Part 72 (1/2)

”But you'll think better of it, sir. I'll work hard for you.”

”No,” said the Colonel; ”you had a fair chance here for doing well, and you failed. The men would be ready to strike if I took you on again.”

”Oh, but you've no call to listen to what a lot of men says.”

”I am bound to in a certain way, my man. You made yourself universally unpopular among them, and all that culminated in your savage a.s.sault upon the captain. Why, my good fellow, many a man has gone into penal servitude for less than that.”

”Yes, sir, I know I hit him; but they was all again' me.”

”I cannot go into that,” said the Colonel.

”Give him a trial, father,” said Gwyn, in answer to Joe's appealing look.

”Do, sir. I've been out o' work a long time, and it's precious hard.”

”Go right away, and try somewhere else, my lad.”

”I have, sir,” said Dina.s.s, imploringly. ”I served you well, sir, and I will again.”

”I have no fault to find with your working, my man, but I cannot re-engage you.”

”Do, sir; it's for your good. Do take me on, sir. I want to do what's right. It is for your good, sir, indeed.”

The Colonel shook his head.

”No; I cannot alter my decision, my man,” said the Colonel. ”Do as I said: go right away and get work; but I know it is hard upon a man to be out of work and penniless. You are a good hand, and ought not to be without a job for long, so in remembrance of what you did--”

”You'll take me on, sir? I tell you it's for your good.”

”No,” said the Colonel, sternly. ”Gwyn, give this man a sovereign for his present necessities, and for the next few weeks, while he is seeking work, he can apply here for help, and you can pay him a pound a week.

That will do.”

”Better do what I said, sir,” said Dina.s.s, with a grim look, ”I warn you.”

”I said that will do, sir,” cried the Colonel, firmly. ”Gwyn, my boy, pay him and let him go.”

Joe's chin dropped upon his chest, and he rested his hand upon the back of the nearest chair.

Then he started and looked at the door wonderingly, for, scowling savagely, Tom Dina.s.s stuck on his hat very much sidewise, and, without pausing to receive the money, strode out of the place and went right away.

”Specimen of st.u.r.dy British independence,” said the Colonel, sternly.

”I'm sorry, but he is not a man to have about the place. He is dangerous; and when it comes to covert threats of what he would do if not engaged, one feels that help is out of the question. Be the better for me if I engage him--means all the worse for me if I do not. There, it is not worth troubling about; but if he comes back for the money, when he has cooled down, let him have it.”

”Yes, father,” said Gwyn, and he went on with his letters, but somehow, from time to time the thought of the man's fierce manner came back to him, and he could not help thinking how unpleasant a man Dina.s.s could be if he set himself up for an enemy.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

CRYSTAL, BUT NOT CLEAR.