: + +"Ah, Antony!" + +For the printing-office, Mr Revitts' shabby room, Hallett's attic, my +own downfall, were forgotten, and, bright and eager, I half ran to meet +her, and caught her extended hand. + +Her sad face brightened as she saw the eager pleasure in my eyes, and +retaining my hand, she led me to a couch and seated herself by my side. + +"Then you had not forgotten me?" she said. + +"Forgotten you?" I cried reproachfully, "I have been so longing to see +you again." + +"Then why did you not come?" + +"Come!" I said, with the recollection of my present state flashing +back; and my heart sank as I replied, "I did not dare; I am so different +now. But I have a note for you, Miss Carr." + +I took Mr Lister's note from my pocket, and gave it to her, noticing at +the time that she took it and laid it quietly down, in place of opening +it eagerly. + +"I shall always be glad to see you, Antony, that is, so long as you +prove to me that you have not been unworthy of my recommendation." + +"I will always try," I cried eagerly. + +"I feel sure you will," she said. "Mr Ruddle tells me you are rising +fast." + +I coloured with pleasure, and then reddened more deeply as I saw that +she noticed me, and smiled. + +"But now, come, tell me of yourself--what you do and how you get on;" +and by degrees, almost without questioning, I told her all my +proceedings. For somehow, it seemed the highest delight to me to be +once more in the society of a refined lady. Her looks, her touch, the +very scent emanating from her dress and the flowers, seemed so to bring +back the old days that I felt as if I were once more at home, chatting +away to my mother. And so the time slipped by till I imperceptibly +found myself telling Miss Carr all about my old pursuits--our life at +homeland my favourite books, she being a willing listener, when, +suddenly, a clear, silvery-toned clock began to strike and dissolved the +spell. The old drawing-room, the lawn beyond the French window, the +scent of the flowers, seemed to pass away to give place to the great +printing-office and my daily work, and with a choking sensation in my +throat, I remembered what I was--the messenger who had forgotten his +errand, and I started to my feet. + +"Why, Antony!" exclaimed Miss Carr, "what is it?" + +"I had forgotten," I said piteously; "I brought you a note; Mr Lister +will be angry if I do not take back the answer." + +The aspect of Miss Carr's face seemed to change from a look of anxious +wonder to one of sternness. There was a slight contraction of the +handsome brow, and her voice was a little changed as she said quietly-- + +"Sit down again, Antony; both you and I have much to say yet." + +"But--the letter, ma'am?" I faltered. + +"The letter can wait," she replied. Then, smiling brightly as she took +my hand once more, "You cannot take back the answer till I write it; and +come, I am alone to-day; my sister is away upon a visit; you shall stay +to lunch and dinner with me, and we'll read and talk till we are tired." + +"Oh!" I ejaculated. + +"Do you not wish to stay?" she said smiling. + +I could not speak, for the old childish weakness that I had of late +nearly mastered was almost conqueror again. It did get the better of my +voice, but I involuntarily raised her soft white hand to my lips, and +held it there for a few moments; while her eyes, even as they smiled +upon me, seemed half-suffused with tears. + +"I will write to Mr Lister presently," she said at last, "and tell him +I detained you here. That will, I am sure, be quite sufficient; so, +Antony, you are my visitor for the rest of the day. And now tell me +more about yourself." + +I could not speak just then, but sat thinking, Miss Carr watching me the +while; but we were soon chatting away pleasantly till the servant came +and announced lunch. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +SUNSHINE. + +As we went down into the handsome dining-room I seemed to be in a dream, +in the midst of which I heard Miss Carr's voice telling the servant he +need not wait; and as the door closed she laid her hand upon my shoulder +and led me to the front of a large picture of a very beautiful woman, +standing with her arm resting upon the shoulder of a grey-haired +massive-looking man, not handsome, but with a countenance full of +intelligence and force. + +We stood silently before them for few moments, and then Miss Carr spoke: + +"Can you tell who those are, Antony?" she said. + +"Your papa and mamma," I said, looking from the picture to her face. + +"My dear father and mother, Antony," she said, in a low, sweet voice; +and her lips moved afterwards while she stood gazing up at them, as if +saying something to herself. + +I remember feeling well satisfied that I had on my best clothes that +morning. I had reluctantly taken to them, but my others had grown so +bad that I had been obliged. Then, too, there was a feeling of +gratification that my hands were clean, and not stained and marked with +ink. I remember feeling that as I took up the snowy table-napkin. All +the rest was so dreamy and strange, only that I felt quite at home, and +troubled by no sense of awkwardness. Moreover, Miss Carr's behaviour +towards me, as she intently watched my every action, became more and +more warm, till it seemed to me as if I were in the society of some very +dear sister; and a couple of hours later I felt as if we had known each +other all our lives. + +Upstairs once more she played to me, and smiled with pleasure as I +picked out my favourite old pieces from the various operas; and at last +she swung herself round upon the music-stool, and rose to draw my arm +through hers, walking me thoughtfully up and down the room. + +"What should you like to be, Antony?" she said half-playfully, "a +soldier?" + +"There's something very grand about being a soldier," I said +thoughtfully, "when he fights to save his country; but no, I'm afraid I +should be a coward." + +"A sailor, then?" + +"No, Miss Carr," I said, shaking my head. "I should either like to be a +barrister or a doctor. I think I should like to be a doctor. No, I +should like to be an engineer, and help Mr Hallett with his--" + +I stopped short and coloured, for I felt that I had nearly betrayed my +friend. + +"Well?" she said in a strange, hesitating way, "Mr Hallett's what?" + +"Please don't think me ungrateful, Miss Carr," I said, "but I cannot +tell you. Mr Hallett trusted to me the secret of what he is making, +and I cannot say more. Yes, I may say that he is busy over a great +invention." + +I fancied she drew her breath as if it caught and gave her pain, but her +face was like marble as she went on. + +"Antony, you are quite right," she said; "and if I had ever had any +doubts about your being a gentleman's son, these words would have +removed it. So you would like to be an engineer?" + +"Yes," I said, "very much." + +She continued walking up and down the room, and then went on: + +"You lodge, you say, with a Mr Revitts, a policeman. Is he respectable +and nice?" + +"He's the dearest, best old fellow in the world?" I said with +animation. "Old?" + +"No, no," I said, laughing. "I meant good and kind by old." + +"Oh," she said, laughing. "But tell me, Antony; is he particular with +you?" + +"Oh yes; he quite watches me, to make sure what I do, and where I go." + +"Would you like to go to different and better lodgings?" + +"Oh no," I said. "He is going to be married soon to Mary, who was so +good to me at Mr Blakeford's, and they would be so disappointed if I +left." + +"He watches over you, you say?" + +"Yes, Miss Carr. He was very angry that night when I stopped out late +with Mr Hallett, when we had to walk part of the way back." + +"And--and this Mr Hallett, is--is he a proper companion for such a boy +as you?" + +"Mr Hallett is a gentleman, although he is now only a common workman," +I said proudly. + +"But a youth like you would be easily deceived." + +"Oh no!" I cried; "don't think that, Miss Carr. I would not give up +Mr Hallett for anything. You don't know him," I said almost +indignantly. "Why, when his father died, he, poor fellow, had to leave +college, and give up all his prospects to gain a living anyhow, to keep +his poor sick mother and his sister." + +"He has a sister?" + +"Yes: so very pretty: Linny Hallett. I go there, and read Latin and +German with Mr Hallett, while he works at his--his great invention. +Oh, Miss Carr, if you could see him, so good and tender to his invalid +complaining mother, you would say I ought to be only too proud of my +friend!" + +She was pressing my hand as she hastened her steps up and down the room. +Then, loosing my hand suddenly, she walked quickly to the window, and +threw it open, to stand there for a few minutes gazing out. + +"The room was too warm, Antony," she said in a quiet, composed way; and +her pleasant smile was back upon her face as she returned to me. "Why, +we were quite racing up and down the room. So you read German, do you? +Come, you shall read a bit of Goethe to me." + +"I'm afraid--" + +"That you are not perfect, Antony?" she said, laughing in a bright, +eager way. "Neither am I. We will both try and improve ourselves. +Have you well mastered the old, crabby characters?" + +"Oh yes," I said, laughing. "My mother taught me them when I was very +young." + +"Why, Antony," she cried, snatching the book from my hands at the end of +half an hour; "you ought to be my master. But come, it is nearly +dinner-time, and we must dress." + +"Dress?" I said, falling down from the seventh heaven to the level of +Caroline Street, Pentonville, and bouncing back to the second floor. + +"Well," she said, smiling; "you would like to wash your hands." + +The rest of that evening was still more dreamlike than the day. I dined +with Miss Carr, and afterwards she encouraged me to go on talking about +myself, and present and past life. I amused her greatly about Revitts, +and his efforts to improve his spelling; and she smiled and looked +pained in turn, as I talked of Mary and my life at Mr Blakeford's. + +"I should like to know Mary," she said, laughing; "Mary must be a rough +gem." + +"But she is so good at heart!" I cried earnestly, for I felt pained at +the light way in which she spoke of poor Mary. + +"I am sure she is, Antony," said Miss Carr, looking at me very +earnestly; and then I began to talk of Mr Hallett, and how kind and +firm he had been. + +To my surprise, she stopped me, her voice sounding almost harsh as she +said quietly: + +"You are learning through a rough school, Antony, and are fast losing +your homelike ways, and childlike--well--innocence; but you are still +very impressionable, and ready to take people for what they seem. +Antony, my boy, you will make many enemies as well as friends. Count me +always among the latter, and as your friend I now say to you, do not be +too ready to make friendships with men. I should rather see you with a +good companion of your own age." + +"Yes, Miss Carr," I said; "but if you knew Mr Hallett--" + +She held up her hand, and I stopped, for she seemed to turn pale and to +look angry. + +"Antony," she said, as the tea was brought in, "you will soon have to +go, now, and I have not written the answer to the letter you brought." + +"No, Miss Carr," I said; and I could have added, "neither have you read +it." + +"It is too late, of course, for you to take an answer back, so I shall +send one by post. Do not be alarmed," she said, smiling, as she divined +my thoughts; "no one will be angry with you for staying here. It was my +wish." + +"And your wish would be law with Mr Lister," I thought. + +"I shall expect you to write to me," she continued, "and set down any +books you require. Do not be afraid to ask for them. I will either +lend or buy them for you." + +She was pouring out the tea as she spoke, and I took the cup from her +hand, watching her thoughtfully the while, for she seemed to have grown +strange and quiet during the last few hours; and it set me wondering +whether she would ever be so kind to me again. In fact, I thought I +must have done something to offend her. + +That thought was chased away after tea, when we both rose, and she held +out her hands to me with a very sweet smile, which told me the time had +arrived when I must go. + +"And now, Antony, you must come and see me again, often. Good-bye." + +I could not speak, but stood clinging to her hands for a few minutes. + +"Don't think me foolish," I said, at last; "but it has seemed so +strange--you have been so kind--I don't know why--I have not deserved +it." + +"Antony," she said, laying one hand upon my shoulder, and speaking very +softly and slowly, "neither do I know why, only that your simple little +story seemed to go home to my heart. I thought then, as I think now, +that when I lost both those who were near and dear to me, my sister and +I might have been left penniless, to go out and struggle in the world as +you have had to do. Once more, good-bye. Only strive on worthily, and +you shall always find that I am your friend." + +The next minute I was in the street, dull, depressed, and yet elated and +joyful, while I ran over again the bright, sunshiny hours that had been +so unexpectedly passed, as I hastened northward to join Revitts, for it +was one of his home nights. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +LINNY IS OUT LATE. + +I noticed that there was growing trouble at the Halletts', and more than +once, when I went up, I found Linny in tears, which, however, she +hastily concealed. + +This was the case on the night following my visit to Miss Carr, whose +words, "that I need be under no uneasiness," were verified. The fact +that I had been sent out by Mr Lister was sufficient for Mr Jabez +Rowle; and when, during the next day, I encountered Mr Lister himself, +he nodded to me in quite a friendly way, and said, "How are you?" + +Mrs Hallett was asleep, and I went upstairs softly, tapped at Hallett's +room door, and went in, to find him deeply immersed in his task, over +which he was bending with knitted brows, and evidently in doubt. + +"Ah, Antony," he said, "here we are, as busy as usual. How did you get +on last night?" + +"With Revitts?" + +"Yes; was it not your lesson-night?" + +"Yes," I said; "but I thought perhaps you meant at Miss Carr's!" + +He dropped the file with which he had been at work and stared at me. + +"Where did you say?" he exclaimed. + +"Mr Lister sent me with a note to Miss Carr, and she kept me there all +day." + +He drew in his breath with a hiss, caught up the file and went on +working, while I chattered on, little thinking of the pain I was causing +the poor fellow, as I rapturously praised Miss Carr and her home, and +told him by degrees how I had spent the day. + +I was too intent on my narration to pay much heed to Hallett's face, +though in fact I hardly saw it, he kept it so bent over his task, +neither did I notice his silence; but at last, when it was ten o'clock, +and I rose to go, he rose too, and I saw that he was rather paler than +usual. + +"Are you ill, Hallett?" I said anxiously. "How white you look." + +"Ill? oh no, Antony. I have been sitting too much over my model. You +and I must have another run or two into the country, and put roses in +our cheeks." + +He looked at me with a smile, but there was a weary, haggard look in his +eyes that troubled me. + +"Come, you must have a scrap of supper before you go," he said; and in +spite of my protest he led me into the sitting-room, where Mrs Hallett +was seated by the shaded lamp reading, and the supper-cloth was laid +half across the table. + +"Yes," she said, looking up, as she let fall her book; "it's time you +came, Stephen. It's very, very, very cruel of you to leave me alone so +long." + +"My dear mother," he said tenderly, "I did not know you were by +yourself. Where is Linny?" he said anxiously. + +"Oh, I don't know," replied Mrs Hallett querulously. "You are always +either out or upstairs with your playthings." + +"For Heaven's sake, mother, be just," Hallett exclaimed, with a burst of +energy, such as I had not seen in him before. "Don't goad me at a time +like this. Where, I say, where is Linny?" + +"Goad you, Stephen! No, I don't goad you," whimpered the poor woman. +"I cannot help myself; say what you will to me. You neglect me, and +Linny is always running out." + +"Has Linny gone out now, mother?" exclaimed Hallett. + +"Yes, yes, and I am left all alone--a poor helpless invalid." + +"Where has Linny gone, mother?" + +"I don't know, Stephen. She said there was something to fetch. How can +I tell?" and she burst into tears. + +"Mother, dear mother," cried Hallett, bending over her and kissing her, +"pray, pray don't think me unkind; I am working for you, and Linny too." + +"But if you would only be more ambitious, Stephen--if you would only try +your poor father's profession." + +"I cannot--you know I cannot, dear," he said appealingly. + +"No, no, no," sobbed the poor woman; "always some low mechanic's +pursuit. Oh dear, oh dear! If it would only please God to take me, and +let me be at rest!" + +"Mother, dear mother," whispered Hallett, "be reasonable. Pray, dear, +be reasonable, and bear with what does seem like neglect; for I am +indeed working for you, and striving to make you a happier and better +home. Believe this of me, and bear with me, especially now, when I have +two troubles to meet that almost drive me mad. Linny, dear: think of +Linny." + +"Shall I go now, Mr Hallett?" I said, for the scene was terrible to +me, and I felt hot with indignation at one whom I looked upon as the +most unreasonable of women. + +"No, Antony; stay, I may want you," he said sternly. "Now, mother," he +continued, "about Linny. She must not be allowed to go out at night +like this." + +"No, my son," said Mrs Hallett piteously; "and if you had taken my +advice the poor child would not have been degraded to such menial +tasks." + +"Mother," said Hallett, with more sternness than I had yet heard him use +in speaking to her, "it is not the mere going out shopping that is +likely to degrade your child. The time has come when I must insist upon +knowing the meaning of these frequent absences on Linny's part. Has she +gone out to-night on some necessary errand?" + +"I--I don't know, Stephen; she said she must go." + +"Tell me, mother--I beg, I insist," he exclaimed, "what you are keeping +from me." + +"Nothing, nothing, Stephen," sobbed the poor woman. "You'll kill me +with your un kindness before you've done." + +"Do you mean to tell me that you do not know where Linny has gone, +mother?" + +"Yes, yes, Stephen; I do not know." + +"Has--has she gone to meet anyone?" + +"I don't know, Stephen; I think so." + +"Who is it, mother?" exclaimed Hallett. + +"I don't know, Stephen; indeed I don't know. Oh, this is very, very +cruel of you!" + +"Mother," said Hallett, "is this just and kind to me, to keep such a +secret from my knowledge? Oh, shame, shame! You let that weak, foolish +child keep appointments with a stranger, and without my knowledge-- +without my knowing it, who stand to her in the place of a father. It +must be stopped at once." + +"Let me go, Hallett, please," I whispered. + +"Yes; go, Antony; it is better that you should not be here when Linny +comes back. Good-night--good-night." + +I hurried downstairs, and let myself out, feeling miserable with the +trouble I had seen, and I was just crossing Queen Square when I saw +Linny coming in the opposite direction. + +She caught sight of me on the instant and spoke. + +"Where did you leave Stephen?" she said hastily; and I saw that she was +flushed and panting with haste. + +"With Mrs Hallett," I said. + +"Was he scolding because I was out?" + +"Yes." + +She gave her head a hasty toss and turned away, looking prettier than +ever, I thought, but I fancied, as we stood beneath a lamp, that she +turned pale. + +Before she had gone half-a-dozen steps I was by her side. + +"Well? What is it?" she said; and now I saw that she was in tears. + +"Nothing," I replied; "only that I am going to see you safe home." + +"You foolish boy," she retorted. "As if I could not take care of +myself." + +"Your brother does not like you to be out alone at night," I said +quietly; "and I shall walk with you to the door." + +"Such nonsense, Antony! Ah, well, just as you like;" and she burst into +a mocking laugh. + +I knew this was to hide from me the fact that she was in tears; and I +walked beside her in silence till we had nearly reached the door, when +we both started, for a dark figure suddenly came up to us. + +"Oh, Steve, how you frightened me!" exclaimed Linny with a forced laugh. + +"Did I?" he said calmly; and then he held out his hand to me and pressed +mine. + +He did not speak, but that pressure of his hand meant thanks, I thought, +for what I had done; and once more I set myself to reach Caroline +Street, thinking very seriously about Linny Hallett, of her mother's +weakness and constant complaints, and of the way in which Stephen +Hallett seemed to devote himself to them both. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +WE COMPLETE THE MODEL. + +Matters did not improve at Great Ormond Street as the months rolled on. +There was evidently a serious estrangement between Linny and Stephen +Hallett; and in my frequent visits I saw that she was as wilful as she +was pettish, and that she was setting her brother at defiance. Mrs +Hallett was more piteous and complaining than ever, and her son grew +haggard and worn with care. + +Once or twice, when Linny went out, Hallett had insisted upon going with +her, when she had snatched off her hat and jacket, exclaiming: + +"It does not matter; I can go when you are away. I am not a child, +Stephen, to be treated in such a way as this." + +He stood looking down at her, more in sorrow than in anger, and +beckoning me to follow, he went up to his attic and turned to his model, +but sat down thinking, with his head upon his hand. + +"Can I do anything to help you, Hallett?" I said anxiously; and he +roused himself directly, and smiled in my face. + +"No, Antony," he said, "nothing. I could only ask you to follow her, +and be a spy upon her actions, and that would degrade us both. Poor +child! I cannot win her confidence. It is my misfortune, not my fault. +I am no ladies' man, Antony," he continued bitterly. "Here, let us try +the model. I meant to have finished to-night; let us see how my +mistress behaves." + +He often used to speak in a laughing way of the model as his mistress, +after Mrs Hallett telling him one day that it was the only thing he +loved. + +It was then about nine o'clock, and putting aside reading for that +evening, I helped him to fit together the various parts. The framework +had been set up and taken down and altered a score of times, for, as may +be supposed in such a contrivance as this, with all its complications, +it was impossible to make every part at first in its right proportions. +In fact, I found out that for quite a couple of years past Hallett had +been slowly and painfully toiling on, altering, re-making, and +re-modelling his plans. It was always the same. No sooner had he by +patient enterprise nearly finished, as he thought, than he would find +out that some trifle spoiled the unity of the whole machine, and he had +had to begin nearly all over again. + +"There, Antony," he said, on the night in question, as he laid down the +last wheel, one that he had had specially made for the purpose, "I have +got to the end of my thinking to-night. I have looked at the model in +every direction; I have tried it from every point of view, and if it is +not a success now, and will not work, I shall throw it aside and try no +more. What are you smiling at, boy?" + +"Only at you," I said, laughing outright, for we were now, when at his +house, on the most familiar terms. + +"And why?" he said, half amused, half annoyed. + +"I was thinking of what you so often say to me when I am discouraged and +can't get on." + +"What do you mean?" + +"`Never say die!'" I replied, laughing. "I know you'll try again, and +again, till you get the thing right and make it go." + +"Should you?" he said, looking at me curiously. + +"Of course I would," I cried, with my cheeks flushing. "I never would +give up with a puzzle at home, and this is only a big puzzle. It seems, +too, as if we always get a little bit nearer to success." + +"Yes," he said, nipping his lips together; "that's what makes it so +enticing. It seems to lure me on and on, like a will-o'-the-wisp in a +marsh. You're right, Antony, my lad; never say die! I must and will +succeed." + +"Hurray!" I cried, pretending to throw up my cap. "Success to +Hallett's great invention! Patent, of course?" + +"Yes," he said, with a sigh; "but where is the money to come from for +the patent?" + +"Suppose we finish it first," I said, laughing. + +"Right, my young wisepate," he cried; "but, good heavens! it's eleven +o'clock. Come, sir, pack off home to your lodging." + +"Why, I thought we were to set the model going to-night?" I said, in a +disappointed tone. + +"Yes, I did mean it," he said, fitting a couple of cog-wheels one into +the other. "But it is too late now." + +"Let's try for another hour," I said eagerly. + +"No, no, my boy. I don't like you to be out so late. Mr Revitts will +be annoyed." + +"He's away on duty," I said. "Just another hour, and then you can walk +part of the way home with me." + +"Well, just an hour," he said, with his pale face flushing with +pleasure; and we set to at once, he fitting together, while I polished +and oiled wheels and spindles, and handed them and the various screws to +him to fit in their places. + +The model was as intricate as a clock, and there were endless little +difficulties to combat; but there was something so fascinating in the +task as the bright brass wheels were placed in order, and it begat such +an intense longing to see it in motion, executing in miniature the great +desire of Hallett's life, that we forgot all about time, and kept +steadily on till there were only a few screws to insert and nuts to +tighten, and the task would be done. + +Hallett looked up at me as he re-trimmed the lamp by which we worked, +and I across the table at him, laughing at his puzzled face, for we had +unconsciously been at work over three hours, and it was past two. + +"This is dreadful, Antony," he exclaimed, with a comical look of chagrin +on his face. "I seem fated to lead you into all sorts of dissipation. +What are we to do? I cannot let you go home so late as this. You must +lie down here." + +"I'm not a bit sleepy," I said, "but I am hungry." + +"Then you shall have some supper," he said dreamily, and with his eyes +fixed upon his model, forgetting me the next moment, as with his +dexterous fingers he tried the action of one or other of the wheels. + +"It's a pity to leave it now," I cried. + +"Yes, yes," he said with a sigh; "it is a pity: but it must be left. I +dare--" + +He ceased talking, becoming completely abstracted in his task of +screwing on a nut, and without speaking I helped and watched and helped +until quite an hour and a half more had glided by, when with a look of +triumph he stood erect, for the task was done. + +"She's finished, Antony," he cried, and in the elate eager face before +me I seemed to see some one quite different to the stern, quiet +compositor I met daily at the great printing-office by Fetter Lane. + +I was as delighted as he, and together we stood gazing down at the +bright, beautiful bit of mechanism--the fruit of years of toil and +endless thought; but as I gazed at it a strange dull feeling of anxiety +came over me, and I glanced timorously at Hallett, for the thought +flashed across my mind: + +"What will he say now if it fails?" + +I literally trembled with dread as this thought forced its way home, and +with a choking sensation at my throat I watched his eager, elated face +each moment becoming more joyous and full of pride; and the more I +witnessed his pleasure, the more I feared lest his hopes should be +dashed. + +"Why, it's daybreak, Antony," he said, drawing up the blind. "My poor +boy, what a thoughtless wretch I am. It is cruel to you. Come and lie +down directly." + +"No," I said eagerly, "I want to see the model going." + +"And so do I, Antony," he cried passionately; "but now the time has +come, my boy, I dare not try. I feel a horrible dread of failure, and I +must cover it over with a cloth, and leave it till I feel more calm." + +He took up the large black cloth with which he had been in the habit of +covering it from the dust, and stood gazing down at the bright brass +model which had begun to glisten in the soft pure morning light now +stealing in from amidst the London chimney-pots, while a couple of +sparrows seated upon the parapet set up a cheery chirp. + +I felt that I dared not speak, but as if I should have liked to lead him +away from the infatuation of his life. Somehow I knew that it would +break down, and the anguish he must feel would be something I could not +bear to see; and yet, combined with this, I shared his longing to see +the model at work--the beautiful little piece of mechanism that was to +produce a revolution in printing--turning easily, smoothly, and well. + +As I gazed at his eager, anxious face, the pale light in the sky changed +to a soft warm flush; bright flecks of orange and gold sent their +reflections into the dingy garret, and seemed to illumine Hallett's +countenance, as with straining eyes and parted lips he stood there cloth +in hand. + +"Antony," he said, in a low hoarse voice, "I am a coward. I feel like a +gambler who risks his all upon a stake, and dare not look upon the +numbers--upon the newly cast dice. No, no, I dare not try it now; let +it rest till to-night." + +As he spoke he covered it carefully with the black cloth, but only to +snatch it away, apostrophising it the while. + +"No, no," he cried; "it is like covering you with a pall and saying you +are dead, when, you, the birth of my brains, are ready to leap into new +life--new life indeed--the life of that which has had no existence +before. Antony, boy," he said exultingly, "what time could be more +fitting than the birth of a new day for my invention to see the light? +Throw open the window and let in the glow of sunshine and sweet fresh +air. It is unsullied yet, and it will give us strength for our--for +our--" + +He hesitated, and his exulting tone changed to one of calm resignation. +It was as if he had felt the shadow of failure coming on, and he said +softly: + +"Our triumph, Antony; or, God help me, fortitude to bear our failure!" + +I had opened the window, and the soft, refreshing morning air floated +into the room, seeming to bring with it a suggestion of the scents of +the sweet, pure country; and now, in the midst of the silence, broken +only by the chirping of the sparrows, and the distant rattle of the +wheels of some market-cart, I saw Hallett's countenance grow stern as he +placed a little reel of thin paper, narrow as a ribbon, upon a spindle, +and then, motioning to me to go to the handle which was to set the model +in motion, he stood there with set teeth, and I turned. + +There was a clicking, humming noise, the whirring of wheels, and the +rattle of the little cogs; the ribbon of paper began to run off its +spool, and pass round a tiny cylinder; and at that moment the little +model seemed illumined by a brilliant ray of sunshine, which darted in +at the open window. Then the light seemed to be glorifying Hallett's +face, and I was about to utter a cheer, when I felt a jar, and a shock +from the fingers that held the handle run right up my arm. There was a +sharp, grating noise, a tiny, piercing shriek as of tortured metal; and +in place of the busy glistening, whirring wheels an utter stillness. A +cloud crossed the rising sun, and with a bitter sigh Hallett stooped +down and picked up the black cloth, which he softly and reverently drew +over the wreck of his work, as I stood with dilated eyes looking at him +aghast. + +"Poor model," he said softly, "dead so soon!" and with a sad, weary air +of resignation as he smiled at me: "it was a very short life, Antony. +Let us go down, my boy. You must be wearied out." + +I followed him on to the landing without a word, and after he had locked +up the attic he led the way softly to the sitting-room, where he lit a +fire and we had some breakfast, for it was too late to think of bed. +Shortly afterwards we walked down together to the office, and I saw him +no more till the day's work was done. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +ANOTHER WAKEFUL NIGHT. + +Stephen Hallett was in too much trouble to speak to me about the model +that evening. Mrs Hallett was in tears, and full of repinings, and +Linny was out, it seemed, when her brother had returned. + +I soon found that he did not wish me to stay, and being tired out, I +made the best of my way back to Caroline Street, and went to bed to +sleep heavily, dreaming that Hallett and I were working away at the +model, but as fast as ever we got it nearly to perfection, Mr Blakeford +came and stood by to throw in the pieces of the stick with which he had +been beaten by Mr Wooster, and every time he did so the little model +was broken. + +Then the whole scene of the flogging seemed to take the place of +Hallett's attic, and I saw Mr Blakeford sit down in a chair, panting, +bloody, and exhausted, and he kept on saying in a low hoarse voice, +"Antony, lad, water!" + +It was very terrible to see him sitting there by the light of the office +gas, for though I wanted to help him, the power was not there, and, +strive how I would, I could not get to his side, or fetch what he asked +for. + +"Antony, lad, water!" + +His voice sounded like a groan, and I knew he must be very bad; but +still I could not help him, and the bitter moan with which he appealed +to me seemed to cut me to the heart. + +"Antony, lad, water!" + +There it was again, and I started up to find myself in bed, with a +candle burning in the room, and Revitts, with his hat on the floor, his +coat torn open, and his face besmeared with the blood flowing from a cut +in the forehead, was seated close beside his bed, evidently half +fainting. + +"Antony, lad, water?" he moaned; and leaping out of bed and hurrying on +some clothes, I tried to give him what help I could, but in a strangely +confused way; for I was, as it were, in a dream, consequent upon the +deep sleep succeeding a night without my usual rest. I held a glass of +water to his lips, however, from which he drank with avidity. And then, +awakening more to the state in which he was, and realising that it was +not a dream, I set to work and sponged and bound up the cut with a +handkerchief, to find, however, to my horror, that there was another +terrible cut on the back of his head, which was also bleeding profusely. + +My next idea was to go for a doctor, but I reflected that I ought to +first bind up the other wound, and this I did, leaving him in the chair, +with his chest and head lying over on the bed, looking so white that a +chill of horror shot through me, for I fancied that he was dying. + +I knew there was a doctor's two streets off, and I ran to where the red +bull's-eye in the lamp shone out like a danger signal; rang the +night-bell; heard a window above me open, and, after explaining my +business and what was the matter, the medical man promised to come. + +I ran back to find that Revitts had not moved, but that my attempts to +bandage his wounds had proved to be ineffectual. I did what more I +could, though, and then sat horror-stricken and silent, holding the poor +fellow's hand, speaking to him at intervals, but eliciting nothing but a +moan. + +It seemed as if the doctor would never come, and I was about to rouse up +some of the people in the house when I heard the bell, and ran to admit +him. + +He looked curiously at me as I stood there, candle in hand, and as I +closed the door he said gruffly: + +"A drunken fall, I suppose?" + +"Oh no, sir," I said hastily. "Mr Revitts never drinks." + +"Humph?" he ejaculated; and I led him up to where Revitts sat. + +"Policeman, eh?" said the doctor; "this is a job for the surgeon to the +division, my man. Mustn't leave him to bleed to death, though." + +He slipped off his coat, and, exerting his strength, lifted poor Revitts +on to the bed, after which he removed my bandages and made an +examination. + +"Hold the candle nearer, boy, nearer still. That's right. You won't +singe his hair. If you do it won't matter, for I must clip it off +short. Humph! some one has given him a pretty topper with a thick +stick, and he must have fallen with his head on the edge of a step. +Terrible cuts?" + +"But will they kill him, sir?" I faltered, feeling quite sick at the +sight of the wounds. + +"We won't let them, my man. Come, hold up, you mustn't, let that turn +you faint." + +"I--I won't, sir," I said. + +"That's right, my man. Nothing like a little will and determination. +We men must leave fainting to the girls. That's right; basin and sponge +and towel. We'll soon put him straight. Now that case out of my +pocket. That's well. Hold the candle nearer. No snuffers? Well, use +your fingers. Dirty trick, but handy--fingery, I ought to say." + +He kept on talking--half-playfully, while with his bright scissors he +clipped the hair away close from Revitts' forehead, and then, cutting up +some plaister in strips, he rapidly bandaged the cuts, after bringing +the edges of the wounds together with a few stitches from a needle and +some silk. + +"Poor fellow! he has got a sad knocking about," the doctor said kindly, +for now the annoyance at being called out of bed was over he was deeply +interested in his case. "I wonder some of his fellow-constables did not +take him to the hospital. Where did you find him?" + +I told him how I was astonished by finding Revitts at my bedside. + +"Ah yes, I see," he said. "Hurt and half-insensible, and nature +intervenes. Education says, Take him to the hospital; instinct bids +him, animal-like, creep to his hole to die." + +"To die, sir?" I cried, catching his hand. + +"Die? No: nonsense, boy. I was only speaking metaphorically. Don't +you see?" + +"Yes, sir," I said. + +"No, you don't, you young humbug," he retorted sharply. "You don't know +what a metaphor is." + +"Yes, sir, it's a figure of speech in which one idea is used instead of +another." + +"Hallo!" he said; "why, how do you get your living?" + +"I'm a reading-boy at a printer's, sir." + +"Oh! Are you? I should have thought you were reading-boy to a +professor of language. Well, we mustn't forget our patient. Give me a +glass, boy." + +"Will a teacup do, sir?" + +"Oh yes, and a teaspoon. That's right," he said; and, emptying a little +phial into the cup, he proceeded to give poor Revitts some of the +stimulus it contained. + +"There," he said, "he's coming round, poor fellow; but I daresay he'll +be a bit shaky in the head. He mustn't get up; and you must give notice +at his station as soon as it's light, or to the first policeman you +see." + +"But you don't think he'll die, sir?" + +"Die, my man? No. A great stout fellow like that is not likely to die +from a crack or two on the head." + +I drew a long breath of relief, and soon after the doctor left, bidding +me not be alarmed if I found his patient slightly delirious. + +It was no pleasant task, sitting there alone, watching by my poor +friend, and many times over I felt so alarmed at his condition that I +rose to go and rouse up some of the people of the house; but whenever I +reached the door the doctor's reassuring words came back, and, feeling +that he must know what was right, I sat by the bedside, holding Revitts' +hand till towards morning, when he began to move uneasily and to mutter +and throw about his arms, ending by seeming to wake from a troubled +sleep. + +"Where am I?" he said sharply. + +"Here at home, in bed," I said. + +"Who's that?" + +"It is I, Bill, don't you know me?" + +"Yes, yes, I know you!" he said. "Oh, my head, my head!" + +"What was it? How was it done?" I said. + +There was a pause, and then, in a weary way: + +"I don't know--I can't recollect. Everything's going round. Yes, I +know: I heard a little girl call out for help, and I saw a fellow +dragging her towards an open door, and I went at him." + +"Yes, Bill. Well?" + +"That's all. I don't know anything else. Oh, my head, my head!" + +"But did he hit you?" I asked. + +"Yes, I think so, and I went down," he groaned; "and I don't know any-- +any more, but I should know that fellow out of a thousand, and--" + +He began muttering to himself, and as I bent over him I fancied I made +out the word "staff," but all else was unintelligible, and the poor +fellow sank into a heavy sleep which seemed likely to last. + +Soon after seven I got the landlady to come and sit with him while I ran +to the police-station, and told the inspector on duty about Revitts' +state. + +"There," he exclaimed to another officer, "I told you so. He's too +steady a fellow to have gone wrong. All right, my man, I'll send on the +surgeon, and we'll see what's to be done. You don't know how it was?" + +I told him all I knew, and then ran on to Hallett's to ask him to get me +excused at the office. + +I found him looking very pale, but Linny was not visible; and then I +told him about Revitts' state. + +"It's very strange," he exclaimed. "Linny came home in trouble last +night. She said some man had insulted her, and when she called for help +a policeman ran up; and she left them struggling together while she made +her escape and came home." + +"Then it must have been Revitts who helped her," I said; and I then told +him that I wanted to stay with the poor fellow. + +"I'll arrange all that for you, Antony," he said quietly; and I made the +best of my way back to Caroline Street, to find that poor Revitts had +not moved, only kept on muttering where he had been laid by the doctor; +and I took the watcher's place, made tea for him, and spoke to him again +and again, but without result. + +The police surgeon came soon after with the inspector I had seen, asked +me a few questions as he examined the injuries, and then I saw him +tighten his lips. + +"Hadn't he better be taken to the infirmary, sir?" the inspector asked. + +"No," was the reply; "he must not be moved." Then, turning to me: "You +had better get some one to come and nurse him, my lad," he said; +"mother, sister, or somebody. I'll call in again in the evening." + +I knew from this that the poor fellow must be seriously hurt, and had I +wanted confirmation, I had it in the delirious mutterings that now came +from his lips. + +I sat by him in great trouble, wondering what I should do, when the +doctor I had fetched called in, who, on learning that the divisional +surgeon had been, nodded his satisfaction and turned to go. + +"Please tell me, sir," I said, "is he very, very bad?" + +"Well, bad enough, my lad; you see, he has got concussion of the brain, +and I daresay he will be ill for some time, but I do not anticipate +anything serious. He must have a nurse." + +As soon as he had gone I sat and thought for a few minutes what I ought +to do. Miss Carr was very kind and generous. If I asked her she would +pay for a nurse; but no, I would not ask her without first consulting +Hallett. He would help me in my difficulty, I felt sure, especially as +it was probable that Linny was the girl poor Revitts had protected. But +Hallett would not be back till evening, and then perhaps he would--no, +he would be sure to come in. + +I sat thinking, and the landlady came up, full of bewailings about her +injured lodger, and in her homely way promised to come and wait on him +from time to time. Then a bright thought occurred to me. I would write +and tell Mary that Revitts was hurt, for I felt that she ought to know, +and hastily taking pen and paper, I wrote her word that my friend was +very ill, and asked her to tell me the address of some of his relations, +that I might send them word. I did not forget to add a postscript, +urging her to secrecy as to my whereabouts, for my dread of Mr +Blakeford was as great as ever. + +Seizing my opportunity when Revitts was more quiet, I slipped out and +posted the letter, running back panting to find that a lady had come--so +the landlady said--during my absence, and, rushing upstairs I stood +staring with amazement on finding Linny in the room taking off her +jacket and hat. + +"You here, Linny?" I exclaimed. + +"Yes," she said quietly. "Why not?" + +"Was it you, then, that poor Revitts helped last night?" + +"Yes," she said, with a shiver, and she turned white. "Yes, poor +fellow. It was very brave of him, and I have come to help him in +return." + +"But does--does Stephen know?" + +"How can he," she said meekly, "when he is at the office?" + +"But I am sure he would not approve of your coming," I said stoutly. + +"I can't help that," she replied quietly. "He will think it his duty to +find fault, and I think it mine to come and help to nurse this poor +fellow who was hurt in serving me." + +"But your mother--Mrs Hallett?" + +"I have arranged for some one to go in and wait upon her till I go +back," said Linny quietly. "Now, what had I better do?" I could think +of nothing better than to suggest some beef-tea, and she snatched at the +notion, running out to fetch the material; and soon after having it +simmering by the fire, while she tidied the room in a way only possible +to a woman; and as she busied herself in a quiet, quick fashion, I could +not help noticing how pale and subdued she seemed. It was very evident +that her nerves had had a severe shock on the previous night, and as I +gazed at the pretty, soft little face and figure, bending themselves so +earnestly to the task in hand, I could hardly believe it was the same +giddy, coquettish girl who caused her brother so much concern. + +The day wore slowly by, and in spite of my efforts and real anxiety, I +could not keep awake, but caught myself dozing off sometimes to start +up, feeling horribly guilty, and ready to excuse myself to Linny on the +plea that I had had hardly any sleep for two nights. + +"The more need for me to come, Antony," she said quietly, and bidding me +lie down for an hour or two, she took out her work and, seated herself +by the sick man's pillow. + +She woke me up at last to have a sort of tea-dinner with her, after I +had seen that Revitts remained perfectly insensible, and then the +evening wore on, the surgeon came and nodded his satisfaction at finding +a nurse there, said that the patient was going on all right, but must +have time, and took his leave. + +At half-past eight, just as I had anticipated, Hallett arrived, and +started with surprise on seeing his sister. + +"You here?" he said, with an angry look upon his brow. + +"Yes, Stephen," she said quietly; "I have come to help nurse him." + +"It was an ill-advised step," he said sternly. "You did not know that +this was the man who protected you." + +"I felt so sure of it that I came to see," she replied. "Don't be angry +with me, Stephen," she whispered. "I owned to you last night that I was +in fault, and meant to do better." + +"Yes, and refused to answer my questions," he replied. "You do not tell +me whom you went to see." + +"Is it not enough that I have promised you I'll go no more?" she replied +with quivering lips. + +"Yes, yes, my child," he said tenderly, as he took her in his arms and +laid his cheek against her forehead. "It is enough, and I will not +press you. Dear Linny, indeed I strive for your good." + +"I know that, Stephen," she cried with a wild burst of tears, and, +flinging her arms round his neck, she kissed him again and again. "My +own brave, good brother," she said; "and I've been so ungrateful and +selfish! Oh, Stephen, I'm a beast--a wretch!" she sobbed. + +"Hush, hush, little one," he said; and then, starting, he held her at +arm's length and gazed full in her eyes. "Why, Linny," he exclaimed, as +a light seemed to have flashed across his mind, "it was that man--you +went to meet--who insulted you." + +She turned away her face, and hung her head, shivering as he spoke, and +weeping bitterly. + +"It was," he cried; "you do not deny it. The villain!" + +"Please, please don't, Stephen," she sobbed in a low, piteous voice. + +"Linny!" he cried hoarsely; and his face looked terrible. "If I knew +who it was, I believe I should kill him?" + +"Stephen," she wailed, "pray--pray! We are not alone." + +"There is only Antony here," he said, "and he is like a brother." Then, +making an effort over himself, he strained the little panting figure to +his breast, and kissed her tenderly. "It is all past, my darling," he +said to her softly, and he smoothed her hair with his hand, as if she +had been his child. "I'll say no more, dear, for you have promised me." + +"Yes; and I will keep my word, Stephen." + +He kissed her again, and loosed her, to stand with brows knit with +trouble. + +"I do not like your coming here, Linny," he cried at last. + +"Why not, dear?" she said, laying her hands upon his shoulder. "It is +an earnest of my promise. He came to me when I was in trouble." + +"Yes," he said; "you are right," and after looking at the patient he sat +down and talked to us in a low tone. + +"Is it not nearly time for you to go back, Linny?" Hallett said at +last. + +"Back!" she said; "I am going to sit up with Antony; the poor fellow +must not be left. The doctor said so." + +Hallett took a turn up and down the room, and then stopped. + +"You have had no sleep for two nights, Antony," he said. "Lie down. I +will sit up with my sister, and watch by poor Revitts' side." + +I protested, but it was in vain; and at last I lay down in my clothes to +watch the faces of brother and sister by the shaded lamp, till my eyes +involuntarily closed, and I opened them again to see the two faces in +the same positions, but without the lamp, for there was the morning +light. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +REVITTS' NURSE ARRIVES. + +Hallett left quite early, to see that Mrs Hallett was properly attended +to, and he moreover undertook to speak to either Mr Ruddle or Mr +Lister about my absence, as, joined to my desire to stay with poor +Revitts, Hallett wished me to bear his sister company. + +Our patient was on the whole very quiet, but at times he moved his head +to and fro and talked loudly, much being unintelligible, but I saw +Linny's countenance change several times as she heard him threaten the +man he looked upon as an enemy. + +"Can I do anything for you?" said Linny to him on one occasion, as he +tried to raise himself upon his arm and stared at her wildly. + +"'Taint as if I'd got my staff out to him, you know," he said in a +whisper. "He's a coward, that's what he is, and I shall know him again, +and if I do come acrost him--ah!" + +Linny shrank away, with her eyes looking wild and strange, so that I +thought she was frightened by his words, and I interposed and put my arm +under the poor fellow's head. + +"Lie down, Bill," I said. "Does your head hurt you?" + +"I don't mind about my head," he muttered, "but such a coward; treat a +little bit of a girl like that. Where's my notebook? Here, it's time I +went. Where's that boy?" he cried angrily; "I know what London is. I +won't have him stop out of a night." + +He sank back exhausted, and as I turned from him to speak to Linny, I +saw that she was in tears. + +"He frightens you," I said; "but you needn't be afraid." + +"Oh no! I'm not," she cried; "it's only because I'm low and nervous. I +shall be better soon." + +The surgeon came twice that day, and said the case was serious, but that +there was no cause for alarm. + +"He gives no clue, I suppose, to who struck him, my boy?" he said. + +"No, sir," I replied; "he talks about some man, and says he would know +him again." + +"The police are trying hard to find out how it was. If they could find +the girl it would be easy." + +I was just going to say, "Here she is, sir!" when I happened to glance +at Linny, who was pale as ashes, and stood holding up her hand to me to +be silent. + +This confused me so that I hardly understood what the surgeon said, only +that he wanted a stronger and more mature person to attend to Revitts; +but when I told him that the landlady came up to help he was satisfied, +and left, saying that he should come in again. He was no sooner gone +than Linny caught me by the arm. + +"Oh, what an escape!" she cried; "Antony, you know how wilful and cruel +I have been to poor Steve?" + +"Yes," I said, nodding my head. + +"And you know how I have promised him that I will always do as he +wishes?" + +"Yes, I know that too," I said; "and I hope you will." + +"I will--indeed I will, Antony," she wailed; "but please promise me, +pray promise me, that no one shall ever know besides us that it was I +whom Mr Revitts here--a--protected." + +"But the wretch of a fellow who behaved so badly to you, and beat poor +Revitts like this, ought to be punished." + +"No, no--no, no?" she cried excitedly; "let it all pass now, Antony-- +dear Antony, for my sake." + +"I like you, Linny," I said; "but I like dear old Revitts, too. He has +been the best of friends to me, and I don't see why a friend of yours +should escape after serving him like this." + +"He--he is not a friend of mine now," she said, half hysterically; "but, +dear Antony, I could not bear for him to be punished. It was in a fit +of passion. I had made him angry first. Please, please don't say any +more--I cannot bear it!" + +She sank down on the hearth-rug, covering her face with her hands and +sobbing bitterly, while I felt, boy-like, powerless to say anything to +comfort her, till I exclaimed: + +"Well, I won't tell or say anything I know, Linny, if you will keep your +word to Stephen." + +"I will--indeed I will, dear Antony," she cried, starting up and +catching both my hands. "I was very, very foolish, but I know better +now, and it--it--it is all past." + +She said those last words in such a piteous, despairing way, looking so +heart-broken, that my sympathies were now all on her side, and I +promised her again that I would not tell Revitts or the police that she +was the girl who had been in question. I repented of my promise later +on, but at my time of life it was not likely that I should know how +ready a woman who loves is to forgive the lapses of him who has won her +heart, and of course I could not foresee the complications that would +arise. + +The surgeon came again, as he had promised, and after the examination of +the patient, ordered some ice to be obtained to apply to his head, and +directly he had gone I started off to fetch it, thinking as I did so +that Hallett would soon be with us. + +I was not long in getting a lump of bright, cold, clear ice, and on +hurrying back, I heard voices in the room, when, to my surprise and +delight, there stood Mary, but looking anything but pleased. She had +thrown a large bundle on the floor, her large Paisley shawl across the +foot of the bed, her umbrella on the table, and a basket crammed full of +something or another was on a chair. + +As for Mary herself, she was standing, very red in the face, her arms +akimbo, her bonnet awry, and a fierce angry look in her eyes, before +poor Linny, who was shrinking away from her, evidently in no little +alarm. + +"Oh, Antony?" she cried, "I'm so glad you've come! Who is this woman?" + +"Who's this woman, indeed!" cried Mary, now boiling over in her wrath; +"`this woman' indeed! Perhaps you'll tell her that I'm a poor deceived, +foolish, trusting creature, who left her place at a moment's notice to +come and nuss him, and then find as I ain't wanted, and that he's +already got his fine doll of a madam to wait on him." + +"Oh, Mary!" I cried; "you dear foolish old thing!" + +"Yes, of course, that's what I said I was, Master Antony, and even you +turn agen me. But I might have known that such a fellow as William +Revitts would have half-a-dozen fine madams ready to marry him." + +This was accompanied by pantings, and snorts, and little stamps of the +foot, and a general look about poor Mary as if she were going to pull +off her bonnet, jump upon it, and tear down her hair. + +"Oh, you foolish old thing!" I cried, flying at her and literally +hugging her in my delight at seeing her so soon, in the midst of my +trouble. + +"Be quiet, Master Antony," she cried wrathfully, but throwing one arm +round me as she spoke, in reply to my embrace. "But I won't stand it, +that I won't." + +"But, my good woman," faltered Linny. + +"Don't you `good woman' me, slut!" cried Mary furiously. "I was going +to give up and let you nurse him and till him, for aught I cared, but I +won't now. He's engaged to me these four years, and he's mine, and this +is my place and room, and out you go, and the sooner the better; and--as +for B--B--B--Bill--do take your hand from before my mouth, Master +Antony! You're a boy and don't understand things. Now, then, madam, +you pack!" + +"Mary, be quiet!" I cried; "this is Mr Hallett's sister, who kindly +came to help nurse poor Bill till you could come. Bill does not know +her; he never saw her before, but once." + +"Only once?" said Mary suspiciously. + +"No, and then only for a minute. How could you be so foolish?" + +"Because--because--because--" said Mary, bursting out into a passion of +sobbing, "because my heart was half broke about my boy, and I only +stopped to pack up a bundle and came--and then--when I found that pretty +darling here, I--I--oh, my dear--my dear--my dear!" she cried, flinging +herself on her knees at Linny's feet, clutching her dress, and burying +her wet face in the folds; "please--please--please forgive me, and don't +take no notice of my mad, foolish words. I've--I've--I've got such a +temper! It's a curse to me--and I was nearly distracted. Some day, +p'r'aps, you'll feel as bad and jealous as I did. Please--please +forgive me!" + +"Oh, yes, yes, yes!" cried Linny, whose tears now began to flow, and +who, kneeling down in turn, drew poor Mary's face to her breast, and the +two remained thus, while I went and looked out of the window. + +"Please--pray--forgive me!" sobbed Mary. + +"Oh yes, yes, I do, indeed!" whispered Linny. "Antony is right; I never +saw Mr Revitts but once, and I believe he is a very good man, and loves +you dearly." + +"That he is, and that he does," cried Mary, raising her red face, and +throwing back her hair. "Though I don't know why he should care for +such a crooked-tempered, rough-tongued thing as I am." + +I thought I could understand why, as I saw Mary's lit-up face, with her +bonnet fallen back, and in spite of her distress looking quite as +handsome as she was warm-hearted. + +"But you do forgive me, dear?" she faltered, kissing Linny's hands again +and again. + +"Forgive you?" cried Linny, kissing her ruddy cheek, "of course I do; +you couldn't help making the mistake." + +And, as if feeling that she was the cause of the trouble, Linny gave her +such a look of tender sympathy that poor Mary was obliged to crouch down +quite low on the floor again, and hug herself tight, and rock to and +fro. + +Immediately after, though, she was hastily wiping her eyes on the silken +strings of her bonnet, which she tore off and sent flying to the other +end of the room before dashing at me and giving me a hug, and then going +down on her knees by Revitts' pillow, and laying her cheek against his +bandaged forehead. + +"My poor old boy," she whispered softly, "as if I could stay a minute +from him!" + +The next moment she was up, and giving a great gulp, as if to swallow +down the emotion caused by Revitts' appearance, she forced a smile upon +her face, completely transforming it, and quickly but quietly dashed at +her basket. + +"I hadn't time to do much, my dears," she said to Linny and me +collectively: "but I thought a pair o' soles and a chicken must be right +for the poor boy. Now, if you'll only tell me where he keeps his pepper +and salt, and the frying-pan and saucepans, I can get on. My sakes, +poor boy, what a muddle he did live in, to be sure!" + +We had to stop Mary in her culinary preparations by assuring her that +the doctor had ordered only beef-tea. + +"Then he may have chicken-broth, my dears," she said; "I'm an old nuss, +you know, though I wouldn't attend to Mr Blakeford--eh, Master +Antony?