Part 60 (1/2)

”I want to go to-night,” said Shock.

”Well, if you are bound to, we will go up in an hour or two. There's a lot of things I want to talk about, and some things to arrange,”

replied Brown hoping that in the meantime something might turn up to postpone the visit till the morning.

For a second time that day Fortune smiled upon Brown, for hardly had they settled down for a talk when the Superintendent appeared.

”I am glad to find you in,” he said, giving Shock's hand a vigorous shake. ”I came to offer you my congratulations upon your appearance this afternoon, and also to tell you that the Committee have appointed you to address the a.s.sembly on Home Mission night.”

”Hooray!” cried Brown. ”Your Committee, Doctor, is composed of men who evidently know a good thing when they see it.”

”Sometimes, Mr. Brown, sometimes,” said the Superintendent, shrewdly.

But Shock refused utterly and absolutely.

”I am no speaker,” he said. ”I am a failure as a speaker.”

”Well, Mr. Macgregor, I will not take your refusal to-night. It is the Committee's request, and you ought to hesitate before refusing it.”

”A man can do no more than his best,” said Shock, ”and I know I cannot speak.”

”Well, think it over,” said the Superintendent, preparing to go.

”Oh, sit down, sit down,” cried Brown. ”You must want to have a talk with Shock here, and I want to hear all about this afternoon.”

”Well,” said the Superintendent, seating himself, ”it is not often I have a chance to talk with a Prospector, so I will accept your invitation.” And by the time the talk was done it was too late for Shock to think of visiting his home, and Brown went asleep with the happy expectation of what he called the ”kick-off” next day.

XXI

THE WAITING GAME

Brown was early astir. He knew that he could not keep Shock so fully employed as to prevent his going home long before ten o'clock, and it was part of his plan that Shock's first meeting with Helen should take place in his own mother's house.

”The first thing we must do,” he announced, ”is to see a tailor. If you are going to address the General a.s.sembly you have got to get proper togs. And anyway, you may as well get a suit before you go West again.

I know a splendid tailor--cheap, too.”

”Well, he will need to be cheap,” said Shock, ”for I cannot afford much for clothes.”

”Well, I will see about that,” said Brown. So he did, for after some private conversation with the tailor, the prices quoted to Shock were quite within even his small means.

It was half-past nine before they reached Shock's home. Brown took the key out of his pocket, opened the door, and allowed Shock to enter, waiting outside for a few moments.

When he followed Shock in he found him still standing in the centre of the little room, looking about upon the familiar surroundings, the articles of furniture, the pictures on the wall, his mother's chair beside the table, with her Bible and gla.s.ses at hand.

As Brown came in Shock turned to him and said, ”Is this some more of your kindness, Brown? Have you taken this care of everything?”

”No,” said Brown, ”that is not my work. Every week since the house was closed Helen has come over and kept things right.”

Without any reply Shock pa.s.sed into his mother's room, leaving Brown alone.