Part 20 (1/2)
”You're a genius,” said the young man.
”I'm glad to hear it,” said Tom. ”If I'm a fair specimen, geniuses don't know much.”
”At any rate, you are not such a fool as I am.”
”Are you a fool?”
”Any man is a fool that gets drunk.”
”I don't know but you're right,” said Tom. ”What makes you do it?”
”Because I'm a fool. That's all the reason I can give. I'm too weak to resist temptation.”
”I never was drunk but once,” said Tom. ”I don't want to be again.”
”How did that happen?”
”A sailor invited me into a bar-room, and got me to drink. I felt as if my head would burst open the next morning.”
”So you didn't get drunk again?”
”No, I got enough of it.”
”What is your name?” asked the young man, interested.
”Gilbert Grey.”
”Do you live in this city?”
”I'm goin' to.”
”I wish you would come and live with me.”
”What for?”
”Because, though you are younger, you know how to take care of yourself. I think you would take care of me, too.”
”If you pay me good wages,” said Tom, ”I'm willin' to be your guardian.”
”I am in earnest,” said the young man. ”It would do me good to have some one help me keep straight.”
”How many times a week would you want me to jump into the water after you?” asked our hero, jocularly. ”Because I'd want to keep a good stock of dry clothes on hand; or maybe I might wear a bathin' suit all the time.”
”I sha'n't try that again,” said the other, smiling; ”I don't like it well enough.”
By this time they reached a handsome brick house, in a fine street.
”This is where I board,” said the young man. ”Come in.”
He rang the bell, and a servant answered the summons. She looked surprised at the appearance of the pair, both showing signs of the wetting they had received.
”We met with an accident, Bridget,” explained the young man, ”or rather I tumbled into the water and this boy jumped after me.”