--for fear I should give him his lotion for outward application +inside. But I can nuss, and not a step do I stir from this floor till +I've made my poor old Bill well. Oh, if I only knew who done it!" she +cried, with a flash of fierce rage; and as she glanced at Linny, the +latter shrank away guiltily. Mary read her action wrongly, and plumped +herself once more at the poor girl's feet. + +"Don't you mind me, my dear!" she cried kissing her hands and her dress. +"I'm a stupid, rough, jealous thing, and I was all on fire then, but +I'm not now, and I humbly ask your pardon; as I says, God bless you, for +coming to help my poor dear boy!" + +There was another burst of sobbing here, and another embrace, when Mary +jumped up again, all smiles, to apply a little fresh ice to the +patient's head, and gently coo over him, as if he were a baby. + +After which, and having satisfied herself that the chicken-broth was +progressing favourably, poor Mary felt it her duty to plump at Linny's +feet again, but she jumped up in confusion, as she heard the stairs +crack as if some one were coming, and then she looked inquiringly at me, +as the door softly opened and Hallett came in. + +"Mr Hallett," I said, "this is my dear old Mary, Mr Revitts' friend, +and she's come up to nurse him. Mary, this is Miss Hallett's brother." + +"Which I'm glad to see him," said Mary, making a bob, and then growing +redder in the face as she glanced at Linny, as if afraid that her late +ebullition would be exposed. + +"And I'm very glad to see you, Mary," said Hallett, smiling and holding +out his hand, which Mary took after interposing her clean pocket +handkerchief, on the score that she had been cooking. "Antony often +talked to me about you." + +"Have he, though?" said Mary, darting a gratified look at me. + +"Often, of your great kindness to him. Your coming has helped us out of +a great difficulty." + +"And your dear sister's coming's put my heart at rest, for I didn't +know, sir, what gin-drinking wretches might be neglecting my poor boy." + +"And how is the patient?" said Hallett, going to the bedside. + +"The doctor says he is going on all right," I replied. + +"Is he a good doctor?" said Mary sharply. + +"He is certain to be an eminent man," said Hallett quietly; and his +words partially pacified Mary. + +"Because if he ain't," said Mary, "money shan't stand in the way of his +having the best in London." + +"Mary," said Hallett, in his quiet telling way, and with a look that +made poor Mary his firm friend, "a good surgeon will tell you that he +can do much, but that the recovery of a patient principally depends upon +the nurse. I see that Mr Revitts is safe in that respect, and I shall +be only too glad to hear of his getting well." + +Mary seemed to have a ball rising in her throat, for she could not +speak, and this time she forgot to place her pocket handkerchief over +her hand, as she caught that of the visitor and kissed it. + +"You can be quite at rest, Antony," Hallett said then. "Mr Ruddle said +he was sorry to hear about your friend, and he should leave it to your +good sense to come back to work as soon as you could. Mr Lister is +away--ill." + +I fancied that he knit his brows as he spoke, but it may have been +fancy. Then, turning to Linny, he said: + +"I am glad you are set at liberty, Linny. Our mother is very unwell, +shall we go now?" + +Linny nodded her assent, and put on her hat and jacket; but before they +went Mary found it necessary to go down on her knees again, and in a +whisper to ask Linny's pardon; all of which Hallett took as an +expression of gratitude, and shook hands warmly as he left. + +I went with him down to the door to say good-night, and as we parted I +asked him not to think I was neglecting him, now he was in such trouble +with his model. + +"I do not, my dear boy; and I never shall think ill of you for being +faithful to your friends. Good-night; the model is buried for the +present. When you can come again, we'll try once more to bring it back +to life." + +I stood watching them as they went together beneath the street lamps, +and I was glad to see Linny clinging trustingly to her brother's arm. + +"Poor Linny!" I thought to myself. "She's very fond of somebody who +behaves badly to her. I wonder who it can be." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +HOW MARY BROKE DOWN. + +Few as the minutes of my absence had been, Mary had done a good deal +towards tidying up the room, and as I entered I could see her bonnet and +shawl hanging lovingly up against the wall, side by side with poor +Bill's hat and greatcoat, just as if they had newly entered into the +holy state of matrimony. There was beginning to be an appetising odour +of chicken in the room, the bundle was tucked out of sight, the chairs +in order, and it was plain to see that a clever housewife had been at +work. + +"Oh my, how you have growed, my dear!" whispered Mary ecstatically. "I +never did see a boy improve so. And only to think of your running away +from old Blakeford and finding out." + +She ran here to the bed to see if her sweetheart was all right, and then +turned to me with open arms. + +"Give us a kiss, dear," she cried, and in a moment I was hugged tight in +her arms and kissed and fondled again and again. "I _am_ glad to see +you, you can't tell how glad," she cried softly, "and it was good of you +to write. No sooner did I get your letter, than I ups and tells Mrs +Blakeford as I was going away directly, because my friend in London was +ill." + +"But you did not say I wrote, Mary?" I cried in agony. + +"Do you think I was such a silly, my dear? No, I'd got the letter safe +in here," she said, thrusting her hand inside her dress. "Well, as I +was saying--stop a moment--let me look at the broth." + +She raised the lid, shut it again, had another look at Revitts, and then +went on: + +"Who should come in but old Blakeford, and he said gruffly that they +couldn't snare me, and, `Can't spare me!' I says; `well, you just must, +for I'm going.' + +"`Then we shan't pay you your wages,' says old Blakeford. `Then I will +make you,' says I, `So now then. I'm not going to have people die for +want of help, to please you.' + +"`Who is it then as is dying?' says Mrs Blakeford. + +"`It's my sweetheart, mum, if you must know,' I says. + +"`Then all I can say is, that it's very indelicate of you, a young +unmarried woman, to go up and nurse a single man.' + +"`No more indelicate, mum,' I says, `than for you to want me to nuss Mr +Blakeford when he was ill.' + +"`But you didn't do it,' she says. + +"`No, mum,' I says, `but you wanted me to, and what's more, if the whole +world and his wife come to me and told me it wasn't right for me to go, +I should go; so now then.' + +"`But when will you come back then, Mary?' says Mrs Blakeford. + +"`Not at all, mum,' I says, `for after going and nursing a single man as +is dying for aught I know, I shan't be fit company for the folks in this +house. I'm going now directly, mum, and I shall leave my box and send +for it and my wages too.'" + +Here Mary had another look at the patient and the cooking. + +"I wasn't long getting off, I can tell you, and glad enough I was to get +away. I'd ha' left long enough ago, only I didn't want to make any more +changes till the big one, and there was only one as I minded leaving." + +"And that was little Hetty," I said, as I understood her big change to +mean her marriage. + +"Yes, my dear, you're right--little Hetty; and she came and sobbed and +cried ever so, with her dear arms round my neck, till I told her that +perhaps I might see you, and asked her if I might take you her love; and +she sent it to you, and said she always wore your brooch." + +"And is she quite well?" I said, with sparkling eyes. + +"Yes, and grows the neatest, prettiest, best girl that ever was. And +now, my dear, I'm come to nuss my pore William till he's well, and +then--" + +"Yes, Mary?" for she had paused. + +"I shall get a place somewhere in London; for I shan't go back." + +Then, after another look at the patient, she came back to me. + +"Could you drink a cup o' tea, dear?" she said. + +"Yes, Mary, and you must want something." + +"Well, my dear, I do begin to feel a bit faint, for I hadn't only just +begun my breakfast when your letter came, and I haven't had nothing +since." + +The result was that the kettle was soon made to boil, and Mary seemed +quite delighted to be pouring out for me and making the toast. + +"Lor', my dear, now it do seem like old times!" she cried. + +"Only you've grown to look so handsome and well, Mary," I said. + +"Do I, my dear? Well, I am glad. Not as I care myself, but some people +might. But, Lor', I never looked well down at old Blakeford's. My! +what a row there was because you run away--" + +"Was there?" I said with a shudder, half pleasure, half delight. + +"Warn't there?" said Mary, who kept running to the bedside at the +slightest movement. "Bless your 'art, old Blakeford was nearly mad, and +Miss Hetty 'most cried her eyes out, till I told her you'd be happier +away, and then she cried 'em out more than ever, for fear her par should +catch you. He was out days and days, until his leg got so bad he was +really obliged to go to bed. The dog bit him, you know, the night you +run away. Then there was the upset before the magistrates, and that Mr +Wooster somehow managed to get the day, because master--I mean old +Blakeford--hadn't got the right witness. And that made master--I mean +old Blakeford--worse. And now I don't think I've any more to tell you, +only you ain't half eating your toast. My sakes! it do put me in mind +of old times, for it was precious dull when you was gone." + +"Were you cross with me for running away, Mary?" + +"I was then, for not telling me, but I soon got to think it was quite +right." + +"I hope it was, Mary," I said; "but did you ever see old Mr Rowle?" + +"What, that yellow little man? oh, often; he used to come and talk to me +about you, and when I said you was very ungrateful for running away, he +used to stick up for you. He didn't come very often, though," continued +Mary, correcting herself, "because he couldn't smoke in my kitchen, else +I believe he'd have come every night to talk about you." + +A slight moan from poor Revitts took Mary to the bedside, and very soon +after she insisted upon my lying down and going to sleep a bit, and when +I awoke the next morning, Mary was looking as fresh and wakeful as ever. + +I don't know to this day how Mary managed, for she never seemed to close +an eye, but to be always watching over her "pore boy." When I talked +about her going to bed, she only laughed, and said that "a good nuss +never wanted no sleep." + +"And now, my dear, you've been kep' away from your work," she said; "so, +as soon as you've had your breakfast, you be off. I can manage till you +come back. I don't hold with neglecting nothing." + +She would not hear of opposition, so I left her the field, and went down +to the office, where I saw Mr Hallett looking very pale and stern, and +soon after I was at my old work, reading to Mr Jabez Rowle, who seemed +very glad to see me back, complimenting me on my reading, by saying I +was not quite so stupid as my substitute had been. + +When I returned to Caroline Street, I found Mary in consultation with +the landlady, who then descended, and, to my great delight, Revitts was, +if anything, better. + +Mary was very glad to see me back, and began to unfold her plans, to +wit, that she had found that the front room was to let furnished, and +she had taken it of Mrs Keswick, the landlady; for my use. + +"It will be better for all of us, my dear," she said, "so just you hold +your tongue." + +I sat up late with Mary that night, and the next, and the next, talking +about the past and the future, and still she seemed to get no sleep; but +she always laughed about it, and declared that she went to sleep with +one eye at a time. Be that as it may, a more patient, untiring nurse +man never had, and right through poor Revitts' weary state of delirium +she was always by his pillow, always smiling and cheerful through the +worst crisis, till, one night, when I returned to be met by her on the +stairs; and, finger on lips, she led me into the front room, to fall on +my neck, and silently sob as if her heart would break. + +"Oh, Mary, Mary!" I said, "he's worse; and I thought he seemed so much +stronger this morning." + +"No, no, dear," she sobbed, "he's better. He opened his eyes this +afternoon and knowed me, and said: `Ah, Mary, old gal, is that you?'" + +Poor woman! The pent-up suffering that had been longing to burst forth, +and which had all been hidden behind her mask of smiles, had come +pouring out, and for the next half-hour Mary sobbed and wept in a quiet +way till I was in despair. Then, to my surprise, she got up in a +business-like manner, wiped her eyes, and smiled once more. + +"There!" she exclaimed, "I'm better now." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +COMING OFF. + +With Revitts better there was no occasion for me to stop in of an +evening, and as soon as I could I went on to the Halletts', where I was +warmly welcomed by the whole family. Mrs Hallett had a string of +troubles to tell me, and interspersed with them I had narratives of how +different matters used to be. + +Linny was very affectionate and kind, but I could see that she looked +pale and troubled. Her pretty face lighted up though, whenever her +brother spoke, and I noted the air of satisfaction in Hallett's face as +he realised how his sister was keeping to her promise. + +"Well, Antony," he said cheerily, as soon as Mrs Hallett had retired, +which was always before nine, Linny going away to attend upon her. +"What do you say: shall we go and look at the model?" + +"Yes," I said eagerly; "I've been longing to have another turn at it." + +"You are not wearied out then?" + +"Wearied out?" I cried, laughing; "no, and I never shall be till I see +it a success." + +He sighed, but there was a smile upon his lip at the same time; and +leading the way upstairs, we were soon busy over the model. + +I saw at a glance that it had remained untouched, covered with the black +cloth, ever since that unfortunate morning, so that I did not need his +confirming words as he spoke: + +"I thought I would leave it till you came." + +That night and many more were taken up in separating and repairing the +broken parts of the little piece of mechanism, and then came the +difficult task--how to contrive so that it should not again break down. + +The days flew by and became weeks, and the weeks months, but still the +problem was not solved. Experiment after experiment was tried without +effect, and it seemed as if Hallett's clever brain could only bring the +work up to a certain point. Then it required the powers of a second +brain to carry it on to perfection. + +Meanwhile Revitts had gradually recovered, and more than once related to +Mary and me how, on that unfortunate night, he had been attracted by a +slight scuffle and a woman's cry; that he had run up, and the woman had +clung to him, which so enraged the man that he had struck him with the +heavy stick that he carried, and that was all. + +"Should you know the woman again?" I asked, feeling very guilty as the +possessor of Linny's secret. + +"No," he said. "She was only a little thing, quite a girl, and she had +her veil down; but I should know the man, and if ever I do get hold of +him, if I don't give him a wunner my name ain't Revitts." + +He was still too ill to resume his duties, but he used to go out for a +walk every day, leaning on Mary's arm, Mary herself now taking to the +room that had been engaged ostensibly for me. + +"It's a-coming off, Antony," said Revitts to me one night, when I had +returned from the office in high glee; for I had received a note from +Miss Carr, saying that she wished to see me the next day, she having +just returned to town with her sister from a long round of visits, +following a tour on the Continent. + +"Coming off?" I said, looking from him to Mary and back. + +"Don't you take any notice or his nonsense," cried Mary, running her arm +up to the elbow in one of Revitts' stockings. + +"'Tain't nonsense," said Revitts, rubbing his hands softly; "it's +a-coming off soon as ever I'm quite well." + +"'Tain't," said Mary tartly. "I'm going to take another place as soon +as ever you're fit to leave." + +"Yes, my dear, so you are," said Revitts, smiling at me in a soft, +smooth, sheepish way; "a place as you won't never leave no more." + +"It's all stuff, Master Antony, and I'm not," cried Mary. + +"Tantrums won't save you from it now, my dear," said Revitts, shaking +his head and pointing to the wall. "I says to myself as soon as ever I +began to be able to think again, and see that there shawl and bonnet +a-hanging so comfortable-like up again my greatcoat and hat--I says to +myself, I says, she's hung up her bonnet now and give in, and it can be +Mrs William Revitts as soon as ever I like." + +"It's all stuff and nonsense, I tell you. Don't listen to him, Master +Antony." + +"That ain't a real tantrum," said Revitts, rubbing his hands; "she's +give in--she's give in." + +"I declare I wouldn't have come a-nigh you, Bill, if I'd knowed you'd go +on like that before Master Antony," cried Mary, who was perfectly +scarlet. + +"Master Antony's a gentleman," said Revitts, "and he bears witness that +you've give in; and, tantrums or no tantrums," he cried, bringing his +hand down upon the table with a bang, "you don't go away no more. Look +at that!" + +He took a blue official envelope from his pocket and opened it, took out +a letter, and smoothed it upon his knee. + +"That's dictation, that is, Antony. That's what that is," he cried, +holding up his chin, and giving his head an official roll, as if to +settle it in a stock that he was not wearing. + +"Why, where did you get that letter?" cried Mary. + +"Brought me this afternoon while you was out shopping," said Revitts +triumphantly. "Look here, Antony, that ain't directed to P.C. Revitts, +that ain't;" and he handed me the envelope, which I read aloud: + +"`To Sergeant Revitts, VV Division, Caroline Street, Pentonville.'" + +"`Sergeant Revitts!'" he said, rising and buttoning up his coat, but +pausing to reach down his stiff, shiny stock and buckle it on. +"`Sergeant Revitts,' if you please; and if," he said, walking up and +down the room excitedly, "it ain't Inspector Revitts some day, and after +that Sooperintendent and a sword, my name ain't Bill." + +"Hurrah!" I cried; "I am glad;" and then I caught his arm, for, poor +fellow, he was very weak yet, and needed the chair Mary placed for him +to sit down. + +"And you so ill and weak still, and talking about such stuff," she cried +hastily. + +"I'm getting round fast enough," said Revitts; "it was only the +`sergeant' took my breath away a bit; that's all. It's all right, +Antony. It's a-coming off, ain't it, Mary, my dear?" + +"I am glad, Bill. But they couldn't have made a better man a sergeant +if they'd tried," said Mary evasively. + +"I said it was a-coming off," said Revitts, "ain't it?" + +He leaned forward, and looked at Mary; she, with the stocking on one +arm, and the long darning-needle in her hand, held it as if to keep him +off. I saw Mary's scarlet face gradually raised till her eyes met his, +and then a soft, foolish-looking smile began to dawn upon one corner of +her lips, pass over to the other, and gradually make them open to show +her white teeth, before running right up, and half-closing her eyes. +The same kind of smile, but much larger, appeared on Revitts' face; and +there they sat, smiling at one another, till I took up my cap and went +out--even my exit being unnoticed--for another good servant was +veritably lost to society. Mary's "tantrums" were at an end. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +I HAVE ANOTHER LESSON IN LOVE. + +I felt rather nervous about asking for leave, but summoning up courage +the next day, I knocked at the principal's door, and Mr Ruddle's voice +bade me come in. + +"Well, Grace," he said, nodding to me pleasantly, "I wanted to see you." + +I looked at him wonderingly. + +"Only to say how glad I was to hear such a good account of you from Mr +Rowle." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"But Mr Grimstone doesn't give you much praise," he continued, with +rather a droll look in his eyes; "so I'm afraid you are a very ordinary +sort of boy after all. Well, what do you want?" + +"I had a note from Miss Carr, sir, saying she would like to see me +to-day. Can I be spared?" + +"Oh yes, certainly--certainly," said the old gentleman. "And look here, +my man, you've made a good friend in that lady. Try and deserve it-- +deserve it." + +"I will try, sir," I said. + +"That's right," he said; "and try hard.--Well, Grimstone, what is it?" + +The overseer looked from me to his principal and back again, before +rustling some papers in his hand in an ill-used way. + +"It's very hard on me, sir, that more attention isn't paid to the +business. Here are you and me toiling and moiling all day long to keep +the customers right, and Mr John at races and steeplechases, and Lord +knows what--anything but the business!" + +"You're always grumbling, Grimstone," said Mr Ruddle testily. "Here, +let me see.--You needn't wait, Grace, you can go." + +I thanked him and hurried off, leaving the two immersed in some business +matters, and thinking of nothing else now but my visit. + +There was a warm welcome for me at Westmouth Street, and Miss Carr's +eyes looked bright and satisfied, I thought; but I could not help seeing +that she was paler and thinner than when I saw her last. + +"Well, Antony," she said, after seating me beside her; "it seems an age +since we met. What have you been doing?" + +I told her--busy at the office, and also about Mr Revitts. + +"Yes," she said thoughtfully. "I was in the neighbourhood of Rowford +last month, and I--" + +"You were down there?" I said eagerly. + +"Yes, Antony, and I had a long chat with the old clergyman there, when +he visited my friends. He knew your father and mother." + +"Oh yes," I said, as a flood of recollections came back. + +"And he asked me very kindly about you, saying he thought Mr Blakeford +had behaved very badly to Mr Grace." + +"I mean to pay Mr Blakeford every penny my dear father owed him," I +said, flushing, and getting up from the couch. "He shall not dare to +speak ill of the dead." + +Miss Carr looked at me curiously, and I thought her manner was more +tender to me as she took my hand and once more drew me to her side. + +"About this Mr Revitts, Antony," she said; "I think the time has come +now when you should have different lodgings." + +"Oh, Miss Carr!" I exclaimed, "he has been so kind to me, such a good +friend; and now poor Mary has come up, and they are going to be married, +and Mary would be terribly disappointed if I went to lodge anywhere +else. He's Sergeant Revitts now: he has been promoted." + +"If Mr and Mrs Revitts set up a home of their own, that would be +different," she said thoughtfully. "But in your new position, Antony, +you ought to be better provided for than while you were at the office." + +"In my new position?" I said, hesitating. + +"Yes," she said, smiling; and as I gazed in her face I thought what a +happy man Mr Lister must be. "You said you would like to be an +engineer, when I saw you last." + +"Oh yes," I said, "and then I could help Mr Hallett with his model." + +There was a little spot of colour in each of her cheeks as I spoke, and +a slight knitting of her brows; but she went on: + +"I have consulted Mr Ruddle, who has spoken to the proprietors of a +large engineering firm, and they have engaged to take you as a pupil." + +"Oh, Miss Carr!" I cried. + +"But understand, Antony, that it is not merely sitting in an office and +handling pen and drawing instruments: as I understand, the pupils have +to learn to use lathe and tool, so as to thoroughly understand their +profession. Shall you mind that?" + +"Mind it?" I said. "Do you think I mind dirtying my hands? Why, my +father had a regular workshop, where we used to make and mend. Besides, +if I learn all that, I can help Mr Hallett." + +"Antony," she said, in a weary, half-annoyed way, "don't talk to me of +Mr Hallett. My dear boy, you must not be a hero-worshipper." + +"I don't know what a hero-worshipper is," I said, feeling hurt; "but Mr +Hallett has been so good to me that it would be ungrateful if I did not +love and respect him." + +The two little spots of colour came in her cheeks again, and there was a +strange twitching of her brows. + +"Kinder to you than Mr Revitts?" she said softly. + +"Oh, he's not like William Revitts," I said eagerly. "I can't quite +explain it; he's so different. I like Revitts, but I always seem to +have to teach him. Mr Hallett teaches me, Miss Carr. I think he will +be a great man." + +"You foolish boy!" she cried, in a nervous, excited way. "There, then: +it is settled. You will go and see Mr Girtley, at his office in Great +George Street, Westminster, and you may hid adieu to the +printing-office, and make your first start towards being a professional +man as soon as ever you like." + +"I--I can never be grateful enough to you, Miss Carr," I said, in a +trembling voice. + +"Oh yes, my dear boy, you can. Work on and succeed, and you will more +than repay me." + +"Then I shall soon be out of debt," I said joyfully. + +"I hope so, Antony," she said sadly; "but don't be too sanguine.--Yes?" + +"Mr Lister, ma'am," said the servant who had entered. "He would be +glad if you would see him for a few minutes." + +"Did--did you tell him I was not alone?" said Miss Carr, whose face +seemed to have turned cold and stern. + +"No, ma'am, I only took his message." + +"Show Mr Lister up," she said, in a quiet dignified way; and, as the +footman left the room--"Go in there, Antony, and wait until Mr Lister +has gone. He will not stay long." + +She pointed to the folding-doors that opened into a larger drawing-room, +followed me, and pointing to a table covered with books, returned, +leaving the door ajar. + +The various illustrated books were no little attraction, but the thought +of becoming an engineer, and perhaps being of service to Mr Hallett, +kept me from looking at them, and the next moment I heard the little +drawing-room door open, and Mr Lister's voice, every word being +perfectly audible. + +"Ah, my dear Miriam!" he exclaimed; "why, my dear girl, you look quite +pale." + +I felt very guilty, and as if I were listening purposely to the words +passing in the next room; so, taking up a book, I tried to read it, but +in spite of my efforts every word came plain and clear, and I heard all. + +"I have been a little unwell," said Miss Carr quietly. + +"My poor girl!" he said tenderly. "Ah, you have been away too much! +Miriam, dear, I want you to listen to me to-day. When am I to make you +my prisoner, and keep you from these errant ways?" + +There was no reply, and a dead silence seemed to fall. + +"Why, Miriam, darling," said Mr Lister, in a tender voice, "you are +more unwell than I thought for; why not have advice?" + +"No, no," she said hastily. "I am quite well, indeed, John." + +"Then why are you so cold and strange and distant? Have I offended you, +darling?" + +"Oh no, John; indeed, no." + +"I could not visit you more frequently, Miriam. I could not join you +abroad, for, as you know, my circumstances are only moderate, and I have +to keep very, very close to the business. Ruddle does not spare me +much. Are you annoyed because you think I slight you?" + +"Oh no, no, John--indeed no." + +"Yes, that is it," he cried; "you think I ought to have come down when +you were staying at Rowford." + +"Can you not believe me, John," she said coldly, "when I tell you that +there are no grounds for such a charge? You ought to know me better +now." + +"I do know you better, my own, my beautiful darling," he cried +passionately; "but you drive me nearly mad. We have been engaged now so +many weary months, and yet I seem to occupy no warmer position in your +heart than when I first met you. It is dreadful!" + +I heard him get up and walk about the room, while she sat perfectly +silent. + +"You rebuff me," he cried angrily. "You are cold and distant; my every +advance is met by some chilly look. Good heavens! Miriam, are we +engaged to be man and wife, or not?" + +"You are unjust, John, in your anger," said Miss Carr in her low, sweet +voice. "I do not rebuff you, and I am never intentionally cold. +Indeed, I try to meet you as the man who is to be my husband." + +"And lover?" he said, with an almost imperceptible sneer. + +"As my husband," she said quietly; "a holier, greater title far than +that of lover. We are not girl and boy, John Lister, and I do not think +that you would love and respect me the more for acting like some weak, +silly school-girl, who does not know her own mind." + +"She would at least be warmer in her love." + +"But not nearly so lasting," said Miss Carr, in a low, almost pathetic +voice. "I look upon our engagement as so sacred a thing that I think we +ought not to hurry on our marriage as you wish. Besides, was it not +understood that we should wait awhile?" + +"Yes; that was when some tattling fool told you about my losses over +that race, and I suppose made out that I was in a hurry to win the +heiress, so as to make ducks and drakes of her money." + +"You hurt me," she said softly; "no one ever hinted at such a degrading +idea." + +"Just when a fellow had gone into the thing for once in a way. Of +course I was unlucky, and a good job too. If I had won I might have +been tempted to try again. Now I have done with racing and betting and +the rest of it for ever." + +"I had not thought of that affair, John, when I spoke as I did. I +promised you I would forget it, and I had forgotten it, believe me." + +"Oh yes, of course," he said bitterly. + +"I am speaking frankly and openly to you, John," continued Miss Carr +gently; "and I want you to think as I do, that, in taking so grave a +step as that which joins two people together for life, it should be +taken only as one makes a step from which there is no recall." + +"Miriam!" he exclaimed, and he seemed to stop short in front of her, "I +am a hot, impetuous fellow, and I love you passionately, as you know, +and have known since the day when first we met. Have I ever given up +the pursuit?" + +"No," she said, half-laughingly. "You did not let me rest, nor did our +friends, until we were engaged." + +"Of course not. There, come now, you look more like your own dear self. +I want to ask you a question." + +"Yes, John. What is it?" + +He cleared his voice and hesitated, but only to speak out firmly at +last. + +"Do you think--have you ever thought me such a cur that I wanted you for +the sake of your money?" + +"John, this is the second time that you have brought up my fortune +to-day. There is no need to answer such a question." + +"But I beg--I desire--I insist upon knowing," he cried passionately. + +"You have your answer in the fact that you are standing before me +talking as you are. If I believed for an instant that you had such +sordid thoughts, our engagement would be at an end. I would sooner give +you the money than be your wife." + +"Of course, yes: of course, my own dear, noble girl!" he cried +excitedly. "Then why all this waiting--why keep me at arm's length? +Come now, darling, let us settle it at once." + +"No, John," she said calmly. "I cannot yet consent." + +"Your old excuse," he cried, striding up and down the room. + +"I never held out hopes to you that it would be soon," she replied; and +I felt that she must be looking at him wistfully. + +"But why--why all this waiting, dear?" he said, evidently struggling +with his anger, and striving to speak calmly. + +"I have told you again and again, dear John, my sole reason." + +"And what is that?" he said bitterly; "it must have been so trifling +that I forget it." + +"You do not forget it, indeed," she said tenderly. "I ask you to wait, +because I wish, when I marry you, to be sure that I am offering you a +true and loving wife." + +"Oh, if that's all," he said laughingly, "I'm satisfied as you are; and +on my soul, Miriam, I wish you had not a penny, so that all ideas of +self-interest might be set aside!" + +"They are set aside, dear John," she said calmly. + +"Well then, love, let there be an end to this miserable waiting and +disappointment. If I did not know thoroughly your sweet disposition, +and that you are so far above all silly coquettish ways, I should say +that you were trifling with me, to make me more eager for the day." + +"You know me better." + +"I do, my darling," he said in a low impassioned voice, which I heard +quite plainly, though I had gone to the window and was looking out into +the street. "Then let us settle it at once. I am in your hands, +Miriam, as I have been from the day I first set eyes upon you. At +present I am wretched--miserable--my whole thoughts are of you, and I +feel at times half-mad--that I cannot wait. Do you wish to torture me?" + +"No." + +"Then be my dear honoured wife in a week's time--a fortnight? What, +still shaking your head? Well, then, there: I am the most patient of +lovers--in a month from to-day?" + +"No, no, I cannot," she said; and in place of being so calm she spoke +now passionately. "You must wait, dear John, you must wait." + +"Then there is something," he cried, in a low, angry voice. "Some +wretch has been maligning me." + +"Indeed no." + +"You have been told that I am wasteful and a spendthrift?" + +"I should not have listened to any such charge." + +"Then that I am weak, and untrustworthy, and gay?" + +"I should have told anyone who hinted such a thing that it was a lie." + +"Then," he cried hoarsely, "there is some one else; you have seen some +one you like better!" + +"John! Mr Lister! You hurt my wrist." + +"You do not answer me," he cried, his voice growing more hoarse and +intense, while I stood there with my heart palpitating, feeling as if I +ought to run to Miss Carr's help. + +"I will not answer such a question," she said angrily; "but I will tell +you this: that I have looked upon myself as your betrothed wife; do not +make me think upon our engagement with regret." + +"Forgive me, Miriam, pray forgive me," he said in a low, pleading voice. +"It is my wretched temper that has got the better of me. Say you +forgive me, Miriam, or I shall be ready to make an end of myself. +There, there, don't take away this little hand." + +"Leave me now, I beg of you," she said in a low, pained voice. + +"Yes, directly, sweet," he whispered; "but let there be an end of this, +my darling. Say--in a month's time--you will be my wife, and then I +shall know I am forgiven." + +"I forgive you your cruel, passionate words, John," she said, in such a +tone that I began once more to look out of the window, wondering whether +Mrs John Lister would be as kind to me as Miss Carr. + +"And, in a month to-day, you will make me a happy man?" + +"I cannot promise that," she said after a pause. + +"Yes, yes, you can, dearest--my own love!" he cried; and I felt now as +if I should like to open the window and step out on the balcony. + +"No, I cannot promise that, John," she repeated. "You must--we must +wait." + +"Then it is as I say," he cried, evidently springing up from her feet, +and stamping up and down the room. "You are a cruel, cold, heartless +girl, and I'll come begging and pleading no more. Our engagement holds +good," he said bitterly; "and you shall name the day yourself, and we +shall be a happy pair, unless I have blown out my brains before we're +wed." + +I heard the little drawing-room door close loudly, descending steps, and +then the front door shut almost with a bang, and from where I stood I +saw Mr Lister, looking very handsome and well dressed, with a bouquet +in his button-hole, stride hastily down the street, cutting at imaginary +obstacles with his cane, and as he turned the corner I heard from the +next room a low moan, and Miss Carr's voice, saying: + +"God help and teach me! I am a wretched woman! How shall I act?" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +I TAKE THE NEWS TO MY FRIENDS. + +"Wretched!" I thought, "in the midst of wealth, and loved by that +passionate, handsome man." Then I recalled how I had often heard of +lovers' quarrels, and supposed that this was one that would soon be made +up. + +I felt very uncomfortable, and wondered what I ought to do. There was a +deep silence in the next room that became painful, and I wondered +whether Miss Carr had gone; but directly after I heard such a low bitter +sobbing that it went to my heart, and, unable to bear it longer, I went +to the door, looked in, and saw her half-lying on the couch, with her +face buried in the pillow, weeping bitterly. + +I hesitated for a moment, and then went in unheard over the soft thick +carpet, and kneeling down, I took the inert hand hanging down, and +kissed it. + +In a moment she stood up with pale and angry face, flinging me off as if +I had stung her. + +"Oh, Antony, my boy; is it you?" she cried; and flinging her arms round +me, she let her head fall upon my shoulder, and went passionately and +long, while I tried to utter some feeble platitude to soothe her. + +The storm passed off suddenly, and she wiped her swollen eyes. + +"I had forgotten that you were there, Antony," she said. "I have had a +great trouble." + +She spoke with her face averted, and she was trying now to remove the +traces of her tears. + +"You could not hear what was said?" she asked. + +"Yes, Miss Carr. I did not wish to, but I heard every word." + +"Oh!" + +She turned her wild eyes upon me, and her pale face flushed crimson as +she rose to leave the room, hurrying away and leaving me wondering +whether I ought to go. + +I had just concluded that I ought, and, taking up a sheet of paper, I +had written a few lines saying how very sorry I was that I had been an +unwilling listener, when she came back with her hair re-arranged, and +looking pale and calm. + +"Were you writing to me, Antony?" she said. + +"Yes, Miss Carr." + +"Let me see." + +She read that which I had written, and smiled sadly. Then, tearing up +the note, she took my hand and led me once more to the couch. + +"I am sorry that you heard what passed, Antony," she said; "but since I +have known you, I have gradually grown to look upon you as a friend as +well as a _protege_; you have told me your little history, and every +time I have seen you, you have shown me the fruit of the teachings of +those to whom you were very dear. I feel quite happy in knowing that +you, as the son of a gentleman, Antony, will hold all that you have +heard quite sacred." + +"If you will only believe in and trust me," I cried. + +"I do believe in and trust you, Antony," she said warmly. "Now I am +going to ask you to leave me, and come again to-morrow, after you have +been to the engineer's office. I am not well, and I should be glad to +be alone." + +I rose, and as she held out her hand I took it and kissed it +reverently--so reverently, that she drew me to her, and touched my +forehead with her lips. + +"Go now, Antony," she said, "and I think it will be better that you +should not return to the printing-office. I will arrange with Mr +Ruddle about that. A letter from me will be sufficient. And look here, +Antony: you will come here to me every Saturday, and Sunday too, if you +like. You need stand upon no ceremony--tut come. You will not be sorry +to leave the office?" + +"Oh no," I said; "but I shall regret leaving Mr Hallett." + +I thought it was fancy then, as I seemed to see a spasm shoot through +her. She said no more to me, but pressed something into my hand, and I +went downstairs. + +I felt very proud as I made my way along the streets, wondering what was +in the packet Miss Carr had given me, and longing for an opportunity to +open it. + +The park seemed the most suitable place, and, making my way there, I lay +down on the soft turf in a secluded place, opened the packet, and found +in it a letter and a purse containing two five-pound notes. + +The letter was dated the night before, and it was very brief: + + "My dear Antony,-- + + "I have thought that you may need several things in commencing your + new life, and as I wish you to appear as a gentleman's son who means + to work earnestly, I should provide serviceable clothes. I leave the + rest to your common-sense and discretion. + + "Yours affectionately,-- + + "Miriam Carr." + +"My dear Antony," "yours affectionately," I repeated to myself; and as I +lay there, after safely placing the note and purse in my pockets, I +wished earnestly that the dead could know and thank one who had so +evidently my welfare at heart. + +Mary soon knew of my good fortune, but did not seem at all surprised. + +"No, my dear, it's nothing more than natural," she said, as I partook of +tea with her; and in her affection for me she tried very hard to make me +bilious with the amount of butter in which she soaked my toast. "You +being a gentleman's son, and having had a par and a mar, it was no more +than one might expect, for gentlefolks to take notice of you. That Miss +Carr's a real lady, and I shouldn't wonder if she was to leave you no +end of money when she died." + +"Oh, Mary!" I cried, "just as if I wanted Miss Carr to die and leave me +her money. I mean to earn some for myself, and when I get rich, you and +Revitts shall come and live with me." + +"That we will," said Mary. "I'll be your cook, Master Antony, and Bill +shall be--shall be--" + +"Bailiff and steward." + +"Or else gardener," she said. "So you're going to buy some new clothes, +are you?" + +"Yes, Mary; I must go well dressed to the engineer's." + +"Then I should buy two more suits," said Mary eagerly. "Have a good +dark blue for Sundays, with gilt buttons, and for every day have +invisible green." + +I shook my head. + +"No, I must have black still, Mary, and grey," I said. + +"I wouldn't dear; I'd have blue, and as for invisible green, you +wouldn't know as it wasn't black." + +However, Mary came to my way of thinking, and my choice of new things +was in no wise _outre_. + +I seemed to be plunged into a perfect atmosphere of love just then, for +I left Revitts smiling foolishly at Mary, whose face reflected the lover +as perfectly as a mirror, and went on to Hallett's, where I +unconsciously found myself mixed up with another trouble of the kind. + +I have grown wiser since, but in those days it was a puzzle to me why +people could not be friends and fond of one another without plunging +into such heart-breaking passionate ways, to their own discomfort and +that of all whom they knew. + +I was rather later than usual at the Halletts', and on going upstairs, +full of my good news, I found that Mrs Hallett was in bed, and Linny +with her brother. + +I ran up, tapped, and went in according to my custom, and then drew back +for it was evident that something was wrong, but Hallett called me to +stay. + +"We have no secrets from you, Antony," he said excitedly. "You know +what has taken place from the first, and you are as much Linny's friend +as mine." + +"Then if he is," cried Linny, stamping her little foot, "I'll appeal to +him." + +"Why, Linny," I said, "what is the matter?" + +"Matter!" she cried, sobbing passionately, "have I not given up to him +in all he wished? have not I obeyed him and been more like a prisoner +here than his sister? And now he is not satisfied." + +"I am satisfied, my child," he said kindly. "But go on: what have I +done?" + +"Done?" cried Linny; "wounded me where you knew my heart was sore; +looked upon my every act with suspicion." + +"No, my child," he said quietly, as he watched the pretty, wilful little +thing more in grief than anger. "You know how happy we have been, these +last few weeks, since you have had confidence in me, and listened to my +words." + +"Happy?" she cried piteously, and with her hand upon her heart. + +"Yes," he said; "happy till this letter came to-day--a letter that has +swept all your promises to the winds, and sown dissension between us. +Once more, will you show me the letter?" + +"Once more," cried Linny passionately, "no! You assume too much. Even +if you were my father, you could do no more." + +"I stand to you, my dear child, in the place of your dead father. Your +honour is as dear to me as it would have been to him." + +"My honour!" echoed Linny. "Stephen, you degrade me, by talking in this +way before a comparative stranger." + +"Antony Grace is not a comparative stranger," said Hallett quietly. "If +he were your own brother he could not have acted better to us both. I +speak out before him, because I look to Antony, boy though he be, to +help me to watch over you and protect you, since you are so weak." + +"To act as your spy?" + +"No," he said sadly, "we will not degrade ourselves by acting as spies, +but you force it upon me, Linny, to take stern measures. You refuse to +show me this letter?" + +"I do. I would die first!" cried Linny. + +"My poor child," he said sadly, "there is no need. I can read it in +your transparent little face. You thought, I believe, in the first hot +sting of your wrong that night, that you had plucked this foolish love +from your breast; and so long as he remained silent you were at rest. +But now he writes to you and says--" + +"Hush, Stephen! You shall not before Antony Grace." + +"Why not?" he cried. "He says in this letter that he has been wretched +ever since; that he begs your pardon for the past; that upon your +forgiveness depends his future; and he implores you, by all you hold +sacred, to grant him an interview, that he may be forgiven." + +"Stephen!" cried Linny, but he went mercilessly on. + +"And the foolish, trusting little heart, unused to the wiles of this +world, leaped at the words, forgave him on the instant, and a brother's +words, her own promises, the vows of amendment, all are forgotten," he +said angrily, as his face now grew white and his hands clenched, "and +all for the sake of a man who is an utter scoundrel!" + +"How dare you!" cried Linny, and the hot passionate blood flashed to her +little cheeks. Her eyes flamed, her teeth were set, and, in an access +of rage, she struck her brother across the lips with the back of her +hand. "How dare you call him a scoundrel?" she cried. + +"Because," said Hallett--while I stood by, unutterably shocked by the +scene, which was the more intense from the low voices in which brother +and sister spoke, they being in unison on the point that Mrs Hallett +should not hear their quarrel--"because," said Hallett, "his conduct is +that of a villain. While professing love for you, he insults you. He +tells you you are more dear to him than life, and he skulks like a thief +and does not show his face. If he loved you--" + +"Love! What do you know of love?" cried Linny passionately. "You--you +cold-blooded groveller, without soul to worship anything greater than +that!" + +As she spoke, she stood with her head thrown back, looking the picture +of scorn and rage, as she contemptuously pointed at poor Hallett's +model; while he, weak, nervous, and overwrought--stung almost to +madness, caught her sharply by the shoulder, and in her fear she sank on +her knees at his feet. + +"My God!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +I BUILD A CASTLE IN THE AIR. + +If ever words were uttered with a wild intensity of fervour, it was that +awful appeal; and, in the interval that followed, I felt my heart beat +painfully, while Hallett, with the great drops standing on his knotted +brow, clutched the little shoulder, so that Linny flinched from him. + +"I cold-blooded--I know naught of love?" he whispered hoarsely; "when, +for a year past, my life has been one long-drawn agony! I know naught +of love, who have had to crush down every thought, every aspiration, +lest I should be a traitor to the man whose bread I eat! Love? Girl, +my life has been a torture to me, knowing, as I did, that I was a +groveller, as you say, and that I must grovel on, not daring to look up +to one so far above me, that--Heaven help me, what am I saying?" he +cried, looking from one to the other. "Linny, for our dead father's +sake--for the sake of that poor, pain-wrung sufferer below, let there be +no more of this. Trust me, child. Believe in me. I know so much of +what you must suffer, that if he, whoever he be, prove only true and +worthy of you, he shall be welcome here. But why raise this barrier +between us? See, I am not angry now. It is all past. You roused that +within me that I could not quell, but I am calm again, and, as your +brother, I implore you, tell me who is this man?" + +"I--I cannot," said Linny, shaking her head. + +"You cannot?" + +"No," she said firmly; "I gave my promise." + +"That you would not tell me--your own brother? Your mother then?" + +"No, not now," she said, shaking her head. "After a time I will." + +Without another word she turned and ran from the room, leaving Hallett +gazing vacantly before him, as if suffering from some shock. + +I went up to him at last. "Can I help you, Hallett?" I said; and he +turned and gazed at me as if he had not understood my words. + +"Antony," he said at length, "a time back I should have thought it folly +to make a friend and confidant of such a boy as you; but I have no man +friend: I have shut myself up with those two below there, and when I +have not been with them my hours have been spent here--here," he said, +pointing mockingly at the model, "with my love, and a strange, +coquettish jade she is--is she not? But somehow, my boy, we two have +drifted together, and we are friends, badly coupled as we may seem. You +have heard what Linny said. Poor child, she must be saved at any cost, +though I hardly know what course to pursue. There," he said wearily, +"let it rest for to-night; sometimes, in the thickest wilderness of our +lives, a little path opens out where least expected, and something may +offer itself even here." + +"I am very, very sorry, Hallett," I said. + +"I know it, my boy, I know it," he said hurriedly; "but forget what you +heard me say to-night. I was betrayed into speaking as I did by a fit +of passion. Forget it, Antony, forget it." + +I did not answer, and he turned to me. + +"I meant to have had a good work at the model to-night, but that little +scene stopped it. Now about yourself. You are getting a sad truant +from the office." + +He said it in a hesitating manner, and turned his face away directly +after, but only to dart round in surprise at my next words. + +"I am not coming back to the office any more--but don't think me +ungrateful." + +"Not coming back?" + +"No, Hallett; Miss Carr sent for me--she has been away--and I am to go +at once as a pupil to an engineer." + +He turned his back to me, and I ran to his side: + +"Oh, Hallett," I cried piteously; "don't be angry with me. I told her I +was sorry to go, because you were such a good friend." + +"You told her that, Antony?" + +"Indeed, indeed I did; but I thought in being an engineer I might be +some day such a help to you, and that it was for the best; and now you +are vexed and think me ungrateful." + +He was silent for a few moments, and then he turned to me and took my +hands, speaking in a low, husky voice: + +"You must not heed me to-night, Antony," he said. "You saw how upset +and strange I was. This affair of Linny's, and her letter, trouble me +more than I care to own. No, no, my dear boy, I am not vexed with you, +and I do not for a moment think you ungrateful." + +"You do not!" I cried joyfully. + +"No, no, of course not. I rejoice to find that you have so good and +powerful a friend in--Miss Carr. She must be--a truly good--woman." + +"She's everything that's good and beautiful and kind," I cried, bursting +into raptures about her. "I'm to have books and to go there every week, +and she trusts to me to try and succeed well in my new life. Oh, +Hallett, you can't think how I love her." + +He laid his hand on my shoulder and gazed with a strange light in his +eyes upon my eager face. + +"That's right," he said. "Yes--love her, and never give her cause to +blush for her kindness to you, my boy." + +He sat listening to me eagerly as I went on telling him her words, +describing her home, everything I could think of, but the one subject +tabooed, and of that I gave no hint, while he, poor fellow, sat drinking +in what was to him a poisoned draught, and I unwittingly kept on adding +to his pain. + +"I'm only afraid of one thing," I said with all a boy's outspoken +frankness. + +"And what is that, Antony?" + +"I'm afraid that when she is married to Mr Lister--" + +His hand seemed to press my shoulder more tightly. + +"Yes," he said in a whisper, "she is to be married to Mr Lister." + +"Yes, I knew that the first day I came to the office." + +"It is the common talk there," he said with knitted brows. "And what is +your fear, Antony?" + +"That when she is married to Mr Lister she will forget all about me." + +"You wrong her, boy," he said almost fiercely; and I stared at his +strange display of excitement, for I had not the key then to his +thoughts, and went on blindly again and again tearing open his throbbing +wound. + +"You wrong her," he said. "Antony, Miss Carr is a woman to have won +whose esteem is to have won a priceless gem, and he who goes farther, +and wins her love, can look but for one greater happiness--that of +heaven." + +He was soaring far beyond my reach, grovelling young mole that I was, +and I said in an uneasy way that must have sounded terribly commonplace +and selfish: + +"You don't think she will forget me, then?" + +"No," he said sternly. "There is that in her face which seems to say +that she is one who never forgets--never forgives. She is no common +woman, Antony; be worthy of her trust, and think of her name in your +prayers before you sleep." + +I gazed at him curiously, he seemed so strange; and, noticing my uneasy +looks, he said in a cheerful voice: + +"There, we will not talk so seriously any more. You see how I trust +you, Antony, in return for your confidence in me. Now let's talk of +pleasant things. An engineer, eh?" + +"Yes," I said, delighted at the change in his conversation. "I am glad +of it--heartily glad of it," he said with kindling eyes. "Linny is +right; I do love and idolise my model, and you shall share her love, +Antony. Together we will make her the queen of models, and if in time, +perhaps years hence, I do perfect her--nay, if we perfect her--there, +you see," he said playfully, "I have no petty jealousies--you will then +be engineer enough to make the drawings and calculations for the +machines that are to grow from the model. Is it a bargain, Antony?" + +"That it is," I cried, holding out my hand, which he firmly clasped; and +that night I went back to Revitts' walking upon air, with my head in a +whirl with the fancied noise of the machinery made by Hallett and Grace, +while, out of my share of the proceeds, I was going down to Rowford to +pay Mr Blakeford all my father's debt; and then--being quite a man +grown--I meant to tell him he was a cowardly, despicable scoundrel, for +behaving to me as he did when I was a boy. