Part 24 (2/2)
”I should say the sooner the better, lad. You will have to get your outfit and other matters seen to. Moreover, now that you have been taken under Prince Rupert's protection, and have become, as it were, an officer on his s.h.i.+p--for gentlemen Volunteers, although they have no duties in regard to working the s.h.i.+p, are yet officers--it is hardly seemly that you should be making up the accounts of bakers and butchers, ironmongers, and s.h.i.+p's storekeepers.”
”The work is honest, and I am in no way ashamed of it,” Cyril said; ”but as I have many things to see about, I suppose I had better give them notice at once. Prince Rupert presented me to the King to-day, and His Majesty requested me to attend at Court, which I should be loath to do, were it not that the Prince urged upon me that it was of advantage that I should make myself known.”
”One would think, Master Cyril, that this honour which has suddenly befallen you is regarded by you as a misfortune,” Mrs. Dowsett said, laughing. ”Most youths would be overjoyed at such a change in their fortune.”
”It would be all very pleasant,” Cyril said, ”had I the income of my father's estate at my back; but I feel that I shall be in a false position, thus thrusting myself among men who have more guineas in their pockets than I have pennies. However, it seems that the matter has been taken out of my own hands, and that, as things have turned out, so I must travel. Who would have thought, when John Wilkes fetched me out last night to go to the fire, it would make an alteration in my whole life, and that such a little thing as climbing up a ladder and helping to get three girls out of a room full of smoke--and John Wilkes did the most difficult part of the work--was to change all my prospects?”
”There was a Providence in it, Cyril,” Mrs. Dowsett said gently.
”Why, else, should you have gone up that ladder, when, to all seeming, there was no one there. The maids were so frightened, John says, that they would never have said a word about there being anyone in that room, and the girls would have perished had you not gone up.
Now as, owing to that, everything has turned out according to your wishes, it would be a sin not to take advantage of it, for you may be sure that, as the way has thus been suddenly opened to you, so will all other things follow in due course.”
”Thank you, madam,” Cyril said simply. ”I had not thought of it in that light, but a.s.suredly you are right, and I will not suffer myself to be daunted by the difficulties there may be in my way.”
John Wilkes now came in and sat down to the meal. He was vastly pleased when he heard of the good fortune that had befallen Cyril.
”It seems to me,” Cyril said, ”that I am but an impostor, and that at least some share in the good luck ought to have fallen to you, John, seeing that you carried them all down the ladder.”
”I have carried heavier bales, many a time, much longer distances than that--though I do not say that the woman was not a tidy weight, for, indeed, she was; but I would have carried down ten of them for the honour I had in being shaken by the hand by Prince Rupert, as gallant a sailor as ever sailed a s.h.i.+p. No, no; what I did was all in a day's work, and no more than lifting anchors and chains about in the storehouse. As for honours, I want none of them. I am moored in a snug port here, and would not leave Captain Dave if they would make a Duke of me.”
Nellie had said no word of congratulation to Cyril, but as they rose from dinner, she said, in low tones,--
”You know I am pleased, and hope that you will have all the good fortune you deserve.”
Cyril set out at once to make a round of the shops where he worked.
The announcement that he must at once terminate his connection with them, as he was going on board the Fleet, was everywhere received with great regret.
”I would gladly pay double,” one said, ”rather than that you should go, for, indeed, it has taken a heavy load off my shoulders, and I know not how I shall get on in the future.”
”I should think there would be no difficulty in getting some other young clerk to do the work,” Cyril said.
”Not so easy,” the man replied. ”I had tried one or two before, and found they were more trouble than they were worth. There are not many who write as neatly as you do, and you do as much in an hour as some would take a day over. However, I wish you good luck, and if you should come back, and take up the work again, or start as a scrivener in the City, I can promise you that you shall have my books again, and that among my friends I can find you as much work as you can get through.”
Something similar was said to him at each of the houses where he called, and he felt much gratified at finding that his work had given such satisfaction.
When he came in to supper, Cyril was conscious that something had occurred of an unusual nature. Nellie's eyes were swollen with crying; Mrs. Dowsett had also evidently been in tears; while Captain Dave was walking up and down the room restlessly.
The servant was placing the things upon the table, and, just as they were about to take their seats, the bell of the front door rang loudly.
”See who it is, John,” Captain Dave said. ”Whoever it is seems to be in a mighty hurry.”
In a minute or two John returned, followed by a gentleman. The latter paused at the door, and then said, bowing courteously, as he advanced, to Mrs. Dowsett,--
”I must ask pardon for intruding on your meal, madam, but my business is urgent. I am the Earl of Wisbech, and I have called to see Sir Cyril Shenstone, to offer him my heartfelt thanks for the service he has rendered me by saving the lives of my daughters.”
All had risen to their feet as he entered, and there was a slight exclamation of surprise from the Captain, his wife, and daughter, as the Earl said ”Sir Cyril Shenstone.”
Cyril stepped forward.
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