Part 7 (1/2)

”Chiefly for ornament, doing messages, being in the way when not wanted, and out of the way when required.”

”Yes,” said the Captain, meditatively, ”I've got my eye--”

”Your weather eye?” asked Lewis.

”Yes, my _weather_ eye, on a lad who'll fit you.”

”To a tee?” inquired Emma, archly.

”To a tee, miss,” a.s.sented the Captain, with a bland smile.

Lewis again pulled out his note-book to enter the name and address, but the Captain a.s.sured him that he would manage this case himself; and it was finally settled--for Lewis carried everything his own way, as a matter of course--that Dr George Lawrence was to be written to next day, and Captain Wopper was to provide a page.

”And you'll have to get him and yourself ready as fast as possible,”

said the youth in conclusion, ”for we shall set off as soon as my mother's trunks are packed.”

Next morning, while Captain Wopper was seated conversing with his old landlady at the breakfast-table--the morning meal having been just concluded--he heard the voice of Gillie White in the court. Going to the end of the pa.s.sage, he ordered that imp to ”come aloft.”

Gillie appeared in a few seconds, nodded patronisingly to old Mrs Roby, hoped she was salubrious, and demanded to know what was up.

”My lad,” said the Captain--and as he spoke, the urchin a.s.sumed an awful look of mock solemnity.

”I want to know if you think you could behave yourself if you was to try?”

”Ah!” said Gillie, with the air of a cross-examining advocate, ”the keewestion is not w'ether I could behave myself if I wos to try, but, w'ether I _think_ I could. Well, ahem! that depends. I think I could, now, if there was offered a very strong indoocement.”

”Just so, my lad,” returned the Captain, nodding, ”that's exactly what I mean to offer. What d'ee say to a noo suit of blue tights, with three rows bra.s.s b.u.t.tons; a situation in a respectable family; a fair wage; as much as you can eat and drink; and a trip to Switzerland to begin with?”

While the Captain spoke, the small boy's eyes opened wider and wider, and his month followed suit, until he stood the very picture of astonishment.

”You _don't_ mean it?” he exclaimed.

”Indeed I do, my lad.”

”Then _I'm_ your man,” returned the small boy emphatically, ”putt me down for that sitooation; send for a lawyer, draw up the articles, _I'll_ sign 'em right _off_, and--”

”Gillie, my boy,” interrupted the Captain, ”one o' the very first things you have to do in larnin' to behave yourself is to clap a stopper on your tongue--it's far too long.”

”All right, Capp'n,” answered the imp, ”I'll go to Guy's Hospital d'rectly and 'ave three-fourths of it ampitated.”

”Do,” said the Captain, somewhat sternly, ”an' ask 'em to attach a brake to the bit that's left.

”Now, lad,” he continued, ”you've got a very dirty face.”

Gillie nodded, with his lips tightly compressed to check utterance.

”And a very ragged head of hair,” he added.

Again Gillie nodded.