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +MR JABEZ ROWLE'S MONEY MATTERS. + +Something like the same sensation came over me when I made my way to +Great George Street, Westminster, as I had felt on the morning when I +presented myself at the great printing-office. But my nervousness soon +passed away on being received by Mr Girtley, a short, broad-shouldered +man, with a big head covered with crisp, curly grey hair. + +"Ah," he said, speaking in a great hurry, "you're Antony Grace, our new +pupil, are you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Miss Carr's young friend. Knew Carr: clever, wealthy man." + +"Indeed, sir?" + +"Yes, only had one fault--died twenty years too soon. Been a +millionaire and a modest man combined. _Rara avis_, eh? Ha, ha, ha! +Tom!" + +"Yes, father." + +The answer came from an inner office, and a good-looking youth, +wonderfully like Mr Girtley, came out with a pencil across his mouth, a +pen behind his ear, a scale in one hand, and a pair of compasses in the +other. "This is Antony Grace; you take charge of him and show him +about. Take it coolly. _Festina lente_, you know. I say, Antony +Grace, what does _rara avis_ mean?" + +"A rare or strange bird, sir." + +"Good lad. And _festina lente_?" + +"Hasten slowly, sir." + +"Good lad. You're all right with your Latin, then. I wasn't when I +began. Had to learn it after I was twenty. Well, I'm busy, Tom; you +understand; he'll be a bit nervous and strange, so don't worry him. Let +him take in spoonfuls first. He'll learn to drink big draughts later +on." + +"I'm very busy over those syphon plans, father." + +"Ah, the new syphon. Yes, that must be done. Well, I'll set Browning +to do them." + +"I'd--I'd much rather finish them myself," said the youth. + +"Of course you would. Well, then, I'll give you a fortnight's +extension; then you can finish them and have plenty of time for Antony +Grace as well. Take him round the works, and then you can go down the +river for a run. And, by-the-way, Tom, go in one of the new boats, and +tip the engineer. Have a good look at those fresh oscillating +cylinders, and see whether you think they beat ours. I'm off. You were +quite punctual, Antony Grace, or you wouldn't have seen me. Always keep +your appointments exactly. Good-morning; glad to see you. Hope you'll +get on and like the business. Work hard at it, and mind this--steady +application wins. Bring him home to dinner to-night, Tom. Eh? yes." + +"Mr Williamson to see you, sir," said a clerk. + +"My compliments to Mr Williamson, and he must make another appointment. +He is an hour after the time he named, and I am engaged for the rest of +the day. Lesson in punctuality, Antony Grace," he said, nodding. "I'm +off." + +The door closed after his retreating figure, and Tom and I stood +staring, probably thinking the same thing, whether we should like one +another. The result of the scrutiny was satisfactory to me, for there +was something very pleasant in the young fellow's frank open +countenance, and I longed to meet with a companion nearly my own age. + +"Well," he said quietly, "suppose we have a look round. I shan't work +any more at my plans this morning. This is my place," he continued, +taking me into the inner office, where a great broad mahogany desk was +covered with papers. "You'll have that one; it was Bailey's; he was +father's pupil; he's gone out to India on the Great Central." + +I said, "Has he?" but I had no idea whether the Great Central was a ship +or a great engine. + +"There are my plans for a self-acting syphon. Those parts coloured red +are where the vacuum valves will come in, and, of course, this lower +part takes the place of a steam-pump." + +"Does it?" I said, laughing. "But I don't understand it a bit." + +"No, of course not," he said, laughing too. "Well, you'll soon learn. +You'll like father, and we'll like you if you'll work well. Bailey and +he did not get on at all." + +"Didn't Bailey work well?" I said, as a vision of the idle apprentice +came before my eyes. + +"Father used to say he was like an engine with a bad stoker. He was +either racing, or there was no steam un. He'd work furiously for two +days, and then he'd idle for a week." + +"Mr Girtley is fond of work, then?" + +"Father says everyone was meant to work, and life's too short for all we +have to do. But he likes play, too. We have a cricket-field at home, +and a billiard-table, and bowls--all sorts of games. Father plays at +all of them when he's at home and isn't gardening. He calls it oiling +his machinery and slackening his bands. Come along, I'll show you the +factory, and our workshop, where you and I will have to work, making +models, and then we'll oil our machinery." + +"Shall we have to make models?" I cried eagerly. + +"You will, of course. I'm going to be a lawyer. Father thinks the man +who is a good engineer is sure to have to invent, and if so, he ought to +be able to take the tools out of his men's hands, and show them how they +should be used. Shall you like that? It makes your hands black." + +"Oh, I shan't mind that," I said, laughing. "I shall like it." + +We went over the office, and then, taking our caps, he showed me the way +over Westminster Bridge to the great works in Lambeth, where steam was +puffing and panting, wheels whirring, and iron and steel were shrieking +as they were being tortured into shape. + +It was a confusing place, and, after passing the timekeeper's box at the +entrance, we seemed to plunge into a kind of Pandemonium, where fires +glared, and white-hot masses of metal were being dragged out and beaten +till they sent sparks of brilliant fire flying in all directions. From +there we ascended to a floor where wheels were whirring and great +machines were at work, with men tending them, and pouring oil in the +wounds made by mighty steam-worked chisels, or bored in pieces of black +iron. In one place, shavings of iron were curling off before a plane +like so much soft wood; and on touching them I found them rigid, and hot +with the friction necessary to tear them away. Next we were in a higher +shop, where lathes were at work, and iron, steel, and brass were being +turned like so much ivory. Out of this great floor was a smaller +workshop, whose walls were covered with tools; and on shelves around +were dozens of strange models, which took my attention strongly as I +thought of Hallett's patient work, and longed to begin at something on +the spot. + +Here, too, there were lathes, vices, and all the necessary paraphernalia +for the constructing engineers, and I left the place unwillingly to join +young Girtley in his run down the river, where, the right steamer being +chosen, we had our ride; the oscillating engines were examined, and we +were back and down at Dulwich in good time for dinner and a look round +the spacious grounds afterwards. + +I returned to Caroline Street full of my day's adventures, and ready to +tell Mary of my progress towards prosperity, but, to my disappointment, +she seemed in nowise dazzled. It was quite a matter of course to her, +only a question of time before I should be a great engineer, and in that +faith she was a strong believer. + +Time glided on, and the half-work, half-play system, upon which I had +commenced business at Great George Street had in the course of a month +settled into regular hours, but the work did not trouble me, for I led +so pleasant a life with Tom Girtley, and found his father so eager and +willing a teacher, that I quite enjoyed the toil. There was the one +idea, too, always before my mind that some day I should be able to help +Hallett, whom I joined nearly every night, to pore over and try to +scheme something new for the machine. + +I could see that matters were in anything but a happy state at the +Halletts'--Mrs Hallett being more complaining and querulous than ever, +and, it seemed to me, rather disposed to side with Linny in her +rebellion against her brother's authority. + +For they were not at one: Linny was pale, excitable, and troubled: +Hallett, loving, kind, and firm. But from hints he let drop, I found +that Linny was as obstinate as ever, and that she was still carrying on +a correspondence with her unknown admirer. + +One night, after leaving Great George Street, I made my way to +Hallett's, but he was out, and Linny assured me that he would not be +back for hours. She evidently wanted me to go, and the reason was +plain--she was busy writing a letter; and as I went away, wondering +where to go, I bethought me of Mr Jabez Rowle, who lodged in the +neighbourhood, and as it would be his time for being home, I determined +to go and see him. + +I easily found his lodgings, at a little grocer's shop in a bystreet, +where he had the first floor, the front window being turned into quite a +garden with flowers, and some scarlet-runners twining up strings on +either side. + +I heard the familiar snap of his snuff-box as I tapped at the door, and +in reply to his "Come in," I entered, to find the old gentleman taking +his leisure by poring over a long slip, and, pen in hand, darting in +corrections with a grunt of satisfaction. + +"Ah, young Grace," he cried, "you here! I thought you were lost. Glad +to see you, boy. Here, sit down--no, stand up; catch hold of that bit +of manuscript, and read it to me--only a dozen sides." And to my great +astonishment I found myself reading away to him in the old style for +quite half-an-hour before he reached the bottom of the slip proofs and +laid his pen down with a satisfied grunt and took a pinch of snuff. + +"Quite a treat, Grace--quite a treat," he cried. "Sit down. I haven't +had a bit of copy read to me like that since you left. Boy I've got's a +fool, and I could knock his head against the wall. Shake hands. How +are you?" + +I replied that I was quite well, and could see that he was. + +"No, I'm not," he said tartly. "Much bothered. Money matters?" and he +took another pinch of snuff. "So you've called to ask me to say a word +for you to come back to the office, eh? Well, I'm glad, boy--I'm glad! +Take it as settled. You can come back to-morrow morning! I will have +you, or I'll know the reason why." + +I stared at him aghast. + +"Oh no, Mr Rowle," I said, "I only came to see you. I thought I should +like to. I'm getting on so well." + +"Are you, though? Engineering, eh? Well, I'm sorry for it. No, no: +I'm glad of it, my lad. I hope you will get on. But I liked you for a +reading-boy. You were the only chap I ever had who could stand by me +when I took snuff without sneezing all over the slips, and that's a +great thing. Have a pinch?" he said, offering me his box. "No, no: of +course not, I forgot. Glad you came to see me, Grace--very glad. Here, +Mrs Jennings," he cried, going to the door, and shouting down the +stairs; "I've got a young friend here: bring up some sugar-candy and +biscuits and cinnamon; anything nice you've got." + +"I really don't want anything, Mr Jabez," I said. + +"Oh, yes, you do, boy. Ho, hi! Mrs Jennings, bring up some figs." + +He toddled back to his chair, but was up again directly, to shout down +the staircase: + +"Bring up some almonds and raisins, and candied peel, Mrs Jennings." + +"Lor' bless the man, do you want the whole shop?" shouted a sharp voice. + +"No, I don't," said Mr Jabez grumpily, as he toddled back. "I was an +out-and-outer for candied peel when I was a boy," he said, rubbing his +hands. "Those dried apples, too, that look as if they had been sat upon +by old women, Grace. Ah, I spent a lot of pennies on them when I was a +boy." + +A red-faced woman here made her appearance with a plateful of the sweets +that Mr Jabez had named, and she rather scowled at me, and banged the +plate down hard enough almost to break it as she whisked out of the room +again and slammed the door. + +"Now, Grace, fall to, as they say in copy about feasts. See that +woman?" + +"Yes, Mr Jabez." + +"She's a Tartar, she is. I live here because that woman acts as a +lighthouse to me." + +"A lighthouse, sir? Because she has got such a red face?" + +"Get out! No, you young joker. A warning, a beacon, a bell-buoy, a +light-ship, to warn me off the rocks and shoals of matrimony. I should +have married, Grace, years ago, if I hadn't seen what a life a woman can +lead a man. She has nearly made her husband a lunatic." + +"Indeed, Mr Jabez?" + +"Well, say imbecile. Peg away, my boy," he continued, laughing; "these +figs are beautiful. Peel's good, too." + +So it seemed, for Mr Jabez was feasting away with great gusto, and +eating two of everything to my one. + +"Yes, sir, I should have been married and a poor man, instead of +comparatively rich--at least, was. Money matters are rather awkward +just now." + +"I'm very sorry to hear it, Mr Jabez," I said. + +"I'm sorry to feel it," said Mr Jabez, with a fig in one hand and a +piece of candied peel in the other. "Come, you don't eat. By Jingo, +there's Grimstone," he cried, as a step was heard upon the stairs; and +in his excitement and dread of being seen engaged in eating sweets, he +stuffed a fig into one breeches-pocket, some peel into the other, and +snatched up his snuff-box, while I felt terribly discomposed at the idea +of meeting my old tyrant. + +"Is it Mr Grimstone?" I faltered. + +"Yes, but you don't eat. Take another fig," cried Mr Jabez, as, +without knocking, Mr Grimstone entered the room. + +"Hallo," he said, without taking off his hat, "what the deuce are you +doing here?" + +"I've come to see Mr Jabez, Mr Grimstone," I replied. + +"Oh, have you? So have I. How long are you going to stop?" + +"Oh, hours yet," said Mr Jabez. "Sit down, Grim. He doesn't matter; +speak out. He doesn't belong to the shop now. Well: what news?" + +"Bad!" said Mr Grimstone, throwing himself into a chair. "Here, boy, +take my hat." + +I took it quite obediently, and resumed my seat, while Mr Grimstone +wiped his bald head with a bright orange handkerchief. + +"You don't say so?" said Mr Jabez uneasily. + +"Yes, I do," said Mr Grimstone, taking the box out of the reader's hand +and helping himself to a pinch; "I said it quite plain." + +"It's a bad job." + +"Have you just found that out?" snarled the overseer. "Pretty pair of +fools we've been. Look here, send that boy away." + +"No, no; no, no. Sit still, Grace. Eat some more figs, boy. I'll call +Mrs Jennings when you've eaten them. There, go on, Grim. Antony Grace +isn't a chatterer." + +"Just as you like," said Grimstone. "Well, if he doesn't get married to +that gal right off, and bank her money, the game's up, and your 500 +pounds and my 750 pounds are gone to the deuce." + +"Is it 750 pounds, Grimstone?" + +"Yes, curse him! he got round me with all sorts of promises." + +"Of bonus, Grim, eh?" + +"Yes, I suppose so," growled the overseer. "That bill-discounter chap, +Brandysheim, or Brandyman or something's, cornering him. He was at the +office to-day, and there was a regular shine." + +"Was Ruddle there?" + +"No, but I hear that Brandysheim threatened to come down on him if he +wasn't paid." + +"And what then?" + +"What then?" growled Grimstone, with a show of his teeth; "why, Lister's +smashed up--bankrupt, and you and I may sit and stare at each other for +a pair of fools." + +"But it won't hurt Ruddle." + +"No, only bother him. If Lister's bankrupt, he's partner no longer, and +Ruddle will have to find out what share he has in the business." + +"Yes, that's what I thought," said Mr Jabez dolefully. + +"And we shan't get a penny!" + +"Not even interest," said Mr Jabez. + +"Not even interest," echoed Grimstone. + +"Not even bonus," said Mr Jabez. + +"Not even bonus," echoed Grimstone again. + +"What's he done with his money, that's what I want to know?" said Mr +Jabez. + +"Wine--women--horse-racing--foolery! He's been carrying on like mad, +and what I suspect is this--Miss Carr begins to smell a rat, and I +shouldn't be a bit surprised if the wedding didn't come off." + +Mr Jabez stared dolefully at Mr Grimstone, and the overseer kept on +taking pinches of snuff till the box was empty; and, after searching +round with finger and thumb, threw the box impatiently down. + +"Well, I don't see that we can do anything," said Mr Jabez at last, +"except wait." + +"No," said Grimstone, "unless we can see the lady, and make her consent +to pay us our 1,250 pounds." + +"And interest," said Mr Jabez. + +"And bonus," said Grimstone, "down on the nail." + +"Which we can't do," said Mr Jabez, shaking his head. + +"Of course we can't," said Grimstone. "All I wish is that I hadn't let +you persuade me into lending him the money--the savings of a whole +life." + +"Oh, I like that!" said Mr Jabez, catching up a pen, and making a mark +as if he were correcting Grimstone. + +"Like it or not, I don't care," said Grimstone, "there it is. Here! +boy, my hat." + +"Going?" said Mr Jabez. + +"Going! of course I'm going. Think I'm going to stop in this dog-hole, +smelling of red-herrings and oil?" + +"Won't you take something? Try a fig." + +Mr Grimstone snatched his hat from my hands, gazed at me as if he would +have liked to set me to pick up pie, and bounced out of the room. + +"I don't know which is most unpleasant, Grace," said the old man, +"Grimstone or his news. Well, he's gone. Of course, you won't talk +about what you've heard. It's a very bad job, though, for me--very-- +very. Hi! Mrs Jennings," he cried at the top of the stairs, "half an +ounce of best Scotch and Rappee." + +He tapped with his box on the handrail as he spoke, and having had it +replenished, he came back to sit and take pinches, becoming so +abstracted and ill at ease, that I rose to go when he was a quarter +through the half-ounce. + +"Going, Grace?" he said. "Ah, I'm bad company to-night, but come again. +Let me see, though," he said, fumbling at some letters in his +breast-pocket, "I've got a letter here from that bad boy, Peter. Just +the same as usual. Tut--tut--oh, here it is. `Remember me to that +boy,'--ah, blunder I call it boy--`Antony Grace. Tell him I shall come +to see him if ever I get two London.' There's a fellow for you," said +Mr Jabez, "spells `to' like the figure 2. But he always did want a +deal of correcting, did Peter. Good-night, good-night." + +And I went my way, sadly troubled at heart about Miss Carr and Mr +Lister, and wondering whether she would, after all, refuse to be his +wife. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +AN ANGRY PARTING. + +I had four days to wait before going to Westmouth Street to receive my +usual welcome--at least, not my usual welcome, for though she seemed to +grow more sad and pale, Miss Carr's reception of me increased each time +in warmth, till at last, had I been a younger brother she could not have +been more kind. I was a good deal troubled at heart about what I knew, +and puzzled myself as to my duties in the case. Ought I to take Mr +Hallett into my confidence, and ask his advice, or ought I to tell Miss +Carr herself? It was hard to settle, and I have often thought since of +how strangely I was brought at so young an age into the consideration of +the weighty matters of life of those with whom I was in contact. + +It seemed to me that my patroness ought to know what people said about +Mr Lister, and that if it were true she ought not to marry him. +Certainly, at the interview at which I was an unwilling listener, there +had appeared to be no probability of the wedding taking place soon, but +all the same, Miss Carr had seemed to me terribly cut up, consequent +upon the parting with Mr Lister. + +I was so strange and quiet that afternoon that Miss Carr noticed it, and +had just asked me what was the matter when the servant brought up a card +and I saw her change colour. + +"Show him up, Edward," she said quietly; and though I did not see the +card I felt sure from her manner that I knew who had come, and I looked +up at Miss Carr, expecting to be told to go into the next room, but to +my surprise she did not speak, and the next moment Mr Lister came in. + +"Ah, Miriam!" he exclaimed; "how well--You here, Grace?" + +"Yes, sir," I said, feeling very much in the way, as I stood where I had +risen. + +"Sit down, Antony," said Miss Carr quietly; and as I obeyed I saw an +angry flush cross Mr Lister's countenance. + +"Will you give me a few minutes in the next room, Miriam dear?" he said +in a low voice. + +"In my last answer to your letters, John," she replied, "I begged that +you would not come to see me for a month or two. Why are you here now?" + +"Why am I here now?" he said in a low, deep voice. "Can you ask me? +Because I want to speak to you--particularly--come in the next room." + +I could not help looking hard at him as he spoke, and thinking about +what I had heard concerning his affairs, and as I thought that he was to +marry Miss Carr to pay off his debts, a strong feeling of resentment +against him made me almost determine to utter some word of warning. + +"He is so handsome, and has such a way with him," I thought, "that she +will do just as he wishes her;" but as the thoughts were in my mind, I +was surprised and pleased by finding Miss Carr take quite a firm +standing. + +"You can have nothing more to say to me, John, than has been said +already. I have told you that at least six months must elapse before I +can consent to what you ask." + +"Will you come into the next room, or send away that boy?" he said in a +low voice, but one which showed that he was fast losing his temper. + +"No," she said firmly; "and after my last letter I think it cruel of you +to press me." + +"I cannot help whether it is cruel or not," he said, growing white with +anger at her opposition, "and you are forcing me to speak before this +boy." + +"I leave that to your common-sense, John," she said calmly, and with no +little dignity in her manner. "I don't know that I wish to hide +anything from Antony Grace. He knows of our engagement." + +"Are you mad, Miriam?" he cried, unable to contain himself, and +indirectly venting his spleen upon me. "You pick up a poor boy out of +the gutter, and you take him and make him your bosom friend and +confidant." + +Miss Carr caught my hand in hers, as I started, stung to the quick and +mortified by his words. + +"Shame, John Lister!" she said, with a look that should have brought him +to his senses. "Shame! How can you speak like that in Antony Grace's +presence, and to me?" + +"Because you make me desperate," he cried angrily. "I can bear it no +longer. I will not be trifled with. For months now you have treated me +as a child. Once more, will you send away this boy, or come with me +into another room?" + +"Mr Lister," she said, rising, "you are angry and excited. You are +saying words now which you will afterwards grieve over, as much as I +snail regret to have heard them spoken." + +"I can't help that," he exclaimed. "Day after day I have come to you, +begging you to listen to me, but I have always been put off, until now I +have grown desperate." + +"Desperate?" she said wonderingly. + +"Yes, desperate. I do not wish to speak before this boy, but you force +me to it." + +"What is there in our engagement that I should be ashamed to let the +whole world hear?" she said proudly. "Why, if I listened to you, it +would be published to every one who would hear." + +Mr Lister took a few strides up and down the room. + +"Will you hear me, Miriam?" he cried, making an ineffectual effort to +command his temper. + +"John Lister," she replied, "I have given you your answer, Come to me in +six months' time." + +"Am I to take that as final?" he said hoarsely. + +"Yes. How can I reply otherwise to your violence?" + +"Violence! It is enough to drive a man mad! But, once more, Miriam, +give me your verbal answer to the note I sent you this morning. Yes or +no. Pause before you answer, for you do not know how much depends upon +it. You have made me desperate. Don't leave me to repent of what I +have done." + +"John, dear John!" she said softly, "I am alone in the world, with none +to guide me, and I have prayed for help that I might give a right answer +to your request." + +"Yes," he said, with his lip curling, "and it is--" + +"It is for both our sakes, John," she said softly; "I could not in +justice to us both say yes, now; it must be _no_!" + +He did not speak, but stood glaring at her for a few moments. Then, +looking very white, and drawing in his breath with a long, low hiss, he +turned upon his heel and left the room. + +For a few minutes Miss Carr sat gazing at the door through which he had +passed, and then, turning and seeing my hot, flushed face, she seemed to +recall Mr Lister's words about me, and she took my hand, sitting very +quietly for a time. + +"When people are angry, Antony," she said quietly, "they say things they +do not intend or mean. You must forgive Mr Lister his words about +you--for my sake." + +"I will do what you wish," I said, and then I began wondering whether I +ought to tell Miss Carr what I knew about Mr Lister's affairs, for it +seemed to me that the words I had heard must be true, and that this was +the explanation of his great anxiety to fix the day. + +A dozen times over the words were on my lips, but I felt that it would +seem as if I took advantage of my position, and were trying to blacken +Mr Lister to gain her favour. More likely, I thought, it would make +her bitter and angry against me, and, reflecting that she had +determinedly insisted that he should wait six months for her answer, I +remained silent. + +Miss Carr strove very hard to make me forget the unpleasantry of the +early part of my visit, but she was at times very quiet and subdued, and +I believe we both looked upon it as a relief when the time came for my +departure. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +A WEDDING TRIP. + +"You're getting such a fine gent now. Ant'ny," said Revitts to me one +morning; "but, if so be as you wouldn't mind, Mary and me's made up our +minds to have a bit of a trip out, a kind of s'rimp tea, just by way of +celebrating my being made sergeant, and getting well again." + +"Why, my dear old Bill," I cried, "why should I mind your having a trip? +Where are you going?" + +"Well, you see, it's a toss up, Ant'ny; Gravesend's best for s'rimps, +but Hampton Court's the nicer sorter place for a day, and Mary ain't +never been." + +"Then go to Hampton Court," I said. + +"Hampton Court it is, Mary," he said. "That settles it." + +"And I hope you'll both enjoy yourselves." + +"What, won't you come?" said Revitts blankly. + +"Come! what--with you?" I said. + +"Why, of course, Ant'ny. You don't suppose we should care about going +alone. Won't you come?" + +"You didn't ask me." + +"Oh, come now; that I did!" he exclaimed. + +"That you did not," I said stoutly. "Did he, Mary?" + +"He meant to, Master Antony," said Mary, looking up with a very red +face, and one hand apparently in a grey boxing-glove, though it was only +one of Revitts' worsted stockings, in need of another darn. + +"Well, I'll ask you now, then," exclaimed Revitts. "Will you come along +with us?" + +"When?" + +"Sat'day next, being your half-holiday." + +"Yes," I said, "but I must write and tell Miss Carr I'm not coming till +Sunday." + +"That's settled, then," said Revitts, holding out his big hand for me to +shake; and I could not help noticing how thin and soft it was; but he +was fast recovering his strength, and was again on duty. + +We walked down from Pentonville together, and as we went along, he +introduced the subject of his accident for the first time for some +weeks. + +"You wouldn't think as I'm a-trying hard to conjure out who it was +fetched me that crack on the head, Antony?" + +"No," I said; "I thought you had forgotten all about it." + +"Not I," he said, shaking his head. "What, me, a sergeant, just +promoted, and let a case like that go by without conjuring it out! Why, +it couldn't be done! I should feel as if I was a disgrace to the force. +That's speaking 'ficially," he said. "Now, speaking as a man, I've got +this here to say, that I shan't rest comfortable till I've put something +on that there fellows wrists." + +"And shall you know him again?" I asked. + +"Know him! Out o' ten thousand--out o' ten millions o' men. I only +wish I knew the gal. It would be such a clue." + +"It's no use to be revengeful, Bill," I said. "Let it go. It brought +Mary up to town." + +"Yes, it did, didn't it?" he said, with the sheepish, soft look coming +over his face for a moment. But it was gone directly, and he was the +officer once more. "'Taint revengeful," he said; "it's dooty. We can't +let outrageous outrages like that take place in the main streets. No, +Antony: I feel as if my reputation's at stake, to find out who did that, +and I shan't rest till I do." + +We parted then, and the rest of the week passed swiftly away. I told +Hallett that I was going to spend the afternoon out on the Saturday, so +that most likely I should go to Miss Carr's on the Sunday, and he was +not to expect me for my usual walk with him, one which had grown into a +custom; and being thus clear, I went off in the morning to Westminster, +it being understood that I was to meet Revitts and Mary at the White +Horse Cellar. Piccadilly, and go down to Hampton Court at midday by the +omnibus. + +Punctual to my time, I went across the park and up Saint James's Street +and saw Revitts and Mary, long before I reached them, by the show they +made. Mary was in white book muslin, with a long blade silk scarf, and +a bonnet that I could not pretend to describe, save that over it she +carried a blue parasol shot with red; and Revitts was in black +frock-coat, buff waistcoat, and white trousers, with a tremendous show +of collar standing bolt out of a sky-blue watered-silk stock, while his +hat shone as if it was a repetition of the patent leather of his shoes. + +I instinctively felt that something was the matter as I drew near them, +and, but for my genuine love and respect for them both, I believe I +should have run away. I rebuked my cowardly shame directly after, +though, and went up and shook hands. + +There was not a vestige of tantrums left in Mary's countenance, for it +had softened itself into that dreadful smile--the same that was playing +upon Revitts' face, as he kept looking at her in a satisfied, +half-imbecile way, before giving me a nudge with his elbow, covering his +mouth with his hand, and exclaiming in a loud whisper,-- + +"We've been and done it, Ant'ny! Pouf!" This last was a peculiar laugh +in which he indulged, while Mary cast down her eyes. + +"Done it!--done what? What does he mean, Mary?" + +Mary grew scarlet, and became puzzled over the button of one of her +white kid gloves. + +"Here, what do you mean, Bill?" I said. + +"Done it. Pouf!" he exclaimed, with another laugh from behind his hand. +"Done it--married." + +"Married?" I echoed. + +"Yes. Pouf! Mrs Sergeant Revitts. White Sergeant. Pouf!" + +"Oh, Mary," I said, "and not to tell me!" + +"It was all his doing, Master Antony," pleaded Mary. "He would have me, +and the more I wanted to go back to service, the more he made me get +married. And now I hope he's happy." + +There was no mistaking William Revitts' happiness as he helped his wife +on to the outside of the omnibus, behind the coachman--he sitting one +side of Mary, and I next him; but try as I would, I could not feel as +happy. I felt vexed and mortified; for, somehow, it seemed as if it was +printed in large letters upon the backs of my companions--"Married this +morning," and this announcement seemed reflected upon me. + +I wouldn't have cared if they could have sat still and talked +rationally; but this they did not do, for every now and then they turned +to look in each other's faces, with the same weak, half-imbecile +smile,--after which Mary would cast down her eyes and look conscious, +while Revitts turned round and smiled at me, finishing off with a nudge +in my side. + +At times, too, he had spasmodic fits of silent laughter--silent, except +that they commenced with a loud chuckle, which he summarily stifled and +took into custody by clapping his great hand over his mouth. There were +intervals of relief, though; for when, from his coign of vantage, poor +Bill saw one of his fraternity on ahead--revealed to him, perhaps, by a +ray of sunshine flashing from the shiny top of his hat--for, of course, +this was long before the days of helmets--the weak, amiable look was +chased off his face by the official mask, and, as a sergeant, though of +a different division, Revitts felt himself bound to stare very hard at +the police-constable, and frown severely. + +At first I thought it was foolish pride on my part, that I was being +spoiled by Miss Carr, and that I was extra sensitive about my friends; +but I was not long in awakening to the fact that they were the objects +of ridicule to all upon the omnibus. + +The first thing I noticed was, that the conductor and driver exchanged a +wink and a grin, which were repeated several times between Piccadilly +and Kensington, to the great amusement of several of the passengers. +Then began a little mild chaff, sprinkled by the driver, who started +with-- + +"I say, Joey, when are _you_ going to be married?" + +"Married? oh, I dunno. I've tried it on sev'ral times, but the parsons +is all too busy." + +The innocent fit was on Revitts just then, and he favoured Mary and me +with a left and right nudge. + +"Do adone, William," whispered Mrs Sergeant; and he grinned hugely. + +"Shall you take a public, Joey, when you do it?" said the driver, +leaning back for another shot. + +"Lor', no; it won't run to a public, old man," was the reply. "We was +thinking of the green and tater line, with a cellar under, and best +Wallsend one and six." + +I could feel that this was all meant for the newly wedded couple, and +sat with flaming cheeks. "See that there wedding in Pickydilly, last +week, Bill?" Revitts pricked up his ears, and was about to speak, but +the driver turned half round, and shouted-- + +"What, where they'd got straw laid down, and the knocker tied up in a +white kid glove?" + +"No-o-o!" shouted the conductor. "That wasn't it. I mean clost ter' +Arfmoon Street, when they was just going off." + +"Oh, ah, yes; I remember now." + +"See the old buffer shy the shoe outer the front winder?" + +"No-o-o!" + +"He did, and it 'it one o' the post-boys slap in the eye. Old boy had +been having too much champagne." + +"Did it though?" + +"Yes. I say, Bill." + +"Hal-low!" + +"It's the right card to have champagne on your wedding morning, ain't +it?" + +"Ah! some people stands it quite lib'ral like, if they're nobs; them as +ain't, draws it old and mild." + +I had another nudge from Revitts just then, and sat feeling as if I +should like to jump down and run away. + +"Drop o' Smith's cool out o' the cellar wouldn't be amiss, Joey, would +it?" + +"No, old man. I wish we could fall across a wedding-party." + +A passenger or two were picked up, and we went on in peace for a little +while: but the chaffing was commenced again, and kept up to such an +extent that I longed for the journey to be at an end. + +"'Member Jack Jones?" said the driver. + +"Ah! what about him?" said the conductor. + +"He went and got married last year." + +"Did he?" + +"Yes." + +"Who did he marry?" + +"That there Mrs Simmons as kep' the `Queen's Arms' at Tunnum Green." + +"Ah!" + +"Nice job he made of it." + +"Did he?" + +"Yes; he thought she was a widder." + +"Well, warn't she?" + +"No; she turned out a big-a-mee; and one day her fust husban' comes back +from 'Stralia, and kicks Jack Jones out, and takes his place; and when +Jack 'peals against it, Mrs Simmons says it was all a mistake." + +"That was warm for Jack, wasn't it?" + +"Hot, I say." + +"Well," said the conductor; "when I makes up my mind again, and the +parsons ain't so busy, I shall have the missus cross-examined." + +"What for, Joey?" + +"So as to see as she ain't a big-a-mee." + +Revitts, who was drinking all this in, looked very serious here, as if +the conversation was tending towards official matters. Perhaps it +occurred to him that he had not cross-examined Mary before he was +married; but he began to smile again soon after, for the conductor took +a very battered old copper key-bugle from a basket on the roof, and, +after a few preliminary toots, began to rattle off "The Wedding-Day." +The driver shook the reins, the four horses broke into a canter, and as +we swept past the green hedgerows and market-gardens, with here and +there a pretty villa, I began to enjoy the ride, longing all the same, +though, for Revitts and Mary to begin to talk, instead of smiling at +each other in such a horribly happy way, and indulging in what was meant +for a secret squeeze of the hand, but which was, however, generally seen +by half the passengers. + +The air coming to an end, and the bugle being duly drained, wiped, and +returned to its basket, the driver turned his head again: + +"Nice toon that, Joey." + +"Like it?" + +"Ah, I was going to say `hangcore,' on'y we're so clost to Richmond. +What was it--`Weddin' Day'?" + +"That's right, old man." + +"Ah! thought it was." + +Revitts sent his elbows into Mary and me again, and had a silent laugh +under one glove, but pricked up his ears directly, as the conductor +shouted again: + +"Ain't that Bob Binnies?" + +"What, him on the orf side?" said the driver, pointing with his whip. + +"Yes." + +"Well, what of him?" + +"What of him? Why, he's the chap as got married, and had such a large +family." + +"Did he, though?" said the driver seriously. + +"Ten children in five years, Bill." + +"Lor'! with only five-and-twenty shillings a week. How did he manage?" + +Revitts looked very serious here, and sat listening for the answer. + +"Kep' him precious poor; but, stop a moment, I ain't quite right. It +was five children in ten years." + +Revitts made another serious assault on my ribs, and I saw Mary give +herself a hitch; and whisper again to her lord. + +There was a general laugh at this stale old joke, which, like many more +well-worn ones, however, seemed to take better than the keenest wit, and +just then the omnibus drew up in front of an inn to change horses. + +The driver unbuckled and threw down his reins, previous to descending to +join the conductor, who was already off his perch. Several of the +passengers got down, and after bidding Mary and me keep our places, +Revitts prepared to descend, rather more slowly though, for his wedding +garments were not commodious. + +"Don't drink anything, William dear," whispered Mary. + +"Not drink anything to-day?" he said, laughing. "Oh, come, that won't +do!" + +He jumped off the step, and I saw him join the driver and conductor, who +laughed and nodded, and, directly after, each man had a foaming pint of +ale, which they held before putting to their lips, till Revitts came +round to our side with a waiter bearing two glasses of wine and another +pint of ale, the driver and conductor following. + +"Oh, I don't want anything," said Mary, rather sharply. + +"It's only sherry wine, my dear," said Revitts magnificently; and, as if +to avoid remark, Mary stooped down and took the glasses, one being for +me, Revitts taking his shiny pewter measure of ale. + +"Here is long life and happiness to you, mum, and both on you," said the +driver, nodding in the most friendly way. + +"Aforesaid," exclaimed the conductor, "and a bit o' chaff on'y meant as +fun. Long life and a merry one to both on you. Shaver, same to you." + +I was the "Shaver," and the healths being drunk in solemn silence, and I +accommodated with a tumbler, and some water to my sherry, the driver +mounted again, the conductor took out his key-bugle, the streets of +pretty Richmond echoed to an old-fashioned air, and the four fresh but +very dilapidated old screws that did the journey to Hampton Court and +back to Richmond were shaken into a scrambling canter, so that in due +time we reached the royal village, the chaff having been damped at +Richmond with the ale, and ceasing afterwards to fly. + +I've learned that a return omnibus left the "Toy" at seven o'clock, and +then started for our peregrination of the palace and grounds. But +somehow that pint or ale seemed to have completely changed poor Revitts. +The late injury to his head had made him so weak there, that the ale +acted upon him in the strangest manner. He was excited and irritable, +and seemed to be brooding over the remarks he had heard upon the +omnibus. + +The gardens, of course, took our attention first, and there being few +people about, and those of a holiday class, the gay costume of my +companions ceased to excite notice, and I began to enjoy our trip. +There were the great smooth gravel walks, the closely shaven lawns, the +quaintly clipped shrubs, and old-fashioned flower beds to admire. The +fountain in the centre made so much spray in the pleasant breeze that +from one point of view there was a miniature rainbow, and when we walked +down to the iron railings, and gazed at the long avenue of the Home +Park, with its bright canal-like lake between, Mary was enraptured. + +"Oh, do look, dear!" she exclaimed; "isn't it 'evingly, William?" + +"Yes," he said stolidly, as he took hold of the railing with his white +kid glove; "but what I say is this: Every man who enters into the state +of wedlock ought fust to make sure as the woman he marries ain't a +big-a-mee." + +Here he unbuttoned his waistcoat, under the impression that it was his +uniform coat, so as to get out his notebook, and then, awakening to his +mistake, hastily buttoned it again. + +"Haven't got a pencil and a bit o' paper, have you, Ant'ny?" he said. + +"What are you talking about, William?" exclaimed Mary. "Don't be so +foolish. Now, take us and show us the oranges Master Antony," she said. + +This was on the strength of my having invested in a guidebook, though +both my companions seemed to place themselves in my hands, and looked up +to me as being crammed with a vast amount of knowledge about Cardinal +Wolsey, Henry the Eighth, and those who had made the palace their home. + +So I took them to see the Orangery, which Revitts, who seemed quite out +of temper, looked down upon with contempt. + +"Bah!" he exclaimed; "call them oranges! Why, I could go and buy twice +as good in Grey's Inn Lane for three a penny. That there woman, Ant'ny, +what was her name?" + +"What woman?" + +"Her as committed big-a-mee?" + +"Oh, do adone with such stuff, William dear. Now, Master Antony, what's +next?" + +"I know," said Revitts oracularly, "Mrs Simmons. I say she ought to +have been examined before a police magistrate, and after proper +adjournments, and the case regularly made up by the sergeant who had it +in charge, she ought to have been committed for trial." + +"Oh, William dear, do adone," cried Mary, clinging to his arm. + +"Cent. Crim. Court--" + +"William!" + +"Old Bailey--" + +"William dear!" + +"Before a jury of her fellow-countrymen, or,--I say, Ant'ny ain't that +wrong?" + +"What?" I said, laughing. + +"Oh, it ain't a thing to laugh at, my lad. It's serious," he said, +taking off his hat and rubbing his head, exhaling, as he did so, a +strong smell of hair-oil. + +"What is serious?" I said. + +"Why, that," replied Revitts, "I ain't sure, in a case like that, it +oughtn't to be a jury of matrons." + +"Oh do, pray, hurry him along, Master Antony," cried Mary piteously. +"Whatever is the matter with you to-day, William?" + +"I'm married," he said severely. + +"And you don't wish you weren't. William, don't say so, please," +exclaimed Mary pitifully. + +"I don't know," said Revitts stolidly. "Go on, Ant'ny." + +He went on, himself, towards the Vinery, Mary following with me, and +looking at me helplessly, as if asking what she should do. + +The sight of the great bunches of grapes in such enormous numbers seemed +to change the course of William Revitts' thoughts, and we went on pretty +comfortably for a time, Mary's spirits rising, and her tongue going more +freely, but there were no more weak, amiable smiles. + +At last we entered the palace, and on seeing a light dragoon on duty, +Revitts pulled himself together, looked severe, and marched by him, as +if belonging to a kindred force; but he stopped to ask questions on the +grand staircase, respecting the painted ceilings. + +"Are them angels, Ant'ny?" he said. + +"I suppose so," I replied. + +"Then I don't believe it," he said angrily. "Why, if such evidence was +given at Clerkenwell, everybody in the police-court would go into fits, +and the reporters would say in the papers, `Loud laughter, which was +promptly repressed'! or, `Loud laughter, in which the magistrate +joined.'" + +"Whatever does he mean, Master Antony? I don't know what's come to him +to-day," whispered Mary. + +"Why, that there," said Revitts contemptuously. "Just fancy a witness +coming and swearing as the angels in heaven played big fiddles, and +things like the conductor blew coming down. The painter must have been +a fool." + +He was better pleased with the arms and armour, stopping to carefully +examine a fine old mace. + +"Yes, that would give a fellow a awful wunner, Ant'ny," he said; "but it +would be heavy, and all them pikes and things ain't necessary. A good +truncheon properly handled can't be beat." + +Old furniture, tapestry, and the like had their share of attention, but +Revitts hurried me on when I stopped before some of the pictures, +shaking his head and nudging me. + +"I wonder at you, Ant'ny," he whispered. + +His face was scarlet, and he had not recovered his composure when we +reached another room, where a series of portraits made me refer to my +guide. + +"Ladies of Charles the Second's Court," I said, "painted by Sir Peter +Lely." + +"Then he ought to have been ashamed of himself," said Revitts sharply; +and drawing Mary's arm through his, he hurried me off, evidently highly +disapproving of the style of bodice then in vogue. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +WILLIAM REVITTS IS ECCENTRIC. + +The dinner we had at the inn was not a success. The waiters evidently +settled that we were a wedding-party, and charged accordingly. Mary +tried hard to keep Revitts from taking any more to drink; but he said it +was necessary on a day like that, and ordered wine accordingly. + +He drank slowly, and never once showed the slightest trace of +intoxication; but the wine also produced a strange irritability, which +made him angry, even to being fierce at times; and over and over again I +saw the tears in poor Mary's eyes. + +Ever and again that bigamy case--real or imaginary--of which he had +heard as we came down kept cropping up, and the more Mary tried to turn +the conversation, the more eager he became to discuss it. The +wedding-day, his wife, my remarks, all were forgotten or set aside, so +that he might explain to us, with a vast amount of minutiae, how he +would have got up such a case, beginning with the preliminary inquiries +and ending with the culprit's sentence. + +We had it over the dinner, with the waiters in the room; we had it in +_culs-de-sac_ in the maze; and we had it over again in Bushy Park, as we +sat under the shade of a great chestnut; after which Revitts lay down, +seeming to drop asleep, and Mary said to me, piteously: + +"I do believe, dear, as he's took it into his head that I've committed +big-a-mee?" + +The words were uttered in a whisper, but they seemed to galvanise +Revitts, who started up into a sitting posture, and exclaimed sharply: + +"I don't know as you ain't. I never cross-examined you before we was +married. But look here, Mary Revitts, it's my dooty to tell you as what +you say now will be took down, and may be used as evidence against you." + +After which oracular delivery he lay down and went off fast asleep, +leaving Mary to weep in silence, and wish we had never come away from +home. + +I could not help joining her in the wish, though I did not say so, but +did all I could to comfort her, as Mr Peter Rowle's moral aphorisms +about drink kept coming to my mind. Not that poor Revitts had, in the +slightest degree, exceeded; and we joined in saying that it was all due +to over-excitement consequent upon his illness. + +"If I could only get him home again, poor boy, I wouldn't, care," said +Mary; and we then comforted ourselves with the hope that he would be +better when he awoke, and that then we would go to one of the many +places offering, have a quiet cup of tea, which would be sure to do him +good, and then go back home, quietly, inside the omnibus. + +Revitts woke in about an hour, evidently much refreshed and better, but +still he seemed strange. The tea, however, appeared to do him good, and +in due time we mounted to our seats outside the omnibus, for he +stubbornly refused to go within. + +He did not say much on the return journey, but the bigamy case was +evidently running in his head, from what he said; and once, in a +whisper, poor Mary, who was half broken-hearted, confided to me now, +sitting on her other side, that she felt sure poor William was +regretting that they had been married. + +"And I did so want to wait," she said: "but he wouldn't any longer." + +"Are you two whispering about that there case?" he cried sharply. + +"No, William dear," said Mary. "Do you feel better?" + +"Better?" he said irritably. "There isn't anything the matter with me." + +He turned away from her, and sat watching the side of the road, +muttering every now and then to himself in a half-angry way, while poor +Mary, in place of going into a tantrum, got hold of my hand between both +hers, and held it very hard pressed against the front of her dress, +where she was protected by a rigid piece of bone or steel. Every now +and then, poor woman, she gave the hand a convulsive pressure, and a +great sob in the act of escaping would feel like a throb against my arm. + +So silent and self-contained did Revitts grow at last, that poor Mary +began to pour forth in a whisper the burden of her trouble, while I sat +wondering, and thinking what a curious thing this love must be, that +could so completely transform people, and yet give them so much pain. + +"It wasn't my doing, Master Antony dear," whispered Mary; "for I said it +would be so much better for me to go back to service for a few years, +and I always thought as hasty marriages meant misery. But William was +so masterful, he said it was no use his getting on and improving his +spelling, and getting his promotion, if he was always to live a weary, +dreary bachelor--them was his very words, Master Antony; and now, above +all times, was the one for us to get married." + +"He's tired, Mary," I said; "that's all." + +"That's all? Ah, my dear! it's a very great all. He's tired of me, +that's what he is; and I shall never forgive my self for being so rash." + +"But you have been engaged several years, haven't you, Mary?" + +"Yes, my dear; but years ain't long when you're busy and always hard at +work. I dessay they're a long time to gentlefolks as has to wait, but +it never seemed long to me, and I've done a very rash thing; but I +didn't think the punishment was coming quite so soon." + +"Oh, nonsense, Mary; Bill will be all right again soon," I said, as I +could see, by the light of a gas-lamp we passed, that the poor +disappointed woman had been crying till she had soaked and spoiled her +showy bonnet-strings. + +"No, my dear, I don't think so; I feel as if it was all a punishment +upon me, and that I ought to have waited till he was quite well and +strong." + +It was of no avail to try and comfort, so I contented myself with +sitting still and pressing poor Mary's rough honest hand, while the +horses rattled merrily along, and we gradually neared the great city. + +I was obliged to own that if this was a specimen of a wedding-day, it +was anything but a joyous and festive time; and it seemed to me that the +day that had begun so unsatisfactorily was to be kept in character to +the end. + +For, before reaching Hammersmith, one of the horses shied and fell, and +those at the pole went right upon it before the omnibus could be +stopped, with the consequence that the vehicle was nearly upset, and a +general shriek arose. + +No harm, however, was done, and in a quarter of an hour we were once +more under weigh, but Mary said, with a sigh and a rub of the back of my +hand against the buttons of her dress, that it was a warning of worse +things to come; and though very sorry for her, I could not help longing +for our journey's end. + +"Just you come over here, Ant'ny," said Revitts suddenly; and I had to +change places and sit between him and his wife, of whom he seemed not to +take the slightest notice. + +"Are you better, Bill?" I said. + +"Better?" he said sharply; "what do you mean by better? I'm all right." + +"That's well," I said. + +"Of course it is. Now look here, Ant'ny, I've been thinking a good deal +about that there big-a-mee as we come along, and I'll just tell you what +I should have done." + +I heard Mary give a gulp; but I thought it better not to try and thwart +him, so prepared to listen. + +"You see, Ant'ny," he said, in a very didactic manner, "when a fellow is +in the force, and is always taking up people and getting up cases, and +attending at the police-courts, and Old Bailey sessions and coroners' +inquests, he picks up a deal of valuable information." + +"Of course, Bill." + +"He do; it stands to reason that he do. Well, then, I ought to know +just two or three things." + +"Say two or three thousand, Bill." + +"Well," he said, giving his head an official roll, as if settling it in +his great stock, "we won't say that. Let's put it at 'undreds--two or +three 'undreds. Now, if I'd had such a case as that big-a-mee in hand, +I should have begun at the beginning.