Part 21 (1/2)
Some profited by the lesson and adapted themselves to the altered ways of the place; others, after trying to brave it out, left Stokebridge and obtained employment in the factories of Birmingham; while others again, previously engaged to some of the young men who had left the village, were sooner or later married to them, and were heard of no more in Stokebridge.
This removal by one means or another of some forty or fifty of the young men and women of the place most opposed to the spirit of improvement, produced an excellent effect. Other miners came of course to the village to take the places of those who had left, but as Mr. Brook instructed his manager to fill up the vacant stalls as far as possible with middle-aged men with families, and not with young men, the new-comers were not an element of disturbance.
The price of coal was at this time high, and Mr. Brook informed the clergyman that, as he was drawing a larger income than usual from the mines, he was willing to give a sum for any purpose which he might recommend as generally useful to the families of his work-people. The vicar as usual consulted his valued a.s.sistants the Dodgsons, and after much deliberation it was agreed that if a building were to be erected the lower story of which should be fitted up as a laundry and wash-house upon the plan which was then being introduced in some large towns, it would be an immense boon to the place. The upper story was to be furnished as a reading-room with a few papers and a small library of useful and entertaining books for reading upon the spot or lending.
Plans were obtained and estimates given, and Mr. Brook expressed his willingness to contribute the sum of eighteen hundred pounds for which a contractor offered to complete the work.
CHAPTER XXI.
A KNOTTY QUESTION.
It has not been mentioned that at the fete at Mr. Brook's on the memorable occasion of the Black Feast, Mr. Merton and his daughter were staying as guests with Mr. Brook. Mr. Merton was much struck with the extraordinary improvement which had taken place in the bearing and appearance of the young people.
”Yes,” Mr. Dodgson, whom he congratulated upon the change, said; ”it is entirely due to the suggestion which you made upon my arrival here. The night-schools for lads and the sewing and cooking cla.s.ses for the girls have done wonders, and I have found in the lad you recommended to my attention, Jack Simpson, an invaluable ally. Without him, indeed, I think that our plan would have been a failure. He is a singular young fellow, so quiet yet so determined; the influence he has over the lads of his own age is immense.”
”He is more than singular,” Mr. Merton said warmly; ”he is extraordinary. You only see one side of his character, I see both. As a scholar he is altogether remarkable. He could carry off any open scholars.h.i.+p at Cambridge, and could take away the highest honours; he could pa.s.s high up among the wranglers even now, and has a broad and solid knowledge of other subjects.”
”Indeed!” Mr. Dodgson said, surprised; ”this is quite new to me. I know that he studies hard privately, and that he went over to see you once a month, but I had no idea that his acquirements were anything exceptional, and, indeed, although his speech is often superior to that of the other young fellows, he often makes mistakes in grammar and p.r.o.nunciation.”
Mr. Merton laughed. ”That is one of his peculiarities; he does not wish to be thought above his fellows: look at his dress, now! But if you saw him with me, and heard him talking with the first men of education and science in Birmingham you would share the astonishment they often express to me, and would take him not only for a young gentleman, but for one of singular and exceptionally cultured mind.”
Jack's attire, indeed--it was after the conclusion of the cricket-match, and he had changed his clothes--was that of the ordinary pitman in his Sunday suit. A black cutaway coat, badly fitting, and made by the village tailor, a black waistcoat and trousers, with thick high-low shoes. His appearance had attracted the attention of Miss Merton, who, as he approached her, held out her hand.
”How are you, Jack? What on earth have you been doing to yourself? You look a complete guy in these clothes. I was half tempted to cut you downright.”
Jack laughed.
”This is my Sunday suit, Miss Merton, it is just the same as other people's.”
”Perhaps it is,” the girl said, laughing, and looking round with just a little curl of her lip; ”but you know better, Jack: why should you make such a figure of yourself?”
”I dress here like what I am,” Jack said simply, ”a pitman. At your house I dress as one of your father's guests.”
”I suppose you please yourself, and that you always do, Mr. Jack Simpson; you are the most obstinate, incorrigible--”
”Ruffian,” Jack put in laughing.
”Well, I don't know about ruffian,” the girl said, laughing too; ”but, Jack, who is that girl watching us, the quiet-looking girl in a dark brown dress and straw bonnet?”
”That is my friend Nelly Hardy,” Jack said seriously.
”Yes, you have often spoken to me about her and I have wanted to see her; what a nice face she has, and handsome too, with her great dark eyes! Jack, you must introduce me to her, I should like to know her.”
”Certainly,” Jack said with a pleased look; and accompanied by Alice he walked across the lawn towards her.
Nelly turned the instant that they moved, and walking away joined some other girls. Jack, however, followed.
”Nelly,” he said, when he reached her, ”this is Miss Merton, who wants to know you. Miss Merton, this is my friend Nelly Hardy.”