Part 36 (2/2)
”Singleton might suit Mr Caldwell to do business in, but I wouldn't fix myself in Singleton if I were you.”
”Nonsense, Jem,” said David. ”There is no better place than Singleton for that business, everybody knows.”
”And, besides, Philip is well-known here,” said Mrs Inglis.
”I am not sure that it is a better place for me because of that, Aunt Mary; but it is as good a place as any, I suppose, in which to begin with a small capital.”
”Pooh! about capital! The only men in the country worth their salt began life without a dollar. Which of us has capital? And we are all bound to be rich men before we die,” said Jem.
”Yes, I dare say. If I were a boy of fifteen, I might say the same,”
said Philip, with a sigh.
”Hear him! You would think him fifty, at least. And if you mean me,”
said Jem loftily, ”I am nearly seventeen. I only wish I were twenty-three, with the world before me.”
They all laughed at his energy.
”There is no hurry, Jem. You will need all the years that are before you. Violet, put away your work, and play, and the children will sing.”
Violet rose and opened the piano, and there was no more said at that time. While the children were singing, David went out, and, in a little, called Philip from the window. Philip rose and went out also, and they pa.s.sed down the garden together. By and by they had enough of music, and Violet shut the piano, and sat down beside the window with her work again. Jem had the grace to wait till the children went out, and then he said:
”Mamma, you said I was to tell you the next time, and here it is. You must have noticed yourself--Violet's manner, I mean. Philip noticed it, I could see. She was as stiff and dignified as Mrs Mavor herself. I wouldn't put on airs with Phil, when he is down as he is to-night, if I were you.”
Violet looked from him to her mother in astonishment.
”Do you know what he means, mamma?”
”You don't need mamma to tell you.”
”Tell me, then, Jem. What did I say or do?”
”You didn't say or do anything. You were stiff and stupid. Mamma must have seen it.”
”No, Jem, I did not. If you mean that Violet's manner to Mr Philip is not the same as to you and Davie--why, you know, it can't quite be that.”
”No, because Violet made up her mind long ago that Philip Oswald was a foolish young man--'not in earnest,' as she used to say. Letty can't bear people that are not quite perfect,” said Jem.
Letty laughed, and so did her mother.
”Thank you, Jem. That is as much as saying that I consider myself quite perfect.”
”Oh! you may laugh,” said Jem, loftily; ”but if Phil, hasn't proved himself steady enough by this time, I don't know what you would have!
There are not many would have staid it out, under old Caldwell, and have done as he has done. To say nothing about the business not being a very pleasant one.”
”He has improved very much,” said Mrs Inglis.
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