--Where are we now?" he said, after +a pause, during which he had taken off his hat, and rubbed his head in a +puzzled way. + +"You were talking about the case," I said, "and beginning at the +beginning." + +"Don't you try to be funny, young fellow," he said severely. "I said, +where are we now?" + +"Just passing Hyde Park Corner, Bill." + +"Yes, of course," he said. "Well, look here, my lad, there's no doubt +about one thing: women, take 'em all together, are--no, I won't say a +bad lot, but they're weak--awful weak. I've seen a deal on 'em at the +police-courts." + +"I suppose so," I said, as I heard Mary give a low sigh. + +"They're not what they should be, Ant'ny, by a long chalk, and the way +they'll tell lies and deceive and cheat 's about awful, that it is." + +"Some women are bad, I daresay," I said, in a qualifying tone. + +"Some?" he said, with a short, dry laugh; "it's some as is good. Most +women's bad." + +"That's a nice wholesale sort of a charge," said a passenger behind him, +in rather a huffy tone. + +"You mind your own business," said Revitts sharply. "I wasn't talking +to you;" and he spoke in such a fierce way that the man coloured, while +Mary leaned forward, and looked imploringly at me, as much as to say, +"Pray, pray, don't let him quarrel." + +"I say it, and I ought to know," said Revitts dictatorially, "that +women's a bad lot, and after hearing of that case this morning, I say as +every woman afore she gets married ought to go through a reg'lar +cross-examination, and produce sittifikits of character, and witnesses +to show where she's been, and what she's been a-doing of for say the +last seven years. If that was made law, we shouldn't have poor fellows +taken in and delooded, and then find out afterwards as it's a case of +big-a-mee, like we heerd of this morning. Why, as I was a-saying, +Ant'ny, if I'd had that case in hand--eh? Oh, ah, yes, so it is. I'll +get down first. I didn't think we was so near." + +For poor Bill's plans about the bigamy case were brought to an end by +the stopping of the omnibus in Piccadilly, and I gave a sigh of relief +as we drew up in the bright, busy thoroughfare, after a look at the dark +sea of shining lights that lay spread to the right over the Green Park +and Westminster. + +Carriages were passing, the pavement was thronged, and it being a fine +night, all looked very bright and cheery after what had been rather a +dull ride. Revitts got down, and I was about to follow, offering my +hand to poor, sad Mary, when just as my back was turned, Revitts called +out to me: + +"Ant'ny, Ant'ny, look after my wife!" and as I turned sharply, I just +caught sight of him turning the corner of the street, and he was gone. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +HALLETT'S NEWS. + +I was so staggered by this strange behaviour that I did not think of +pursuit. Moreover, I was in the act of helping poor Mary to the ladder +placed for her to descend, while she, poor thing, gave vent to a cutting +sigh, and clung tightly to my hand. + +As we stood together on the pavement, our eyes met, and there was +something so piteous in the poor woman's face, that it roused me to +action, and catching her hand, I drew it through my arm. + +"He has gone to get a glass of ale, Mary," I said cheerfully. "Let's +see if we can see him." + +"No," she said huskily; "he has gone: he has left me for good, Master +Antony, and I'm a miserable, wretched woman." + +"Oh, nonsense," I cried. "Come along. We shall find him." + +"No," she said, in a decisive way; "he has gone. He's been regretting +it ever since this morning." + +"Don't, pray; don't cry, Mary," I whispered in alarm, for I was afraid +of a scene in the streets. + +"No, my dear; don't you be afraid of that," she said, with a sigh. +"I'll try and bear it till we get home; but I won't promise for any +longer." + +"Don't you be foolish, Mary," I said sharply. "He has not left you. +He's too fond of you. Let's see if he is in the bar." + +Mary sighed; but she allowed herself to be led where I pleased, and for +the next half-hour we stood peering about in every likely place for the +truant husband, but in vain; and at last, feeling that it was useless to +search longer, I reluctantly turned to poor, patient, silent Mary, +wondering greatly that she had not burst out into a "tantrum," and said +that we had better go home. + +"Go where?" she said dolefully. + +"Home," I replied, "to your lodgings." + +"My lodgings, Master Antony," she wailed. "I have no lodgings. I'm a +poor, helpless, forsaken woman!" + +"Oh, what nonsense, Mary," I cried, hurrying her along; "don't be so +foolish!"--for I was in mortal terror of a violent burst of tears. +"Come along, do. Here!" I shouted; "cab!"--and I sighed with relief as +I got her inside, and gave the man directions to take us to Caroline +Street, Pentonville. + +But even in the cab Mary held up, striving hard, poor woman, to master +her emotion--her pride, no doubt, helping her to preserve her calmness +till she got to the happy home. + +"I dare say we shall find him upstairs," I said, after giving the cabman +a shilling more than his fare; but though there was a light burning, and +the landlady had spread the table, to make the place look welcome to the +newly wedded pair, there was no sign of Revitts, and we neither of us, +in our shame, dared to ask if he had been back. + +On the contrary, we gladly got to the rooms--Revitts' one having now +expanded to three--and once there, Mary gasped out: "Master Antony dear, +shut and lock the door--quick--quick!" I hastily did as she bade me, +and as I turned, it was to see poor Mary tear off her bonnet and scarf, +throw herself on the little couch, cover her face with her hands, and +lie there crying and sobbing in a very passion of grief, misery, and +shame. + +It was no noisy outburst: it was too deep for that; but the poor woman +had to relieve herself of the day's disappointment and agony, and there +she lay, beating down and stifling every hysterical cry that fought for +exit, while her breast heaved with the terrible emotion. + +I was too young then to realise the full extent of the shame and +abasement the poor woman must have felt, but all the same I sympathised +with her deeply, and in my weak, boyish way did all I could to console +her, but in vain. For quite an hour the outburst continued, till at +last, quite in despair, I cried out: "Oh Mary, Mary! what can I do to +comfort you?" She jumped up into a sitting position, then; threw back +her dishevelled hair; wiped her eyes, and looked, in spite of her red +and swollen lids, more herself. + +"Oh, my own dear boy," she cried, "what a wicked, selfish wretch I am!" +and, catching me in her arms, she kissed me very tenderly. + +"There," she said with a piteous smile; "it's all over now, Master +Antony, and I won't cry another drop. You're a dear, good, affectionate +boy--that you are, and I'll never forget it, and you're as hungry as a +hundred hunters, I know." + +In spite of my protestations, she hastened to make that balm for all +sorrows--a cup of tea. + +"But I don't want it, Mary," I protested, "and I'm not hungry." + +"Then I do, and I am," she said, smiling. "You won't mind having a cup +with me, I know, Master Antony dear. Just like old times." + +"Well, I will try," I said, "and I dare say Revitts will be back by +then." + +Mary glanced at the little Dutch clock in the corner, and saw that it +pointed to eleven; then, shaking her head, she said sadly: + +"No, I don't think he'll come back." + +"But you don't think he has run away, Mary?" + +"I don't know what to think, my dear," she said; "I only hope that he +won't come to any harm, poor boy. It's his poor head, and that's why he +turned so strange." + +"Yes," I said joyfully, as I saw that at last she had taken the +common-sense view of the case, "that's it, depend upon it, Mary; and if +he does not come soon, we'll give notice to the police, and they'll find +him out." + +"No, my dear, don't do that," she said piteously; "it would be like +shaming the poor boy; for if his mates got to know that he had run away +like on his wedding-day, he'd never hear the last of it." + +I was obliged to agree in the truth of this remark, and I began to +realise then, in spite of poor Mary's rough exterior and ignorance, what +a depth of patient endurance and thoughtfulness there was in the nature +of a woman. Her first outburst of uncontrollable grief past, she was +ready to sit down and patiently bear her load of sorrow, waiting for +what more trouble might come; for I am fully convinced that the poor +woman looked forward to no pleasure in her married life. In spite of +her belief that her husband's strange conduct was in some way due to his +late accident, she felt convinced that he was regretting his marriage, +and, if that were so now, she had no hope of winning him to a better +state. + +We were both weary, and when the tea had been finished, Mary carefully +washed up the things, saw that there was a sufficiency of water, and +kept it nearly on the boil. Then she reset the tea-things in the +tidiest way, ready for Revitts if he should like a cup when he came +home, and, on second thoughts, put out another cup and saucer. + +"It will be more sociable like, Master Antony," she said, by way of +excuse; "for, of course, I don't want no more, though I do bless them +Chinese as invented tea, which is a blessing to our seck." + +These preparations made, and a glance round the sitting-room having been +given, Mary uttered a deep sigh, took up her work-basket, placed it on +her knees, thrust her hand into a black stocking, and began to darn. + +I sat talking to her in a low voice for some time, feeling sincerely +sorry for her, and wondering what could have become of Revitts, but at +last, in spite of my honest sympathy, I began to nod, and the various +objects in the room grew indistinct. + +"Hadn't you better go to bed, my dear?" said a voice near me; and I +started into wakefulness, and found Mary standing near me, with the +black stocking-covered hand resting on one shoulder, while with the +other she brushed my hair off my forehead. + +"Bed? No!" I exclaimed, shaking myself. "I couldn't help feeling +sleepy, Mary; but I shan't go to bed." + +"But it's close upon twelve o'clock, dear, and you must be tired out." + +"Never mind, Mary; to-morrow's Sunday," I said, with a yawn; and I went +on once more talking to her about the engineer's office, and how I got +on with young Girtley and his father, till my voice trailed off, and +through a mist I could see Mary with that black stocking upon her hand +poking about it with a great needle. + +Then the black stocking seemed to swell and swell to a mountain's size, +till it was like one huge mass, which Mary kept attacking and stabbing +with a long, bright steel lance, but without avail, for it still grew, +and grew, and grew, till it seemed about to overwhelm me, and in my +horror I was trying vainly to cry to her to stab it again, when I +started up into wakefulness, for there was the faint tinkle of a bell. + +Mary, too, had leaped to her feet, and was clinging to me. + +"Once!" she whispered. + +There was another tinkle, very softly given. + +"Twice!" whispered Mary. + +Then another very faint ring. + +"Three?" whispered Mary; "it's Jones." + +"It's Revitts come home!" I said joyfully. + +"No," she said, still clinging to me. "He has the latchkey." + +"Lost it," I said. "Let me run down and let him in." + +"No, no. Wait a moment," said Mary faintly. "I can't bear it yet. +There's something wrong with my poor boy." + +"There isn't," I cried impatiently. + +"There is," she said hoarsely; "and they've come to bring the news." + +She clung to me spasmodically, but loosed me directly after, as she said +quietly: "I can bear it now." + +I ran down softly, and opened the door to admit the wandering husband; +but to my astonishment, in place of Revitts, there stood Stephen +Hallett. + +"Hallett!" I exclaimed. + +"Yes," he said. "I saw a light in the rooms. Is Revitts there?" + +"No," I said. "Not yet." + +"On duty?" + +"No; he was married to-day." + +"Yes, yes," he said, in a strange tone of voice. "I remember now. Who +is upstairs?" + +"Mrs Revitts--Mary." + +"Let us go up," he said; "I'll step up quietly." + +I was the more confused and muddled for having just awakened from a deep +sleep, and somehow, all this seemed to be part of the dream connected +with the great black mass that had threatened to fall upon me. I should +not have been the least surprised if I had suddenly awakened and found +myself alone, when, after closing the door, I led Hallett upstairs to +the little front room where Mary was standing with dilated eyes, staring +hard at the door. + +"You, Mr Hallett?" she exclaimed, as he half staggered in, and then, +staring round, seemed to reel, and caught my hand as I helped him to a +seat. + +"Tell me," gasped Mary, catching at his hand; "is it very bad?" + +He nodded. + +"Give me--water," he panted. "I am--exhausted." + +Mary rushed to the little cupboard for a glass, and the brandy that had +been kept on Revitts behalf, and hastily pouring some into a glass with +water, she held it to him, and he drained it at a draught. + +"Now, tell me," she exclaimed. "Where is he--what is it--have you seen +him?" + +"No," he cried hoarsely, as he clenched his fist and held it before him! +"no, or I should have struck him dead." + +"Mr Hallett!" she cried, starting. Then, in a piteous voice, "Oh, tell +me, please--what has he done? He is my husband, my own dear boy! Pray, +pray, tell me--he was half-mad. Oh, what have--what have I done!" + +"Is she mad?" cried Hallett angrily. "Where is her husband--where is +Revitts?" + +"We don't know," I said hastily. "We are waiting for him." + +"I want him directly," he said hoarsely. "I could not go to a +stranger." + +"What is the matter, Hallett?" I cried. "Pray, speak out. What can I +do?" + +"Nothing," he said hoarsely. "Yes; tell him to come--no, bring him to +me. Do you hear?" + +"Yes," I faltered. + +"At any hour--whenever he comes," said Hallett, speaking now angrily, as +he recovered under the stimulus of the brandy. + +"Then there is something terribly wrong," I said. + +"Wrong? Yes. My God!" he muttered, "that I should have to tell it-- +Linny has gone?" + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +THE BRIDEGROOM'S RETURN. + +"Oh, Hallett!" I cried, catching his hand, as the poor fellow sat +blankly gazing before him in his mute despair. "It is a mistake; she +could not be so wicked." + +"Wicked!" he said with a curious laugh. "Was it wicked, after all her +promises--my forgiveness--my gentle, loving words? I was a fool. I +believed that she was weaning herself from it all, and trying to forget. +A woman would have read her at a glance; but I, a poor, mad dreamer, +always away, or buried in that attic, saw nothing, only that she was +very quiet, and thin, and sad." + +"Did she tell you that she would go, Hallett?" I asked, hardly knowing +what I said. + +"No, Antony," I replied, in a dreary tone. + +"Did you have any quarrel?" + +"No; not lately. She was most affectionate--poor child! and her heart +must have been sore with the thought or what she was about to do. Only +this evening, before I went up into the attic to dream over my +invention, she crept to my side, put her little arms round my neck, and +kissed me, as she used when she was a tiny child, and said how sorry she +was that she had given me so much pain. Antony, lad," he cried +passionately, "I went up to my task to-night a happy man, thinking that +one heavy load was taken off my shoulders, and that the future was going +to be brighter for us both. For, Antony, in my cold, dreamy way, I love +her very dearly, and so I have ever since she was a little wilful +child." + +He sat gazing at me with such a piteous expression in his face that his +words went to my heart, and I heard Mary give quite a gulp. + +"But, Hallett," I said, "you are not sure; she may have gone to some +friend's. She may have come back by this time." + +"Come back?" he said fiercely. "No; she has not come back. Not yet. +Some day she will return, poor strayed lamb!" he added, gazing straight +before him, his voice softening and his arms extending, as if he +pictured the whole scene and was about to take her to his heart. + +"But are you sure that she has really gone?" I cried. + +"Sure? Read that." + +I took the crumpled paper with trembling fingers, and saw at a glance +that he was right. In ill-written, hardly decipherable words, the poor +girl told her brother that she could bear it no longer, but that she had +fled with the man who possessed her heart. + +I stared blankly at poor Hallett, as he took the note from my hand, read +it once more through, crushed it in his hand with a fierce look, and +thrust it back in his pocket. + +"Is it--is it your poor dear sister who has gone?" said Mary excitedly. + +"Yes," he cried, with his passion mastering him once more; and his hands +opened and shut, as if eager to seize some one by the throat--"yes; some +villain has led her away. But let me stand face to face with him, and +then--" + +He paused in his low, painful utterance, gazing from me to Mary, who +stood with her hand upon his arm. + +"And I thought my trouble the biggest in the world," she sobbed; "but +you've done right, sir, to come for my William. He'll find them if +they're anywhere on the face of this earth, and they shall be found. +Poor dear! and her with her pretty girlish gentle face as I was so +jealous of. I'm only a silly foolish woman, sir," she cried, with the +tears falling fast, "but I may be of some good. If I'm along with my +William when he finds 'em, she may listen to me and come back, when she +wouldn't mind him, and I'll follow it out to the end." + +"You're--you're a good woman," said Hallett hoarsely, "and may God bless +you. But your husband--where is your husband? We must lose no time." + +"Master Antony?" cried Mary, and then, as if awakening once more to her +position, and speaking in tones of bitterness--"Oh, what has come to my +William? He must be found!" + +"Send him on to me," said Hallett. "I'll go back now. Antony, will you +come?" + +"Why, there's your poor mother, too," cried Mary, "and all alone! I can +help her, at all events!" + +As Mary spoke, she hurried to get her work-a-day bonnet and shawl, while +Hallett stood gazing at her in a dazed and helpless way. + +"Your pore sister did come and help my pore boy when he was bad, and-- +Oh!" + +Mary uttered a fierce, angry cry. Bonnet and shawl fell from her hands, +her jaw dropped, her ruddy face grew mottled with patches of white, and +her eyes dilated. Her whole aspect was that of one about to have a fit, +and I took a step towards her. + +She motioned me fiercely back, and tore at her throat, as if she were +suffocating. + +"I see it now!" she cried hoarsely, "I see it now! Oh, the wretch, the +wretch! Only let me find him again!" + +"Mary!" I cried, "what is it?" + +"I see it all now!" she cried again. "Then I was right. She come--she +come here, and poisoned him with her soft looks and ways, and he's left +me--to go away with her to-night!" + +Mary made a clutch at vacancy; and then, tottering, would have fallen, +had not Hallett been close at hand to catch her and help her to the +couch, where the poor woman lay perfectly insensible, having fainted for +probably the first time in her life. + +"What does she mean?" cried Hallett, as he made, with me, ineffectual +efforts to restore her. + +"She was angry and jealous the night she came and found Linny here +attending on Revitts," I cried in a bewildered way, hardly knowing what +I said. "And now she thinks, because he has left her to-night, that he +has gone away with Linny." + +"Poor fool?" he said sadly. + +"Revitts was very strange to-day," I said, "and--and--and, Hallett--oh, +forgive me," I said, "I've kept something from you." + +"What!" he cried, catching me so fiercely by the arm that he caused me +acute pain. "Don't tell me that I have been deceived, too, in you!" + +"No, Hallett, I haven't deceived you," I said. "I kept something back +that I ought to have told you." + +"You kept something back!" he cried. "Speak--speak at once, Antony, +or--or--speak, boy; I'm not master of myself!" + +"Linny begged me so hard not to tell you, and I consented, on condition +that she would mind what you said." + +"Then--then you knew that she was carrying on with this man," he cried +savagely, neither of us seeing that Mary had come to, and was watching +us with distended eyes. + +"No, no, Hallett," I cried. "I did not--indeed, I did not; I only knew +it was he who so beat poor Revitts." + +"Who was he--what's his name?" cried Mary, seizing my other arm, and +shaking it. + +"I don't know; I never knew," I cried, faring badly between them. +"Linny begged me, on her knees, not to tell that it was her friend who +beat Revitts when he interfered, and when she promised me she would +always obey you, Hallett, I said I would keep her secret." + +"Then Linny was the girl poor Revitts saved," said Hallett hoarsely. + +"Yes!" cried Mary. "The villain! he likes her pretty face. I was +right; and I've been a fool to faint and go on. But that's over now," +she cried savagely. "I'll wait here till he does come back; for I'm his +lawful wife; and when he does come--Oh!" + +Mary uttered that "Oh!" through her closed teeth, and all the revenge +that was in her nature seemed to come to the surface, while Hallett +walked up and down the room. + +"You have no idea, Antony, who he is?" + +"No, on my word, Hallett," I cried; "I never knew. Pray forgive me! I +thought it was for the best." + +"Yes, yes, lad," he said; "you did it from kindness. It has made no +difference. I could not have borne it for you to deceive me, Antony," +he said, with a sweet, sad smile lighting his face as I caught his hand. +"Come, let us go. Mary, my good soul, you are labouring under a +mistake. Good-night!" + +"No, you don't!" cried Mary, setting her back against the door. "You +don't go till he comes back. He'll come and bring your sister here. +And you may take her home. I'll talk to him. What?" she cried +triumphantly; "what did I say?" + +She turned, and threw open the door; for just then a heavy step was +heard below, and, as if expecting some strange scene, Hallett and I +stood watching, as step after step creaked beneath a heavy weight, till +whoever was coming reached the landing and staggered into the room. + +"You--" + +Mary's sentence was never finished; for her husband's look, as he strode +in with Linny in his arms, seemed to crush her. + +"I couldn't get him, too, but I marked him," he said, panting, "and I've +stopped his little game." + +"Linny!" cried Hallett to the half-insensible girl, who seemed to glide +from Revitts' arms, and sink in a heap at his feet, while I stood gazing +in utter amazement at the turn things had taken. + +"Mary, my lass! a drop of something--anything--I'm about done." + +Mary's teeth gritted together, and she darted a vindictive look at her +husband; but she obeyed him, fetching out a bottle of gin and a glass, +which he filled and drained before speaking. + +"Not so strong as I was," he cried excitedly. "Glad you're here, sir. +I ketched sight of him with her from the 'bus as we come in. I'd a +known him from a thousand--him as give it me, you know. `Look arter +Mary,' I says to Master Antony here, and I was after him like a shot, +hanging on to the hansom cab he'd got her in, and I never left 'em till +it stopped down at Richmond, at a willa by the water-side." + +"Richmond?" said Hallett blankly. + +"Richmond, as I'd been through twice that very day. When the cab +stops--I'd made the man right with half-a-crown, and--telling him I was +in the police--my gentleman gets out, and I had him like a shot. I +might have got help a dozen times, but I wanted to tackle him myself, as +I allus swore I would," cried Revitts savagely; "but he was too much for +me again. I'm stronger than him, but he's got tricks, and he put me on +my back after a good tussle--just look at my noo things!--and afore I +could get up again, he was off, running like a coward as he is. But I +brought her back, not knowing till I had her under the gas-lamp as it +was Master Ant'ny's friend and your sister, and she'd told me who she +was, and asked me in a curious crying way to take her back to Master +Ant'ny, as she said was the only one who'd help her now." + +"You--you brought her home in the cab?" cried Mary hoarsely. + +"Yes, my lass, and it's cost me half-a-sov altogether; but I've spoilt +his game, whoever he is. Poor little lass, she's been about mad ever +since I got into the cab, a-clinging to me." + +"Yes," hissed Mary. + +"And crying and sobbing, and I couldn't comfort her, not a bit." + +"No!" said Mary softly, through her teeth. + +"It was rather rough on you, Mary, my gal," said Revitts; "but you would +marry a police-officer, and dooty must be done." + +Mary was about to speak; but he held up his hand, for Linny seemed to be +coming to, and Hallett was kneeling on the floor by her side. + +"Mary--Bill," I whispered; for the right thing to do seemed to be +suggested to me then. "Let us go and leave them." + +"Right you are, Master Ant'ny, and always was," said Bill hoarsely; and, +passing his arm round Mary's waist, he drew her into the other room, by +which time the scales seemed to have fallen from poor Mary's eyes, for +the first thing she did, as soon as we were in the room, was to plump +down on her knees, clasp those of her husband, lay her cheek against +them, and cry, ready to break her heart. + +Probably the excitement of his adventure had had a good effect upon +Revitts; for the strange fit of petulance and obstinacy had passed away, +and he was all eagerness and smiles. + +"Why, what a gal you are, Polly!" he exclaimed. "Don't cry, my lass; I +was obliged to go off. Pleecemen ain't their own masters." + +"Oh, Bill dear," sobbed Mary, "and I've been thinking sich things." + +"Of course you have, Polly," he said; "and I've been wishing myself at +home, but I knew Ant'ny would take care of you. Poor little lass! I've +had a nice job, I can tell you. I say, Ant'ny, is she quite right in +her head?" + +"Oh yes," I said. + +"Well, she don't look it then, poor little woman. One minute she was +begging and praying me to take her home, the next she was scolding me +for interfering. Then she'd be quiet for a few minutes, and then she'd +want to jump out of the cab; and it's my belief that if I'd let her go, +she'd have throwed herself into the river." + +"Poor soul?" murmured Mary. + +"Then she'd take a fit of not wanting to go home, saying that she +daren't never go there any more, and that I wasn't to take her home, but +to you, Ant'ny; and that sorter thing's been going on all the time, till +she seemed to be quite worn out, and I was so puzzled as to what to do, +that I thought I would bring her on here, and let Mary do what she +thought best." + +"Did you think that, Bill?" said Mary eagerly. + +"Of course I did. I don't understand women-folk, and I hate having jobs +that puts 'em in my care. `Mary'll settle it all right,' I says, `and +know what's best to be done.'" + +"Antony," said a voice at the door just then, and I went out to find +Hallett looking very pale, and Linny lying insensible upon the couch. + +"Oh, Hallett!" I exclaimed. "Shall Mary come?" + +"Yes--directly," he said hoarsely; and there was something very strange +about his manner. "Shut the door, boy," he continued. "Look here, +Antony; this note was inside the neck of her dress, as I opened it to +give her air. You need not read it; but look at it. Tell me whether +you have ever seen the handwriting before." + +I took the letter from him, and looked at the bold, free, rather +peculiar hand, which I recognised on the instant. + +"Oh yes!" I exclaimed, "often." + +"Whose writing is it?" he said, pressing his hand upon his breast to +keep down the emotion that seemed ready to choke him. "Don't speak +rashly, Antony; make sure before you give an answer." + +"But I am sure," I exclaimed, without a moment's hesitation. "I have +often seen it--it is Mr Lister's writing. What does it mean?" + +"Mean?" cried Hallett, in a low, deep voice, as if speaking to some one +across the room, for he was not looking at me. "My God, what does it +not mean, but that John Lister is a villain!" + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +A QUESTION OF LAW. + +Stephen Hallett's model was still at rest; for, poor fellow, he had now +a fresh trouble upon his hands. + +The excitement had been too much for Linny, and he got her home to find +her delirious; a severe attack of brain fever came on, and her life was, +for many days, hanging by a thread. + +I was there every evening, to find that Mary had installed herself head +nurse, and whenever Hallett spoke to her, she was always ready with the +one reply: + +"Didn't she come and tend my pore Bill?" This went on for a time, but +Hallett insisted, and Mary proving obdurate, he talked to Revitts about +remuneration. + +"Oh, never mind about that," said the bluff fellow. "She says she's got +plenty of time on her hands, and we've both saved a bit, and as long as +she gets what I want, and is at home when I come, it don't interfere +with me; and bless your heart, Mr Hallett, what would life be if one on +us wouldn't do a good turn to another?" + +"Yes, but I cannot feel satisfied to let your good wife work for me for +nothing." + +"Ah," said Bill sagely. "That's the worst of eddication, it makes a man +so uppish. No offence, Mr Hallett, sir, but you being a highly +eddicated man--" + +"Tut--tut! nonsense!" said Hallett, smiling. "Oh, but you are, you +know," said Revitts. "Ant'ny says you are, and it's wonderful what a +power o' stuff that there young chap's got in his head. I come the +top-sawyer over him when he first come up to London; but, Lor' bless +you! I give in to everything out o' the ornerary in no time. It's on'y +nat'ral that eddication should make a man uppish. I've felt a deal more +so since Ant'ny's given me a lift in spellin'. I always was a good +writer, but my spellin', Mr Hallett, sir! Ha--ha--ha!" he cried, +bursting out in a guffaw; "I know now when I looks back at some of my +old books, it was a rum 'un. Them big words was just like so many +forty-barred gates to my getting promoted." + +"I suppose so," said Hallett; "but about payment for your wife's +services?" + +"Why, you do pay me," said Revitts sturdily. "She gets braxfuses, and +dinners, and teas--no end." + +"Yes, but that counts for nothing." + +"Oh, don't it," said Revitts, laughing. "You ask Ant'ny about that, and +how him and me used to dodge to make the money run to good meals. Look +here, Mr Hallett, sir, I'm only a humble sort of a chap, but you've +always been kindly to me, and I hope it ain't no disrespect to you to +call you a friend." + +"I'm only too glad to call you `friend,' Revitts," said Hallett, holding +out his hand, which the other gripped like a vice, "and I thank Antony +Grace for making me known to two such good hearted people as you and +your worthy wife." + +"Thanky, sir, for Mary--thanky," exclaimed Revitts, nodding his head. +"She's a good one, and no mistake; and as for her bit of temper, +Antony," he said, speaking as if he were very much moved, as he turned +to me, "that bit of rough is like ballast to her, and keeps her down; +for, if it wasn't for her tantrums, I believe she'd have been an angel +long ago, and then--what should I have done? Lor' bless you both, they +call us pleecemen lobsters, raw lobsters, to distinguish us from the +soldiers, and because we're dark blue and so hard; but I'm soft enough +inside, and that woman knows it, too. Well, sir, about this +remooneration--as you call it. Look here, she won't take no money, so +I'll tell you what you do by-and-by when she's nursed Miss Linny back to +health--as she will, you mark my words if she don't--better than any +doctor. It's a treat, to be ill under her. Lord's truth!" cried the +great fellow, smiling and looking as silly as a fat boy, "the way she'd +wash my face and neck, and go in an' out o' my ears with the sponge and +towel without hurting, was 'eavenly." + +Hallett could not forbear a smile, and I roared. + +"Ah, you may grin, Ant'ny my lad, but you'll see, some day when you're +on your back, she's the best nuss that ever lived. There!" + +"She is, indeed, Revitts," cried Hallett, "and--Heaven bless her! my +poor mother has not been so well for months as she has been since your +wife has tended her." + +"There, Ant'ny, hear that!" cried Revitts. "She's a woman to be proud +on--that she is." + +"That she is, Bill," I echoed, clapping the dear old fellow on the +shoulder. + +"Well, as I was saying," he exclaimed, "just you give her a noo gownd, +something bright and with some colour in it, and if so be as she isn't +at home when I get back, p'r'aps you wouldn't mind my coming in for a +snack here, for if I don't get my corn reglar I'm nowhere." + +"My dear fellow, I shall never be able to thank you enough," cried +Hallett. + +"Oh, that's all right among friends, ain't it, Ant'ny? He knows me +better, and Mary, too, than you do, so let's drop all that, sir; and now +I want to talk serious to you about this here affair. I feel, sir, as a +sergeant of police, that I oughtn't to rest till I've brought that chap +to justice." + +I saw Hallett start and change colour. Then, getting up, he began to +walk up and down the room, ending by coming and laying his hand upon +Revitts' shoulder. + +"Revitts," he said, "that man has done you a very serious injury." + +"Never mind about that, Mr Hallett, sir; I dare say I shall put that +square. I was thinking about you." + +"Yes, and he has done me a deadly injury," said Hallett, in a low, +dreamy voice; "but I cannot retaliate. You will think me strange and +weak perhaps; but I cannot take any steps toward punishing this man." + +Revitts looked disappointed. + +"I'd been hoping, sir," he said, "that you'd got to know who I was, and +could give me a hint or two, so that I could put my ban upon him. You +know who it is, sir?" + +Hallett looked at him searchingly, and a deep frown came upon his +forehead. + +"Yes," he said, "I know who it is; but for many reasons I cannot stir in +the matter. Besides, what could I do? He has committed no punishable +offence against me." + +"No, that's true," said Revitts quickly; "but he has against me. +Assaulting the police is 'most as bad as high-treason, and if you'll +give me his name, sir, or put me in the way of getting a hand on him, +I'll give him a twelvemonths' imprisonment." + +Hallett shook his head. + +"No, Revitts," he said, "I look upon him as my most deadly enemy, and +some day I may take the scoundrel by the throat, but I cannot help you +here." + +"Now, that's where you're wrong, sir, if you'll 'scuse me. A man +mustn't take the law into his own hands. You think better of it, sir. +You can't punish, though he richly deserves it, but I can; and if ever I +get a chance, I will." + +Revitts soon after rose to go, Mary having announced her intention of +sitting up all night with Linny, and Hallett and I were left alone. + +"No, Antony," he said, looking me in the face, just as if I had spoken +to him on the subject. "My hands are tied: John Lister must go free. I +can do nothing." + +"He deserves flogging!" I exclaimed, "and I feel that I ought to tell +Miss Carr." + +He started, and half turned away. + +"Have you told Miss Carr, Antony?" + +"No," I said, "I can't be so mean; but she ought to know, for she +believes him to be very true and honourable. I wish some one would tell +her. Can't you?" + +"I? Tell Miss Carr? Antony, are you mad?" he cried, with a show of +excitement that I could not understand. "No, I could not tell her. +What would she think of me?" + +"Yes, she is so high-minded and good," I replied, "that she would think +anybody a miserable talebearer who told her what a scoundrel Mr Lister +is. I don't think she would believe it, either." + +"No," he said softly, "she could not believe such a thing of the man she +loves." + +"Do you know," I said, innocently enough, "I don't think she does love +Mr Lister very much." + +His eyes flashed as he looked at me; but he made no reply, and only sat +gazing before him in a wistful, saddened way that I did not comprehend +then as I went on chatting to him. + +"No, I shall not tell her--I couldn't," I said. "It would be too mean, +and yet it would be horrible for her to marry such a man as that. Have +you seen him, since, Hallett?" + +"Seen him?--Since? No, Antony, I have not been to the office since that +night. I could never go there again." + +I looked at him anxiously, for his ways and looks were very strange; but +I attributed everything to anxiety on Linny's behalf, and we very soon +changed the topic; and after hearing the last account about Linny, I +rose to go, Hallett coming downstairs, and out into the starlit street, +walking a few hundred yards with me towards my lodgings, before finally +taking his leave, and going thoughtfully away. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +A SCENE. + +I have often thought since upon the magnanimity of Hallett's character. +Loving Miss Carr, as he did, with a passionate, hopeless love, he knew +her to be engaged to John Lister, and feeling bound in honour to be just +to the man he served, he crushed down his passion, and hid it in his +breast. Hopeless he knew it was, from his position; but, however +hopeless, it must have been agony to him to hear of his rival's success. +How much greater, then, must his sufferings have been when he found +that the man to whom the woman he adored had promised to give her hand +was a scoundrel of the basest kind! + +He loved her so well that her future happiness must have been his +constant thought, and now he learned that she was bound to the man who +cared so little for the treasure of her love that he was ready to engage +in any intrigue; while the very fact that the object chosen for this +cruel intrigue was Hallett's own sister must have been maddening. + +He must have felt fettered by his position, for he could not accuse John +Lister to the woman he loved. He felt that he was too full of +self-interest, and besides, how could he speak words that would inflict +such a sorrow upon the peaceful life of Miriam Carr? + +No: he felt bound in honour to be silent, and, crushing down his love +and his honest indignation against John Lister, he sought employment +elsewhere, and spent his leisure in keeping watch over his home. + +He took one step, though, that I did not know of till long afterwards; +he wrote to John Lister, telling him that his perfidy was known, and +uttering so fierce a warning against him if he pursued Linny, or even +wrote to her again, that the careful watch and ward kept over the house +in Great Ormond Street proved to be unnecessary, for the sensual tiger, +foiled in his spring, had slunk away. + +On the day after my talk with Hallett, and Revitts' visit to the house, +I made my way after office-hours to Miss Carr's, to find my welcome +warmer than ever; for she flushed with pleasure, and sat for some time +talking to me of her sister, who had written to her from abroad. + +"Now, Antony," she exclaimed, "you and I will dine together, and after +that you shall be my escort to a concert at Saint James's Hall." + +"A concert!" I exclaimed eagerly. + +"Yes; I was about to send the tickets away, but you have come in most +opportunely." + +I was delighted; for I had never heard any of our best singers, and we +chatted through dinner of the music we were to hear, after which I was +left in the drawing-room, to amuse myself, while Miss Carr went up to +dress. + +I took up a book, and began to read; but the thoughts of Linny Hallett +and Mr Lister kept coming into my head, and I asked myself whether I +ought not to tell Miss Carr. + +No; I felt that I could not, and then I began wondering whether the +engagement that had been extended might not after all come to nothing, +as I hoped it would. It was horrible to me now, that John Lister should +be allowed to keep up ties with my patroness, knowing what I did of his +character; and yet I felt could not, I dared not, tell. At last, in the +midst of my contending thoughts, some of which were for telling, some +against, I forced myself into reading the book I had taken up, striving +so hard to obtain the mastery over self that I succeeded--so well that I +did not hear a cab stop, nor the quick step of him who had occupied so +large a share of my thoughts. + +"Ah, Grace," said John Lister cavalierly, as he entered the room +unannounced, completely taking me by surprise as I started up from the +book. "You here again! Well, how's engineering? Like it as well as +printing, eh? Why, you are growing quite the gentleman, you lucky dog! +I suppose we must shake hands now." + +I felt as if all the blood in my body had rushed to my face, and a +strange sensation of rage half choked me as I drew back. + +"Why, what's the matter with you, boy?" he exclaimed. "Hold out your +hand." + +"I'll not," I exclaimed indignantly; "how dare you ask me!" + +"Dare I ask you--puppy!" he exclaimed, with an insolent laugh. "Why, +what do you mean?" + +"How dare you come here?" I cried, my indignation getting the mastery +of me. + +"Dare I come here!" he exclaimed, frowning. "Why, you insolent young +upstart, what do you mean?" + +"I mean that you ought to be ashamed to show your face here again after +your behaviour to Mr Hallett's sister." + +"Hush!" + +As he uttered that word he caught me by the throat, thrust his face +close to mine, and I saw that he was deadly pale. + +"You dog!" he whispered; "if you dare to utter another word, I'll--" + +He did not finish, but gave me a vindictive look that was full of +threatenings of ill. + +But unfortunately for him, he had hurt me severely as he caught me by +the throat, and the pain, instead of cowing me, filled me full of rage. +With one quick wrest I was free, and turning upon him fiercely, I +exclaimed: + +"I will speak in spite of what you say. You are a coward, and +treacherous, and no gentleman!" + +"Silence, dog!" he cried, in a hoarse whisper. "Have you dared to tell +Miss Carr lies about me?" + +"I'm not a tell-tale," I cried scornfully, "and I'm not afraid of you, +Mr Lister. I would not tell Miss Carr, but I dare tell you that you +are a coward and a scoundrel!" + +He raised his fist, and I believe that he would have struck me, but just +then his hand fell to his side, and his lips seemed to turn blue as he +stared straight over my shoulder, and turning hastily, I saw Miriam Carr +standing white and stern in the doorway, dressed ready for the concert. + +"Ah, Miriam," he exclaimed, recovering himself; and he forced a smile to +his lips; "Grace and I were engaged in a dispute." + +She did not answer him, but turned to me. "Antony," she said sternly, +"repeat those words you just said." + +"No, no; mere nonsense," exclaimed John Lister playfully. "It was +nothing--nothing at all." + +"Repeat those words, Antony Grace," cried Miss Carr, without seeming to +heed him: and she came towards where I stood, while I felt as if I would +gladly have sunk through the floor. + +For a few moments I hesitated, then a feeling of strength seemed to come +to me, and I looked up at her firmly as I said: + +"Don't ask me, Miss Carr! I cannot tell." + +"Antony!" she exclaimed. + +"My dear Miriam--" began John Lister; but she turned from him. + +"Antony," she cried imperiously, and her handsome eyes flashed as she +stamped her foot; "I insist upon knowing the meaning of those words." + +I was silent. + +"It was nothing, my dear Miriam," exclaimed John Lister. Then in a low +voice to me, "Go: I'll cover your retreat." + +Go, and run off like a coward? No; that I felt I could not do, and I +looked indignantly at him. + +"If you value my friendship, Antony," cried Miss Carr, "tell me, I +insist, what you meant by that accusation of Mr Lister." + +"I do--I do value your friendship, Miss Carr," I cried passionately, +"but don't, pray don't ask me. I cannot--I will not tell." + +"I command you to tell me," she cried: and to my young eyes she looked +queen-like in her beauty, as she seemed to compel me to obey. + +Mature thought tells me that she must indeed have seemed even majestic +in her bearing, for John Lister looked pale and haggard, and I saw him +again and again moisten his dry lips and essay to speak. + +"I cannot tell you," I said; "Miss Carr, pray do not ask me!" I cried +piteously. + +"Tell me this instant, or leave my house, ungrateful boy!" she exclaimed +passionately; and, casting an imploring look at her, I saw that she was +pointing towards the door. + +I would have given the world to have obeyed her; but there seemed to be +something so cowardly, so mean and despicable, in standing there and +accusing John Lister before the face of his affianced wife, that, with a +piteous look, I slowly turned towards the door. + +It was terrible to me to be driven away like that, and I felt my heart +swell with bitterness; but I could not speak, and as I once more looked +in her pitiless eyes, she was still pointing at the door. + +The handle was already in my hand, and, giddy and despairing, I should +have gone, had not Miriam Carr's clear voice rang out loudly: + +"Stop!" + +Then, as I turned: + +"Come here, Antony!" and the pointing finger was there no longer, but +two extended hands, which I ran across the room and seized, struggling +hard to keep back the emotion that was striving for exit, for I was but +a boy. + +"My dear Miriam--" began John Lister once more. + +"Mr Lister," she said, and her voice was very low and stern, as she +placed one arm round my waist and laid her right hand upon my shoulder, +"will you have the goodness to leave my house?" + +"My dear Miriam, pray be reasonable!" he exclaimed. "That foolish boy +has got some crotchet into his head. It is all a silly blunder, which I +can explain in a few words. I assure you it is all a mistake." + +"If it is a mistake, Mr Lister, you have nothing to mind; I now wish to +be alone." + +"But, Miriam, dearest Miriam, grant me a few minutes' conversation. I +assure you I can set myself right in your eyes." + +"If it is all a mistake, Mr Lister, why did you threaten Antony Grace, +if he dared to tell me the words I heard?" + +"Because I was angry with him for making such a blunder, and I feared +that it would upset you. Let me speak to you alone. Miriam, dear +Miriam, you force me to speak to you like this before Antony Grace. I +tell you," he cried, desperately trying to catch her hand, "I swear to +you--what he said is a tissue of lies." + +"And I tell you," she cried scornfully, "that Antony Grace never told an +untruth in his life. Mr Lister, I am a woman, and unprotected. I ask +you now to leave my house." + +"I cannot leave you with that boy, and no opportunity for defending +myself. I must have a counsellor." + +"You shall have one, John Lister," she said in a low, dull voice. "I +will be your counsellor when he accuses you." + +"Heaven bless you?" he exclaimed excitedly. "Your loving heart will +take my part." + +"My womanly duty, John Lister, and my plighted faith will join to defend +you from this grave charge." + +"Let me stay and plead my own cause, dearest Miriam," he cried, +stretching out his hands and fixing his eyes upon hers; but her look was +cold, stern, and pitiless, and for answer she pointed to the door. + +He made another appeal, but she seemed to be absolute, to master him, +and at last, trembling, white with passion and disappointment, he turned +and left the room, shrinking from that stern, pointing finger, and +half-staggering down the stairs. I heard him hurry across the hall, and +the door closed so loudly that the house seemed to be filled with +echoes, while his steps were perfectly audible as he strode along the +street. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +I AM FORGIVEN. + +"Oh, Miss Carr," I cried at last, as I broke the painful silence, "what +have I done?" + +She did not answer for some moments. Then, leading me to the couch, she +threw off her opera-cloak, and sat looking at me for a few moments +before passing her hand across my forehead to brush aside the hair, and +kissing me on the brow. + +"What have you done, Antony? Shown me that I was not mistaken in you +when I thought you all that was honest and true." + +I could not speak; only sat gazing at her face as she fought hard to +conquer her agitation. + +"Ring the bell, Antony," she said at last. "You must bear with me +to-night, and not be disappointed. Do not let James enter the room, but +meet him on the landing, and say that I shall not want the carriage." + +I hastened to obey her, and then I returned, to stand before her, +anxious and sick at heart; but she pointed to the seat at her side. + +"Antony," she said, after some time had elapsed, "why did you not tell +me this--this piteous story at once? Was I not worthy of your +confidence?" + +"Yes, yes," I said; "but how could I tell you? I dared not." + +"Dared not?" + +"I felt that it would be so cowardly and mean to tell tales of Mr +Lister, and I hoped that you might find out yourself that he was not so +good a man as you thought." + +She drew a long, deep breath. + +"But you might have caused me the deepest misery, Antony," she said. + +"But what could I do?" I cried passionately. "I wanted to tell you, +and then I felt that I could not; and I talked to Mr Hallett about it, +and he said, too, that I could not speak." + +"You must tell me now, Antony," she said, as she turned away her face. +"Tell me all." + +I drew a breath full of relief, and proceeded to tell her all, referring +to Linny's first adventure and Revitts' injuries, and going on to all I +knew of Linny's elopement, to the end. + +"But, Antony," she exclaimed, as I finished, and she now turned her face +towards mine, "can this be true? Is it certain that it was Mr Lister?" + +"Yes," I said; "certain. His letters to poor Linny show all that; and +she talks about him in her delirium, poor girl!" + +"I cannot believe it of him," she said; "and yet--How long is it since +your friend was hurt?" + +I told her the very night, from my pocket-book. + +"His hands were injured from a struggle, he told me, with some drunken +man," she said half to herself. Then aloud, "Antony, did you see either +of these letters?" + +"Yes; Mr Hallett asked me to look at them, to see if I knew the +handwriting as well as he; and, besides, in one of her intervals of +reason, poor Linny clung to her brother, and begged him never to let Mr +Lister see her again." + +"Did she say why?" asked Miss Carr hoarsely. + +"Yes; she said he had such power over her that she was afraid of him." + +A half-hysterical sob seemed to rise to Miss Carr's lips, but her face +was very stern and unchanged. + +Then, rising quickly, as if a sudden thought occurred to her, she +crossed the room to a little Japanese cabinet, and took out a short, +thick cord, as it seemed to me; but, as she placed it in my hands, I saw +that it was a short hair watch-guard, finished with gilded swivel and +cross. + +She placed it in my hands without a word, looking at me intently the +while, as if questioning me with her eyes. + +"That is Linny Hallett's chain," I said. "She made that guard herself, +of her own hair. How did it come here?" + +"Mr Lister dropped it, I suppose," she said, with a look of scorn +flashing from her eyes. "It was found by one of my servants in the hall +after he was gone, and brought to me. I had forgotten it, Antony, until +now." + +There was again a deep silence in the room, but at last she broke it +with an eager question. + +"Tell me about this Linny Hallett," she said. "You have often told me +that she is pretty. Is she good?" + +"Oh yes, I am sure she is," I said; "but she is weak and wilful, and she +must have loved Mr Lister very much to turn as she has from so true a +brother as Mr Hallett." + +"And--Mr Hallett--is he a good brother to her?" + +"Good brother!" I exclaimed, my admiration for my friend carrying me +away; "he is all that is noble and patient and good. Poor Hallett! he +is more like a father to Linny than a brother, and then his patience +with his poor mother! Oh, Miss Carr, I wish you knew him, too!" + +She darted an inquiring look at me and then turned away her head, +speaking no more, but listening intently as I told her of poor Hallett's +patience under misfortune, relating the story again of his noble +sacrifice of self to keep those who were dear to him; of the anxiety +Linny caused him, and of his tenderness of the unreasonable invalid he +made his care. + +Then, being thus set a-going, I talked, too, of the model, and our +labours, and again of my ambition to get to be an engineer in order to +help him, little thinking how I had turned myself into a special pleader +to the advancement of my poor friend's cause. + +At last, half-ashamed of my earnestness, I looked inquiringly in my +companion's face, to find that she was listening intently, and she +looked up at me as I ceased. + +"And this Mr--Mr Hallett," she said softly, "is still a workman in +Messrs. Ruddle and Lister's employ?" + +"Oh _no_! Miss Carr," I exclaimed; "he told me he could never enter the +place again, and that he dared not trust himself to meet Mr Lister face +to face. He has not been there since, and he never will go there now." + +Miss Carr seemed to breathe more freely as I said these words, and then +there was another interval of silence. + +"Is Mr Hallett poor?" she asked then. + +"Oh yes, very poor," I said. "He has been obliged to stop his work over +his invention sometimes, because the money has to go to buy wine and +little choice things for poor Mrs Hallett. She is always repining and +talking of the days when she had her conservatory and carriage, and, +worst of all, she blames poor Hallett so for his want of ambition. Yes, +Miss Carr," I said, repeating myself to willing ears, "and he is one of +the truest and best of men. He was not always a workman, you know." + +"Indeed!" she said; and I saw that she bent her head lower as she +listened. + +"No," I said enthusiastically, as I, in my heart, set up Stephen Hallett +as the model I meant to imitate. "His father was a surgeon in +Warwickshire, and Mr Hallett was at college--at Oxford, where he was +working to take honours." + +Miss Carr's lips parted as she still sat with her head bent. + +"He told me all about it one evening. He was sent for home one day to +find his father dying; and, a week later, poor Mr Hallett found himself +with all his father's affairs upon his hands, and that he had died +heavily in debt." + +Miss Carr's head was slowly raised, and I felt proud then to see how I +had interested her. + +"Then," I continued, "he had to try what he could do. He could not go +back to college; for it took everything, even the furniture, to pay off +his father's debts, and then, one day, Miss Carr, he had to sit down and +think how he was to keep his widowed mother, and his sister, and +himself." + +Miss Carr was now sitting with her head resting upon her hand, her elbow +upon her knee, listening intently to all I said. + +"Mr Hallett and his father had some type and a little press in one of +the rooms, with which they used to print poems and little pamphlets, and +Mr Hallett had learnt enough about printing to make him, when he had +taken his mother and sister up to London, try and get employment in an +office. And he did; and he says he used to be horribly afraid of being +found out and treated as an impostor; but by working with all his might +he used to manage to keep up with the slow, lazy ones, and then, by +degrees, he passed them; and now--oh, you should see him!