Part 15 (1/2)
”Well really, Archie,” said Elsie, ”you talk as earnestly as if you actually were going to die.”
”Who said I was going to die? No, I don't mean to die till I've done much more mischief.”
”Hus.h.!.+ Archie.”
”Well, I'm hushed.”
”Why do you want to make your will?”
”Oh, it isn't wanting to make my will! I am--I've done it. And the 'why' is this, I'm going away.”
”To Oxford?”
”No, Elsie, not to Oxford. I've got quite enough Latin and Greek out of Walton to last me all my life. I couldn't be a doctor; besides father is hardly rich enough to make me one at present. I couldn't be a doctor, and I'm not good enough to be a parson.”
”Archie, how you talk.”
There were tears in Elsie's eyes now.
”I can't help it. I'm going away to enter life in a new land. Uncle Ramsay has told me all about Australia. He says the old country is used up, and fortunes can be made in a few years on the other side of the globe.”
There was silence in the turret for long minutes; the whispering of the wind in the elm trees beneath could be heard, the murmuring of the river, and far away in the woods the cawing of rooks.
”Don't you cry, Elsie,” said Archie. ”I've been thinking about all this for some time, and my mind is made up. I'm going, Elsie, and I know it is for the best. You don't imagine for a single moment, do you, that I'll forget the dear old times, and you all? No, no, no. I'll think about you every night, and all day long, and I'll come back rich. You don't think that I _won't_ make my fortune, do you? Because I mean to, and will. So there. Don't cry, Elsie.”
”_I'm_ not going to cry, Archie,” said Rupert.
”Right, Rupert, you're a brick, as Branson says.”
”I'm not old enough,” continued Rupert, ”to give you my blessing, though I suppose Kate would give you hers; but we'll all pray for you.”
”Well,” said Archie thoughtfully, ”that will help some.”
”Why, you silly boy, it will help a lot.”
”I wish I were as good as you, Rupert. But I'm just going to try hard to do my best, and I feel certain I'll be all right.”
”You know, Roup, how well I can play cricket, and how I often easily bowl father out. Well, that is because I've just tried my very hardest to become a good player; and I'm going to try my very hardest again in another way. Oh, I shall win! I'm c.o.c.ksure I shall. Come, Elsie, dry your eyes. Here's my handkie. Don't be a little old wife.”
”You won't get killed, or anything, Archie?”
”No; I won't get killed, or eaten either.”
”They do tell me,” said Elsie--”that is, old Kate told me--that the streets in Australia are all paved with gold, and that the roofs of the houses are all solid silver.”
”Well, I don't think she is quite right,” said Archie, laughing.
”Anyhow, uncle says there is a fortune to be made, and I'm going to make it. That's all.”
Archie went straight away down from that boy's room feeling every inch a man, and had an interview with his father and uncle.