Part 21 (1/2)
Again, each of the four divisions had an inspector of signals and an inspector of buildings, the former being responsible for the perfect working order of all signals, and the latter, who had a few masons, joiners, slaters, blacksmiths, and others under him, having charge of all the stations, sheds, and other buildings on the line. Every month each division engineer sent in to the head office a statement of material used, and of work done; also a requisition for material required for future use.
From all this it can easily be understood that Edwin had a fair opportunity of finding scope for his talents; and he had indeed already begun to attract notice as an able, energetic fellow, when Captain Lee, as we have said, procured for him an appointment in the Clearing-House.
On the occasion of the change being made, he invited his young friend to spend a few days at his residence in Clatterby, and thereafter, as we have seen, they travelled together to London.
It need scarcely be said that Edwin did not neglect this golden opportunity to try to win the heart of Emma. Whether he had succeeded or not he could not tell, but he unquestionably received a strong additional impulse in his good resolves--to achieve for himself a position and a wife!
”Gurwood,” said Captain Lee, after Mrs Durby had taken her departure, ”I want you to aid me in a little difficulty I have about our mutual friend, Mrs Tipps. She is ridiculously determined not to accept of a.s.sistance from me, and I find from that excellent nurse that they are actually up to the lips in poverty--in fact, on the point of going down.
I think from what she said, or, rather from what she didn't say, but hinted, that her errand to London had something to do with their poverty, but I can't make it out. Now, I have made up my mind to help them whether they will or no, and the question I wish to lay before you is,--how is the thing to be done? Come, you have had some experience of engineering, and ought to be able to cope with difficulties.”
”True,” replied Edwin, with a smile, ”but to bend a woman's will surpa.s.ses any man's powers of engineering!”
”Come, sir,” said the captain, ”that is a most ungallant speech from one so young. You deserve to die an old bachelor. However, I ask you not to exercise your skill in bending a woman's will, but in bridging over this difficulty--this Chat Moss, to speak professionally.”
”Could you not procure for my friend, Joseph Tipps, a more lucrative appointment?” said Edwin eagerly, as the idea flashed upon him.
The captain shook his head.
”Won't do, sir; I have thought of that; but, in the first place, I have not such an appointment to give him at present; in the second place, if I had, he could not draw his salary in advance, and money is wanted immediately; and, in the third place, he would not if he had it be able to spare enough out of any ordinary clerk's salary, because the debts due by Mrs Tipps amount to fifty pounds--so Mrs Durby said.”
”It is indeed perplexing,” said Edwin. ”Would it not be a good plan to send them a cheque anonymously?”
Again the captain shook his head.
”Wouldn't do. The old lady would guess who sent it at once. Come, I will leave it to you to devise a plan. Never could form a plan all my life, and have no time just now, as I'm going off to the meeting in ten minutes. I const.i.tute you my agent in this matter, Gurwood. You know all the circ.u.mstances of the case, and also about my bet of five hundred pounds with the late Captain Tipps. Your fee, if you succeed, shall be my unending grat.i.tude. There, I give you _carte-blanche_ to do as you please--only see that you don't fail.”
Saying this, the captain put on his hat and went out, leaving Edwin much amused and not a little perplexed. He was not the man, however, to let difficulties stand in his way una.s.sailed. He gave the subject half-an-hour's consideration, after which he formed a plan and immediately went out to put it into execution.
Meanwhile Captain Lee went to the head offices of the Grand National Trunk Railway, and entered the large room, where the directors and shareholders of the Company were already a.s.sembled in considerable numbers to hold a half-yearly general meeting.
It was quite a treat to see the cordial way in which the captain was received by such of his brother directors as sat near him, and, when he had wiped his bald head and put on his spectacles, and calmly looked round the hall, his bland visage appeared to act the part of a reflector, for, wherever his eyes were turned, there suns.h.i.+ne appeared to glow. In fact several of the highly sympathetic people present--of whom there are always a few in every mixed meeting--unconsciously smiled and nodded as his eye pa.s.sed over their locality, even although they were personal strangers to him.
Very various are the feelings which actuate the directors and shareholders of different railways at these half-yearly gatherings.
Doubtless some directors go to the place of meeting with the feelings of men who go to execution, and the shareholders go with the feelings of executioners, if not worse; while other directors and shareholders unquestionably go to hold something like a feast of reason and a flow of soul.
The half-yearly meeting we write of was imbued with the latter spirit.
Wisdom and conscientious care had steered the s.h.i.+p and swayed the councils of the Grand National Trunk Railway, so that things were in what the captain called a highly flouris.h.i.+ng condition. One consequence was, that the directors wore no defensive armour, and the shareholders came to the ground without offensive weapons.
Sir c.u.mmit Strong having taken the chair, the secretary read the advertis.e.m.e.nt convening the meeting.
The chairman, who was a tall, broad-browed, and large-mouthed man, just such an one as might be expected to become a railway king, then rose, and, after making a few preliminary observations in reference to the report, which was a.s.sumed to have been read, moved, ”that the said report and statement of accounts be received and adopted.”
”He-ar, he-ar!” exclaimed a big vulgar man, with an oily fat face and a strong voice, who was a confirmed toady.
”I am quite sure,” the chairman continued, ”that I have the sympathy of all in this meeting when I say that the half-year which has just come to a close has been one of almost unmixed success--”
”He-ar, he-ar!” from the toady.
”And,” continued the chairman, with pointed emphasis, and a glance at the toady, which was meant to indicate that he had put in his oar too soon, but which the toady construed into a look of grat.i.tude--”_and_ of very great satisfaction to those whom you have appointed to the conducting of your affairs.”
”He-ar, he-ar!”