--he can set up +type much faster than the quickest man who ever came into the office." + +"And does he keep his mother and sister now?" she said dreamily. + +"Oh yes," I said; "Mrs Hallett has been an invalid ever since Mr +Stephen Hallett's father died." + +Miss Carr had sunk back in the corner of the couch, closing her eyelids, +and I thought I saw a couple of tears stealing down her cheeks; but +directly after she covered her face with her hands, remaining silent +like that for quite half-an-hour--a silence that I respected to the end. + +At last she rose quietly, and held out her hand. + +"Antony," she said softly, "I am not well to-night. Forgive me if I +have disappointed you. Another time we must make up for this." + +"Oh, Miss Carr," I said, "you have been so grieved." + +"Yes, greatly grieved, Antony, in many ways--not least that I spoke to +you so harshly as I did." + +"But you are not angry with me?" I said. "You forgive me for not +speaking out." + +"Forgive you?" she said softly--"forgive you, my boy?--yes. But go now; +I do not feel myself. Good-night, Antony, my dear boy; go." + +To my surprise, she took me tenderly in her arms and kissed me, leading +me afterwards to the door, and laying her cheek against my forehead +before she let me out. + +"Come to me to-morrow, Antony; come again to dinner; perhaps the next +day I may be leaving town." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +HALLETT'S NEW LANDLORD. + +A year slipped rapidly away, full of changes for some people, no doubt; +but to me it was very uneventful. I worked away at my profession +steadily, liking it better every day, and for nothing more strongly than +that it gave me knowledge that I felt would be of advantage to Stephen +Hallett, with whom I grew more intimate than ever. + +The home at Great Ormond Street seemed now less sombre and desolate; for +since her serious illness, from which poor Linny had been literally +nursed back into life by Mary and Hallett, the girl was completely +changed. + +As she began to mend, I used to find a great deal of time to go and sit +with her; for her return to strength was very slow, and the poor worn +face would light up and the great staring eyes brighten whenever I went +into the room with some little offering or another that I thought would +please her. Sometimes it would be flowers, or fruit, or any little +delicacy that I thought she would fancy; but the greatest pleasure I +could give her was to take some fresh book, and sit and read. + +She used to lie upon a couch near the window, where she could look out +upon the sky, and when I was not there I suppose she would lie like +that, thinking, for hours, without speaking a word. + +Mary had grown to be quite an institution at the place, and the two +invalids at last took up so much of her time, that a scheme was one day +proposed by me, consequent upon an announcement made to me by Hallett. + +"We shall be obliged to leave," he said. "The tenants of this house are +going away." + +"But it will be terrible work, Hallett," I said. "How will Linny and +Mrs Hallett bear the change?" + +"I hope patiently and well," he said quietly, and the subject dropped; +but an idea had occurred to me which I hastened to put in force. + +My first step was to write to Miss Carr, whom I had not seen for many, +many months, as, directly after the meeting with Mr Lister she had gone +on the Continent with her newly-married sister, whose husband had an +official appointment at Marseilles, and had resided with her ever since. + +I was grievously disappointed at having to part with so good a friend; +but she promised to write to me every week, and gave me the strictest +injunctions to send to her for advice or help whenever I should find +myself in need. + +I had no hesitation whatever, then, in asking her in my weekly letter +for help to carry out my plan, and that was to find Revitts and Mary the +money to buy the lease of the house in Great Ormond Street, so that Mary +would be better able to attend to her friends, and, while acting as +their landlady, supply me with better rooms as well. + +I broached the subject to Revitts and his wife that very evening, and +the former nodded. + +"How much would it take, Ant'ny?" he said. + +"The lease would be a hundred pounds," I said. "Then the rent is +eighty." + +"That's a deal of money, my dear," said Mary; "and then there's the +rates." + +"Yes," I said; "but then look here, Mary; I should like a sitting-room +as well as a bedroom now, and I could pay you twenty-five or thirty +pounds a year for that. I know Mr Hallett pays twenty-six for what he +has, and you could, as you often said you would like to, let another +floor; for it is a large house. I think you would live rent-free." + +"There," cried Revitts, giving the table a slap. "What do you think of +that, Polly?" + +"Think of what?" she said tartly; for the seriousness of the subject +unsettled her. + +"What he says. D'ye hear his business-like way of reckoning it up: so +much for this here, and so much for that there? He couldn't have talked +like that when he come up to London first, as green as a bit o' grass. +That's my teaching, that is. I knew I could sharpen him up." + +"Don't be so conceited, Bill," she exclaimed. "But a large house means +lots of furniture, Master Antony. No, I don't think it would do. We +haven't enough." + +"But I've written to Miss Carr, to ask her to let me have the money for +you." + +Revitts got up out of his chair, where he was partaking of tea and bread +and butter in a rather wholesale style, pulled himself together, +buttoned up his coat, took a couple of official strides to where I sat, +and, taking my hand, began shaking it up and down for some moments. + +Then he gave Mary three or four wags of the head and nods, and went back +to his tea, unbuttoning the while. + +"That's very nice and kind of you, Master Antony," she said; "but that +money would be only borrowed, and it would have to be paid back again, +and sit upon us like lumps of lead till it was--" + +"Oh, nonsense, Mary, I don't believe Miss Carr would ever want it back-- +I think she'll give me the money. And besides, I mean to furnish my own +rooms, so that will be two less." + +"Hark at that now!" said Revitts, giving his head a wag. + +"I don't want to seem conceited, but I should like to improve my room, +and have a place for my books, and be able to bring a friend home to +have tea or supper with me when I liked." + +"That's quite right," said Revitts approvingly; "but we should want +close upon two hundred pounds, Master Ant'ny, you know." + +"Yes, you ought to have two hundred and fifty pounds." + +Mary shook her head, and seemed to tighten up her face, buttering the +bread she had before her the while. + +"Here, I say, come, Polly, I know we should have to begin saving," said +Revitts, in tones of remonstrance; "but don't begin to-night. Stick a +little more butter on that there bread." + +Mary complied, the meal went on, and I left them at last to talk the +matter over, thoroughly upset by my proposals. + +They opposed them for some days to come; but when, at last, I received a +kind letter from Miss Carr, bidding me tell Mary how glad she was to +hear of her plans, and that they were to be sure and include a +comfortable bed and sitting-room for me, the day was carried, especially +as the letter contained a cheque for 250 pounds; though they would not +take all this, the steady, hoarding couple being able to produce between +them enough to pay in full for the lease, which was duly assigned and +placed in Revitts' hands by Tom Girtley, who was progressing fast with +the firm of solicitors to whom he had been articled. + +The first intimation that Hallett received of the change was from +Revitts himself, who called one day on his way home to announce with +suppressed glee that he was the new landlord, and to ask if there was +anything that Mr Hallett would like done. + +Hallett stared in astonishment, and then turned sharply to me-- + +"This is your doing, Antony," he said. + +I pleaded guilty. + +"Well, what could be better?" I said; "I'm going to have two rooms, and +Mary will be always at hand to attend upon us, and you will not have to +turn out." + +"But the money?" he said, looking at me searchingly. + +"Revitts and his wife have been saving people," I replied, "and they had +their savings to invest. I don't think they could have done better." + +Hallett did not seem satisfied, but he was too much of a gentleman to +push his questions home, and the matter dropped. The old tenant of the +house moved out at once; Mary had a charwoman at work for a general +clean up, and ended by dismissing her for smelling of gin, and doing the +cleaning herself; and before a fortnight was over the change had been +made, and I was able to congratulate myself on a capital arrangement. + +"You think it is now," I said, "Hallett, don't you?" + +"I do now, Antony," he said, "for more reasons than one." + +"What do you mean?" I said; for he looked very peculiar and stern. + +"I have seen that man hanging about here once or twice." + +"Mr Lister?" + +He nodded. + +"Oh, but surely that is all over. He would never dare." + +"He hates me, I am sure, Antony," he replied, "and would do anything to +injure me; and, besides, such a man as that would not lightly give up +his plans." + +"But Linny dislikes him now, I am sure," I said. + +"I am not," he replied sadly; and no more was said. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +LINNY AWAKES. + +But those words "I am not," made no little impression on me, and a day +or two later, when I had taken Linny in some flowers, I was thinking +very deeply about them, and perhaps my thoughts may have influenced the +mind of the poor girl, for she suddenly laid her thin white hand upon my +arm and said: "Antony, do you ever see Mr Lister now?" + +"No," I said; "I have never seen him since the day of that scene with +Miss Carr." + +"Tell me about it--all about it," she said sharply. I stared at her +aghast, and tried to excuse myself, but her eyes looked at me so +imploringly that I felt compelled, and related all that I had heard and +seen. + +She lay with her eyes half-closed during my recital, and when it was +ended the poor, weak, wasted girl took one of my hands between both of +hers, and held it to her breast, caressing it silently the while. + +"Oh, Linny, dear," I said, "what have I done! I ought not to have told +you all this. You are going to be worse. Let me call Stephen!" + +"No, no, no," she wailed. "Hush, hush! You must not wake poor mamma?" + +"Let me call up Mary." + +"No, no," she sobbed; "sit still--sit still, Antony dear; you have +always been to me like a brother, and you have known all. I have no +girl friends of my own age, but I can talk to you." + +"No; let's talk of something else," I said earnestly. "You must not +think about the past." + +"I must think about it, or I shall die," she said, adding pathetically, +"no, no, don't get up. I shall be better now. There, you see, I have +left off crying." + +She seemed to make an effort over herself, and in a few minutes she +looked up at me smiling, but her poor face was so wasted and thin that +her smile frightened me, and I was again about to call for help. + +"No, no," she said; "I am better now. Antony dear, I could not get +well, but felt as if I was wasting away because I could not see him. +Oh, Antony, I did love him so, and I felt obliged to obey him in all he +wished. But it was because I thought him so fond and true. I have felt +all these long months that he loved me very dearly, and that if I could +only see him--if I could only lay my head upon his arm, and go to rest, +I should wake up well. I always thought that he loved me very dearly, +and that some day he would come and say I was to be his wife. Stephen +thought I hated him for his cruel ways, but I did not, I could not. I +do not even hate him now. I am only sorry." + +"But you don't want to see him again, Linny?" I said. + +"No, no: not now," she replied with a shudder. "I know now that he +never loved me. I never understood it all before, Antony. I pray God I +may never see his face again." + +There was something very impressive in her words, and, closing her eyes, +she lay back there so still that I thought she was asleep, but the +moment I tried to withdraw my hand she clung to it the more tightly, and +looked up at me and smiled. + +"Antony," she said suddenly; and there seemed to be a new light in her +eyes as she opened them wildly, "I am going to get well now. I could +not before, for thinking about the past." + +"I hope and pray that you will," I said, with a strange sensation of +fear creeping through me. + +"I shall," she said quickly. "I can feel it now. Last week I thought +that I was going to die. Now talk to me about Miss Carr. Is she very +beautiful?" + +"Yes," I said eagerly, "very beautiful." + +"More handsome than I used to be?" she said, laughing. + +"Oh, she's very different to you, Linny," I said, flushing. "She is +tall and noble-looking, and dark, while you are little and fair. One +could not compare you two together." + +"It was no wonder, then, that Mr Lister should love her." + +"Oh no," I said. "Any man who saw her would be sure to love her." + +She sighed softly. + +"Is she--is she a good woman?" + +"Good?" I cried enthusiastically; "there could not be a better woman." + +"And--and--" she faltered, moistening her dry lips, "do you think she +will marry Mr Lister?" + +"I am sure she will not," I said indignantly. + +"But she loved him." + +"No," I said thoughtfully; "I don't think she did much." + +"But he loved her." + +"Ye-es, I suppose so," I said; "but he could not have loved her much, or +he would not have behaved as he did." + +There was a pause then, during which Linny lay playing with my hand. + +"Antony," she cried suddenly, "Miss Carr will forgive him some day." + +"Forgive him!" I said. "Yes, she is so good a woman that I dare say +she will forgive him, but everything is over between them now." + +"I am very glad," she said dreamily, "for I should be sorry if anything +else took place." + +"What! should you be jealous, Linny?" + +"No," she said decidedly, "only very, very sorry for her. Oh! Antony," +she said, bursting into passionate tears, "I was very ignorant and very +blind." + +"Linny, Linny, my child, what is the matter?" cried Hallett, entering +the room, and flying with all a woman's solicitude to the couch, to take +the light wasted form in his arms. "Heaven help me, she's worse. The +doctor, Antony, quick!" + +"No, no, no," cried Linny, throwing her arms round her brother's neck; +"I am better, Steve, better now. It is only sorrow that I have been so +blind." + +"So blind, my darling?" + +"Yes, yes," she sobbed excitedly, pressing her brother's dark hair from +his forehead, and covering his face with her kisses, "that I was so +blind, and weak, and young. I did not know who loved me, and who did +not; but it's all over now, Steve dear. Dear brother, it's all over +now." + +"My darling," he whispered, "let me send for help!" + +"No, no," she cried, "what for? I am better--so much better, Stephen. +That is all taken off my mind, and I have nothing to do now but love +you, love you all, and get well." + +Poor little thing! She lay there clasped in her brother's strong arms, +sobbing hysterically, but it was as if every tear she shed washed away +from her stricken mind a portion of the canker that had been consuming +her day by day. + +It was more than I could bear, and if it had not been that I was called +upon to speak to and comfort poor, weak Mrs Hallett, who had been +awakened by Linny's passionate sobs, I should have run out of the room +and away from the house; but somehow I had grown to be part and parcel +of that family, and the weak invalid seemed to love me like her own son. + +At last, to my inexpressible relief, I saw Linny calm gradually down and +sink to sleep in her brother's arms, like some weary, suffering child. + +Hallett did not move, but sat there fearing to disturb her, and as the +evening wore on, his eyes sought mine inquiringly again and again, to +direct my attention to her look: and as I watched her in that soft +evening glow--a mellow light which told of a lovely evening in the +country lanes--a soft, gentle calm seemed to have come upon the wasted +face, its old hard angularity had gone, and with it that wistful air of +suffering and constant pain, her breathing was faint, but it was soft +and regular as that of a sleeping child, and at last there was a restful +smile of content upon her lips, such as had not been there for years. + +"What had you been saying to her, Antony?" whispered Hallett sternly, as +I sat there by his side. + +"She asked me questions about Lister and Miss Carr," I said, "and I +think that she woke up for the first time to know what a rascal he is." + +Hallett looked anxiously at his sister before he spoke again, but she +was evidently plunged in a deep sleep. + +"You are very young, Antony, but you are getting schooled in nature's +secrets earlier than many are. Do you think that is over now?" + +"I am sure of it," I said. + +"Thank God!" he said fervently, "for I was in daily dread." + +"She would never--there," I said excitedly; "she prayed herself that she +might never see his face again." + +"But they say women are very forgiving, Antony," he said with a tinge of +bitterness; and then, with his brow furrowing but a cynical smile upon +his lip, he said, "We shall hear next that Miss Carr has forgiven him, +and that they are married." + +"For shame!" I exclaimed indignantly. "You do not know Miss Carr, or +you would not speak like that." + +He half closed his eyes after glancing at where his mother lay back in +her easy-chair, asleep once more, for so she passed the greater part of +her time. + +"No," he said softly, "I do not know her, Antony." + +I don't know what possessed me to say what I did, but it seemed as if I +was influenced to speak. + +"I wish you did know her and love her, Hallett, for she is so--" + +He started as if he had been stung. + +"Are you mad?" he exclaimed angrily. + +"No," I said quietly, "but I think she likes you." + +"How could she?" + +"I have talked so much about you, and she has seemed so interested in +all you do." + +"You foolish fellow," he said, with his face resuming its old calm. +"You are too young yet to thoroughly understand such matters. When you +grow older, you will learn why it was that I could not play, as you +seemed to wish, so mean a part as to become John Lister's accuser. It +would have been contemptible in the extreme." + +"I could not help feeling that Miss Carr ought to know, Hallett." + +"Yes, my lad, but you shrank from telling her yourself." + +He was silent for a minute. + +"Ah, Antony," he said, "Fate seems to have ordained that I am always to +wear the workman's coat; but I console myself with the idea that a man +may be a poor artisan and still at heart a gentleman." + +"Of course!" + +"My father was a thoroughly honourable man, who left us poor solely from +misfortune. The legacy he left to me, Antony, was the care of my dear +mother and Linny." + +He looked down tenderly on the sleeping girl, and softly stroked her +hair; the touch, light as it was, waking her, to smile in his face with +a look very different from that worn by her countenance the day before. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +MISS CARR HEARS THE TRUTH. + +I was surprised one morning by my weekly letter from Miss Carr +containing the welcome news that she was coming back; in fact, that she +was following the letter, and it expressed a wish that I should meet her +at the terminus and see her home. + +It was with no small feeling of pride that I found myself chosen for +this duty, and quite an hour before it was possible for the train to +come in, I was waiting at the station. + +Soon after I saw the carriage drive up, and at last, after looking +endless times at the clock, I saw the train come gliding in, and the +next minute I was hurrying along the platform, looking eagerly at each +carriage in turn, when I found myself brushing by John Lister, who +started and scowled at me as I passed. + +Just then I caught sight of Miss Carr, looking from one of the +carriages, and handing a bundle of wraps to her maid. + +I ran eagerly up, but only to find myself rudely thrust aside by John +Lister, who, in his excitement, studied nothing so that he could reach +her first. + +"At last," he whispered passionately. "Let me be the first to welcome +you back." + +Flushed and angry, my fists involuntarily clenched, and I felt ready to +strike him as I started forward once again. + +I had my recompense, though, directly, for I saw Miss Carr draw down her +veil, and; completely ignoring the extended hands, she beckoned to me, +and, summoning up as much importance as I could, I said sharply: + +"Will you have the goodness to stand aside?" + +He was so taken aback by the determined refusal of Miss Carr to renew +their acquaintance that he stood back involuntarily, recovering himself +though, directly, and approaching once more; but he was too late: Miss +Carr had taken my arm, and I led her to the carriage, the footman, who +had seen her, taking the wraps and a case or two from the maid, whom he +ushered to a cab, which was then being loaded with luggage, as I sprang +in beside my patroness, and gave the word to the coachman, "Home!" + +I was too young not to feel excited by the importance of my position, +and as the horses started and the carriage moved forward, think now that +I must have been more than human if I had not darted a look of triumph +at John Lister, as he stood there just beneath one of the swinging +lamps, his brow furrowed and a furious look of disappointment and malice +upon his face. + +I heard Miss Carr draw her breath as if with pain, but the next moment +her hands were in mine. + +"My dear Antony," she exclaimed, "I am very glad to get back. Why, my +dear boy, what a difference one year has made in you." + +"Has it?" I said, laughing. + +"Oh, yes! Why, Antony, you will soon be growing into a man." + +"I hope so, Miss Carr; but I don't think you look well." + +"No?" + +"You look thin and careworn." + +"Marseilles is a very hot place, Antony," she said evasively, "and does +not suit English people. Of course, you are my property this evening, +Antony. You have no engagement?" + +"No," I said, smiling. "I should have gone to spend the evening with +Mr Hallett if I had been alone." + +Her hand gave a slight twitch as I said these words, and her voice +sounded a little hoarse as she continued: + +"You must come and dine with me, Antony, and we will have a long, long +chat. It seems like old times to be with you again." + +I was delighted to have her back, and chatted on in the most unreserved +way, until we reached Miss Carr's house, where the door flew open as the +carriage stopped. + +I jumped down, and was in the act of holding out my right hand and the +carriage-door open with the left, when I started with surprise; for a +swift hansom cab had brought John Lister there before us, and he stood +on the other side, holding out his hand. + +"I must speak to you, Miriam!" he exclaimed in a low voice, when, seeing +her shrink back in alarm, and with an unmistakable look of horror in her +face, boy as I was, I felt some sense of manhood flush to my cheek, and, +feeling no fear of him for the moment, I placed my hand upon his chest, +and thrust him with all my might away. + +"Stand back, sir!" I cried, "or I call the police." + +Ere he could recover from his astonishment, Miss Carr had lightly +touched my hand, stepped out, and hurried in, while I, with my heart +beating fast at my temerity, slowly closed the brougham-door, and stood +facing John Lister. + +"You insolent dog?" he cried threateningly; and I thought he was about +to strike me, but at that moment, as I stood before him with my teeth +set, I would hardly have run in to save my life. + +"How dare you insult Miss Carr!" I exclaimed. + +"Insult! Oh, this is too much!" he muttered. Then, half-raising his +hand, he let it fall once more, turned upon his heel, and strode away. + +The coachman seemed disposed to speak, but the field being now my own, I +walked--very pompously, I'm afraid--into the hall, Miss Carr coming out +of the dining-room as soon as the front door was closed, to catch my +hand in hers, and look eagerly in my flushed face. + +"You have grown brave too, Antony," she whispered, as she led me +upstairs. "Thank you, thank you; I did not know that I could look for a +protector in you." + +I had calmed down by the time Miss Carr had dressed; and then followed +one of those, to me, delightful evenings. We dined together; she +chatted of her life in Southern France, and at last, over our tea in the +drawing-room, as she was sitting back in her lounge-chair, with her face +in the shade, she said, in what was meant to be a perfectly calm voice: + +"Well, Antony, you have not said a word to me about your friends." + +I did not answer directly, for I felt a strange hesitation in so doing; +and a similar emotion must have been in my companion's breast, for she +sat there for some minutes in silence, till I said: + +"Linny Hallett seems to have quite recovered now, and is bright and +happy again, though very much changed." + +Miss Carr did not speak. + +"Mrs Hallett is precisely the same. I do not think she has altered in +the least since I have known her." + +Miss Carr seemed to turn her face more away from me, or else it was the +shadow, and now, instead of speaking of Stephen Hallett, something +seemed to prompt me to turn off, and talk of Revitts and Mary, and of +how admirably the arrangement had answered of their taking the house in +Great Ormond Street. + +There seemed to be a slight impatient movement as I prattled on--I can +call it nothing else. It was not from a spirit of mischief, but all the +time I seemed to feel that she must want to know about Stephen Hallett, +and somehow I could not mention his name. + +"It is quite droll, Miss Carr," I said. "Mrs Hallett says that it is +such an admirable arrangement, having a police-constable on the +premises, and that she has never before felt so safe since she has been +in London." + +"You have not spoken to me yet of your friend--Mr Hallett." + +I started, for it did not sound like Miss Carr's voice, and when I +looked up I could not see her face. + +"No; not yet," I said. "He is toiling on still as patiently and +enduringly as ever." + +"And the invention, Antony?" + +"The invention," I said bitterly, "lags behind. It is impossible to get +on." + +"Is--is it all waste of time, then?" + +"Waste? No," I said. "The invention is one that would carry all before +it; but, poor fellow, he is tied and fettered at every turn. He has +nearly got it to perfection, but, after months of constant toil, some +wretched part breaks down, and the whole thing has to be done again." + +"But is it likely to succeed?" + +"Likely?" I said: "it must succeed; but it never can until it has been +made and tried. It should be carefully constructed at some large +engineering establishment like ours." + +"Yes," she said, evidently listening intently. + +"But how can it be? Poor Hallett earns about two pounds a week, and the +demands upon his pocket, through his mother's and sister's illness, have +been terrible. He is heavily in debt now to the doctors." + +"Why do you not help your friend, then, Antony?" she said in tones of +reproach. + +"Because he will not let me," I replied quietly. "He is too proud." + +Miss Carr was silent. + +"What amount would it take," she said at last, in a strange tone, "to +perfect the machine?" + +"Amount?" I said eagerly; "an awful deal. It is impossible to say how +much. Why, the patent would cost nearly a hundred. Poor fellow! I +wish sometimes he would give it up." + +"Why?" she exclaimed softly. + +"Because," I said, "it is breaking his heart." + +"Is--is he so constant in his attentions to it?" + +"Oh yes, Miss Carr. Whenever he can spare a minute, he is working or +dreaming over it; he calls it his love--his mistress, in a half-mocking +sort of spirit. Poor fellow, it is a sad life." + +There was again a deep silence in the room. + +"Antony," she said again, "why do you not help your friend?" + +"I do," I said eagerly. "I have worked at it all night with him +sometimes, and spent all my pocket-money upon it--though he doesn't know +it. He thinks I have turned some of the wheels and spindles myself, but +I set some of our best workmen to do it, and cut me the cogs and +ratchets." + +"And paid for them yourself?" + +"Yes, Miss Carr. I could not have made them well enough." + +"But why not help him more substantially, Antony? With the money that +is required?" + +"I help him?" I said. + +She did not answer for a few moments, for a struggle was going on within +her breast, but she spoke at last. Her pride and feminine shrinking had +given way before the love that she had been striving these many months +to crush, but which was sweeping all before it now. + +"Antony," she said softly, "I can trust to you, I know; and I feel that +whatever I help you in will be for the best. You shall help your friend +Mr Hallett. My purse shall be open to you, and you shall find the +means to enable him to carry his project to success." + +"Oh, Miss Carr!" I cried; and in my new delight I caught and kissed her +hand. + +She laid one upon my shoulder, but her head was averted still, and then +she motioned me to resume my seat. + +"Does that satisfy you, Antony?" she said. + +"Yes--no," I cried, getting up and walking up and down the room. "He +would not take the money; he would be a great deal too proud." + +"Would not take the money, Antony? Why?" + +"Because he would know that it came from you." + +"And knowing that the money came from me, Antony, would he not take it?" + +"No, I am sure he would not." + +"Why?" + +"Because--because--Miss Carr, should you be angry with me if I told you +the truth?" + +She paused again, some minutes, before she replied softly, but in so +strange a tone: "No, Antony. How could I?" + +"Because, Miss Carr, I am sure he loves you: and he would think it +lowered him in your eyes." + +She turned upon me a look that seemed hot with anger, but the next +moment she had turned her face away, and I could see that her bosom was +heaving with suppressed emotion. + +A great struggle was evidently going on within her breast, and it was +some time before she could master it. At last, however, she turned to +me a face that was deadly pale, and there was something very stern in +her looks as she said to me: + +"Antony, we have been separated for a year, but can you speak to me with +the same boyish truth and candour as of old, in the spirit taught you, +my dear boy, by the father and mother you have lost?" + +"Oh yes, Miss Carr," I said frankly, as I laid my hand in hers, and +looked in her beautiful eyes. + +"Yes, Antony, you can," she said softly. "Tell me, then, has Mr +Hallett ever dared to say such a thing as--as that to you?" + +"Never, Miss Carr." + +"Has--has my name been made the subject of conversation amongst your +friends?" + +"Never, Miss Carr." + +"Or been coupled with his?" + +"Oh! no, no," I cried, "never. Mr Hallett has rarely mentioned your +name." + +"Then how can you--how can you dare to make such an assertion as you +did?" + +"I don't know," I replied thoughtfully. "I could not tell you how it +is, but I am sure he does love you as much as I do, Miss Carr." + +"I believe you do, Antony," she said, bending forward and kissing my +forehead. "But, you foolish boy, drive that other notion from your +head, and if you do love me, Antony--and I would have you love me, my +boy, as dearly as you loved her who has gone--never speak to your +dearest friend of our words to-night." + +"Oh, you may trust me for that," I said proudly. + +"I do trust you, Antony, and I see now that your ideas are right about +the money. Still, I should like you to help your friend." + +"So should I," I said; and I sat thinking dreamily over the matter, +being intensely desirous of helping Hallett, till it was time to go, +when an idea occurred to me which I proposed to Miss Carr, one which she +gladly accepted, joining eagerly in what was, perhaps, a deception, but +one most truly and kindly meant. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +AN INVITATION. + +"Hallo, young Grace," said Mr Jabez Rowle, as I was shown up one +evening into his room, to find him, snuff-box on the table and pen in +hand, reading away at his paper, and, as I entered, smiling with +satisfaction as he pounced upon a literal error, and marked it in the +margin. "How are you?" + +I said I was quite well, and he pointed to several pen marks at the side +of the column. + +"There's reading," he said contemptuously. "I'm ashamed of these daily +papers, that I am. Well, how are wheels and lathes and steam-engines, +eh? Bah! what a contemptible young sneak you were to leave so good a +business for oil and steam and steel-filings. I give you up now. Glad +to see you, though; sit down. Have a pinch or snuff?" + +"No, thanks," I said, smiling. + +"Humph! how you grow, you young dog; why, you'll soon be a man. Better +have a pinch; capital bit of snuff." + +I shook my head, and he went on, smiling grimly at me the while. + +"No business to have left me, Grace. I should have made a man of you. +Well, how are you getting on?" + +"Capitally," I said. + +"Don't believe it. Better have stopped with me. Heard from Peter?" + +"No," I said eagerly. "Have you?" + +"Yes. Just the same as usual. Down at Rowford still, smoking himself +to death. Hah! capital pinch of snuff this," he added, regaling himself +again. "Sent his love to you, and said I was to tell you--tell you-- +where the dickens did I put that letter?" he continued, pulling a bundle +of dip-proofs out of his breast-pocket, and hunting them over--"said I +was to tell you--ah, here it is--to tell you--Ah--`Tell young Grace I +shall come up to town and see him some day, and I'll give you a look up +too.' Bah! Don't want him: won't have him. We should be sure to +quarrel. He'd come here, and sit and smoke all day--where's my--oh, +here it is." + +He took a couple of pinches of snuff in a queer, excited way, and +snapped his fingers loudly. + +"I shall be very, very glad to see him when he does come," I said +warmly. + +"Ah, yes, of course you will. He's got some papers or something, he +says, for you." + +"Has he?" + +"So he says. Hang Peter! I don't like him, somehow." + +There was a comical look of chagrin in the old man's face as he spoke; +but it was mingled with a dry, humorous air that refused to be +concealed, and I seemed to feel in my heart that if the brothers met, +Mr Jabez would be thoroughly cordial. + +"Well, I'm glad you did condescend to call, young engine-driver," he +said at last; "as it happens, I'm not busy to-night. You won't take a +pinch of snuff?" + +I shook my head. + +"What will you have, then? Have some almonds and raisins? Figs? Some +oranges? Well, some sweetstuff? They've got some capital cocoa-nut +candy downstairs! No? Well, have some candied peel?" + +"No, thank you, Mr Jabez," I said, laughing. "Why, what a baby you do +think me." + +"Well, so you are," he growled. "You don't want me to ask you to have +beer, or grog, or cigars, do you?" + +"Oh no!" I said, laughing. + +"Good job, too, because you wouldn't catch me giving them to you. Well, +how's your policeman?" + +"Quite well." + +"Ever see Hallett now?" + +"Every day nearly." + +"Humph! Decent fellow, Hallett; sorry he left us. Cleanest proofs I +ever had. That man always read his stick, Grace. You always read +yours?" + +"But you forget I am not a printer now, Mr Jabez." + +"No, I don't, stupid. Can't you see I was speaking in metaphors? +Always read your stick, boy, through life. When you've done a thing, go +over it again to see if it's right; and then, at the end, you'll find +your proof-sheets of life are not half so foul. Tell Hallett, when you +see him again, to give me a look up. I rather liked him." + +"Why, you never seemed to like him, Mr Jabez," I said. + +"Well, what of that, boy? Can't a man like anybody without always going +about and grinning?" + +He took another pinch of snuff, and then nodded and tapped his box. + +"How's Mr Grimstone?" I said, smiling. + +"Oh, hard as a nut, and as awkward. Gives me a deal of trouble." + +"And is Jem Smith with you still?" + +"With me? No; but he's in a house close by, the great stupid lout! +He's got whiskers now, and grown more thick-headed than ever. Grimstone +had a sharp illness, though, over that affair." + +"What affair?" I asked. + +"Why, when the partnership was broken up--you know?" + +"No," I said, wonderingly. + +"Why, you must have heard. When John Lister was bankrupt. He was dead +in with the money-lenders, and he had to give up, you know." + +"What! was he ruined?" + +"Ruined? yes, a gambling fool; and if Mr Ruddle hadn't been pretty +firm, the rascal would have ruined him too--pulled the house down." + +"This is news," I said. + +"Yes, and bad news, too," said the old fellow. "Five hundred pounds of +my savings went--lent money--for him to make ducks and drakes!" + +"Oh, Mr Jabez," I said: "I am very sorry." + +"Don't deserve it," he said, taking another pinch; "served me right for +being such a fool. I don't mind now; I never cry over spilt milk, but +it nearly broke poor old Grim's heart. Five hundred of his went, too, +and it was very nearly being more." + +"I remember something about it," I said. "You were speaking on the +subject once before me." + +"Ah, so we were. Well, it was a warning to me, Grace. Temptation, you +know." + +"Temptation?" + +"Yes, to get bonus and high interest. Playing usurer, my boy. Serve us +both right. Don't you ever be led on to lending money on usury." + +"I'm not likely ever to have any to lend," I said, laughing. + +"I don't know that," he said, making another reference to his snuff-box. +"Peter said in one of his letters that he thought there was some money +that ought to come to you." + +"I'm afraid not," I said, laughing. "I've a long debt to pay yet." + +"You!--you in debt, you young rascal!" he exclaimed angrily. + +"I always said I would some day pay off my father's debts, Mr Jabez," I +said; and then my words brought up such a flood of sad recollections, +that I was about to eagerly change the subject, when Mr Jabez leaned +over to me and took my hand. + +"Good lad," he said, shaking it up and down. "Good lad. I like that. +I don't believe you ever will pay them, you know; but I like the sound +of it all the same." + +He kept on shaking my hand some time, and only left it to take another +pinch of snuff. + +"And has Mr Lister quite gone from the firm?" + +"Oh, yes, quite, my lad. He was up to his eyes in debt, and when he +didn't marry that girl, and get her money to pay himself off clear, he +went smash at once. Lucky escape for her. I'm afraid he was a bad +one." + +"And what is he doing now?" + +"What, Lister? Set up a rival shop on borrowed money; doing all he can +to cut down his old partner, but he'll do no good. Can't get on. +Hasn't got a man on the premises who can read." + +"Indeed!" I said. + +"Not a soul, Grace. Why, you wouldn't believe it, my lad," he +continued, tapping me in the shirt-front with his snuff-box, "but I had +one of their Chancery-bills in the other day--big quarto, you know, pica +type--and there were two turned _n's_ for _u's_ in the second page." + +"Never?" I said, to humour him. + +"Fact, sir, fact," he said, taking another pinch of snuff and snapping +his fingers triumphantly. "Why, I'd hardly forgive that in a daily +paper where there's a rush on, and it's got up in the night; but in a +thing like a Chancery-bill it's inexcusable. Well, now about yourself, +Grace. I'm glad you are getting on, boy. Never mind what I said; it's +better than being a reader, and growing into a snuffy cantankerous old +scarecrow like me. Read your stick well, my boy, and I hope--no, I'm +sure you'll get on. But I say, what will you have to eat?" + +"I'm not hungry, Mr Jabez," I said; "and, look here, I haven't +delivered my message to you." + +"Message? To me?" + +"Yes, sir. Miss Carr wished me to ask you if you would come and dine +with her to-morrow." + +"Me? Dine with Miss Carr--Carr--Carr? Why, that's the girl Lister was +to have married." + +"Yes--Miss Carr," I said. + +"But me dine with her! Why, she hasn't fallen in love with me now, has +she?" + +"Oh no," I said, laughing. "She wants to see you on business." + +"See me on business? why, Grace," he said excitedly, "I was to be paid +my five hundred out of her money, and wasn't paid. Is she repenting, +and going to give it to me?" + +"No," I said; "I don't think it's that." + +"No, of course not," he said thoughtfully. "Couldn't take it if were. +What does she want, then? Do you know?" + +I nodded. + +"What is it, then?" + +"I am in Miss Carr's confidence," I said; "and I do not feel at liberty +to speak about the matter till after you have seen her." + +"Let me see," said the old man; "she's very pretty, isn't she?" + +"Beautiful?" I exclaimed enthusiastically. + +"Humph! Then I don't think I shall go, Grace." + +"Not go? Why not?" + +"These handsome women can wheedle a man out of anything. I've lost five +hundred over Lister, and I don't want to be wheedled out of any more." + +"You needn't be afraid, Mr Jabez," I said, laughing. + +"Think not?" + +"I'm sure not. Miss Carr wants to advance some money to help some one." + +"Well, then, let her do it." + +"She cannot well do it herself, and she asked me if I knew anyone, and I +named you." + +"Hang your impudence, then," he said, taking snuff fiercely. "You know +I was fool enough to advance money to Lister, so you recommend me as an +easy one to do it again." + +"No, no, Mr Jabez; you don't understand me," I said, laughing. "Miss +Carr wishes to find the money, but she wants it to seem as if it came +through you." + +"Oh!" + +Here he refreshed himself with his snuff, looking at me suspiciously the +while. + +"Look here, young Grace," he said; "I'm not fond of doing things in the +dark; so, as we are old friends, suppose you make a clean breast of what +all this means. You know, I suppose?" + +"Yes, I know everything," I replied. + +"Well, then, out with it." + +"That I cannot do without being guilty of a breach of confidence, Mr +Rowle," I replied. "If you will come up to Miss Carr's to-morrow +evening at half-past six, you may be sure of a warm welcome, and I shall +be there to meet you." + +"Phee-ew!" he whistled, "how fine we have got to be, Grace. Do we dine +late every day, sir?" + +"No; nonsense," I said, laughing. "Miss Carr is very kind to me, +though: and she wished me to be there to meet you." + +"Well, but, Grace, you know," said the old man, "I'm such a queer, rough +sort of a fellow. I'm not used to that sort of thing. I've read about +it often enough; but I suppose--oh, you know, I couldn't come?" + +"I shall tell Miss Carr you will," I said, rising; and after a few more +words, the old man promised, and I went away. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +MR JABEZ UNDERTAKES A COMMISSION. + +Mr Jabez was got up wonderfully for his visit to Miss Carr. His white +waistcoat might have been carved in marble, and his white cravat was the +stiffest ever made; but there was a good deal of the natural gentleman +in the old man, and he took Miss Carr down to dinner with all the +ceremony of the old school. + +Everything was expressly arranged to be very simple, and in a very few +minutes Mr Jabez was quite at his ease, while after a glass of sherry +the old man became pleasantly chatty, and full of anecdote, but always +treating his hostess with the most chivalrous respect, making a point of +rising to open the door for her when she quitted the room, and we were +supposed to be left to our wine. + +"Hah, Grace," he said, coming back to the table, and taking a long pinch +of snuff; "now I feel a man again. I'll just have three more pinches, +and then we'll go upstairs to that angel. Good heavens!" + +"What is the matter?" I said, as, instead of sitting down, he began to +walk up and down the dining-room, taking pinch after pinch of snuff. + +"Good heavens!" he exclaimed again. + +"Is anything the matter, Mr Jabez?" I exclaimed. + +"Good heavens! I say, Good heavens!" he repeated. + +"What do you mean?" I said. + +"Good heavens! Only to think of it, Grace!" + +Another pinch of snuff. + +"Only to think, my lad, that he might have had that woman--that lady! A +girl as beautiful in her mind as she is in her face. Why, Grace, my +boy, I'm an old snuffy bachelor because my opportunity never came, but +if I could have married such a woman as that--Hah! some men are born to +be fools!" + +"And you think Mr Lister was a fool?" + +"Fool, sir? He was ten thousand times worse. But there! the sun don't +shine on me every day, my boy! We'll go upstairs at once, and let it +shine upon me again." + +I never liked Mr Jabez one-half so well before. It was delightful to +me, who quite worshipped Miss Carr, to see the old man's genuine +admiration. He seemed quite transformed, and looked younger. In fact, +no sooner were we upstairs, where Miss Carr was sitting with the urn +singing on the tea-table, than he relieved me of a difficulty by opening +the question of business himself. + +"My dear young lady," he said, as he sat down, and began rubbing one +thin little leg, "I know you'll excuse me for speaking so familiarly, +but,"--he smiled--"I'm over sixty, and I should think you are not more +than twenty-five." + +Miss Carr smiled, and he went on. + +"Our young friend Grace here tells me that you would like me to perform +a little commission for you. I only wish to say that you may command me +in any way, and to the best of my ability the work shall be done." + +"Thank you, Mr Rowle," said our hostess. "Antony Grace said he felt +sure I could not have a more suitable and trustworthy agent." + +"I thank Antony Grace," said the old man, bowing to me ceremoniously, +and taking out his snuff-box, which he hastily replaced. + +"The fact is," said Miss Carr, hesitating, and her voice trembled and +her face flushed slightly as she spoke, "I--oh, I will be plain," she +said, as if determined to cast off all false shame; "Mr Rowle, I trust +to you not to put a false construction on this act of mine. I am rich-- +I am my own mistress, and I will do as I please, whatever the world may +say." + +"You are rich, you are your own mistress, and you have a right to do as +you please, my dear young lady, whatever the world may say," assented +Mr Jabez, tapping the lid of his snuff-box, which seemed as if it would +not keep out of his hand. + +"The fact is, Mr Rowle," continued Miss Carr, "there is a gentleman--a +friend of Antony Grace here, who is struggling to perfect a new +invention--a great invention." + +Mr Jabez bowed, gazing at her animated countenance with open admiration +the while. + +"To perfect this invention, money is wanted." + +"Exactly," said Mr Jabez, tapping his box softly. "Money is always +useful." + +"I wish this gentleman to have that money--as much as is necessary." + +"You are rich; you are your own mistress; you have a right to do as you +please, my dear young lady, whatever the world may say," said Mr Jabez, +harping upon her words once more. "It is easily settled. Give it him." + +"No," said Miss Carr, speaking with animation, "it is not easy. You +forget what I say. This inventor is a gentleman." + +"And would be too proud to take the money?" said Mr Jabez quickly. + +"Yes," said Miss Carr. "He would not stoop to be under such an +obligation. He would feel insulted--that he was lowering himself. I +wish to help him," she said excitedly. "I would do anything to help +him; but my hands are tied." + +"Humph!" ejaculated Mr Jabez softly; "and you want me to help you?" + +"Yes, oh yes! And you will?" cried Miss Carr. + +"Of course I will, my dear young lady," said the old man; "but this +requires thought. Would you excuse me if I took just one little pinch?" + +"Oh, my dear Mr Rowle," cried Miss Carr, "pray do not use ceremony +here. I asked you to come to me as a friend. Pray consider that you +are one." + +"Hah!" sighed Mr Jabez. "Now I can get on. Well, my dear young lady, +surely we can find a way. In the first place, who is the gentleman?" + +Miss Carr looked at me. + +"Mr Hallett," I said, coming to her help. + +"What? Our Mr Hallett?" said Mr Jabez. + +"Yes, Mr Rowle." + +"Hum! Well, I'm not surprised," he said. "He certainly always did seem +to be a gentleman, and I was very sorry that he left our place. So he +is working on a great invention, eh? Well, he is just the man who +would. Then, the first thing is, how is it to be done?" + +"Antony Grace thinks, Mr Rowle, that as you have the reputation of +being a wealthy man--" + +"Wealthy! why I lost five hundred pounds slap the other day by--Dear me! +Bless my soul! Oh, tut--tut--tut! What an ass I am!" he muttered, +taking refuge in a tremendous pinch of snuff, half of which powdered his +white waistcoat and cravat. + +"I am very sorry to hear that," said Miss Carr quietly. + +"Oh, it was nothing. Pray go on, my dear young lady." + +"Antony Grace thought that you might seek him out, and get into his +confidence a little, and at last, after a show of interest in his work, +ask him to let you become a sharer in the affair, on condition of your +finding the necessary funds." + +"Of your money?" said the old man, with a slight show of suspicion. + +"Of course, Mr Rowle. Then, if he would consent, which he might do, +thinking that he was favouring you, the matter would be settled." + +"To be sure. Of course," said Mr Jabez thoughtfully. "And how far +would you go, my dear young lady--forty or fifty pounds?" + +"As far as was necessary, Mr Rowle. As many hundreds as he required." + +Mr Jabez tapped his box, and sat thinking, gazing wonderingly and full +of admiration at the animated countenance before him, as he softly bowed +his head up and down. + +"And you will do this for me, Mr Rowle?" she said. + +"If you will trust me, Miss Carr, I will be your steward in this +matter," he said quietly. + +"And keep my secret? He must not know." + +"I will be as silent as the grave, my dear, and I thank you for placing +so much confidence in me." + +A few preliminaries and the thing was settled. Then, after tea, Miss +Carr sang to the old man a couple of old-fashioned ballads, and he left +soon after, I walking home with him, after arranging that I was to take +him to Great Ormond Street the following evening, as if after a casual +meeting and a desire to see Hallett again. The rest was to be left to +chance. + +The old man was very quiet and thoughtful, but I noticed that our +leave-taking was a great deal warmer than it had ever been before, and I +went back to my lodgings hopeful and eager, feeling that the sun was +about to shine at last upon poor Hallett's venture, respecting which I, +with him, would not own now that there could be such a thing as failure. