Part 57 (2/2)
”I can't yet,” gasped Spike; ”I can't till I've told ye what a mean guy I've been.”
”What about?”
”About you--and Hermy. Bud said you meant t' make her go the way--little Maggie Finlay went, an'--oh, Geoff, I--I kind of believed him.”
”Did you, Spike--that foul beast? But you don't believe it any longer, and M'Ginnis is--only M'Ginnis, after all.”
”But I--I've got to tell you more,” said the lad miserably, as meeting Ravenslee's eye with an effort, he went on feverishly. ”The other night after--after Bud slipped me the--the stuff an' I'd had a--a drink or two, he began askin' all about you. At first I blocked and side-stepped all his questions, but he kep' on at me, an' at last I--I give you away, Geoff--” Here Spike paused breathlessly and cast an apprehensive glance toward his hearer, but finding him silent and serene as ever he repeated:
”I--gave you away, Geoff!”
”Did you, Spike?”
”Yes, I--I told him who you really are!”
”Did you, Spike?”
”Yes! Yes! Oh, Geoff, don't you understand?”
”I understand.”
”Well, why don't ye say something? Why don't ye tell me what I am? Say I'm a dirty sneak--call me a yeller cur--anything!”
”No, you were drunk, that's all; and when the drink is in, honour, and all that makes a man, is out--you were only drunk.”
”Oh, but I wasn't s' drunk as all that,” gasped Spike, cowering in his chair, ”but he kep' on comin' at me with his questions, an' at last--when I told him how I met up with you--he kind o' give a jump--an'
his face--” Spike clenched his fists and, slowly raising them, pressed them upon his eyes. ”I'll never forget th' look on--his face! So now you know as I've blown th' game on ye--given ye away--you as was my friend!”
With the word Spike sobbed and fell grovelling on his knees. ”Curse me, Geoff!” he cried. ”Oh, curse me, an' tell me what I am!”
”You are Hermione's brother!”
”My G.o.d!” wailed the boy. ”If she knew, she'd hate me.”
”I--almost think she would, Spike.”
”You won't tell her, Geoff, you won't never let her know?”
”I--don't get drunk, Spike.”
”But you won't tell her?” he pleaded, reaching out desperate hands, ”you won't?”
”Not a word, Spike!”
”Oh, I know I'm--rotten!” sobbed the lad. ”I know you ain't got no use for me any more, but I'm sorry, Geoff, I'm real sorry. I know a guy can't forgive a guy as gives a guy away if that guy's a guy's friend. I know as you can't forgive me. I know as you'll cut me out for good after this. But I want ye t' know as I'm sorry, Geoff--awful sorry--I--I ain't fit t' be anybody's friend, I guess.”
”I think you need a friend more than ever, Spike!”
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