Part 101 (1/2)

”Insect, papa?” said Helen, smiling.

”No, no. You understand what I mean.”

So Dexter did not see Coleby during those three years, in which he stayed his terms at a school where the princ.i.p.al did not break the spirit of backward and unruly boys. On the contrary, he managed to combine excellent teaching with the possession of plenty of animal spirits, and his new pupil gained credit, both at home and at the school.

”Now,” said the doctor, on the day of their return to the old home, as he ran his eye proudly over the st.u.r.dy manly-looking boy he was taking back; ”I think I can show Sir James I'm right, eh, my dear?”

Old Dan'l smiled a wonderful smile as Dexter went down the garden directly he got home.

”Shake hands with you, my lad?” he said, in answer to an invitation; ”why, I'm proud. What a fine un you have growed! But come and have a look round. I never had such a year for fruit before.”

Chuckling with satisfaction, the doctor was not content until he had brought Sir James and Lady Danby to the house to dinner, in company with their son, who had grown up into an exceedingly tall, thin, pale boy with a very supercilious smile.

No allusion was made to the doctor's plan, but the dinner-party did not turn out a success, for the boys did not seem to get on together; and Sir James said in confidence to Lady Danby that night, precisely what Dr Grayson said to Helen--

”They never shall be companions if I can help it. I don't like that boy.”

Over the dessert, too, Sir James managed to upset Dexter's equanimity by an unlucky speech, which brought the colour to the boy's cheeks.

”By the way, young fellow,” he said, ”I had that old friend of yours up before me, about a month ago, for the second time.”

Dexter looked at him with a troubled look, and Sir James went on, as he sipped his claret.

”You know--Bob Dimsted. Terrible young blackguard. Always poaching.

Good thing if they had a press-gang for the army, and such fellows as he were forced to serve.”

It was at breakfast the next morning that the doctor waited till Dexter had left the table, and then turned to Helen--

”I shall not forgive Danby that unkind remark,” he said. ”I could honestly do it now, and say, 'There, sir, I told you I could make a gentleman out of any material that I liked to select; and I've done it.'

But no: I'll wait till Dexter has pa.s.sed all his examinations at Sandhurst, and won his commission, and then--Yes, Maria--what is it!”

”Letter, sir, from the Union,” said Maria.

”Humph! Dear me! What's this? Want me to turn guardian again, and I shall not. Eh, bless my heart! Well, well, I suppose we must.”

He pa.s.sed the letter to Helen, and she read Mr Hippetts formal piece of diction, to the effect that one of the old inmates, a Mrs Curdley, was in a dying state, and she had several times asked to see the boy she had nursed--Obed Coleby. During the doctor's absence from the town the master had not felt that he could apply; but as Dr Grayson had returned, if he would not mind his adopted son visiting the poor old woman, who had been very kind to him as a child, it would be a Christian-like deed.

”Yes; yes, of course, of course,” said the doctor; and he called Dexter in.

”Oh yes!” cried the lad, as he heard the request. ”I remember all she did for me so well, and--and--I have never been to see her since.”

”My fault--my fault, my boy,” said the doctor hastily. ”There, we shall go and see her now.”