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +MR ROWLE BEGINS HIS TASK. + +Poor Mrs Hallett was, no doubt, a great sufferer; and as I grow older +and knew her better, the annoyance I used to feel at her unreasonable +ways dropped aside to make room for pity. + +One thing always struck me, and that was, that though she was constantly +murmuring about Stephen's wasting time over his schemes, and the +wretched way in which he was constantly plodding on, instead of +ambitiously trying to rise to some profession, it was dangerous for +anyone else to speak of such a thing. + +At the appointed time I called upon Mr Jabez, and he accompanied me to +Great Ormond Street, looking brighter and younger than I had ever seen +him look before. His snuff-box was in constant use, and he on the way, +after vainly trying to stand treat, as he called it, by stopping at the +various grocers' windows, and wanting to buy me a box of candied fruits +or French plums, went on tatting about Miss Carr. + +"Antony Grace," he exclaimed; "that fellow will wake up some day." + +"What fellow?" + +"Lister. The fool! the idiot! the ass! Why, an earthly heaven was open +to him, and he turned his back upon it. There's a life of repentance +for him." + +"I can't understand it," I said. + +"Humph! No," he continued; and he kept glancing at me curiously, as if +eager to say something--to ask me some question; but he refrained. + +"I'm glad you liked Miss Carr," I said at last. + +"Liked her, boy?" he exclaimed enthusiastically; and he stopped in the +centre of the pavement. "There, I suppose I'm growing into an old fool, +but that's no business of anybody. That young lady, sir, can command +Jabez Rowle from this moment. Here, come along; the people are looking +at you." + +I thought they were looking at Mr Jabez, but I said nothing, only kept +step with him, as he thrust his arm through mine and hurried me on. + +"Of course, what I say to you is in confidence, Antony Grace," he +continued. + +"Of course," I replied warmly; "and let me beg of you, Mr Rowle, to be +very careful. Pray don't let Hallett have any suspicion of how your +interest has come about; and, above all, he must not think that I have +talked to you about his model." + +"Hold your tongue, tomtit," he exclaimed merrily, "trying to teach a +croaking old raven, getting on towards a hundred. You leave it to me. +But look here, boy, I'm not blind. This is all in confidence, of +course. I can see as far into a mill-stone as most, people. Have +Hallett and Miss--Bah, what am I saying?" he muttered, checking himself +suddenly. "It's all in confidence, and I shall be as close as an +oyster. I've got my part by heart, and you shall see what you shall +see." + +He gave my arm a tight nip, and soon after we reached the door, which I +opened with my latchkey, and took him into my rooms, with which the old +man seemed much pleased. + +"Why, you reckless young hypocrite, this is the way you live, is it? +Books, eh? And what are these wheels for?" he continued, picking up a +couple from the chimney-piece. + +"The model," I said quietly. "Now, what shall we do? Ask Hallett to +come down here, or go up?" + +"Send up word that you have an old friend with you, and ask if you may +bring him up." + +I took the hint, and Mary came back in a few minutes to say that Mr +Hallett would be only too glad to see us. + +We went up, and I saw at once that Hallett had come down from the attic. +Mrs Hallett was asleep, and Linny, looking very pale and thin, but +still restful and better, was in an easy-chair with a book. + +"Ah, Hallett, how do?" said the old gentleman, in his abrupt way. "Your +servant, ma'am," he added, with a profound bow. + +Hallett looked stern and displeased, and his greeting was cold. + +"My sister, Mr Rowle," he said. "She has been ill." + +"So I see," he replied. "I hope you are getting better, my dear child. +You must take plenty of fresh air. I came to see my young friend, +Antony Grace here, and he suggested that as we were under the same roof, +I should come and see you. Sorry you ever left us, Mr Hallett." + +Hallett bowed. + +"Ah," he continued, taking the chair coldly offered, "lots of changes +since. I suppose you know the partnership's dissolved?" + +"Yes, I had heard so," replied Hallett, glancing uneasily at Linny. + +"I stick on with the senior branch," the old man continued, as his eyes +wandered about the room, for he was evidently at a loss, and I did not +know how to help him, so crossed over to sit down by and talk to Linny. + +But fate favoured us, for in his hurried descent Hallett had brought +with him a portion of the mechanism of the model. + +"Hullo!" exclaimed Mr Jabez sharply; "what have you got there? Have +you, too, turned engineer?" + +"Oh, no," said Hallett, who was annoyed. "I--that is--it is a portion +of a little contrivance of mine." + +"Oho!" exclaimed Mr Jabez, "I've found you out, have I, Master Hallett! +Why, you were always making sketches of machinery at the office." + +"How do you know that?" said Hallett sharply, while my heart sank, for I +felt that our attempt would be a failure. + +"Old Grim told me. That young scoundrel, Jem Smith, used to carry him +scraps of paper upon which you had been drawing." + +Hallett's brow grew more cloudy, but he brightened up directly, saying +frankly: + +"Well, yes, Mr Rowle, I am engaged upon a little invention." + +"That's right," said the old man warmly; "that's right; I wish I had +begun something of the kind when I was young. It takes the mind away +from the daily mill-horse work. But somehow, Hallett, I never could +drag my mind away from it, but used to amuse myself reading proofs at +home. Grace," he continued, turning to me, "why don't you take to +something? You being an engineer, now, you ought to do something, say, +in our line. There's plenty of chances there. I know one man," he +said, taking up his thin leg and nursing it, "who has been trying for +years to perfect a machine." + +"Oh, Mr Jabez," I thought, "you have spoiled all!" for Hallett darted a +quick glance at me. + +"The idea occurred to him," continued Mr Jabez, tapping his snuff-box +thoughtfully, as if it contained the machine, "that he could make a +contrivance that would do away with the necessity for setting type." + +"Indeed?" said Hallett, who drew a long breath of relief. + +"Yes, sir," said Mr Jabez; "his idea was to get the type set up in long +pipes above a keyboard, like a piano, and every time a key was touched +with the finger, it pushed out a letter, which ran down an inclined +plane to an opening, where a tiny hammer gave it a tap and drove it +along a channel in which the letters formed one long line, which was +afterwards made into pages and justified." + +"And did it answer?" said Hallett eagerly. + +"No," said the old man, taking a pinch of snuff, as Linny and I now +listened to him attentively. "The idea was clever, but it was too +crude. He set up his stick full, Antony Grace, and neglected to read it +afterwards. He failed at first." + +"But you said it was a good idea, Mr Jabez," I exclaimed. + +"A capital idea," said the old man, "but it was full of faults." + +"Faults?" said Hallett dreamily. + +"Yes, sir," said the old man, growing animated. "For instance, he would +only have been able to set one kind of type--one size. He couldn't use +italic. He wanted a clever, sensible woman or man to work the keys, +another to make the type up into lines. And he was obliged to have a +boy to work the little hammer, or beater, to drive the letters along. +Then the type would get stuck if the letters were not sent down exactly +to the time; for two would meet in a lane, and then there was no end of +confusion, and, after all, the type had to be distributed, and +afterwards set up in sticks to fill the machine." + +"Exactly," said Hallett, with animation, for the ice was broken. "I had +thought of something similar." + +"But you did not do it." + +"No; oh no! Composition always seemed to me to require the mind of +man--the brain to guide it. It seemed to me that invention should be +applied to something of a more mechanical nature." + +"Exactly," said Mr Jabez. "You couldn't make a machine to read and +correct proofs, or revise a slip." + +"Of course not," said Hallett. + +"Of course not," said Mr Jabez. "But, mind you, I'm not one of those +idiots who rise up in arms against machinery, and I don't say but what +our friend might not have gone on and greatly improved his machine. For +instance, he might have contrived another, to do away with the +distribution and re-setting up of the type." + +"Yes," said Hallett thoughtfully; "it might have been recast and +replaced by mechanism." + +"And always have new type," said Mr Jabez eagerly. "To be sure: a +capital idea; but I don't know, Hallett, I don't know. They say you can +buy gold too dearly. In the same way, you can make a time-saving +process too expensive." + +"Certainly," said Hallett thoughtfully; and I was glad to see now that +he was pleased to meet the old man. + +"It seems to me," said Mr Jabez, passing his snuff-box, which Hallett +received, and, to humour his visitor, partook of a pinch, "that an +inventor ought to devote his attention to making machinery for doing +away with a great deal more of our labouring mechanical work, and not +the careful processes that require thought." + +"Printing, for instance?" + +"Ye-es," said Mr Jabez; "but that ground has been pretty well taken up. +We have some good machines now, that do a lot of work by steam. Why, +when I was a boy we used to have the clumsiest old presses possible to +conceive. I don't think they had been much improved since the days of +Caxton." + +"And yet there is great room for improvement," cried Hallett, with +animation. "Mr Rowle, we saw very little of each other beyond business +encounters, but I believe, sir, that I may place trust in your word?" + +"Thank you, Mr Hallett, I hope so. I'm sure I always placed confidence +in yours. I am proud to say, Miss Hallett, that if your brother +promised me a slip by a certain time, my mind was always easy, for I +knew it would be done." + +"Oh, nonsense, nonsense," said Hallett, smiling. "Look here, Mr Rowle, +I feel that you will not betray my confidence, and I ask you as a favour +to keep private what you see here to-night." + +"What I see here?" said Mr Jabez, looking around with an assumed look +of puzzle, while I felt the colour coming in my face as I thought of the +part I was playing. + +"I mean what I am about to show you, Mr Rowle," said Hallett, smiling. + +"Trust me? Oh yes, of course, yes--of course," said the old man warmly; +"here is my hand." + +"Thank you," said Hallett, taking it. "Linny, my dear, you will not +mind being left alone?" + +"Oh no," she said, smiling; and lighting another lamp, Hallett led the +way up to the attic, Mr Jabez finding an opportunity to give me a +solemn wink before we stood by Hallett's bench. + +"I have spent so much thought and labour over this model," said Hallett, +"that, you must not be surprised at the jealousy with which I watch it." + +"Oh no," said Mr Jabez, who proceeded, snuff-box in hand, to examine +carefully every point in the invention. + +"Well," said Hallett, at last, "do you think it will answer?" + +In place of replying, Mr Jabez went all over it again, his interest +growing fast, and being, I was glad to see, evidently sincere. + +"I tell you what," he exclaimed at last, taking a tremendous pinch of +snuff, "that thing would be splendid if you got it right." + +"You like it, then?" said Hallett. + +"Like it? I think it's grand. Why, man, it would make quite a +revolution in the news business. You must get on--get it perfect." + +Mr Hallett shook his head. + +"It takes time and money," he said sadly. "It is slow work." + +"Yes, but--hang it all, sir! you should get help. With such an +important thing in hand you should work on." + +"I do not know yet that it would answer," said Hallett sadly. + +"But it must answer, sir," said the old man sharply. "If that machine +did not answer, it would not be the fault or the principle, but of some +blunder in the mechanism." + +"Do you think so?" cried Hallett, whose eyes lighted up with pleasure. + +"No, sir: I am sure so," said the old man. "The principle is as grand +as it is simple; and what I like in the invention is this--you have +taken up a part of the trade where it is all hand-labour--all +mechanical. You are not trying to do away with brainpower." + +"I am very glad you like my idea, Mr Rowle," said Hallett, proceeding +to cover his model, which, when set in motion, ran easily and well. + +"I am delighted with it," said Mr Jabez, poking him in the chest with +his snuff-box. "Now, then, go ahead, and have the thing made on a +workable scale." + +"But I have not perfected it yet," replied Hallett. + +"Never mind; perfect it as you go on. You are sure to find some weak +spots. If I were you, sir, I should set a good firm of engineers to +work on that at once." + +Hallett smiled sadly. + +"You are proposing impossibilities, Mr Rowle. This has been one of my +great troubles, sir: how I was to carry on my project when I had +completed my model. During the past few days I have been thinking of +trying to sell the idea for what it is worth." + +"What I and let some fellow without half an ounce of brains in his skull +reap all the profit? Don't you do anything of the kind. There's a +fortune in that contrivance, Mr Hallett. Sir, it is a great +invention." + +"What would you do, then?" said Hallett, smiling. + +"Do, sir? I'd--I'd--" + +Mr Jabez paused, and took a pinch of snuff. + +"Do, sir, I'd--I'd--I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd take a partner who +had money." + +Hallett shook his head sadly. + +"Who would advance money to such a dreamer as I am?" he said sadly. + +"Lots of people, as soon as they saw money in it." + +Hallett shook his head. + +"You take a very sanguine view of the matter, Mr Rowle." + +"Not half so sanguine as you, sir. Why, you must have spent years of +labour, and a great deal of money, over that model." + +"I have," said Hallett sadly. + +"Then don't call me sanguine," cried Mr Jabez, flying to his snuff-box +again. "I ask, here, Hallett, how much would it take to produce that +thing, patent it, and the rest of it?" + +"I cannot say," replied Hallett quietly, and with the same sad smile +upon his face. "It is one of those things which keen on crying, `More! +more!' I dare say it would require 300 pounds or 400 pounds to produce +the first machine, and then I have no doubt more would have to be spent +in perfecting it." + +"Yes, I dare say," said Mr Jabez coolly, as he uncovered and once more +began to examine the model; "I tell you what, Hallett, I think I know +your man." + +"What, a capitalist?" + +"No, sir; a man with a selfish desire to share in the child of your +brains." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes; he hasn't much money, but I'll be bound to say that he would find +enough to carry out your plans for, say, one-third of the profits." + +"Mr Rowle, are you serious?" said Hallett earnestly. + +"I never joke about business matters, Mr Hallett. As I said before, +sir, that's a great invention; and if you'll let me, I'll find the money +for carrying it on, conditionally that I take one-third of the profits +the invention makes." + +"You will! Mr Rowle!" cried Hallett incredulously. + +"I will, sir; and there's my hand upon it." + +"But do you understand the magnitude of the affair, sir?" cried Hallett, +whose face flushed and eyes glittered with excitement. + +"Quite so," replied the old gentleman, diving again into his snuff-box. +"The first thing is, sir, to draw out a proper document between us--we +can do that without the lawyers. Then proper drawings must be made, +with description, and the thing must be patented." + +"But that will take nearly a hundred pounds!" cried Hallett, panting; +while I sat there hugging myself with delight. + +"You can have my cheque for a hundred pounds, Mr Hallett, as soon as we +have settled the preliminaries; and I bind myself to go on finding the +necessary cash for construction as you go on. And now, sir, it's pretty +well my bed-time, and I want to be off. Do nothing rashly. This day +week I'll come here again for your answer, which I hope will be _yes_; +for I think it will be a good stroke of business for both of us. Now +good-night. Antony Grace, will you show me the way down to the door?" + +They shook hands, and I saw the old gentleman to the street. + +"There, my boy, wasn't that done well?" he chuckled. "But look here, +Antony Grace," he added seriously; "I'd have done it without Miss Carr, +that I would, for I believe in that machine. Good-night, boy, I'll come +on next week and--hang it, look at that fellow who just passed. He's as +like John Lister as two peas." + +The old man went off, and I returned to my room, where I found Hallett +waiting for me in a state of intense excitement. + +"Antony," he exclaimed, "it is too good to be true. It is fortune at +last--success. Good heavens! it makes me turn giddy. Mother--Linny," +he cried, in a low passionate wail, "at last there is sunshine breaking +through the clouds." + +"I pray Heaven there may be, Hallett," I exclaimed; "but I have +something to say to you." + +"What is it?" he cried. "Has the old man repented?" + +"Oh, no; you may be sure of him, Hallett. He is delighted at the +opportunity, and thinks it will lead to fortune." + +"What do you mean, then?" + +"John Lister is hanging about this street." + +"Why? How? what makes you say that?" + +"I saw him pass the door, just now." + +His brow darkened, and involuntarily he uttered his sister's name. + +"No," I said; "I don't believe it of her. He is only trying to meet +with her once more. I am sure Linny does not know it." + +"You are right, Antony; she cannot know it. We can trust her now. Let +us go and sit upstairs." + +As we entered the room, Linny raised her eyes from the book which she +was reading, and her calm ingenuous look was sufficient to disarm +suspicion; but, all the same, Hallett and I both felt that the wolf was +prowling about the fold, and that it behoved us to see that he had no +further chance of carrying off our lamb. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +MR LISTER IS MOVED ON. + +We had good reason to know that John Lister was hovering about the +place, for I saw him several times, and found that in Hallett's absence +and mine he had called and endeavoured to see Linny; but she had always +refused, and on Mary being warned, he received such a rebuff that he did +not call again. Still, however, he hung about, making the poor girl's +life wretched, for at last she dared not go to the window for fear of +being seen. + +Both Hallett and I wondered whether his pertinacity would make any +impression. While we were in a state of doubt, it fell to my lot one +evening to become Linny's escort to a distant part of London, and we +were on our way back, when suddenly I felt her hand tighten upon my arm. + +"Quick, Antony," she whispered, "he is there!" + +"He is there?" I said wonderingly, for I did not comprehend her; but +the next moment I caught sight of Lister coming towards us, and +evidently fixing her with his eyes. + +There was a meaning smile upon his lip, and, apparently intending to +ignore me, he was about to speak, when, with a gesture of horror, she +shrank from him, turned her head aside, and begged me to hurry home. + +"We'll go home," I said; "but we will not hurry;" and I turned and met +Lister's contemptuous stare, as he followed us at a little distance till +we had reached the house. + +I was annoyed and distressed about this pertinacious pursuit, and I had +just made up my mind to consult Hallett on the best way to put a stop to +it, when an idea occurred to me. + +"It is very evident," I thought, "that Lister does not know who lives +here;" and I laughed to myself as I quietly determined to put my plan in +force. + +That evening, while Hallett was busy in his attic, slaving away with +redoubled energy at his model, giving it what he looked upon as the +final touches before proceeding with the patent, I went down as soon as +I heard Revitts come in, his broad face expanding with pleasure as I +followed him below to his own particular sanctuary, where, while he was +enjoying his after-tea pipe, I opened my business. + +"Revitts," I said, "I'm going to take you into my confidence, and ask +you to keep faith." + +"Which you may be sure I shall do, Master Antony, if so be I can." + +"Well, you can, Bill," I replied; and I proceeded to tell him how Linny +was annoyed. + +"That's very unpleasant," he said thoughtfully; "but is it by that same +chap?" + +"Yes." + +"That'll do," he said, drawing a long breath; "and lookye here, Antony, +my young friend, I'm sergeant, and have to set an example now to them as +is under--them, I mean--no, I don't--I mean those as--who--are under +me--that's right! One's obliged to be particler now. Use of the +truncheon forbidden, except when obliged; but if I do meet, that fellow +annoying Miss Linny, I shall be obliged to give him a topper--a hangel +couldn't help it." + +"No, no, Bill--no, Mr Sergeant," I began. + +"Stow that, Antony, no larks. Bill, please, as afore." + +"Well, then, Bill, that is one of the things you must not do. All I +want is for you to let him see that you live here, and that Miss Hallett +is under your protection. He won't face you, and as soon as he finds +that you are here he will keep away." + +"But he must be taken for his assault on the police, Antony." + +"No, no: let him go on in his own way. If you take him, there will be a +great deal of inquiry and exposure that would be most painful to all my +friends. We should have to go into the witness-box and be +cross-examined, and it would be extremely painful to me, both on my own +behalf and that of others." + +"You wouldn't like it, Antony?" he said. + +"No, indeed I should not," I replied. + +"That's enough, dear lad," he exclaimed, giving the table a rap with his +fist. "That's settled; but I may give him a word or two of a sort, eh? +Just show him I know him, and move him on pretty sharp?" + +"As much of that as you like," I said; "I leave it in your hands. What +I ask of you is, as an officer, to see that we are not pestered by that +man." + +"It's as good as done, Ant'ny," he exclaimed, stuffing some more tobacco +in his pipe. + +"It's better than done, my dear," said Mary decisively. "When my +William says a thing's as good as done, you may make yourself +comfortable about it." + +Revitts said no more about it in the future, only once when he met me at +the door, chuckling to himself, and shaking his head. + +"What are you laughing at?" I asked. + +"Only about him," he replied. "I just run again him at the corner, and +said about six words to him." + +"Well?" + +"That's all," said Revitts, chuckling. "He showed me the back seams of +his coat directly; but I followed him up and moved him on. I don't +think he'll show himself much more about here, my lad." + +Revitts was right. Lister did not hang about our neighbourhood so much +after that interview; but it had the effect of sending him back to annoy +Miss Carr; so that, day by day, his actions formed a problem that it +became very difficult to solve, and we little knew then how malignantly +he was fighting against Hallett, whose love he must have suspected. + +Time glided on. Mr Jabez used to come regularly to Ormond Street. The +model and its progress seemed to give a fresh interest to the old man's +life, and, in addition, he took a remarkable liking to Linny. Mrs +Hallett, too, showed a fancy for him, after a few tearful words of +opposition to the way in which he encouraged Hallett in his folly. + +"Folly, ma'am? it's no such thing. He'll be a great man yet, and a +benefactor to his kind. Spread of knowledge, you know." + +"I don't understand you, Mr Rowle," said the poor woman plaintively; +"but you may be right. All I know is, that it takes up a great deal of +his time." + +"Couldn't be better spent, my dear madam. Do you know what it means?" + +"No," said Mrs Hallett, "only neglect of his poor suffering mother." + +"Patience, my dear madam, patience," said Mr Jabez. "I'll tell you +what it means. Pleasant changes for you; seaside; a nice +invalid-carriage; silk attire for little Miss Linny here, and servants +to wait upon you. Bless my soul, ma'am!" he cried flourishing his +snuff-box, and taking a liberal pinch, "you ought to be proud of your +son." + +"I am, Mr Rowle," she said, plaintively; "but if you would kindly +oblige me by not taking so much snuff. It makes--makes me sneeze." + +"My dear madam," exclaimed the little man, closing his box with a snap, +"I beg your pardon. Bad habit--very bad habit, really." + +Linny burst out into a merry, bird-like laugh that made me start with +pleasure. It was so fresh and bright, and it was so long since anything +but a faint smile had been seen upon her face, that it was like a +pleasant augury of happier days to come. + +The old man turned round and smiled and nodded at her, evidently +enjoying it too; and when, some ten minutes after, he was going up with +me to Hallett's attic, he stopped on the landing and tapped my arm with +his snuff-box. + +"Grace," he said, "I am waking up more and more to the fact that I have +been an old fool!" + +"Indeed! Why?" + +"Because I've shut myself up all my life, and grown selfish and crusted. +I don't think I'm such a very bad sort of fellow when you get through +the bark." + +"I'm sure you are not, Mr Rowle," I said. + +"Humph! Thankye, Grace. Well, you always did seem to like me." + +"But what do you mean about being an--" + +"Old fool? There, say it if you like. I mean about women--young +girls--ladies, you know. They're very nice." + +"Yes, that they are," I cried eagerly. + +"Yah! stuff! How do you know--a boy like you? No, no--I mean yes, of +course, so they are. I've been thinking, you know, what might have +been, if I'd met with such a lady as that Miss Carr, or our pretty +little bird there, thirty or forty years ago. Hah! I should have been +a different man. But I never did, my boy, I never did." + +He took a pinch of snuff very thoughtfully here. + +"It's too late now, Grace, too late now. You can't make winter into +summer; and it's getting to the winter with me now. That's a very nice +little thing downstairs. Has she--has she any--any--" + +"Lover, Mr Rowle?" + +"Yes." + +"Not now," I said. "There was one, but it ended unhappily. He was a +blackguard," I said warmly. + +"Was he, though?" he said eagerly. "That's right, Grace, I like to see +you have some spirit. Poor little lassie! No father, either." + +"Mr Hallett is more like a father to her than a brother," I replied, as +I thought it would be better not to mention John Lister's name. + +"Father--father--" said the old man dreamily. "How curious it must be +to feel that one is the father of anything; that it is your own, and +that it loves you. Now, do you know, Grace, I never thought of that +before." + +"You have always been such a business man, Mr Rowle," I said. + +"Yes--yes, grinding on every day, without a thought of anything but +other people's mistakes, and none about my own. You like little Miss +Linny there--downstairs?" + +"Oh yes," I cried; "she always seems to have been like a sister ever +since I knew her." + +"Hum! Hah! Yes! Like a sister," he said thoughtfully. "Well, she's a +very nice little girl, Grace, and I like her; but you need not tell her +so." + +"Oh no, of course not, Mr Rowle," I said, laughing. "Shall we go +upstairs?" + +"Yes, my boy, directly. + +"But look here, Grace," he continued, fumbling in his pocket, and +bringing out a newspaper slip. "Hum! hah! oh, here it is. Read that." + +He pointed to an advertisement of an elderly couple without children, +wishing to adopt a young girl; and I read it, and then looked at him +wonderingly. + +"I suppose that sort of thing is done sometimes, eh?" he said. + +"I don't know, Mr Rowle," I replied. + +"Hum! No, of course you don't," he said thoughtfully, after another +pinch. "Come along upstairs, my boy, and let's look at the machine." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. + +MR JABEZ HAS A SPASM. + +There had been some little dispute about the drawing up of the terms +between Hallett and Mr Rowle. The former would not listen to the old +gentleman's proposition that it should be settled by a letter between +them, saying that it ought to be a proper legal document, for both their +sakes; and the knot was solved, as they did not wish to consult a +solicitor, by my proposing to bring Tom Girtley home with me some +evening, when the legal training he was undergoing might prove +sufficient for the purpose. + +It was settled to be so, and a few evenings later, I called in Lincoln's +Inn Fields, at the offices where Tom was now engaged, and he accompanied +me to Great Ormond Street. + +Mary had had her instructions to have a "high tea" ready for us, and her +ideas of delicacies took the form of hot baked potatoes and cold +lobsters; and upon these, with shouts of laughter, we made an attack, +for it was wonderful in those days what the youthful digestive organs +would conquer without fail. Tom Girtley had several times been to my +apartments, but I had never introduced him to the Halletts, for there +had been too much trouble in connection with Linny's illness for their +rooms to be attractive to a casual visitor. + +But now times were altered; Hallett looked brighter, Linny was nearly +her own merry pretty self again, and Mrs Hallett, perhaps, a little +less weak and despondent, which is not saying much. + +Tom Girtley had altered very much since we had become friends, having +started ahead of me, and a year had changed him from a boy into quite a +man, at whose hirsute appendages I used to look with perhaps just a +trace of envy. There was something very frank and manly about him, and +he had all a boy's love of a bit of fun; but at the same time, he was +full of shrewdness and common-sense, the former being rubbed daily by +his profession into a keener edge. + +All in good time Mr Jabez arrived, according to what was fast growing +into a regular custom, and he favoured Tom Girtley with a short nod and +a very searching look. Then together we went upstairs, where I saw Mr +Jabez frown as our legal visitor was introduced to Mrs Hallett and +Linny, the latter blushing slightly at Tom's admiring gaze. + +The old man uttered a sigh of relief then as Linny rose and helped Mrs +Hallett to leave the room during the transaction of the business, and I +noted that he was very snappish and abrupt while the arrangement went +on. + +It was very simple, and soon done, Tom Girtley drawing up first on +foolscap a draft of the arrangement, which was agreed to on both sides, +and then transferred to a couple of stamped papers, signed and +witnessed, one being kept by each party to the transaction. + +All this was done in so satisfactory a manner to Mr Jabez that he +became somewhat less abrupt to my companion, and even went so far as to +say that he had never seen a legal document which pleased him so well. + +"Not so many heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, young +gentleman," he said gruffly. "You lawyers have made a lot of money out +of those parties in your time. Now, don't you think we might ask the +ladies to step back?" + +This was done, and we had a very pleasant evening, Tom Girtley winning +golden opinions for his merry ways, even bringing a smile to Mrs +Hallett's pale face; and at last, when it was time to go, Hallett +exclaimed: + +"Of course, we shall see you again, Mr Girtley?" + +"May I come?" he said eagerly. + +"If you can find any pleasure in our rather dull home," replied Hallett. +"Good--" + +He was going to say, "gracious," but he refrained, and looked in a +puzzled and amused way at Mr Jabez, who had kicked out one leg under +the table, and his foot had come in contact with his host. + +"Spasm!" said Mr Jabez abruptly; and when Tom Girtley went down with me +the old man remained. + +"Well, Tom, what do you think of my friends the Halletts?" I said, as +we went down to the door. + +"I'm delighted with them," he cried. "I like Hallett; and as for his +sister--I say, Tony, are you making play there?" + +"Making play?" + +"There, don't be so innocent, man alive! Are you in love with her?" + +"What nonsense! No." + +"Then I am," he said. "I wouldn't have poached on your preserves, but +it's all over with me now. Alas, poor me! so soon, and I am barely +twenty. Good-night, old boy, and thanks for a pleasant evening." + +"Don't be in such a hurry," I exclaimed. "I'm going a little way with +you." + +He was in high spirits, and we were just crossing the street, when we +came suddenly upon John Lister--so suddenly, that Tom observed my start. + +"Who's that?" he said quickly. + +"One of our black clouds," I said bitterly. + +"Black clouds?" he said, in a puzzled tone. + +"And yours, too," I said, "if you talk like you did just now." + +"I like solving knotty points," he said; "but you must give me a clue." + +"Not to-night, Tom," I said. "Say good-night now. Some other time." + +"All right, my mysterious youth," he cried, laughing; and after shaking +hands, I hurried back, to find Mr Jabez standing at the door. + +"Oh, here you are," he said. "I am just waiting to say good-night. I +say, Grace, is that fellow square?" + +"I believe him to be a thorough scoundrel," I said angrily. + +"He seems quite taken with little Linny there." + +"I know that," I said bitterly. + +"And yet you brought him here, sir." + +"I? Brought him here?" I exclaimed. "It was going on before I knew +them." + +"What! that boy--that parchment slip?" he exclaimed. + +"No, no," I said hastily. "I meant John Lister." + +As the words were leaving my lips, he of whom I spoke passed by on the +other side, and turned his face to look up at the second floor, the +light from a gas-lamp making his countenance perfectly clear. + +"Oh!" said Mr Jabez softly; and, after standing watching the retiring +figure, he too went his way. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. + +MY VISITOR. + +Two years of hard work rapidly passed away, during which, I suppose, I +made rapid progress in my profession, and also had the satisfaction of +seeing Hallett's machine grow towards perfection. + +It had progressed slowly, in spite of the energy brought to bear, for +Hallett toiled at it patiently and well; but the work was for the most +part out of his hands now. + +I had introduced him to Mr Girtley, who at once took a great deal of +interest in the scheme, but who rather damped us at first by pointing +out weaknesses, not of principle, but of construction, and at once +proposed that before the great machine itself was attempted, a working +model, four times the size of that laboriously constructed by Hallett, +should be made. + +"It means time and expense, Mr Hallett," he said, "but over new things +we must be slow and sure. For instance, there will be great stress upon +certain parts--here--here--and here. I can say to you now that these +parts must be greatly strengthened, and I could make certain +calculations, but we can only learn by experience what is to be done." + +There was so much good sense in this, that Hallett at once agreed, and +Mr Jabez of course nodded approval; and though it took a long time, the +trial of the little machine fully bore out Mr Girtley's prophecies; so +that great modifications had to be made. + +"Yes," said Mr Girtley, after the trial, "it is discouraging, +certainly; but is it not better than having a breakdown just when your +hopes are highest?" + +"Yes, but new moulds can be made, and you will go on at once," said +Hallett eagerly. + +"Yes, the moulds shall be made, and we will go on at once." + +"Mr Girtley thought me very impatient, Antony," said Hallett, as we +walked steadily back from Great George Street, where the little machine +had been set up; "but there are bounds to every one's patience, and I +feel sometimes as if the idol I have been trying to set up will not be +finished in my time." + +"Nonsense?" I cried cheerily, "I guarantee it shall be. I'm to have a +lot of superintending to do, Hallett, and I'll leave no stone unturned +to get it on." + +"Thank you, Antony," he said, "do your best. I grieve for poor Mr +Jabez more than for myself. Two hundred and fifty pounds of his money +gone, and he has nothing yet before him in return but an unsubstantial +shadow." + +Miss Carr had been a good deal away from England during this time, +visiting her sister, who twice over returned with her to stay at +Westmouth Street. I had, however, kept her fully informed about the +progress made by Hallett. In fact, she knew my innermost life, and as +much of the Halletts' as I knew myself. Those were pleasant days, +though, when she was at home, much of my time being spent with her; and +though I found that Lister had made several attempts to see her, and had +written continually, he had never been successful. + +I learned, too, that Mr Ruddle had interfered in concert with some +distant relatives of Miss Carr, and they had pretty well coerced Lister +into more reasonable behaviour. + +He evidently, however, lived in the hope of yet resuming his old +relationship with Miss Carr, little dreaming how well acquainted she was +with his character, for, in no tale-bearing spirit, but in accordance +with her wish, that she should know everything in connection with my +daily life, I had told her of Lister's continued underhanded pursuit of +Linny, news which I afterwards found had come to her almost in company +with imploring letters, full of love, passion and repentance. + +When I look back upon that portion of my life, it all seems now like a +dream of pleasure, that glided away as if by magic. I had no troubles-- +no cares of my own, save such as I felt by a kind of reflex action. I +was young, active, and full of eagerness. Hallett's enterprise seemed +to be almost my own, and I looked forward to its success as eagerly as +he did himself. + +The house at Great Ormond Street was a far less solemn place now than it +used to be, and many and bright were the evenings we spent together. +Hallett seemed less sad and self-contained, as he saw his mother take a +little interest in the group that used to form about her chair. For Mr +Jabez appeared to have become quite a new man, and there were not many +evenings that he did not spend at the Halletts'. + +"Business, you see, Grace," he used to say, with a dry chuckle. "I must +be on the spot to talk over the machine with Hallett;" but somehow very +little used to be said about business: for very often after the first +introduction by the old man, there used to be a snug rubber at whist, in +which he and Mrs Hallett would be partners against Linny and Tom +Girtley. + +For Tom used to come a great, deal in those days to see me. He used to +tell me, with a laughing light in his eye, that he was sure I must be +very dull there of an evening, and that it was quite out of kindness to +me. But, somehow or another, I suppose through my neglect, and the +interest I took in Hallett's work, he used to be driven upstairs, where +his bright, hearty ways made him always welcome. For after what looked +like dead opposition at first, Tom quite won Mr Jabez over to his side; +and, save and excepting a few squabbles now and then, which Mrs Hallett +took seriously, and which afforded Linny intense amusement, Mr Jabez +and Tom became the best of friends. + +"I don't think he's such a very bad sort of fellow, as boys go, Grace," +Mr Jabez said; "but look here, my boy, do you see how the land lies?" + +"What do you mean, Mr Rowle?" I said laughing; "that Tom and Linny +seem to be getting very fond of one another?" + +"Yes," he said, tapping me on the breast-bone with his snuff-box. "I +spoke to Hallett about it last night, and he said he was not sorry." + +"Of course not. I am sure he likes Tom," I said thoughtfully, as I saw +how great an alteration had come about at the house, for Linny used to +sing about the place now like a bird, and Mary watched over her like a +dragon. In fact, Mary was a wonderful institution at Great Ormond +Street, and even Mrs Hallett was afraid of her, in so much that Mary's +practical ways seemed quite to silence her murmurings, and make her take +a more cheerful view of life. + +"But look here, Grace," said Mr Jabez, "don't you be a young fool. You +don't want to grow into an old bachelor like I am." + +"I don't know that I do," I said. + +"Then about Linny: does it suit your book for that big child to be +coming here and cutting the ground from under your feet?" + +"Cutting the ground from under my feet?" I said merrily. "Why, what do +you mean, Mr Jabez?" + +"I mean, don't you be a young noodle, and play with your opportunities. +Linny's a very nice little girl, and I shouldn't be a bit surprised if +some day she had a few--perhaps a good many hundreds of her own. I tell +you what it is, Grace, my boy, I shouldn't be a bit displeased if you +were to play your cards right, and make a match of it with that little +girl." + +"And I hope, Mr Rowle, you would not be a bit displeased if I did not +do anything of the sort?" + +"H'm-m! No! I don't know that I should, boy. But, hang it all, you +are not. You have not any one else in your eye. You are not thinking +about Miss Carr, are you, you puppy?" + +I burst out into a hearty fit of laughter. + +"No, Mr Rowle," I said merrily. "I never think about such matters, and +between ourselves," I said with much severity, "I am surprised to find a +quiet elderly gentleman like you taking to match-making." + +"Get out, you young dog!" he cried. "There, just as you like, only I +thought I'd see how you felt about it, that's all." + +Mr Rowle's words set me thinking, and I could not help seeing that +though there was no love-making, or anything out of the ordinary way in +their every-day intercourse, Linny's old sorrow had been completely +swept away, and she evidently looked upon Tom as a very great friend. + +I was in my own room one evening reporting progress to Hallett, who had +just come in from the office where he still worked as an ordinary +journeyman. Mr Jabez was upstairs with Tom Girtley, and a quiet rubber +of whist was in progress, when Mary came up into the room to announce +that there was some one downstairs who wanted to see me. + +"Who is it, Mary?" I said. + +Mary glanced at Hallett, who saw the look and rose to go. + +"Don't you run away, Hallett," I cried. "I've no one to see me whom you +need not know." + +I stopped there, for the thought flashed across my mind that it might be +some one from Miss Carr, or perhaps it might be something to do with +John Lister. + +He saw my hesitation, and said quietly: + +"I shall be upstairs if you want me, Antony. I think I will go now." + +He left the room. + +"Well, Mary, who's the mysterious stranger?" I said. + +"Oh, Master Antony," she cried excitedly, "whoever do you think it is? +I hope it don't mean trouble. Some one from the country." + +"Not Blakeford?" I exclaimed, with all my budding manhood seeming to be +frozen down on the instant, and my boyish dread ready to return. + +"No, my dear, not old Blakeford," she said; "but that other old Mr +Rowle." + +"Old Mr Rowle!" I cried excitedly, as, like a flash, all my former +intercourse with him darted back--the day when he came and took +possession of our dear home; our meals together; the bit of dinner in +the summer-house; and his kindly help with money and advice when I was +about to run away. Why, I felt that it was to him that I owed all my +success in life, and my heart smote me as I thought of my ingratitude, +and how I seemed to have forgotten him since I had become so prosperous +and well-to-do. + +"Yes," said Mary, "old Mr Rowle. He's standing at the door, my dear; +he said he was so shabby he wouldn't come in." + +Thank God, I was only a boy still, and full of youthful freshness and +enthusiasm! I forgot all my dandyism and dress, everything, in the +excitement of seeing the old man again; and almost before Mary had done +speaking, I was bounding down the stairs to rush through the big hall +and catch hold of the little old man standing on the steps. + +He seemed to have shrunk; or was it that I had sprung up from the little +boy into a young man? I could not tell then. I did not want to tell +then; all I knew was that the childish tears were making my eyes dim, +that there was a hot choking sensation in my throat, and that I dragged +the old man in. We had a struggle over every mat, where he would stop +to rub his shoes. I could not speak, only keep on shaking both his +hands; and I seemed to keep on shaking them till I had him thrust down +by the fire in the easy-chair. + +"Why, young 'un," he said at last, "how you have grown!" + +"Why, Mr Rowle," I said, as soon as I could speak, "I am--I am glad to +see you." + +"Are you--are you, young 'un?" he said, getting up out of his chair, +picking his hat off the floor, where he had set it down, and putting it +on again, while in a dreamy way he ran his eye all over the room, making +a mental inventory of the furniture, just as I remembered him to have +done of old. + +He seemed to be very little, and yellow, and withered, and he was very +shabbily dressed, too; but I realised the fact that he was not much +altered, as he fixed his eyes once more on me, and repeated: + +"Why, young 'un, how you have grow'd!" + +"Have I, Mr Rowle?" I said, laughing through my weak tears; for his +coming seemed to have brought back so much of the past. + +"Wonderful!" he said. "I shouldn't have know'd you, that I shouldn't. +Why, you've grow'd into quite a fine gentleman, that you have, and you +used to be about as high as sixpen'orth o' ha'pence." + +"I was a little fellow," I said, laughing. + +"But you'd got a 'awful lot o' stuff in you, young 'un," he said. "But, +I say, are you--are you really glad to see me, young 'un--I mean, Mr +Grace?" + +"Glad to see you?" I cried. "I can't tell you how glad. But sit down. +Here, give me your hat." + +"Gently, young 'un, there's something in it. Pr'aps I'd better keep it +on." + +"No, no," I cried, catching it from his hands, and forcing him back into +the easy-chair. + +"Gently, young 'un," he said, thrusting one hand up the cuff of his long +brown coat, which, with its high collar, almost seemed to be the same as +the one in which I saw him first--"gently, young 'un," he said; "you've +broke my pipe." + +I burst out laughing, and, weak as it may sound, the tears came to my +eyes again, as I saw him draw from up his sleeve a long clay pipe broken +in three, and once more the old scenes in the deserted rifled house came +back. + +"Never mind the pipe, Mr Rowle," I cried. "You shall have a dozen if +you like, twice as long as that. But you must be hungry and tired. I +am glad to see you." + +"Thankye, young 'un," he said, smiling; and the old man's lip quivered a +little as he shook my hand. "I didn't expect it of you, but I thought +I'd come and see if you'd forgotten me." + +I ran to the bell, and Mary came up directly, and smiled and nodded at +my visitor. + +"Mary," I said, "let's have some supper directly--a bit of something +hot. And, I say, bring up that long pipe of Revitts'--the churchwarden, +you know. I've got some tobacco." + +"I've got a bit of tobacco," said Mr Rowle, "and--you've taken my hat +away--there's something in it. Thankye. I thought, maybe, they might +come in useful. They're quite fresh." + +As he spoke he took out a great yellow silk handkerchief, and from +underneath that, fitting pretty tightly in the hat, a damp-looking paper +parcel, that proved to contain a couple of pounds of pork sausages, +which Mary bore away, and returned directly with a kettle of hot water +and a long churchwarden clay pipe, which Mr Rowle proceeded to fill +from my tobacco-jar, lit, sat bolt-upright in his chair, and began to +smoke. + +All the intervening years seemed to have slipped away as I saw the old +man sitting there, a wonderfully exact counterpart of Mr Jabez in +shabby clothes; and, as his eyes once more wandered round the place, I +half expected to see him get up and go all over the house, smoking in +each room, and mentally making his inventory of the goods under his +charge. + +I went to a little cellaret, got out the glasses, spirit-stand, and +sugar, and mixed the old man a steaming tumbler, which he took, nodded, +and sipped with great satisfaction. Then, puffing contentedly away at +his pipe, he said: + +"Not all your own, is it?" And his eyes swept over the furniture. + +"Yes, to be sure," I said, laughing at his question, for I took a good +deal of pride in my rooms, which were really well furnished. + +"You've grow'd quite a swell, young 'un," he said at last; and then +stopped smoking suddenly. "I ain't no right here," he said. "I hope +you don't mind the pipe." + +"I'm going to have a cigar with you presently," I said, laughing, "only +we'll have some supper first." + +"Only fancy," he said; "just a bit of a slip as you was when you made up +your mind to cut, and now grow'd up. I should have liked to have seen +what come between. You are glad to see me, then?" + +"Glad? Of course," I cried; and then Mary came bustling in to lay the +cloth. + +"She's altered, too," said the old man, who went on smoking away +placidly. "Got crummier; and she don't speak so sharp. Think o' you +two living in the same house." + +"Mary's my landlady," I said. "But this is a surprise." + +"Ah! Yes," he said; "I've often thought I'd come up and see Jabez, and +look you up same time. I had a bit of a job to find you, for Jabez +wasn't at home." + +"Mr Jabez is here," I said. + +"Yes; they said he'd come to see you, and they wouldn't give me the +address at first. I'd lost it, or forgotten it, but here I am." + +"I'll go up and tell him you are here," I cried; and before my visitor +could say a word, I had run upstairs and completely upset all Mr Jabez +Rowle's calculations, which might or might not have ended in his gaining +the odd trick, and was soon taking him downstairs on the plea or +important business. + +"Anything the matter, Grace?" he said--"anything wrong with Hallett?" + +"No," I said; "he's in his bedroom. Come in here." + +If I had expected to startle or surprise Mr Jabez, I should have been +disappointed, for, upon entering my room, where his brother was +composedly smoking the long clay pipe, with his yellow silk handkerchief +spread over his knees, he only said: + +"Hallo, Peter, you here?" and went and sat down on the other side of the +fire. + +"How do, Jabez?" said my old friend, without taking his pipe out of his +mouth; and then there was silence, which I did not care to break, but +sat down, too, and looked on. + +"Come up to-day, Peter?" said Mr Jabez. + +"Yes." + +"When are you going back?" + +"Don't know." + +"Oh!" + +Then there was a pause. + +"Stick to your pipe still," said Mr Jabez, taking a loud pinch of +snuff. + +"Yes; never could manage snuff." + +"Oh!" + +Here there was another pause, broken once more by Mr Jabez. + +"Where are you going to stay?" + +"Long o' you." + +"Oh!" + +A great many puffs of smoke followed here, and several pinches of snuff, +as the two old men sat on either side of the fire and stared hard at +each other, their likeness being now wonderful, as far as their heads +were concerned. + +"Hard up?" said Mr Jabez at last. + +"No. Want to borrow a sov?" + +"No," said Mr Jabez shortly; and there was again a silence. + +"I'll have a drop of gin and water, Grace," said Mr Jabez, after a very +long and awkward pause for me. + +I mixed it for him with alacrity. + +"You two friendly?" said Mr Peter at last, making a strenuous effort to +thrust one finger into the bowl of his pipe without removing the waxed +end from his lips, but finding it impossible, without apparently +swallowing a goodly portion, from the length of the stem. + +"Friendly? of course we are. Can't you see?" replied Mr Jabez +snappishly. + +"No! How should I know? Like him to know anything about your affairs?" +said Mr Peter, turning to me. + +"Oh yes," I said. "Mr Jabez Rowle is a very great friend of mine." + +"Right!" said that individual, giving his head a nod. + +"I didn't come up on purpose to see you, Jabez," said Mr Peter. + +"Who said you did?" snapped Mr Jabez. "What did you come for? About +what you said?" + +"Yes." + +There was another awkward pause, fortunately broken by Mary, who entered +with a tray odorous with hot rump-steak and onions: and as soon as he +smelt it, Mr Peter stood his pipe up in the corner of the fireplace, +and softly rubbed his hands. + +His brother made no scruple about joining the meal, and as the brothers +rose, Mr Jabez held out his hand with-- + +"Well, how are you, Peter?" + +"Tidy," said Mr Peter, and they shook hands as if they were cross with +each other, and then they each made a hearty meal. + +"Got a latchkey, Jabez?" said Mr Peter, as, after supper, we all drew +up round the fire and the visitor from Rowford refilled and lit his +pipe, causing Mr Jabez to draw off from him as far as was possible. + +"Yes," he said shortly. + +"That's right," said Mr Peter; "don't want to go to bed, do you, young +'un?" + +"Oh, no," I said; "I'm too glad to see you again." + +The old man's eyes twinkled, as he looked at me fixedly. + +"Been a good boy, Jabez?" he said at last. + +"Who?--me?" + +"No, no; young 'un here." + +"Oh, yes. Can't you see?" + +"Thought he would be, or I shouldn't have sent him." + +"Humph!" + +I wanted to talk, but I found that it would be of no use now, so I +contented myself with studying the brothers, and, just then, Tom Girtley +came in. + +"Won't disturb you," he said quickly; "just off. Good-night, Mr Rowle, +good-night, Tony." + +"Who's he?" said Mr Peter, as the door closed. + +"A friend of mine--a young solicitor." + +"Any good?--Trust him?" said Mr Peter quickly. + +"Yes, he is very clever in his profession," I said wonderingly. + +"Call him back, then," said Mr Peter. "I've got something for him to +hear." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. + +PETER ROWLE'S BARGAIN. + +I was just in time to call Tom Girtley back as he reached the corner of +the street, and he came up into my room, wondering, for the hour was +getting late; but he took a chair quietly, and waited for what Mr Peter +had to say. + +"Well, it ain't much," said the latter; "but it may mean a good deal. +S'pose, sir, you just cast your eye over them there?" He took a packet +of papers, tied with red tape, and docketed, out of his pocket, and +passed them over to Tom Girtley, who immediately opened them in a very +business-like way, and proceeded rapidly to mentally summarise their +contents. + +This took him some little time, during which we all sat very still, Mr +Peter giving me a very knowing look or two in the interval. + +"These are very important documents, sir," said Tom Girtley quietly. "I +must, of course, warn you that I am only a young member of my +profession, and wanting in experience; but, as far as I can judge, these +are the private memoranda and certain deeds and documents of Mr Edward +Grace, of--" + +"My father!" I exclaimed excitedly. "How did you get these papers, Mr +Rowle?" + +"Bought 'em," said the old gentleman quietly. + +"You bought them?" + +"To be sure I did. Old Blakeford thought he'd taken possession of all +your father's papers, my boy, after his death, but he didn't." + +"How did you get them, then?" said Mr Jabez sharply. + +"Bought 'em, I tell you. It was like this: old Blakeford put me in +possession at the house of a man who had borrowed money of him, and he +was going to sell him up--you know his ways, young 'un--I mean Mr +Grace. Well, I went there one night, and very wild the poor fellow was, +and he went straight to a bureau, that I seemed to have seen before, and +began to go over his papers, tying up some and burning others, and going +on and calling old Blakeford names all the while. `Ah,' he says, all at +once, `I bought this writing-table and drawers at Grace's sale, when +Blakeford sold the furniture. Look here,' he said, `this lot of papers +was in one of the back drawers. They belonged to old Grace, I suppose,' +and he was about to pitch them into the fire with his own letters and +things, of which there was quite a heap. + +"`Don't do that,' I says; `they may be of value.' + +"`Not they,' he says; `if they'd been worth anything old Blakeford +wouldn't have left them. They aren't worth tuppence!' + +"`I'll give you tuppence for them,' I says. + +"`Pay up,' he says, and I handed him the twopence, and took the papers. +I've read 'em, and think they're worth the money." + +"Worth the money!" cried Tom Girtley; "why, they may be worth ten +thousand pounds; but I can say nothing till I have gone into the case; +and I daresay it would be necessary to make Mr Blakeford supply some of +the connecting links." + +"Which he won't do," said Mr Peter quietly. + +"Unless he's obliged," said Tom Girtley. "There are means of making +even a solicitor speak, Mr Rowle," he continued. "Will you take these +papers?" + +"No," said Mr Peter; "give 'em to Mr Grace there. They were his +father's. Blakeford's pitched me over, because I got old and useless, +so I shan't try to screen him in the least." + +Tom Girtley folded and tied up the papers, and handed them to me but I +refused to take them. + +"Keep them and study them," I said; "perhaps they will not prove to be +so valuable when you have given them a fresh perusal." + +He nodded and placed the packet in his breast-pocket, all three then +rising to go, for it was past twelve, and as Tom Girtley and I stood at +the door, we saw the two old men go down the street, arm-in-arm, till +they passed by the lamp-post and disappeared. Then, after a hearty +good-night, Tom Girtley took his departure, and I went up to bed, to lie +for hours thinking about my life with Mr Blakeford, and wondering +whether he had defrauded me over the question of my father's property. +I had always felt that I was in his debt, and meant some day to repay +him all he said that my father owed; in fact, Miss Carr had been so +liberal to me in the way of pocket-money, that I had forty pounds saved +up for that purpose; but now this came like a revelation, and there was +a delightful feeling of triumph in the idea that I might perhaps bring a +thorough scoundrel to book. Then all at once I began to think about +Hetty--pretty, gentle little Hetty, who had been so kind to me when I +was a miserable unhappy boy, and the hours when I saw her seemed like +gleams of light, amongst so much darkness. + +What would Hetty be like after all these years, I wondered; and then I +began to blame myself for not asking Mr Rowle more about her, and at +last, with the memory of the bright affectionate child filling my +thoughts, I dropped off to sleep, to dream once more about Mr +Blakeford, and that I was on the road, with him in full chase. + +It was quite a treat to get out of bed and away from the nightmare-like +dreams of the past, and after a sharp walk and breakfast, I made my way +round by Mr Jabez Rowle's lodgings, to have a few words with Mr Peter, +before going to Lambeth. + +I found the old man alone, smoking a long pipe with his hat on, and his +brother gone. + +His face lit up as he saw me, and after a little conversation about the +past-- + +"When are you going back to Rowford?" I said. + +"Want to get rid of me?" he replied. + +"No, no, of course not." + +"Don't know that I'm going back at all," he said. "Jabez and I haven't +seen much of each other lately. Think I shall stay." + +"Did--have--did you ever see much of Miss Blakeford?" I said, feeling +conscious as I spoke that I was growing hot. + +"Often," said the old man, looking at me intently. "She often asked +about you." + +"About me?" I said. + +"Yes: how you got on, and whether you were coming back." + +"What is she like now?" I said. "Of course she is not a little girl +now." + +"Little girl? No: I should think not. Grow'd into an angel, that's +what she is." + +I could not ask any more, but promising to go in and see him in the +evening, I hurried off to the works, thinking that I should very much +like to see Hetty Blakeford again, and wondering whether she would see +much change in me. + +In another hour Rowford was forgotten, and I was deep in the +preparations for Hallett's machine, which was rapidly approaching +completion; while a fortnight later I was dining with Miss Carr, and +bearing her the news of the successful point to which Hallett had +climbed, making her flush with pleasure, as I told her that the machine +was to be set up at Mr Ruddle's place of business, and be tried there. + +"Send me word the day and hour of the trial, Antony," she said, in a low +voice. + +"Will you come?" I said eagerly. + +"No, Antony, no," she said softly. "I could not come, but I shall pray +for a triumphant success." + +She spoke warmly, for she seemed off her guard, and then hurriedly +changed the conversation. