Part 55 (2/2)
”No,” I said sharply; ”but because I wanted to show you to the very last that I had not forgotten what you taught me about self-denial and all that.”
”G.o.d bless you, my lad!” he cried, hurting me horribly as he shook hands exceedingly hard. ”I'm glad to hear you say that, for we've been saying that if we want to win in this fight we can't afford to part with one quarter of the Company. Cob, my lad, we want you to stay.”
”Uncle!” I cried.
”Yes, my lad, you are older in some things than your years, and though I'd do anything rather than run risks for you, I do feel that with right on our side, please G.o.d, we shall win yet, and that it would be cowardly for us even to let you turn tail.”
I don't know what I should have said and done then, as Uncle Jack exclaimed:
”Have I said right, d.i.c.k, Bob?”
”Yes, quite,” said Uncle d.i.c.k warmly; ”and for my part--”
”Hus.h.!.+ Sit down,” cried Uncle Bob, hastily setting the example so as to end the scene. ”Yes, two eggs, please. Quick, here's Mrs Stephenson coming with the cakes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
STEVENS HAS A WORD WITH ME.
Next morning I went down to the works, feeling as if I had grown in one night a year older, and after giving Piter the bones I always took him down, and receiving the ram-like b.u.t.t he always favoured me with to show his grat.i.tude, I was going round the place, when I heard a familiar clinking and saw a glow out of the little smithy that had for some time been cold.
I ran in, and there, looking rather pale and with a bit or two of sticking-plaster about his temples, was Pannell hammering away as if he were trying to make up for lost time.
”Why, Pannell, old man,” I cried, running in with outstretched hand, ”back again at work! I am glad to see you.”
He looked up at me with a scowl, and wiped his brow with the arm that was terminated by a fist and hammer--a way, I have observed, much affected by smiths.
His was not a pleasant face, and it was made more repulsive by the scars and sticking-plaster. As our eyes met it almost seemed as if he were going to strike me with his hammer; but he threw it down, gave his great hand a rub back and front upon his ap.r.o.n, probably to make it a little blacker, and then gripped mine as badly as Uncle Jack had on the previous night. In fact, you see, I suffered for people liking me.
”Are you glad, mun?” he said at last hoa.r.s.ely; ”are you glad? Well that's cheering anyhow, and thank ye.”
He nodded and went on with his work again while I went to mine about the books, but with a suspicious feeling of impending trouble on my mind, as I pa.s.sed two of the men who saw me come out of the smithy, and who must have seen me shaking hands with Pannell.
I don't know why they should have minded, for I should have done the same with either of them had we been on as friendly terms.
As I entered my little office my eyes lit on the common fis.h.i.+ng-rod I had used, and that set me thinking about the conversation I had heard as I stood on the ledge.
I recalled what had been said overnight in a long discussion with my uncles, and the advice they had given.
”Don't show suspicion,” Uncle d.i.c.k had said, ”but meet every man with a frank fearless look in the eye, as if you asked no favour of him, were not afraid of him, and as if you wanted to meet him in a straightforward way.”
I thought a good deal about it all, and how my uncles said they meant to be just and kind and stern at the same time; and it certainly did seem as if this was the most likely way to win the men's respect.
”For now that we have concluded to keep you with us, Cob, I must warn that we mean business, and that we have made up our minds that we shall win.”
That morning went off quietly enough, and though we all kept a quiet searching look-out, there was nothing to excite suspicion. Then evening came, and the watching, in which again that night I had no share, but it was an understood thing that I was to be at the works at the same time as the men next day.
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