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. + +THE DAY OF TRIUMPH. + +The day of trial came at last; and after a sleepless night, I was trying +to make a good breakfast before going down to Mr Ruddle's with the +inventor. + +I believe I felt as nervous and excited as Hallett himself; for Mr +Ruddle had spoken to me the night before about some unpleasant +suspicions that he had. + +"I don't like to accuse any body, Grace," he said; "but I'm afraid a +certain person who shall be nameless has been setting some of the +ignorant, drunken loafers of the trade against the machine." + +That was all then, but it was enough to make me uneasy, though I did not +believe in the possibility of any trade outrage in the middle of London. + +Hallett looked very pale, but I never saw him seem more manly, +thoughtful, and handsome, as he stood there in his mother's room, +holding her hands. + +"I shall come back, dear," he said, kissing her tenderly, "telling you +of my success. No, no, don't shake your head. Good-bye, dear, wish me +success. Good-bye, Linny, darling! Ah! Mr Girtley, you here?" + +"To be sure," cried Tom Girtley; "I've come to wish you success. Linny +and I are going to throw old shoes after you. Mind! a champagne supper +if you succeed. Tony and I will find the champagne. Hallo! here's Papa +Rowle." + +There was no mistaking that step, without the sound of the old man +taking snuff, and he entered directly after; got up in grand style, and +with a flower in his button-hole. + +He had a bunch of flowers, too, for Mrs Hallett, and a kiss for Linny; +and then, shaking hands all round, he began to rub his hands. + +"It's a winner, Hallett--a winner!" he exclaimed. "Come along, Girtley, +you'll make one. We want some big boys to cry `Hooray!'" + +"I'll come, then," said Tom merrily; and directly after we went off, +trying to look delighted, but all feeling exceedingly nervous and +strange. + +Hallett and Girtley went on in front, and Mr Jabez took my arm, holding +me a little back. + +"I'm glad Girtley's coming, Grace," he said; "he's a big, strong fellow, +and we may want him." + +"Why?" I said excitedly. + +"I don't know for certain, my boy, but I'm afraid there's mischief +brewing. I can't swear to it, but I believe that devil, John Lister, +has been stirring up the scoundreldom of the trade, with stuff about the +machine taking the bread out of their mouths, and if the trial passes +off without a hitch, I shall be surprised." + +"Mr Ruddle hinted something of the kind, last night," I said. + +"Yes, but don't let Hallett know, poor fellow! He's weak and ill enough +already. He might break down. Ruddle had men watching the place all +last night, so as to guard against any malicious attempts." + +"But do you think they would dare to injure the machine?" I exclaimed. + +"Fools will do anything if they are set to do it," said the old man, +sententiously. + +"If Lister is at the bottom of any such attempts he deserves to be +shot," I cried indignantly. + +"And his carcase given to the crows," said the old man. "But I say, +Antony Grace, my boy, is Miss Carr likely to come to see the trial?" + +"No," I replied; "she asked me to let her know the time, but she said +she could not come." + +"Humph! I should have liked her to see it," he said. "But come along; +don't let's lag behind; and mind this, my ideas may only be suspicions, +and worth nothing at all." + +There was a group or two of men hanging about the rival office, bearing +Lister's name, at the end of the street, as we went up to the great +building, and as I passed the timekeeper's box I could not help thinking +of the day when, a shivering, nervous boy, I had gone up only to meet +with a rebuff; while now one of the first persons to come bustling up, +looking very much older, but as pugnacious and important as ever, was +Mr Grimstone, who was quite obsequious as he shook hands first with me, +and then with Hallett. + +"Very, very proud, gentlemen," he exclaimed, "very proud indeed. Great +changes since you used to honour us with your assistance." + +"Yes, Mr Grimstone," I said, laughing as I wondered how I could ever +have trembled before him, "and time hasn't stood still." + +"No, indeed, but we wear well, Mr Jabez Rowle and I, sir. Ha-ha-ha! +Yes, old standards, sir, both of us, and we stand by the old +establishment. We don't want to go away inventing great machines." + +"Oh, Grimstone! the men are still there with the machine?" said Mr +Ruddle, coming up. + +"No, sir, not now. They went off when I came, but I've put the new +watchman on." + +"Confound it all, Grimstone! You've never put a stranger there?" +exclaimed Mr Ruddle furiously. + +"But I have, sir," said the overseer importantly. "Here he is, sir. +Bramah lock," and he held out a bright new key. + +"Oh, I see," said Mr Ruddle, laughing. "Here's Mr Girtley, senior." + +The great engineer came up, nodded to his son and me, shook hands with +Hallett, and then we all went to the room where the machine had been set +up, glistening, bright, and new, with the shaft and bands of the regular +engine gear passing through above it. + +The first thing noticed was that the window was open; and annoyed that +the mist of a damp morning should be admitted, I hurriedly closed it, +thinking then no more of the matter. + +It wanted quite an hour to the time appointed, and the interval was +employed in superintending the alteration of a few bolts and nuts, which +Mr Girtley wanted tightened, and as I watched the great engineer, a man +whose name was now an authority throughout Europe, and who was +constantly refusing contracts, pull off his coat, take a spanner, and +help his men, I began to realise that it was his personal attention to +small matters and his watchful supervision that had raised him to his +present position. + +"Nice hands!" he said, laughing, as he held them out all over blacklead +and oil. "Wise lad, you were, Tom, to leave it, and take to your +parchment and pounce." + +There was a covert sneer in his words, which Tom seemed to take, for he +said quickly: + +"Perhaps, father, I may help you as much with my brain as I used to help +you with my hands." + +"Yes, yes, of course, my boy, and we must have lawyers. Well, Grace, +how do you feel about it now?" + +"I think I'd ease that nut a little, sir," I said, pointing to one part +of the machine. + +"Why?" he said sharply. + +"I fancy that there will be so much stress upon that wheel that it will +be better to give it as much freedom as we can, and, perhaps I am wrong, +sir, but it strikes me--" I glanced at Hallett, and felt the blood flush +to my face, for I felt that what I was about to say must sound very +cruel to him. + +"Go on, Antony," he said kindly; but I saw that he was very pale. + +"It strikes you?" said Mr Girtley. + +"That this is the weak part of the contrivance. Here falls the stress; +and, when it is running at full speed, I feel sure that the slight +structure of this portion will tell against the machine doing good work, +and it may result in its breaking down." + +"Go on," said Mr Girtley bluntly; for I had stopped, feeling +uncomfortable at the dead silence that had fallen upon the group. + +"It is not a question of efficiency," I said, "but one of detail, of +substantiality and durability. At first sight it seems as if it would +make the machine cumbersome, but I feel sure that if we made that shaft +and its wheel four times the thickness--that is to say, excessively +massive, we should get a firm, solid regularity in the working, a fourth +of the vibration, and be able to dispense with this awkward fly-wheel. +My dear Hallett," I exclaimed hurriedly, as I saw how his pallor had +increased, "pray forgive me. I was quite led away by my thoughts. +These are but suggestions. I daresay I was wrong." + +"Wrong!" exclaimed Mr Girtley, catching my hand in his, and giving it a +grip that made me wince. "Every word you have said, my boy, is worth +gold. Tom, I'd have given ten thousand pounds to have heard you speak +like that." + +"But then, you see, I could not, father," said his son good-humouredly. +"Antony Grace here is a born engineer, and you'll have to make him a +partner one of these days." + +I hardly heard their words, for my anxiety about Hallett. I seemed to +have been trampling upon his hopes, and as if I had been wanting in +forethought after having the superintendence of the manufacture for so +long. + +"I ought to have suggested these alterations before," I faltered. + +"How could you?" said Mr Girtley gruffly. "You only saw the failing +just now. I can see it, of course, when you point it out. We only +climb by our falls, Grace. Locomotives were only got to their present +perfection after no end of failures. Well, Mr Hallett, what do you +say?" + +"Antony Grace is quite right," he replied. "That is undoubtedly a +failing spot, and where, if driven at high speed, the machine would +break down. I have had no training as an engineer, and have had to work +blindfold, and in the midst of difficulties." + +"Mr Hallett," said the great engineer, "I have had training as an +engineer--a long and arduous training--and I tell you that if you had +had twice as much experience as I, you would not have succeeded with +your contrivance the very first time. I threw myself into this affair +as soon as I saw it, for I felt that it was one of those machines that +make their mark in history; and now that we are going to try it, even if +it does not come up to our expectations, I say, don't be discouraged, +for I tell you it must and will succeed. I'm not a proud man, as a +rule, but I am proud of my reputation, and if money is wanted to bring +your great invention to perfection, the cash shall be forthcoming, even +if we have to borrow." + +"Hear, hear!" cried Mr Jabez, and a slight flush appeared in Hallett's +pale face. + +"I'm very sorry I spoke, Hallett," I whispered to him, as I took his +hand. + +"What, for giving me such great help?" he said, smiling. "You foolish +fellow, Antony, I am not a spoilt child, that I cannot bear to listen to +my mistakes." + +Our conversation was broken off here; for just then a couple of +gentlemen arrived, and these were followed by others, till the room was +quite full. For invitations had been sent out to some of the principal +printers and newspaper proprietors to come and see the testing of the +new machine. + +Hallett, as the patentee, had to throw off his reserve, and come, as it +were, out of his shell to answer questions, and point out the various +peculiarities and advantages of his machine, all of which I noticed were +received with a good deal of reserve; and there was a shrug of the +shoulders here, a raising of the eyebrows there, while one coarse-minded +fellow said brutally: + +"Plaything, gentlemen, plaything. Such a machine cannot possibly +answer. The whole principle is wrong, and it must break own." + +I was so annoyed at this bitter judgment, delivered by one who had not +even a superficial knowledge of its properties, that I said quickly, and +foolishly, I grant: + +"That is what brainless people said of the steam-engine." + +"O!" he said sharply, "is it, boy? Well, you must know: you are so old +and wise. Well, come, gentlemen, I have no time to waste. When is your +plaything to be set going, Mr Ruddle?" + +"Now," said Hallett quietly, as he silenced me with a look, just as, +like the foolish enthusiastic boy I was, some hot passionate retort was +about to escape my lips. + +Mr Girtley nodded, and he gave a glance round the machine. Then he +looked up at the shaft that was revolving above our heads, and took hold +of the great leather band that was to connect it with our machine, and I +noticed that everyone but Hallett and myself drew back. + +I was so angry and excited that if I had known that the whole machine +was about to fly to pieces, I don't think I should have stirred. Then, +biting my lips, as I heard a derisive laugh from the Solon who had +annoyed me, I saw Mr Girtley give the band that peculiar twitch born of +long custom, when an undulation ran up the stout leather, it fitted +itself, as it were, over both wheels; there was a rapid whirring noise, +and the next instant the great heavy mass of machinery seemed as it were +to breathe as it throbbed and panted, and its great cylinders revolved. + +There was the glistening of the polished iron and brass, the twinkling +of the well-oiled portions, the huge roll of paper began to turn, and I +saw its virgin whiteness stamped directly after with thousands of lines +of language. My doubts of success died away, and a hearty cheer broke +forth from the assembled party; and then, as I felt a fervent wish that +Miss Carr had been present to see our triumph, there was a horrible +grinding, sickening crash; broken wheels flew here and there; bar and +crank were bent in horrible distortion; there was an instantaneous +stoppage of everything but the great fly-wheel, which, as if in +derision, went spinning on, and there lay poor Hallett stunned and +bleeding upon the floor. + +"Foul play--foul play!" roared Mr Girtley, in a voice of thunder, in +the midst of the ominous silence. "I was too late to stop the machine. +Some scoundrel had placed a great pin underneath, and I saw it fall. +Here, look! Here!" he roared, as he stamped with rage; and he pointed +to a round bent bar of iron, such as is used to screw down a paper +press. "There it is. It was placed on that ledge, so that it might +fall with the jar. Mr Ruddle, this is some of your men's work, and, +blast them! they deserve to be hanged." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. + +JOHN LISTER'S TRIUMPH. + +As Mr Girtley roared those words a sudden thought flashed through my +mind, and I ran to the window, threw it open, and, as I did so, there +beneath me, reaching down to the low roof of a building below, was a +ladder, showing plainly enough the road by which the enemy had crept in. + +From where I stood I looked out upon the backs of a score of buildings; +printing-offices, warehouses, and the like, and at the window of one of +these buildings I saw a couple of men, one of whom I felt certain was +some one I had seen before, but where, I could not tell. + +I was back and beside poor Hallett directly, giving both Mr Girtley and +Tom a look which sent them to the window, to see that there was no doubt +how the misfortune had occurred; but I was too much taken up with +Hallett's condition to say more then. + +"Is he much hurt?" cried first one and then another. + +"Looks like a judgment on him," said the heavy, broad-faced man with +whom I had had my short, verbal encounter. + +"Why?" said Tom Girtley sharply. + +"Inventing gimcrack things like that," said the fellow in a tone of +contempt, "to try and take the bread out of honest men's mouths." + +"Good heavens! man, leave the room!" cried Mr Girtley in a rage. "Go +and take off your clothes; they've been made by machinery! Go and grub +up roots with your dirty fingers! don't dig them with a spade--it's a +machine! Go and exist, and grovel like a toad or a slug, or any other +noisome creature; you are not fit for the society of men!" + +The brute was about to reply, but there was such a shout of laughter at +Mr Girtley's denunciation and its truthfulness, that he hurried out of +the place, just as Hallett sat up and stared round. + +"No," he said, "not much hurt; I'm better now. A piece of iron struck +me on the head. It is a mere nothing. Stunned me, I suppose." + +He rose as he spoke, and there was a silence no one cared to break, as +he looked at the wreck of his machine. + +"Another failure, Mr Rowle," he said sadly; and he took the old man's +hand, as if he were the one who needed all the sympathy. "I am very, +very sorry--for your sake. I cannot say more now." + +"One word, Mr Hallett," said the great engineer. "Do you know that +this is all through malice?" + +"Malice? No." + +"Some scoundrel has been here and thrust in this bar of iron. +Gentlemen," he said, looking round, "this is an unfortunate affair; but +I speak to you as leading members of the printing business, and I tell +you that Mr Hallett's invention here means success, and a revolution in +the trade,--This is a case of wanton destruction, the act of some +contemptible scoundrel. You have seen the ruin here of something built +up by immense labour, but I pledge you my word--my reputation--that +before six months are past another and a better machine shall be running +before you--perfect." + +There was a faint cheer, and quite a little crowd gathered round the +wreck while Mr Girtley turned to speak to Hallett. + +"Thank you," said the latter, smiling; "you will excuse me now; I feel +rather faint and giddy, and I will get off home." + +"I'll go with you, Hallett," I cried. + +"No, no: I shall be all right," he said, with a sad smile. "I'll take a +cab at the corner on the strength of my success. Come to me after you +leave." + +"I would rather go with you," I said. + +"No, no, I want you to represent me here," he whispered. "Stay, Antony; +it will seem less as if I deserted the ruin like a rat, and I am not man +enough to command myself now." + +"But you are not fit to go alone," I said earnestly. + +"Yes, I am," he replied; "the sick feeling has gone off. It was nothing +to mind. I am not much hurt." + +I should have pressed him, but he was so much in earnest that I drew +back, and after a formal leave-taking he left the room, and descended +the stairs, while a burst of angry remarks followed his departure. + +"Ruddle," said one grey-haired old gentleman, "I think, for your +credit's sake, you ought to have in a detective to try and trace out the +offender." + +"I mean to," said Mr Ruddle firmly, and he glanced at Grimstone, who +seemed to shrink away, and looked thin and old. + +"For my part," said another, "I believe fully in the invention and I +congratulate the man of genius who--halloa! what's wrong?" + +A burst of yells and hooting arose from the street below, and with one +consent we hurried to the windows, to see poor Hallett standing at bay +in a corner, hemmed in by about a hundred men and boys, evidently the +off-scourings of the district, who, amidst a storm of cries of "Who +robbed the poor man of his bread?"--"Who tries to stifle work?" and a +babel of similar utterances, were pelting the poor fellow with filth, +waste-paper full of printing-ink, mud, and indescribable refuse, +evidently prepared for the occasion. + +Heading the party, and the most demonstrative of all, was a fat ruffian, +in inky apron and shirt-sleeves, whom I recognised as what should have +been the manhood of my old enemy, Jem Smith, while in the same glance I +saw, standing aloof upon a doorstep, a spectator of the degrading scene, +no less a person than John Lister, fashionably dressed, and in strange +contrast to the pallid, mud-bespattered man who stood there panting and +too weak to repel assault. + +What I have said here was seen in a moment, as I cried out, "Tom +Girtley, quick!" rushed to the door, and down the stairs. + +It took me very little time to reach the street, but it was long enough +to bring my blood to fever-heat, as, closely followed by Tom, I rushed +past John Lister, and fought my way through the yelling mob of ruffianly +men and boys. + +Before I could reach Hallett, though, I caught sight of a carriage +farther up the street, and just then the noise and yelling ceased as if +by magic, while my efforts to reach Hallett's side became less arduous. + +I, too, stopped short as I reached the inner edge of the ring which +surrounded my friend, for there, richly dressed, and in strange +opposition to the scene, was Miriam Carr, her veil thrown back, her +handsome face white, and her large eyes flashing as she threw herself +before Hallett. + +"Cowards! wretches!" I heard her cry; and then, "Oh, help I help!" + +For as, regardless of his state, she caught at Hallett, he reeled and +seemed about to fall! + +Then I was at his side. + +"Don't touch me!" he gasped, recovering himself and recoiling from the +vision that seemed to have come between him and his persecutors. "Miss +Carr, for heaven's sake!--away from here!" + +For answer she caught his hand in hers, and drew his befouled arm +through her own. + +"Come," she said, as her eyes flashed with anger; "lean on me. They +will not dare to treat a woman ill." + +"Antony," cried Hallett hoarsely. "Miss Carr--take her away!" + +"Lean on me," she cried proudly. "Antony, beat a way for us through +these curs." + +I took Hallett's other arm, and as we stepped forward, Jem Smith uttered +a loud "Yah!" but it seemed as if it was broken before it left his lips, +and he went staggering back from a tremendous blow right in the teeth, +delivered by Tom Girtley. + +Then there was an interlude, for some one else forced his way to the +front. + +"Miss Carr! great heavens! what is all this?" he cried. "Give me your +hand. This is no place for you. What does this outrage mean? Quick! +let me help you. This is horrible." + +"Stand back, sir!" + +"You are excited," he cried. "You don't know me. I see now; there is +your carriage. Stand away, you ruffians. How thankful I am that I was +near! Take this man away. Is he drunk?" + +As he spoke, John Lister, with a look of supreme disgust, pushed poor +fainting Hallett back, and tried to draw Miss Carr out of the crowd. + +"Coward! Villain! This is your work!" she cried in a low, strange +voice; and as he tried to draw her away, she sharply thrust him from +her. + +The crowd uttered a cry of excitement as they witnessed the act; and, +stung almost to madness with rage and mortification, Lister turned upon +me. + +But I again found a good man at my back, for, boiling with rage, Tom +Girtley struck at him fiercely and kept him off, while in the midst of +the noise, pushing, and hustling of the crowd, a confusion that seemed +to me now as unreal as some dream, we got Hallett along towards the +carriage, he, poor fellow, seeming ready to sink at every step, while +the true-hearted woman at his side clung to him and passed one arm round +him to help him. + +The coachman now saw that his mistress seemed to be in need of help, and +he shortened the distance by forcing his horses onward through the +gathering crowd. + +But the danger was past, for those who now thronged out from the +buildings on either side were workpeople attracted by the noise, and +they rapidly outnumbered John Lister's gang of scoundrels, got together +by his lieutenant, Jem Smith, for the mortification of the man he hated, +while his triumph had been that the woman they loved had come to his +rival's help, glorified him, as it were, by her presence, and rained +down scorn and contempt upon his own wretched head. + +As I said before, it seems now like some terrible dream, in which I +found myself in Miss Carr's carriage, with her sister looking ghastly +with fear beside me, and Hallett in the back seat, nearly unconscious, +beside Miss Carr. + +"Tell the coachman to stop at the nearest doctor's, Antony," she said; +and I lowered the glass and told Tom Girtley, who had mounted to the +driver's side. + +"No, no," said Hallett, faintly, for her words seemed to bring him to. +"For pity's sake. To my own home. Why have you done this?" + +She did not speak, but I saw her take his hand, and her eyes fix +themselves, as it were, upon his, while a great sob laboured from her +breast. + +"Mr Grace," faltered Miss Carr's sister, "this is very dreadful;" and I +saw her frightened eyes wander from the mud-besmeared object opposite +her to her sister's injured attire, and the sullied linings of the +carriage. + +"Antony," said Miss Carr then, "do what is for the best." + +For answer, I lowered the window again and uttered to Tom Girtley the +one word, "Home." + +Fortunately, Revitts was on night duty, and ready to come as the +carriage stopped at the door, where we had to lift the poor fellow out, +and carry him to his bed, perfectly insensible now from the effects of +the blow. + +I was rather surprised to find the carriage gone when I descended, but +my suspense was of short duration, for it soon came back with a +neighbouring doctor, whom Miss Carr had fetched. + +Mary was at hand to show him up, while I ran down to the carriage-door, +where Miss Carr grasped my hand for a moment, her face now looking +flushed and strange. + +"Come to me to-night, Antony," she said in a low voice--"come and tell +me all." + +She sank back in the carriage then, as if to hide herself from view, +while in obedience to her mute signal, I bade the coachman drive her and +her sister home. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. + +I FIND I HAVE A TEMPER. + +I went to Miss Carr's nearly every evening now, to report progress; for +her instructions to me, after a consultation between Mr Jabez, Mr +Ruddle, Mr Girtley, and myself, were that neither expense nor time was +to be spared in perfecting the machine. + +We had gone carefully into the reasons for the breakdown, and were +compelled reluctantly to own that sooner or later the mechanism would +have failed; for besides the part I named, we found several weak points +in the construction--faults that only a superhuman intelligence could +have guarded against. The malignant act had only hastened the +catastrophe. + +It was a cruel trick, and though we could not bring it home, we had not +a doubt that the dastardly act was committed by Jem Smith, who was the +instrument of John Lister. A little examination showed how easily the +back premises could be entered by anyone coming along behind from +Lister's, and there was some talk of prosecution, but Hallett was ill, +and it was abandoned. + +For the blow he had received from a piece of the machinery had produced +serious injury to the head, and day after day I had very bad news to +convey to Miss Carr. The poor fellow seemed to have broken down +utterly, and kept his bed. He used to try to appear cheerful; but it +was evident that he took the matter bitterly to heart, and at times gave +up all hope of ever perfecting the machine. + +It was pitiful to see his remorseful looks when Mr Jabez came to see +him of an evening; Mr Peter, who always accompanied his brother, +stopping in my room to smoke a long pipe I kept on purpose for him, +whether I was at home or no, and from time to time he had consultations +with Tom Girtley, who kept putting off a communication that he said he +had to make till he had his task done. + +I used to notice that he and Mr Peter had a great deal to say to each +other, but I was too much taken up with my troubles about Hallett and +the machine to pay much heed; for sometimes the idea forced itself upon +me that my poor friend would never live to realise his hopes. + +Time glided on, and I used to sit with him in an evening, and tell him +how we had progressed during the day; but it made no impression +whatever; he used only to lie and dream, never referring once to Miss +Carr's behaviour on that wretched day; in fact, I used to fancy +sometimes that he was in such a state from his injury that he had not +thoroughly realised what did occur. + +It was indeed a dreary time; for poor Mrs Hallett, when, led by a sense +of duty, I used to go and sit with her, always had a reproachful look +for me, and, no matter what I said, she always seemed to make the worst +of matters. + +But for Linny and Tom Girtley, the place would have been gloomy indeed, +but the latter was always bright and cheerful, and Linny entirely +changed. There was no open love-making, but a quiet feeling of respect +seemed to have sprung up between them, and I hardly knew what was going +on, only when it was brought to my attention by Mr Jabez, or Revitts, +or Mary. + +"I should have thought as you wouldn't have liked that there friend of +yourn cutting you out in the way he do, Ant'ny," said Revitts, one day; +"I don't want to make mischief, but this here is my--our--house," he +added by way of correction, "and I don't think as a young man as is a +friend of yourn ought to come down my stairs with his arm round a +certain young lady's waist." + +"Go along, do, with your stuff and nonsense, William," exclaimed Mary +sharply. "What do you know about such things?" + +"Lots," said Bill, grinning with delight, and then becoming +preternaturally serious; "I felt it to be my dooty to tell Ant'ny, and I +have." + +"You don't know nothing about it," said Mary, tittering; "he don't know +what we know, do he, Master Antony?" + +"I don't know what you mean, Mary," I replied. + +"Oh do, of course not, Master Antony; but I shouldn't like a certain +young lady down at Rowford to hear you say so." + +"Phew!" whistled Revitts, and feeling very boyish and conscious, I made +my retreat, for I was bound for Westmouth Street, and had stopped to +have ten minutes' chat downstairs with my old friends on the way. + +I found Miss Carr looking very thin and anxious, and she listened +eagerly to my account of howl was progressing at the works. + +"Mr Girtley tells me that you are doing wonders, Antony," she said, in +a curious, hesitating way, for we both seemed to be fencing, and as if +we disliked to talk of the subject nearest to our hearts. + +She was the first to cast off the foolish reserve though, and to ask +after Hallett's health. + +"The doctors don't seem to help him a bit," I said sadly. "Poor fellow! +he thinks so much about the failure of his hopes, and it is +heart-breaking to see him. He toiled for it so long. Oh, Miss Carr, if +I only knew for certain that it was John Lister who caused the +breakdown, I should almost feel as if I could kill him." + +"Kill him with your contempt, Antony," she said sternly; and then, as we +went on talking about Hallett's illness, she became very much agitated, +and I saw that she was in tears, which she hastily repressed as her +sister entered the room. + +The next evening when I went, I found her alone, for her sister had gone +to stay a few days with some friends. My news was worse than ever, and +there was no fencing the question that night, as she turned very pale +when I gave my report. + +"But the invention, Antony," she exclaimed excitedly; "tell me how it is +going on." + +"We are working at it as fast as possible," I replied; "it takes a long +time, but that is unavoidable." + +"If you love Stephen Hallett," she said suddenly, and she looked full in +my face, "get his invention finished and perfect. Let it succeed, and +you will have done more for him than any doctor. Work, Antony, work. I +ask you for--for--Pray, pray strive on." + +"I will--I am striving," I said, "with all my might. It was a cruel +blow for him though, just as success was in his grasp." + +"Mr Lister is here, ma'am," said the servant, entering the room. + +"I have forbidden Mr Lister my house," said Miss Carr sternly. + +"Yes, ma'am, but he forced his way in, and--" + +Before the man could finish his sentence, John Lister was in the room, +looking flushed and excited, and he almost thrust the servant out and +closed the door. + +As he caught sight of me his face turned white with rage, but he +controlled himself, and turned to where Miss Carr was standing, looking +very beautiful in her anger. + +I had started up, and stepped between them, but she motioned me back to +my seat, while he joined his hands in a piteous way, and said in a low +voice: + +"I could not help it. I was obliged to come. Pray, pray, Miriam, hear +me now." + +"Mr Lister!" she said, with a look of contempt that should have driven +him away--"Mr Lister! and once more here?" + +"Miriam," he exclaimed, "you drive me to distraction. Do you think that +such a love as mine is to be crushed?" + +"Love!" she said, looking: at him contemptuously. + +"Yes; love," he cried. "I'll prove to you my love by saying that now-- +even now, knowing what I do, I will forgive the past, and will try to +save you from disgrace." + +"Mr Lister, you force me to listen to you," she replied, "for I will +not degrade you by ringing for the servants and having you removed. +Pray say what you mean. Hush, Antony, let him speak. Perhaps after he +has said all he wishes, he may leave me in peace." + +"Leave you in peace--you will not degrade me!" he cried, stung to +madness and despair by her looks and words. "Look here, Miriam Carr, +you compel me to speak as I do before this wretched boy." + +"Hush, Antony, be silent," she cried, as I started up, stung in my turn +by his contemptuous tone. + +"Yes: sit down, spaniel, lap-dog--miserable cur!" he cried; and I felt +my teeth grit together with such a sensation of rage a as I had never +known before. "And now, as for you--you blind, foolish woman," he +continued, as I awakened to the fact that he had been drinking heavily, +"since fair means will not succeed, foul means shall." + +"Say what you wish to say, Mr Lister," she replied coldly, "for I warn +you that this is the last time you shall speak to me. If you force +yourself into my presence again, my servants shall hand you over to the +police." + +"What!" he cried, with a forced laugh, "me?--hand me over to the police? +You--you think I have been drinking, but you are wrong." + +No one had hinted at such a thing, but he felt it, and went on. + +"I came to tell you to-night, that I will ignore the past, that I will +overlook your disgraceful intimacy with this low, contemptible +compositor, the blackguardly friend of this boy--the man who has +obtained a hold upon you, and who, with his companions, is draining your +purse--I say I will overlook all this, and, ignoring the past, take you +for my wife, if you will promise to give up this wretched crew." + +There was no answer, but I sat there feeling as if I must fling myself +at him, young and slight as I was, in her defence, but she stood there +like a statue, fixing him with her eyes, while he went on raving. His +face was flushed, and there was a hot, fiery look in his eyes, while his +lips were white and parched. + +"You shall not go on like this," he continued. "You are my betrothed +wife, and I will not stand by and see your name dragged in the mire by +these wretched adventurers. Even now your name has become a by-word and +a shame, the talk in every pot-house where low-class printers meet, and +it is to save you from this that I would still take you to be my wife." + +Still she did not speak, and a look from her restrained me, when I would +have done something to protect her from his insults, every one of which +seemed to sting me to the heart. + +"I know I am to blame," he said passionately, "for letting you take and +warm that young viper into life; but I could not tell. It shall end, +though, now. I have written to your brother-in-law, and he will help to +drag you from amongst this swindling crew." + +"Have you said all you wish to say, Mr Lister?" she replied coldly. + +"No," he cried, stung into a fresh burst by her words; "no, I have not. +No, I tell you," he cried, taking a step forward, as if believing in his +drunken fit that she was shrinking from him, and being conquered by his +importunities; "No, I tell you--no: and I never shall give up till you +consent to be my wife. Do you take me for a drivelling boy, to be put +off like this, Miriam?" he cried, catching at her hand, but she drew it +back. "Do you wish to save your name from disgrace?" + +She did not answer, while he approached closer. + +"You don't speak," he said hoarsely. "Do you know what they say about +you and this fellow Hallett?" + +Still she made no reply. + +"They say," he hissed, and thrusting out his face, he whispered +something to her, when, in an instant, I saw her countenance change, and +her white hand struck him full across the lips. + +Uttering an oath, he caught her tightly by the arms, but I could bear no +more. With my whole strength called up I leaped at him, and seized him +by the throat, believing in my power of turning him forcibly from the +room. + +The events of the next few moments seem now as if seen through a mist, +for in the brief struggle that ensued I was easily mastered by the +powerful man whom I had engaged. + +I have some indistinct memory of our swaying here and there, and then of +having a heavy fall. My next recollection is of feeling sick and +drowsy, and seeing Miss Carr and one of the servants bending over me and +bathing my face. + +For some few minutes I could not understand what it all meant but by +degrees the feeling of sickness passed away, and I looked hastily round +the room. + +Miss Carr, who was deadly pale, told the maid to fetch some brandy, and +as soon as we were alone, she knelt by me, and held one of my hands to +her lips. + +"Are you much hurt, Antony?" she said tenderly. "I did not send for the +doctor. That wretched man has made sufficient scandal as it is." + +"Hurt? No--not much," I said rather faintly. "Where is he?" + +"Gone," she said; and then she uttered a sigh of relief, as I sat up and +placed one hand to my head, feeling confused, and as if I had gone back +some years, and that this was not Miss Carr but Mary, and that this was +Mr Blakeford's again. + +The confusion soon passed off, though, and after I had drunk the spirit +that was brought me, I felt less giddy and strange. + +Miss Carr sat watching me, looking very pale, but I could realise now +that she was terribly agitated. + +Before an hour had passed I felt ready to talk to her, and beg her to +take some steps for her protection. + +"If I had only been a strong man," I exclaimed passionately. "Oh, Miss +Carr, pray, pray do something," I cried again; "this is horrible. I +cannot bear to see you insulted by that wretch." + +"I have decided to do something, Antony," she said in a low voice; and a +faint colour came into her pale cheeks. "He will not be able to force +his way to me again." + +"I don't know," I said. "He is a madman. I am sure he had been +drinking to-night." + +"No one but a madman would have behaved as he did, Antony," she said. +"But be at rest about me. I have, after a bitter struggle with myself, +decided what to do." + +"But you will not go away?" I said. + +She shook her head. + +"No; my path lies here," she said quietly. "Antony, I want your help +to-morrow." + +"Yes: what shall I do?" I asked. + +"Will you ask Miss Hallett to come here to me--will you bring her?" + +"Bring Linny Hallett here?" I exclaimed in surprise. + +"Yes: bring her here," she said softly; and there was a peculiar tone in +her voice as she spoke. "And now about yourself. Do you feel well +enough to go home? Shall one of the servants see you safely back?" + +"Oh no," I said; "I am better now. I shall take a cab. But I do not +feel comfortable to leave you alone." + +"You need not fear," she said quietly. "The house will be closed as +soon as you leave. To-morrow I shall take steps for my protection." + +I left her soon after, thinking about her request, and as far as I could +make out she intended to keep Linny with her, feeling that Lister would +not dare to face her again, when the woman he had sought to injure had +been made her companion. + +Still I did not feel satisfied, and the only consoling thing was to be +found in Lister's own words, that he had sent for Miss Carr's relative; +and, in the hope that he might soon arrive, I reached home and went up +at once to see Hallett, who looked very ill, but smiled sadly, as I sat +down by his side. + +"Better," he said; "I think I'm better, but I don't know, Antony: +sometimes I feel as if it would be happier if I could be altogether at +rest." + +"Oh, Hallett!" I cried. + +"Yes, you are right," he said. "What would become of them? I must get +better, Antony, better, but sometimes--sometimes--" + +"Don't speak to him any more," whispered Mary; "he is so weak that his +poor head wanders." + +"But, Mary, the doctor; does he say there is any danger?" + +"No, no, my dear. He is to sleep all he can. There, go down now. I'm +going to sit up to-night." + +I went down, leaving Mary to her weary vigil; for my head ached +terribly, and I was very giddy. + +Linny was in the sitting-room, and she uttered an exclamation. + +"Why, how bad you look, Antony!" she cried. + +"Do I?" I said with a laugh; "I had a bit of a fall, and it has shaken +me. But, Linny dear, I have a message for you." + +"For me, Antony?" she said, turning white. + +"Yes; Miss Carr bade me ask you to come with me to her house to-morrow." + +"I go to her house!" faltered Linny. + +"Yes, dear, you will--will you not? I am sure it is important." + +"But I could not leave poor Steve." + +"It need not take long," I said; "you will go and see what she wants?" + +Linny looked at me in silence for a few moments, and there was something +very dreamy in her face. + +"If you think it right that I should go, Antony," she said at last, "I +will. Shall I speak to Stephen first?" + +"No," I said. "Hear first what she has to say." + +She promised, and I went down to my own room, glad to lay my aching head +upon the pillow; where I soon fell into a troubled sleep, dreaming of my +encounter with John Lister, and feeling again the heavy blow as we fell, +and my head struck the broad, flat fender with a sickening crash, that +seemed to be repeated again and again. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT. + +THIS CRISIS. + +By my advice, then, Linny said nothing to Hallett about where she was +going, and as I had stayed at home from the works on purpose, we started +in pretty good time for Westmouth Street, my companion's flushed cheeks +making her look extremely bright and pretty. She was terribly nervous +though, and when we neared the door I feared that she would not muster +up courage enough to enter. + +"I feel as if I dare not meet her, Antony," she faltered. + +"What nonsense!" I said, smiling. "Why, she is gentleness and +tenderness itself. Come, be a woman." + +"It is not that," she whispered. "There is so much more behind. Take +me back, Antony. Why does she want to see me?" + +"I don't know," I replied; "but you may be sure that it is for some good +purpose." + +"Do--do you think she will be angry with me--about--about, you know whom +I mean? Do you think it is to reproach me?" + +"I am sure it is not, Linny. Come, come, make an effort. I don't know, +but I feel sure it is to try and help poor Hallett." + +"Do you think so?" she faltered, "or is this only to persuade me to go +on? Oh, Antony, you cannot think how my heart beats with dread. I am +afraid of this Miss Carr, and feel as if I ought to hate her." + +"Come along, you foolish girl," I said; and, yielding to me, I led her +up to the door, when we were admitted, and at once ushered into the +drawing-room. + +I did not at first see Miss Carr, but the door had hardly closed before +I heard the rustle of her dress, and the next moment Linny was folded in +her arms, and returning the embrace. + +I stood for a moment listening to Linny's passionate sobs, and then +stole softly away, going down into the dining-room to stand gazing out +of the window, but seeing nothing of the passers-by, only in imagination +the scene upstairs, and wondering why Miss Carr had sent for Linny. + +I was kept in doubt for quite an hour, and then the servant came and +asked me to step upstairs, where, to my surprise, I found Miss Carr +dressed for going out. + +She held out her hand to me as I entered, and pressed mine. + +"Don't speak to me, Antony," she whispered, in a broken voice. "I am +going home with Linny Hallett." + +"You--going home--with--" + +The rest died on my lips as I saw her draw down her veil to hide her +convulsed face, and then, without a word, she rang the bell, the door +was opened for us, and, feeling like one in a dream, I walked in silence +by their side to the house in Great Ormond Street, where, as I placed my +latchkey in the door, it was snatched open, and Mary, with her face red +with weeping, stood there. + +"Oh, Miss Linny! Oh, Master Antony!" she sobbed, "I'm so glad you've +come. The doctor sent me out of the room, and I've been waiting for +you." + +"Is my brother worse?" sobbed Linny hysterically. + +"Yes, yes, my dear, I'm--I'm afraid so;" and as she spoke, a hand +clutched mine, and I heard Miss Carr moan: + +"God help me! Am I too late?" + +Linny was already half up the first flight, when Miss Carr whispered to +me in agonised tones: + +"Take me to him, Antony, quick. This is no time for pride and shame." + +With my heart beating painfully, I led her upstairs, and, as we reached +the first floor, we met the doctor coming down. + +I felt Miss Carr's hand pressing mine convulsively, and I spoke, my +voice sounding hoarse and strange. + +"Is he worse, doctor?" + +"I'm afraid he cannot last many hours longer," he said. "I have done +all I can, but I have a patient a few streets off whom I must see, and I +will return in a short time. He must not be left." + +"Shall I go in and try to prepare him for your coming?" I whispered to +Miss Carr, as we stood outside his door. + +"No, no!" she cried. "Take me to him at once, or I cannot bear it. +Don't speak to me, Antony. Don't let anybody speak to me; but you must +not leave me for a moment." + +Linny was at the door, standing with the handle in her hand, but she +drew back as we approached, and then ran sobbing into the next room, +where Mrs Hallett was sitting helpless and alone. + +I obeyed Miss Carr, leading her quickly inside, and closing the door, +where she stood for a moment with one hand pressing her breast; then she +hastily tore off bonnet and veil, gazing at the pale face and great +dreamy eyes fixed wistfully upon the window. + +The noise of our entry, slight as it was, seemed to rouse him, for he +turned his gaze heavily from the light towards where we stood, and I saw +that he held in his thin wasted hand a little grey kid glove, the glove +we had found in Epping Forest that happy day when we met the sisters in +our wait. + +But that was forgotten in the change I saw come over the poor fellow's +face. It seemed to light up; the dull dreamy eyes dilated; a look of +dread, of wonder, or joy seemed to come into them, and then he seemed to +make an effort, and stared wildly round the room, but only to gaze at +Miss Carr again as she stood with her hands half raised in a beseeching +way, till, with a wild cry, his head seemed to fall back and he lay +without motion. + +I heard steps outside, but I darted to the door, and stopped Linny and +Mary from entering, hardly knowing what I did, as Miss Carr took a step +or two forward, and threw herself upon her knees by the bed, dinging to +his hands, placing one arm beneath the helpless head, and sobbing and +moaning passionately. + +"I have killed him--I have killed him! and I came that he might live. +Stephen, my love, my hero, speak to me--speak to me! God of heaven, +spare him to me, or let me die?" + +I was one moment about to summon help, the next prepared to defend the +door against all comers, and again the next ready to stop my ears and +flee from the room. But she had bidden me stay, and not leave her, and +I felt it a painful duty to be her companion at such a time. So there I +stayed, throwing myself in a chair by the door, my head bent down, +seeming to see all, to identify every act, but with my face buried in my +hands, though hearing every impassioned word. + +"No," I heard him say softly; "no: such words as those would have +brought me from the grave. But why--why did you come?" + +"I could bear it no longer," she moaned. "I have fought against it till +my life has been one long agony. I have felt that my place was here--at +your side--that my words, my prayers would make you live; and yet I have +stayed away, letting my pride--my fear of the world--dictate, when my +heart told me that you loved me and were almost dying for my sake." + +"Loved you!" he whispered faintly; "loved you--Miriam, I dare not say +how much!" + +His voice was the merest whisper, and in my dread I started up, and +approached them, fearing the worst; but there was such a smile of peace +and restfulness upon his lips as Miss Carr bent over him, that I dared +not interrupt them, the feeling being upon me that if he was to die it +would be better so. + +There was a long silence then, one which he broke at last. + +"Why did you come?" he said. + +The words seemed to electrify her, and she raised her head to gaze on +his face. + +"Why did I come?" she whispered; "because they told me you were dying, +and I could bear it no longer. I came to tell you of my love, of the +love I have fought against so long, but only to make it grow. To tell +you, my poor brave hero, that the world is nothing to us, and that we +must be estranged no more. Stephen, I love you with all my soul, and +you must live--live to call me wife--live to protect me, for I want your +help and your brave right hand to be my defence. This is unwomanly-- +shameless, if you will--but do you think I have not known your love for +me, and the true brave fight that you have made? Has not my heart +shared your every hope, and sorrowed with you when you have failed? +And, poor weak fool that I have been, have I not stood aloof, saying +that you should come to me, and yet worshipped you--reverenced you the +more for your honour and your pride? But that is all past now. It is +not too late. Live for me, Stephen, my own brave martyr, and let the +past be one long sad dream: for I love you, I love you, God only knows +how well!" She hid her burning, agitated face in his breast, and his +two thin hands tremblingly and slowly rose to clasp her head; and there +the white fingers lay motionless in the rich, dark hair. + +There was again a pause, which he was the first to break, and his voice +was still but a whisper, as he muttered something that I did not hear, +though I gathered it from her smothered reply. + +"Oh, no, no: let there be an end to that!" she sobbed. "Money? +Fortune? Why should that keep us apart, when it might help you in your +gallant fight? Let me be your help and stay. Stephen--Stephen!" she +wailed piteously, "have I not asked you--I, a woman--to make me your +wife?" + +"Yes," he said softly, and I heard him sigh; "but it cannot be--it +cannot be." + +"What?" she cried passionately, as she half-started from him, but clung +to him still; "now that I have conquered my wretched, miserable pride, +will you raise up another barrier between us?" + +"Oh, hush, hush!" he whispered; "you are opening to me the gates of a +worldly heaven, but I dare not enter in." + +"Then I have done nothing," she wailed, as she seemed to crouch there +now in shame and confusion by his bed. "Stephen, you humble me in the +dust; my shameless declaration--my appeal--do I not ask you to take me-- +pray you to make me your wife? Oh, what am I saying?" she cried +passionately; "it is too late--too late!" + +"No," he panted; and his words seemed to come each with a greater +effort, "not--too late--your words--have--given--me life. Miriam-- +come--hold me in your arms, and I shall stay. A little while ago I felt +that all was past, but now, strength seems to come--we must wait--I +shall conquer yet--give me strength to fight--to strive--wait for me, +darling--I'll win you yet, and--God of heaven! hear her prayer--and let +me--ah--" + +"Quick, Miss Carr, he has fainted," I whispered, as his head sank back. +"Let me give him this." + +His face was so ghastly that I thought he had passed away; but, without +waiting to pour it out in a glass, I hastily trickled some of the strong +stimulant medicine he was taking between his lips, and as Miss Carr, +with agonised face, knelt beside him, holding his hand, there was a +quiver in his eyelids, and a faint pressure of the hand that held his. + +The signs were slight, but they told us that he had but fainted, and +when, at last, he re-opened his eyes, they rested upon Miss Carr with +such a look of rest and joy, that it was impossible to extinguish the +hope that he might yet recover. + +He was too weak to speak, for the interview had been so powerful a shock +to his system, that it was quite possible for the change we saw in his +face to be but the precursor of one greater, so that it was with a sense +of relief that I heard the doctor's step once more upon the stairs, and +Mary's knock at the door. + +I offered Miss Carr my hand to take her into the next room, and as if +waking out of a dream, she hastily rose and smoothed back her hair, but +only to bend down over the sufferer, and whisper a few words, to which +he replied with a yearning look that seemed to bring a sensation of +choking to my throat. + +The doctor passed us on his way in, and I led Miss Carr into the front +room, where Linny was sobbing on the couch, and Mrs Hallett was sitting +back, very white and thin, in her chair. + +As we entered Linny started up, and in response to Miss Carr's extended +hands, threw her arms round her neck, and kissed her passionately. + +"Dear sister!" I heard Miss Carr murmur; and then she turned from +Linny, who left her and glanced at me. + +"Mrs Hallett," I said simply, "this is Miss Carr." + +I hardly knew what I said, for Miriam was so changed. There was a look +of tenderness in her eyes, and a sweet smile just dawning upon her lip +as she advanced towards the invalid's chair, and bent down to kiss her; +but with a passionate look of jealousy and dislike, Hallett's mother +shrank from her. + +"Don't touch me!" she cried. "I knew that you were here, but I could +not leave my chair to curse you. Murderess, you have killed him! You +are the woman who has blasted my poor boy's life!" + +A piteous look of horror came into Miss Carr's face, and she sank upon +her knees by the great cushioned chair. + +"Oh, no, no!" she said piteously. "Do not accuse me. You do not--you +cannot know." + +"Know!" cried Mrs Hallett, whiter than ever with the feeling of dislike +and passion that animated her; "do I not know how you have robbed me of +my poor dying boy's love; how you have come between us, and filled his +head with foolish notions to invent--to make money--for you?" + +"Oh, Mrs Hallett, for shame!--for shame!" I exclaimed indignantly. + +"Silence, boy!" she cried, looking at me vindictively. "Do you think I +do not know all because I sit helpless here? You, too, have helped to +encourage him in his madness, when he might have been a professional man +by now. I know all, little as you think it, even how you, and this +woman, too, fought against me. That child might have been the wife of a +good man now, only that he was this wretched creature's lover." + +"Mother," cried Linny passionately, "are you mad? How dare you say such +things!" + +"That's well," she cried. "You turn against me now. My boy is dying: +you have killed him amongst you, and the same grave will hold us both." + +"Mrs Hallett," said Miss Carr, in her low, sweet voice; and the flush +of pride that had come for a few moments into her face faded out, +leaving nothing but resignation there, as she crouched there upon her +knees by the invalid's chair, "you do not know me, or you would not +speak to me like this. Don't turn from me," she said, taking One of the +poor weak woman's trembling hands. + +"Out of my sight, wretch!" she cried. "Your handsome face fascinated +him; your pride has killed him! and you have come to triumph in your +work." + +"No, no, no," sobbed Miss Carr in a broken voice, "do not condemn me +unheard; I have come to tell him how I love him. Mother, dear mother," +she cried, "be pitiful to me, and join your prayers to mine that he may +live." + +Poor weak suffering Mrs Hallett's face changed; her lips quivered, her +menacing hands trembled, and with a low moaning wail she bent down, +clasping Miriam to her breast, sobbing aloud as she rocked herself to +and fro, while Miriam clung to her, caressing the thin worn face, and +drawing herself closer and closer in a tight embrace. + +How long this lasted I cannot tell, but it was interrupted by the +entrance of the doctor, who came in very softly. + +"He is in a very critical state," he said in answer to the inquiring +eyes of all. "Hush, my good woman, you must try and be firm," he said +parenthetically to Mary, who was trying hard to smother her sobs in her +apron. "A nurse ought to have no feelings--I mean no sympathies. As I +said," he continued, "our patient is in a very critical state, but he +has now sunk into a very restful sleep. There is an access of strength +in the pulse that, however, may only be due to excitement, but your +visit, ma'am," he continued to Miss Carr, "seems to have wrought a +change--mind," he added hastily, "I don't say for the better, but there +is a decided change. I will come in again in a couple of hours or so; +in the meantime, let some one sit by his bed ready to give him the +stimulant the instant he wakes, but sleep may now mean life." + +The doctor went softly away, and as he closed the door, Miss Carr knelt +down once more by Mrs Hallett's chair, holding up her face, and the +poor invalid hung back for a moment, and then kissed her passionately. + +"God forgive me!" she wailed. "I did not indeed know you, but you have +robbed me of my poor boy's love." + +"No, no," whispered Miss Carr softly. "No, no, dear mother, we will +love you more and more." + +Miriam Carr's place was by the sick man's pillow all that afternoon and +evening, and right through the weary night. I had been to Westmouth +Street to say that she might not return, and at her wish had brought +back from Harley Street one of the most eminent men in the profession, +who held a consultation with Hallett's doctor. + +The great man endorsed all that had been done, and sent joy into every +breast as he said that the crisis was past, but that on no account was +the patient to be roused. + +And all that night he slept, and on and on till about eight o'clock the +next morning, Miss Carr never once leaving his side, or ceasing to watch +with sleepless eyes for the slightest change. + +I had gone softly into the room the next morning, just as he uttered a +low sigh and opened his eyes. + +"Ah, Antony," he said in a low whisper, "I have had such a happy, happy +dream! I dreamed that--Oh, God, I thank Thee--it was true!" + +For just then there was a slight movement by his pillow, and the next +moment his poor weary head was resting upon Miriam's breast. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY NINE. + +MY INHERITANCE. + +"Oh, Master Antony, ain't she a' angel!" exclaimed Mary. + +This was one day during Stephen Hallett's convalescence, for from the +hour of Miriam Carr's visit, he had steadily begun to mend. He showed +no disposition, however, to take advantage of his position, and I was +not a spectator of his further interviews with Miss Carr. She looked +brighter and happier than I had seen her look for a long time, and by +degrees I learned that with his returning strength Hallett had +determined upon achieving success before he would ask her to be his +wife. + +He asked her, so she told me, if he had not her to thank for the +assistance he had received, and she had confessed to the little +deception, begging him to let her help him in the future; but this he +had refused. + +"No," he said; "let me be worthy of you, Miriam. I shall be happier if +I try," and she gave way, after exacting a promise from him that if he +really needed her assistance he would speak. + +Hallett seemed rapidly to regain his strength now, and appeared to be +living a new life as he devoted himself heart and soul to the perfection +of his invention. + +I believe that I honestly worked as hard, but, in spite of all our +efforts, nine months passed away, and still the work was not complete. + +It was a pleasant time, though, and I could not help noticing the change +that had come over Miriam Carr. + +Her sister's husband had given up his appointment, and was now in town, +residing with his young wife in Westmouth Street, where, about once a +fortnight, there was a meeting, when Hallett would take Linny, and Tom +Girtley, Mr Ruddle, and several of our friends would assemble. + +I look back upon it as a very happy time. The old sordid feeling of my +wretched early life seemed to have dropped away, now that I was winning +my way in the world; and Hallett had told me that I was to share in his +success, even as I had shared his labours. + +There was no love-making in the ordinary sense of the word, but when +Miriam Carr and Hallett met, there would be one long earnest look, a +pressure of the hand; and then--they waited. It was his wish, and she +reverenced his noble pride. + +One evening we were very few at Westmouth Street; only Linny, Tom +Girtley, Mr Jabez, Hallett, and myself, when I found that there was a +surprise for me. + +Tea was over, and I was just about to propose some music, when Tom +Girtley took a black bag from under one of the settees, and opening it, +drew out a packet of papers. + +What was going to happen? I asked myself. Was it a marriage +settlement, or some deed of gift, or an arrangement by which Hallett was +to be forced to take what was needful to complete his work? + +Neither. For at the first words uttered by Tom Girtley, I realised that +it was something to do with the half-forgotten papers brought up by Mr +Peter Rowle. + +"Miss Carr wished me to enter into the business matters here, Grace," he +said; "and I should have talked to you more about it, only we thought it +better to elucidate everything first, and to make perfectly sure." + +"But--" I began. + +"Wait a moment," he said, in regular legal form. "This has been a very +intricate affair, and I was obliged to tread very cautiously, so as not +to alarm the enemy. Before I had been at work a fortnight, I found that +I needed the help of more experienced brains, so I consulted my +principals." + +"And ran up a long bill?" I said, laughing. + +"Yes, a very long one," he said, "which Miss Carr, your friend and +patroness, has paid." + +"Oh, Miss Carr!" I exclaimed. + +"Listen, Antony," she said, looking at me with a proud and loving look. + +"Being sure, then, of our pay," said Tom Girtley, laughing, "we went to +work with the greatest of zeal, making another long bill, and for +result--after completely disentangling everything--after finding out, +without his knowing it, that the enemy was well worth powder and shot-- +in short, after making the ground perfectly safe under our feet, I have +the pleasure of announcing to you, my dear fellow, that not only is +there a sum of five hundred pounds a year belonging to you in your +lawful right--" + +"Five hundred!" I ejaculated. + +"But the same amount, with interest and compound interest, due to you +for the past eight or nine years, and which that scoundrel Blakeford +will be obliged to refund." + +"Oh!" I exclaimed, as I realised my position. + +"The rascal plundered your poor father of goodness knows how much, but +of that we can get no trace. This five hundred pounds a-year, though, +and the accumulation, is as certainly yours as if you had inherited it +at once, and no judge in England can gainsay it. Let me be the first +to--" + +"No!" exclaimed Miss Carr, rising; "let me, Antony, my dear boy, be the +first to congratulate you, not so much because of the amount, as that it +will give you a feeling of independence, and take away that sense of +obligation to pay your father's debts." + +She took my hands in hers, and kissed me, and then, feeling giddy with +surprise, I turned away for a moment, but only to falter out something +in a disconnected way. + +"Peter's delighted," cried Mr Jabez; and he took a tremendous pinch of +snuff, "I shall be turning out somebody's long-lost child myself before +long, only we are twins, and I shall have to share it." + +"I am very, very glad, Antony," said Hallett, shaking hands. + +"And now, if you like, Grace," continued Tom Girtley, "we will set to +work to-morrow to make that scoundrel Blakeford disgorge; and before a +fortnight is passed, if he doesn't mind, he will be cooling his heels in +prison, for I have undeniable proofs of his illegal practices. At the +very least he will be struck off the Rolls. It is utter professional +ruin." + +I did not speak, for the scene seemed to change to that wretched office +once more, and I saw the black, forbidding, threatening face gazing down +into mine. I heard the harsh, bitter voice reviling my poor dead +father, and a shudder ran through me. The next moment, though, I was +dwelling on the soft sweet face of Hetty, and as I recalled the child's +many gentle, loving acts, there was a strange choking sensation at my +breast, and I walked into the little drawing-room to be alone. + +"Antony, dear," said a soft, sweet voice, "you seem quite overcome." + +"I shall be better directly," I said. "But, dear Miss Carr, this must +be stopped. You all meant so kindly by me, but if proceedings have +begun they must not go on." + +"They have commenced, Antony, by my wishes," she said in a low voice, as +she took my hand. "Antony, my dear boy, you have always seemed to me +like a younger brother whom it was my duty to protect, and I have felt +quite a bitter hatred against this man for the wrongs he did you." + +"Not wrongs," I said. "It was through him I came to know you and +Hallett." + +"Yes, but he has wronged you cruelly." + +"Miss Carr," I said--"let me call you sister." + +"Always," she whispered, as she laid her hand upon my shoulder. "This +would be ruin and disgrace to Mr Blakeford?" + +"Which he richly deserves," she said warmly. + +"And it would be ruin and disgrace--" + +"Yes," she said, for I had stopped--"ruin and disgrace--" + +"To his poor child?" + +"Hetty?" + +"Yes: to the tender-hearted little girl whose bright face is the only +sunny spot in that time of sorrow. I don't know," I said passionately, +"I may be wrong. I may see her now, and the fancy be driven away, but I +feel as if I love little Hetty Blakeford with all my heart." + +There was silence in the little drawing-room, where all was in shadow, +while in the larger well-lighted room the others talked in a low voice, +and as I glanced there once, and saw Linny Hallett gazing up in Tom +Girtley's face, I wondered whether Hetty Blakeford would ever look as +tenderly in mine. + +It was a passing fancy, and I was brought back to the present by feeling +Miss Carr's warm lips brush my cheek. + +"We will wait and see, Antony," she said gravely. "Miss Blakeford's +feelings must be spared." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY. + +AT LAST. + +The work of two years was complete, and I stood by Hallett as he watched +the trial of the machine where it was set up at our great factory; and +though we tried hard to find weak points, we were compelled to declare +that it was as near perfection as human hands could make it. + +Hallett was very pale and quiet; he displayed no excitement, no joy; and +I felt rather disappointed at his apathy. + +"Well," said Mr Jabez, aside to me, "if I didn't know that the poor +fellow was ill, I should have said that he didn't care _that_! whether +the thing succeeded or not." + +_That_! was the snap of the fingers which followed the taking of a pinch +of snuff. + +But he was ill. Poor fellow! He never seemed to have recovered from +the shock his system had received during his late illness; and, though +he had rallied and seemed strong and well, there had been times when he +would turn ghastly white, and startle me by his looks. + +I mentioned it more than once to Miss Carr, who begged him to see a +physician; but he said it was nothing, and with a smile he used to tell +her that the perfection of the machine and a change would completely +restore him to health. + +This we both believed;--and I can honestly say that I strove with all my +might to inspire the workmen with the spirit in which I toiled. + +And now the new machine was finished. All that remained was to have it +removed to Mr Ruddle's place for a public inspection of its merits. + +There had been something so depressing in the fate of the lost machine +that I strenuously advised that the trial should be made where the +present one now stood, but Hallett was averse to it. + +"No, Antony," he said quietly; "I am neither vindictive nor spiteful, +and doubtless that man feels that he has good cause for hating me. Men +of his stamp always blame others for their own failings. I am, I say, +neither vindictive nor spiteful, but, feeling as I do, that he was the +cause of our last breakdown, I am determined that the scene of our last +failure shall also be the scene of our triumph." + +This silenced opposition, and the workpeople were soon at work, taking +down and re-setting up Hallett's masterpiece at the old place. + +For my part, I was regularly worn out. I had worked very hard, and felt +as if I was so deeply interested in the success that I must make it this +time a foregone conclusion. Hallett's health worried me a great, deal +too, and in addition to this, I was in more trouble than I can very well +express about my affair with Mr Blakeford. + +My objections to the proceedings had come too late. As Tom Girtley +said, it was quite within our province to withdraw, and leave him in +possession of his ill-gotten gains, but the attack upon his character as +a solicitor was one which he was bound to disprove--in other words, he +could not afford to let it drop. + +"And what is he doing?" I asked. + +"Riding the high horse," said Tom. "Tony, my boy, I think you are +wrong." + +"If Linny's father were alive, and he had injured you, Tom, would you +seize the first opportunity to ruin him?" + +"Am I to answer that question as solicitor to client, or between +friends?" + +"As you like, only let's have the truth." + +Tom Girtley rubbed one of his ears, and a dry comical look came into his +countenance. + +"Well, Tony, old fellow--" he began. + +"Oh, come," I cried, "that form of address is not legal, so it is +between friends." + +"Just as you like," he said, laughing. "Well, Tony, old fellow, under +the circumstances, I should put the screw on, especially if I knew him +to be a scoundrel. First and foremost, I should have his consent to our +marriage; secondly, I should inspect his money affairs, and if they were +in a satisfactory state, I should make the sneak disgorge." + +"But you would not ruin him, and blast his character, for his child's +sake?" + +"No, of course not." + +"Then, suppose the young lady did not care for you?" + +"Then I should fire at the old man hotter and stronger, so us to ease my +wounded feelings." + +"No, you wouldn't, Tom," I said; "so don't humbug." + +"You're a rum fellow, Tony," he retorted, "and 'pon my word it's +precious disappointing. Here's old Peter Rowle been hoarding this up +for his `dear boy,' as the smoky old cockolorum calls you, and old Jabez +in a high state of delight too. Then Miss Carr has spent no end over +it, and thought she had secured you your rights, and now you kick us all +over." + +"I can't help it, Tom," I said. "I feel as if I should be a brute if I +went on." + +"I say, Tony," he said, after a pause, "how long is it since you have +seen the young lady?" + +"Nine years." + +"What do you say to a run down to Rowford?" + +"Run down?" I said eagerly. "No, I could not. I am too busy over the +preparations for the trial." + +"Nonsense, man. You told me only yesterday that you had done all your +part, and that you meant to take a rest. I should like a run in the +country." + +"At Miss Carr's expense," I said spitefully, "and charge it in her bill +of costs as out of pocket." + +"Oh, that settles it," he cried, jumping up and stamping about the room, +roaring with laughter. "You must go for a run. Why, my dear boy, your +liver's out of order, or you, Antony Grace, the amiable, would never +have made a speech like that. Look here, Tony, you have overdone it, +and nothing will do you good but a week's walking-tour." + +"Nonsense! Impossible!" I cried. + +"Then you'll break down like the governor did once. Ever since, he says +that a man must oil his wheels and slacken his bands. Now you've got to +oil your wheels and slacken your bands for a week. When shall we +start?" + +"I tell you it's impossible," I said testily. + +"I tell you that, so far from its being impossible, if you don't give in +with a good grace--that isn't meant for a pun--I'll go and frighten Miss +Carr, and see the governor, and tell him how bad you are." + +"Rubbish, Tom," I cried. "Why, you couldn't go and leave Linny Hallett +for a week," I added. + +"Sneering, too," he said, with a mock assumption of concern. "My dear +Tony, this is getting serious. You are worse, far worse, than I thought +for." + +"Don't talk stuff," I cried petulantly. + +The result of it all was, that as he was pulling the string in the +direction that pleased me, I began to yield, and a proposition he made +carried the day. + +"Look here, Tony," he cried, as if in a fit of inspiration. "A +walking-tour is the thing! you told me all about your tramp up when you +ran away from Blakeford's. Let's go and tramp it all down again, over +the very road." + +His words seemed to strike an electric chord, and I grasped eagerly at +the plan. The result was, that after arranging with Hallett to keep an +eye on the preparations, and after winning from him a declaration that +he would not think I was forsaking him at a critical time, and also +after receiving endorsement and persuasion from Miss Carr, I found +myself one bright summer morning at Paddington, lightly equipped for the +start, and together Tom Girtley and I strode along by the side of the +dirty canal. + +How familiar it all seemed again, as we walked on! There was the +public-house where I had obtained the pot of beer for Jack's father, +when I had to part, from them at the end of my journey up; and there, +too, directly after, was just such a boy in charge of a couple of bony +horses, one of which had a shallow tin bucket hanging from the +collar-hames, as they tugged at a long rope which kept splashing the +water, and drew on Londonward one of the narrow red and yellow-painted +canal-boats, covered in with just such a tarpaulin as that under which +Jack and I had slept. + +Resting on the tiller was just such another heavy, red-faced, dreamy +man, staring straight before him as he sucked at a short black pipe, +while forming herself into a living kit-cat picture was the woman who +appeared to be his wife, her lower portions being down the square hatch +that led into the cabin where the fire burned, whose smoke escaped +through a little funnel. + +I seemed to have dropped back into the boy again, and half wondered that +I was not tired and footsore, and longing for a ride on one of the bony +horses. + +And so it was all through our journey down. + +Every lock seemed familiar, and at more than one lock-house there were +the same green apples and cakes and glasses of sticky sweets, side by +side with two or three string-tied bottles of ginger-beer. + +Two or three times over I found myself getting low-spirited as I dwelt +upon my journey up, and thought of what a poor, miserable little fellow +I was; but Tom was always in the highest of spirits, and they proved at +last to be infectious. + +We had pretty well reached the spot at last where I had first struck the +river, when we stopped to see a canal-boat pass through the lock, the +one where I had stared with wonder to see the great boat sink down some +eight or nine feet to a lower level. + +The boat, which was a very showily painted one, evidently quite new, was +deeply laden, and in one place a part of a glistening black tarpaulin +trailed in the water. As the boat's progress was checked, and the +lock-keeper came out, the short, thick-set man who had been at the +tiller shouted something, and a round-faced girl of about twenty, with a +bright-coloured cotton handkerchief pinned over her shoulders, came up +the hatch, and took the man's place, while he douched forward to alter +the tarpaulin where it trailed. + +He was quite a young man, and I noticed that his hair was fair, short, +and crisp about his full neck, as he bent down, pipe in mouth, while a +something in the way in which he shouted to the boy in charge of the +horses settled my doubts. + +"Jack!" I shouted. + +He rose up very slowly, took the pipe out of his mouth, and spat in the +water; then, gradually turning himself in my direction, he stared hard +at me and said: + +"Hello!" + +"Don't you know me again, Jack?" + +He stared hard at me for some moments, took his pipe out of his mouth +again, spat once more in the water, said surlily, "No!" and bent down +slowly to his work. + +"Don't you remember my going up to London with you nine years ago this +summer?" + +He assumed the perpendicular at once, stared, scowled, took his pipe out +of his mouth with his left hand, and then, as a great smile gradually +dawned all over his brown face, he gave one leg a smart slap with a +great palm, and seemed to shake himself from his shoulders to his heels, +which I found was his way of having a hearty laugh. + +"Why, so it is!" he cried, in a sort of good-humoured growl. "Missus, +lash that there tiller and come ashore. Here's that there young chap." + +To Tom's great amusement, Jack came ashore at the lock, and was followed +by his round-faced partner, for whom he showed his affection by giving +her a tremendous slap on the shoulder, to which she responded by driving +her elbow into his side, and saying, "Adone, Jack. Don't be a fool!" +and ending by staring at us hard. + +"I didn't know yer agen," growled Jack. "Lor' ain't you growed!" + +"Why, so have you, Jack," I exclaimed, shaking hands with him; and then +with the lady, for he joined our hands together, taking up hers and +placing it in mine, as if he were performing a marriage ceremony. + +"Well, I s'pose I have," he said in his slow, cumbersome way. "This +here's my missus. We was only married larst week. This here's our +boat. She was born aboard one on 'em." + +"I'm glad to see you again, Jack," I said, as the recollection of our +journey up recurred to me, strengthened by our meeting. + +"So am I," he growled. "Lor'! I do wish my old man was here, too: he +often talked about you." + +"About me, Jack?" + +"Ah! 'member that pot o' beer you stood for him when you was going +away--uppards--you know?" + +"Yes; I remember." + +"So do he. He says it was the sweetest drop he ever had in his life; +and he never goes by that 'ere house without drinking your health." + +"Jack often talks about you," said "my missus." + +"I should think I do!" growled Jack. "I say, missus, what's in the +pot?" + +"Biled rabbit, inguns, and bit o' bacon," was the prompt reply. + +"Stop an' have a bit o' dinner with us, then. I've got plenty o' beer." + +I was about to say no, as I glanced at Tom; but his eyes were full of +glee, and he kept nodding his head, so I said _yes_. + +The result was that the barge was taken through the lock, and +half-a-mile lower down drawn close in beneath some shady trees, where we +partook of Jack's hospitality--his merry-hearted, girlish wife, when she +was not staring at us, striving hard to make the dinner prepared for two +enough for four. + +I dare say it was very plebeian taste, but Tom and I declared honestly +that we thoroughly enjoyed the dinner partaken of under the trees upon +the grass; and I said I never knew how good Dutch cheese and new crusty +country loaf, washed down by beer from a stone bottle, were before. + +We parted soon after, Jack and I exchanging rings; for when I gave him a +plain gold gipsy ring for his handkerchief, he insisted upon my taking +the home-made silver one he wore; while his wife was made happy with a +gaily coloured silk handkerchief which I used to wear at night. + +The last I saw of them was Jack standing up waving his red cap over his +head, and "my missus" the gaily coloured handkerchief. After that they +passed on down stream, and Tom and I went our way. + +I could not have been a very good walker in my early days, for my +companion and I soon got over the ground between the river and Rowford, +even though I stopped again and again--to show where I had had my fight; +where I had hidden from Blakeford when the pony-chaise went by; and, as +if it had never been moved, there by the road was a heap of stones where +I had slept and had my bundle stolen. + +It was one bright summer's evening that we entered Rowford, which seemed +to have shrunk and its houses to have grown dumpy since the days when I +used to go out to post letters for Mr Blakeford. + +"There's his house, Tom," I said; and I felt my pulses accelerate their +beat, as I saw the gates, and the wall over which I had climbed, and +found myself wondering whether the same dog was in there still. + +We were too tired with our long walk to take much notice, and made +straight for the inn, where, after a hearty meal, we were glad to go +early to bed. + +Tom was sleeping soundly when I woke the next morning, and finding it +was not yet seven, I dressed and went out for a walk, to have a good +look round the old place, and truth to tell, to walk by Mr Blakeford's +house, thinking I might perhaps see Hetty. + +We had made no plans. I was to come down to Rowford, and the next day +but one I was due in London, for our walk had taken some time--though a +few hours by rail would suffice to take us back. + +It was one of those delicious fresh mornings when, body and mind at +rest, all nature seems beautiful, and one feels it a joy only to exist. + +I was going along the main street on the opposite side of the way, when +I saw a tall slight figure in deep mourning come out of Mr Blakeford's +gateway, and go on towards the end of the town. + +I followed with my heart beating strangely. I had not seen her face, +but I seemed to feel that it was Hetty, and following her slowly right +out of the town, and along the main road for a time till she struck up a +side lane, I kept on wondering what she would be like, and whether she +would know me; and if she did--what then? + +Perhaps after all it was not Hetty. It might be some friend; and as I +thought this, a strange pang of disappointment shot through me, and I +seemed to have some faint dawning realisation of what Stephen Hallett's +feelings must have been at many a bitter time. + +Is this love? I asked myself as I walked on, drinking in the +deliciously sweet morning scents, and listening to the songs of the +birds and the hum of the insects in the bright June sunshine. + +I could not answer the question: all I knew was that I was in an agony +to see that face, to be out of my state of misery and doubt; but though +a dozen times over I was on the point of walking on fast and then +turning back so as to meet her, I had not the courage. + +For quite half-an-hour this went on, she being about a hundred yards in +advance. We were now in rather a secluded lane, and I was beginning to +fear that she intended to cut across the fields, and return by the lower +road, when, all at once, she faced round and began to retrace her steps. + +I saw her hesitate a moment as she became aware that she had been +followed, but she came straight on, and as she drew near my doubts were +set at rest. It was unmistakably Hetty, but grown sweeter looking and +more beautiful, and my heart began to throb wildly as the distance +between us grew short. + +She did not know me--that was evident; and yet there was a look of doubt +and hesitation in her face, while after a moment's wonder as to how I +should address her, I saw her countenance change, and troubled no more +about etiquette, but, carried away by my feelings, I exclaimed: "Hetty! +dear Hetty!" and clasped her hands in mine. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY ONE. + +MY MEETING WITH MY ENEMY. + +These things are a mystery. No doubt we two, parting as we did, boy and +girl, ought to have met formally as strangers, perhaps have been +re-introduced, and I ought to have made my approaches _en regle_, but +all I knew then was that the bright, affectionate little girl who had +been so kind to me had grown into a beautiful woman, whom I felt that I +dearly loved; and as for Hetty, as she looked up in my face in a quiet, +trusting way, she calmly told me that she had always felt that I should +come back some day, and that though she hardly recognised me at first, +she was not a bit surprised. + +Terribly prosaic and unromantic all this, no doubt; but all young people +are not driven mad by persecution, and do not tie their affections up in +knots and tangles which can never perhaps be untied. All I know is that +I remember thinking that when Adam awoke and found Eve by his side in +Paradise, he could not have felt half so happy as I did then; and that, +walking slowly back with Hetty's little hand resting upon my arm, and +held in its place by one twice as large, I thought Paradise might have +been a very pleasant kind of place, but that this present-day world +would do for me. + +We said very little, much as we wanted to say, but walked on, treading +as it were upon air, till, as if in a moment, we were back at the town, +when she said with a quiver in her voice: + +"I must leave you now. Papa will be waiting for me to pour out his +coffee. He will not touch it unless I do." + +"You are in mourning for Mrs Blakeford," I said, and my eyes fell upon +the little shabby silver brooch I had given her all those years ago. + +"Yes, and papa has not been the same since she died. He has very bad +health now, and is sadly changed. He is in some great trouble, too, but +I don't know what." + +I did; and I walked on thoughtfully by her side till we reached the +gate, where we stopped, and she laid her hand in mine. + +But the next moment my mind was made up, and, drawing her arm through +mine, and trying with a look to infuse some of my assurance, I walked +with her into the house, and into the apparently strangely dwarfed +sitting-room. + +"Who's that?" cried a peevish voice. "I want my coffee, Hetty. It's +very late. Has the post come in? Who's that, I say, who's that?" + +I stared in astonishment at the little withered yellow man with grizzly +hair and sunken eyes, and asked myself--Is this the Mr Blakeford who +used to make me shudder and shrink with dread? + +I could not believe it, as I stood there five feet ten in my stockings, +and broad-shouldered, while he, always below the middle height, had +terribly shrunk away. + +"Who is it, I say, Hetty? Who have you brought home?" he cried again in +a querulous voice. + +"It is I, Mr Blakeford," I said--"Antony Grace; and I have come to see +if we cannot make friends." + +He sank back in his chair, his jaw dropped, and his eyes dilated with +dread; but as I approached with extended hand, he recovered somewhat, +and held out his own as he struggled to his feet. + +"How--how do you do?" he faltered; "I've been ill--very ill. My wife +died. Hetty, my dear, quick, Mr Grace will have breakfast with us. +No, no, don't ring; fetch a cup yourself, my dear--fetch it yourself." + +Hetty looked at him wonderingly, but she obeyed; and as the door closed +upon her, Blakeford exclaimed, in quick trembling tones: + +"She doesn't know--she knows nothing. Don't tell her. For God's sake +don't tell her. Don't say you have." + +"I have told her nothing, Mr Blakeford," I replied. + +"Don't tell her, then. Bless her, I could not bear for her to know. I +won't fight, Mr Grace, I won't fight. I'm a broken man. I'll make +restitution, I will indeed; but for God's sake don't tell my child." + +"Then he is not all bad," I thought, "for he does love her, and would be +ashamed if she knew that he had been such a consummate villain." + +And as I thought that, I recalled her brave defence of him years ago, +and then wondered at the change as she entered the room. + +I breakfasted with them, the old man--for, though not old in years, he +was as much broken as one long past seventy--watching me eagerly, his +hands trembling each time terribly as he raised his cup, while Hetty's +every action, her tender solicitude for her father's wants, and the way +in which she must have ignored every ill word that she had heard to his +injury, filled me with delight. + +He must have read my every word and look, for I have no doubt I was +transparent enough, and then he must have read those of Hetty, simple, +unconscious and sweet, for it did not seem to occur to her that any of +the ordinary coquetries of the sex were needed; and at last, when I +roused myself to the fact that Tom Girtley must be waiting breakfast, it +was nearly eleven, and I rose to go. + +"You are not going, Mr Grace," said Hetty's father anxiously. "Don't +go yet." + +"I must, sir," I said, "but I will soon be back." + +"Soon be back?" he said nervously. + +"Yes, sir. And that business of ours. That settlement." + +"Yes, yes," he said, with lips quivering, "it shall all be done. But +don't talk about it now, not before Hetty here." + +"I think Hetty, Mr Blakeford, will help the settlement most easily for +us both, will you not, dear?" I said, and I drew her to my side. +"There, Mr Blakeford," I said, holding out my hand once more, "are we +to be good friends?" + +He tried to answer me, but no words came, and he sank back, quivering +with nervous trepidation in his chair. + +He was better, though, in a few minutes, and when I left him he clung to +my hand, his last words being: + +"I will make all right, I will give you no trouble now." + +Tom Girtley laughed at me when I rejoined him and told him where I had +been. + +"This is a pretty way of doing business!" he exclaimed. "You play fast +and loose with your solicitor, and end by coming down and compromising +the case with the defendant. Really, Mr Grace, this is most +reprehensible, and I shall wash my hands of the whole affair." + +"Glad of it," said I, laughing. "A solicitor should always have clean +hands." + +We chatted on merrily as we walked, for we had started to go as far as +my old home, where, as I pointed out to him the scene of many a happy +hour, a feeling of sadness more painful than I had experienced for years +seemed to oppress me, and it was not until I had once more left the old +home far behind that I was able to shake it off. + +When we returned to the hotel it was to find Mr Blakeford waiting for +us, and to the utter surprise of both, we were soon put in possession of +all that was necessary to give me that which was my own by right, but +which he saw plainly enough that his child would share. + +"I don't like to turn prophet, Tony," said my companion, "but I should +say that our friend Blakeford is putting his affairs in order on account +of a full belief that a summons is about to issue that he is soon to +meet. Well, I congratulate you," he said, "and I don't wonder now why +it was that I did not find we were rivals." + +This was after we had spent one evening at Blakeford's; and in the +morning, after a tender leave-taking, we were on our way back to London. + +My presence was needed, for the test of the machine would take place +next day, and I found Hallett had been taken so ill that all prospect of +his attending the public trial had been swept away. + +"It does not matter," he said to me quietly, when I was sitting with +him, propped up in an easy-chair, beside Mrs Hallett. "It is better as +it is, Antony, my dear boy. I shall not be there for the miserable +scamps to pelt when the poor old idol breaks down again." + +"Breaks down!" I cried exultingly; "I was there last night till after +twelve, and there will be no tampering this time, for a policeman is on +the watch, and Mr Jabez and Mr Peter were going to take turn and turn +in the room all night, the one with a box full of snuff, and the other +with a couple of ounces of tobacco, and the longest clay pipe I could +get." + +"`There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip,'" he said, looking at me with +a piteous smile upon his wasted face. "Antony, lad, inventors do not +often reap much from the crops they sow, but there is the unselfish +pleasure of helping others. If I do not prosper from my work others +may. God bless you, lad! I believe I have a trusty friend in you, and +one who will be true to my poor mother here and Linny." + +"Why, my dear Hallett," I exclaimed, "what a doleful tone to take on +this, the day of success. Come, come, come, you want a dose of good +news. I'm off now, and the fastest cab shall luring me back the moment +the verdict is pronounced." + +"`There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip,'" he said again softly; and +there was a strange and meaning smile upon his face. + +"Out upon you, raven!" I cried merrily. "In two hours I'll be here +with such news as shall bring the colour back in those white cheeks; and +to-morrow you shall come down into the country with me. I shall ask for +another fortnight, and you shall wander with me in the green fields, and +we'll idle and rest, for when the work is done there should surely be +some play." + +He smiled and nodded. + +"Yes," he said, "some rest." + +I hurried away at the last, leaving Linny with him, and a more easy +cheerful look upon his countenance, and soon after I was at Mr +Ruddle's, to find all ready, our friends collected, and the invited +people coming fast. + +"`_Festina lente_' is a good motto, Grace," said old Mr Girtley, taking +me by the button. "A little more patience, and we should have had this +right last time, though or course we could not guard against the +accident. Ah, Tom," he continued, "how's parchment? I'd rather have +seen you the schemer of this machine, my boy, than the winner of the +most tangled legal case." + +"Rather hard that, Tony, when I have just won you five hundred a year +and a wife, eh?" said Tom, laughing; and then my attention was taken up +in a dozen ways. There were the brothers Rowle to talk to; Mr +Grimstone to shake my hand; Mr Ruddle to chat with about the success of +the machine, and about Lister, concerning whom he made a significant +motion, turning his hand into a drinking-vessel, and shaking his head. + +Then there was a hitch. Everything was declared in readiness, when it +was found that the shaft that ran through the building was ceasing to +revolve. + +It came like a black cloud over the proceedings, but it was only the +stoker's neglect. Half an hour after, the steam was well up once more, +and, with the room crowded, Mr Girtley, just as on the last occasion, +gave the long leathern band a twitch; shaft was connected with shaft; a +touch from a long lever tightened the driving-wheel and its fellow +portion; there was a whirring, clanking noise, the spinning of wheels, +the revolving of cylinders; ink-rollers ran round; the great reel of +paper began to give its fair surface to the kiss of the type; the speed +was increased, faster--faster--faster, and those who had shrunk back at +first, as if expecting an accident, grew excited and drew in, while the +ponderous machine, working as easily as a watch, turned off perfected +newspaper sheets at a rate that seemed astounding. + +There was no hesitation now; there were no doubting looks, but a hearty +cheer arose, one that was taken up again on the staircase, and ran from +room to room, till the girls, busy folding down below, joined their +shrill voices merrily in the cry. + +"Success, Tony!" cried Tom, catching my hand. + +"And Hallett not here!" I cried. + +The next minute I seized one of the printed newspapers that came from +the machine, doubled it hastily, and dashed downstairs. + +There was a hansom cab waiting, and as I gave my breathless order, +"Great Ormond Street," the horse started, and panting with excitement, I +thought I had never gone so slowly before. + +"I shall be within three hours, though," I said to myself, as I glanced +at my watch. "That want of steam spoiled me for keeping my word." + +"Faster!" I shouted, as I thrust up the trap; "another half-crown if +you are quick!" + +The horse sprang forward, and I carefully redoubled my precious paper, +holding the apron of the cab-door open, my latchkey in my hand, and +being ready to spring out as the vehicle stopped at the door--not quite +though, for the doctor's brougham was in the way. + +No need for the latchkey, for the door was open, and, dashing along the +hall, I sprang up the stairs, flight after flight, from landing to +landing, and rushed breathlessly into the room, waving the paper over my +head. + +"Victory, victory!" I shouted. "Hur--" + +The paper dropped from my hands, as my eyes lighted upon the group +gathered round a mattress laid upon the floor, on which was stretched my +poor friend, supported by Miriam Carr, upon whose arm his head was +lying. + +Doctor, Linny, Mary, Revitts, all were there, watching him in silence, +while the poor stricken mother was bending forward like some sculptured +figure to represent despair. + +"Hallett! Stephen?" I cried, "my news." + +My words seemed to choke me as I fell upon my knees at his side; but I +saw that he recognised me, and tried to raise his hand, which fell back +upon the mattress. + +Then, making a supreme effort, he slightly turned his head to gaze upon +the face bending over him, till a pair of quivering lips were pressed +upon his brow. + +There was a smile upon his countenance, and he spoke, but so low that +the whisper did not reach our ears, and then the smile seemed to grow +fixed and hard, and a silence that was awful in its intensity fell upon +that group. + +I did not catch those words, but she told me afterwards what they were. + +"At last! Now let me sleep." + +Fallen when victory was won. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY TWO. + +MISS CARR HAS ANOTHER OFFER. + +"Antony," said Miss Carr to me one day, "you are very young yet to think +of marriage." + +"But it is not to be yet for quite a year." + +"I am glad of it," she said, laying her hand on mine; and as I took it +and held it, looking up with a feeling akin to awe in her dark, +far-off-looking eyes, I could not help thinking how thin it was, and how +different to the soft, white hand that used to take mine years ago. + +"We both think it will be wiser," I said, talking to her as if she were +an elder sister, though of late there had grown up in me a feeling that +she looked upon me as if I were her son. + +"Marriage must be a happy state, Antony, when both love, and have trust +the one in the other." + +I looked at her, feeling in pain, for I dared not speak, knowing that +she must be thinking of poor Hallett; and as I looked I could not help +noticing how the silver hairs were beginning to make their presence +known, and how much she had changed. + +"You think it strange that I should talk like this, do you not?" + +I could not answer. + +"Yes, I see you do," she said, smiling. "Antony, I have had another +offer of marriage." + +"_You_ have!" I exclaimed. "From whom? Who has asked you?" + +I felt almost indignant at the idea; and my indignation became hot rage +as she went on. + +"John Lister has asked me again to be his wife." + +"The scoundrel! the villain!" I exclaimed. + +"Hush, Antony," she said quietly, as she laid her thin white fingers +upon my lips. "He says that he has bitterly repented the past; that he +is a changed man, and he begs me not to blight the whole of his life." + +"You? Blight his life!" I exclaimed hotly. "He has blighted yours." + +She did not speak for a few moments, and then she startled me by her +words. + +"He is coming here to-day to ask for my answer from my lips. He begged +that I would not write, but that I would see him, and let him learn his +fate from me." + +"But you surely will not see him?" I exclaimed. + +"I have told him that I will. He will be here, Antony, almost +directly." + +I was for the moment stunned, and could do nothing but gaze helplessly +in Miss Carr's face, for the question kept asking itself, "Will she +accept him?" and it seemed to me like an insult to the dead. + +She returned my gaze with a quiet look, full of mournfulness, and as the +minutes flew on, I felt a kind of irritation growing upon me, and that I +should be bitterly hurt if she should be weak enough to accept John +Lister. + +"She will consider it a duty, perhaps," I thought; "and that she does it +to save him, now that he has repented and become a better man." + +My ponderings were brought to an end by the servant bringing in a card, +and I rose to go, but she laid her hand upon my arm. + +"Going, Antony?" she said. + +"Yes," I replied angrily, and I pointed to the card. + +"Sit down, Antony," she said, smiling; "I wish you to be present." + +"No, no, I would rather not," I exclaimed. + +"I beg that you will stay, Antony," she said, in a tone of appeal that I +could not have disobeyed, and I petulantly threw myself back in a chair, +as the door opened, and John Lister was announced. + +He came forward eagerly, with extended hands, as Miss Carr rose, but +changed colour and bowed stiffly as he saw me. + +Recovering himself, however, he took Miss Carr's extended hand, raised +it to his lips, and then drew back as if waiting for me to go. + +"I felt," he said, to put an end to our awkward silence, "that you would +grant me this private interview, Miriam." + +He emphasised the word "private," and I once more half rose, for my +position was most painful, and the hot anger and indignation in my +breast more than I could bear. + +"Sit still, Antony," said Miss Carr quietly; "Mr Lister has nothing to +say to me that you do not already know." + +"But you will grant me a private interview, Miriam," said Lister +appealingly. + +"Mr Lister," said Miss Carr, after pointing to a chair, which her +visitor refused to take, remaining standing, as if resenting my +presence, "you wrote and begged me to see you, to let you speak instead +of writing. I have granted that which you wished." + +"Yes," he said bitterly, "but I did not ask for an interview in presence +of a third party, and that third person _Mr_ Antony Grace." + +There was something so petty in his emphasis of the title of courtesy +_Mr_, that I once more rose. + +"Miss Carr," I said, "I am sure it will be more pleasant for all. Let +me beg of you to excuse me now," and as I spoke I moved towards the +door. + +"I wish you to stay," she said quietly; and as I resumed my seat and +angrily took up a book, "Mr Lister, Antony Grace is my very dear friend +and adviser. Will you kindly say what you wish in his presence?" + +"In his presence?" exclaimed Lister, with the colour coming into his +cheeks. + +"In his presence," replied Miss Carr. + +"Am I to understand, Miriam," he said imploringly, "that you intend to +go by Mr Grace's advice?" + +"No, Mr Lister; I shall answer you from the promptings of my own +heart." + +"Then for heaven's sake, Miriam," he cried passionately, "be reasonable +with me. Think of the years of torture, misery, probation, and +atonement through which I have passed. Come into the next room, I +implore you, if Mr Grace has not the good feeling and gentlemanly tact +to go." + +He began his speech well, but it seemed as if, for the life of him, he +could not refrain from being petty, and he finished by being +contemptible in his spite against one whom he evidently looked upon as +being the cause of his disappointment. + +"I wish for Antony Grace to stay," said Miss Carr quietly; "Mr Lister, +you have resumed your addresses to me, and have asked me by letter to +forgive you, and let you plead your cause; and more, you tell me that +you bitterly repent the past." + +"Miriam," he cried, "why do you humiliate me before this man?" + +"John Lister," she continued, "I am but repeating your words, and it is +no humiliation for one who repents of the wrong and cruelty of his ways +to make open confession, either by his own lips or by the lips of +others. You do repent the ill you did to me, and to him who is--dead?" + +"Oh yes, yes!" he cried passionately; "believe me, dear Miriam, that I +do. But I cannot plead my cause now before a third party." + +"The third _party_, as you term him, John Lister, has been and is to me +as a dear brother; but I grant that it would be cruel to expect you to +speak as we are. I will, then, be your counsellor." + +"No," he exclaimed, holding out his hands imploringly, "you are my +judge." + +"Heaven is your judge," she said solemnly; and as she spoke I saw a +change come over John Lister's face. It was a mingling of awe, +disappointment, and anger, for he read his sentence in her +tones--"Heaven is your judge," she repeated, "but I will not keep you in +suspense." + +He joined his hands as he turned his back to me, but I could not help +seeing his imploring act in the glass. + +"John Lister, I have pleaded your cause ever since I received your first +letter three months ago. You have asked my forgiveness for the past." + +"Yes, yes," he whispered, gazing at her as if hanging on her lips for +his life. + +"And I forgive you--sincerely forgive you--as I pray Heaven to forgive +the trespasses I have committed." + +"God bless you!" he whispered; "Miriam, you are an angel of goodness." + +"You ask me now to resume our old relations; to receive you as of old-- +in other words, John Lister, to become your wife." + +"Yes, yes," he whispered hoarsely, as he bent before her, and in his +eagerness now, he seemed to forget my presence, for he bent down upon +one knee and took and kissed the hem of her dress. "Miriam, I have been +a coward and a villain to you, but I repent--indeed I repent. For years +I have been seeking to make atonement. Have mercy on me and save me, +for it is in your power to make me a better man." + +She stood there, gazing sadly down upon him; and if ever woman wore a +saint-like expression on this earth, it was Miriam Carr as she stood +before me then. She, too, seemed to ignore my presence, and her voice +was very sweet and low as she replied: + +"Take my forgiveness, John Lister, and with it my prayers shall be +joined to yours that yours may be a better and a happier life." + +"And you will grant my prayer, Miriam? You will be my wife?" he +whispered, as I sat back there with an intense feeling of misery, almost +jealousy, coming over me. I felt a terrible sense of dread, too, for I +could not believe in the sincerity of John Lister's repentance, and in +imagination I saw the woman whom I loved and reverenced torn down from +the pedestal whereon she stood in my heart, to become ordinary, weak, +and poor. + +"You ask me to forget the past and to be your wife, John Lister," she +said, and the tones of her sweet low voice thrilled me as she spoke, "I +have heard you patiently, and I tell you now that had you been true to +me, I would have been your patient, loving, faithful wife unto the end. +I would have crushed down the strange yearnings that sought to grow +within my heart, for I told myself that you loved me dearly, and that I +would love you in return." + +"Yes, yes," he whispered, cowering lower before her; "you were all that +is good and true, and I was base; but, Miriam, I have repented so +bitterly of my sin." + +"When I found that you did not love me, John Lister, but that it was +only a passing fancy fed by the thought of my wealth--" + +"Oh, no, no, no! I was not mercenary," he cried. + +"Is your repentance no more sincere than that?" she said sadly; "I know +but too well, John Lister, that you loved my fortune better than you +loved me." + +"Oh, Miriam!" he exclaimed appealingly. + +"Hear my answer!" she said, speaking as if she had not caught his last +words. + +"Yes," he cried, striving to catch her hand, but without success. "It +is life or death to me. I cannot live without your love." + +"John Lister," she said, and every tone of her sweet pure voice seemed +to ring through the stillness of that room as I realised more and more +the treasure he had cast away. "You are a young man yet, and you may +live to learn what the love of a woman really is. Once given, it is +beyond recall. The tender plant I would have given, you crushed beneath +your heel. That love, as it sprang up again, I gave to Stephen Hallett, +who holds it still." + +He started from her with a look of awe upon his face, as she crossed her +hands upon her breast and stood looking upward: "For he is not dead, but +sleeping; and I--I am waiting for the time when I may join him, where +the weary are at rest." + +She ceased speaking, and John Lister slowly rose from his knee, white +with disappointment and rage, for he had anticipated an easy conquest. + +He looked at her, as she was standing with her eyes closed, and a rapt +expression of patient sorrow upon her beautiful face. Then, turning to +me with a furiously vindictive look upon his face, he clenched his +fists. + +"This is your doing," he hissed; "but my day will come, Antony Grace, +and then we'll see." + +He rushed from the room, choking with impotent fury, and nearly running +against Hetty, who was coming in. + +I was frightened, for there was a strange look in Miriam Carr's face, +and I caught her hands in mine. + +"Send for help, Hetty," I cried excitedly; "she is ill." + +"No, no," Miss Carr answered, unclosing her eyes; "I often feel like +that. Hetty, dear, help me to my room; I shall be better there." + +I hastened to hold the door open as Miriam Carr went towards it, leaning +on Hetty's arm, and as they reached me Miss Carr turned, placed her arms +round my neck, and kissed me tenderly as a mother might her son. Then, +as I stood there gazing through a veil of tears at which I felt no +shame, the words that I had heard her utter seemed to weigh me down with +a burden of sorrow that seemed greater than I could bear. I felt as if +a dark cloud was coming down upon my life, and that dark cloud came, for +before a year had passed away, Hetty and I--by her father's dying wish, +young wife and young husband--stood together looking down upon the newly +planted flowers close beside poor Hallett's grave. + +It was soft and green, but the flowers and turf looked fresh, as the +simple white cross looked new with its deeply cut letters, clear, but +dim to our eyes as we read the two words-- + +"Miriam Carr." + +The End. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Antony Grace, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF ANTONY GRACE *** + +***** This file should be named 36852.txt or 36852.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/5/36852/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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