Part 8 (1/2)
”But how, I ask, Hamish?”
”Rob some bank or other,” replied Hamish, in his off-hand, joking way.
”Shall you speak to my father?”
”Where's the use?” returned Hamish. ”He cannot help me just now; he is straitened enough himself.”
”He might help you with advice. His experience is larger than yours, his judgment better. 'In the mult.i.tude of counsellors there is safety,' you know, Hamish.”
”I have made up my mind to say nothing to my father. If he could a.s.sist me, I would disclose all to him: as it is, it would only be inflicting upon him unnecessary pain. Understand, Arthur, what I have said to you is in confidence: you must not speak of it to him.”
”Of course not. I should not think of interfering between you and him. I wish I could help you!”
”I wish you could, old fellow. But you need not look so serious.”
”How you can be so gay and careless over it, I cannot imagine,” said Arthur.
Hamish laughed. ”If there's only a little patch of suns.h.i.+ne as large as a man's hand, I am sure to see it and trust to it.”
”Is there any suns.h.i.+ne in this?”
”A little bit: and I hope it will help me out of it. I am sure I was born with a large share of hope in my composition.”
”Show me the bit of suns.h.i.+ne, Hamish.”
”I can't do that,” was the answer. ”I fear it is not so much actual suns.h.i.+ne that's to be seen yet--only its reflection. You could not see it at all, Arthur; but I, as I tell you, am extravagantly hopeful.”
The same ever-gay tone, the same pleasant smile, accompanied the words. And yet, at that moment, instead of walking straightforward into the open s.p.a.ce beyond the elm-trees, as Arthur did, Hamish withdrew his arm from his brother's, and halted under their shade, peering cautiously around. They were then within view of their own door.
”What are you looking at?”
”To make sure that the coast is clear. I heard to-day--Arthur, I know that I shall shock you--that a fellow had taken out a writ against me. I don't want, to get it served, if I can help it.”
Arthur was indeed shocked. ”Oh, Hamis.h.!.+” was all he uttered. But the tone betrayed a strange amount of pain mingled with reproach.
”You must not think ill of me. I declare that I have been led into this sc.r.a.pe blindfolded, as may be said. I never dreamt I was getting into it. I am not reckless by nature; and, but for the expectation of that money, I should be as free now as you are.”
Thought upon thought was crowding into Arthur's mind. He did not speak.
”I cannot charge myself with any foolish or unnecessary expenditure,” Hamish resumed. ”And,” he added in a deeper tone, ”my worst enemy will not accuse me of rashly incurring debts to gratify my own pleasures. I do not get into mischief. Were I addicted to drinking, or to gambling, my debts might have been ten times what they are.”
”They are enough, it seems,” said Arthur. But he spoke the words in sadness, not in a spirit of reproof.
”Arthur, they may prove of the greatest service, in teaching me caution for the future. Perhaps I wanted the lesson. Let me once get out of this hash, and I will take pretty good care not to fall into another.”
”If you only can get out of it.”
”Oh, I shall do it, somehow; never fear. Let us go on, there seems to be no one about.”
CHAPTER X.
A FALSE ALARM.
They reached home unmolested. Arthur went straight to Mr. Channing, who was lying, as usual, on his sofa, and bent over him with a smile, sweet and hopeful as that of Hamish.
”Father, may I gain fifty pounds a year, if I can do it, without detriment to my place at Mr. Galloway's?”
”What do you say, my boy?”
”Would you have any objection to my taking the organ at college on week days? Mr. Williams has offered it to me.”
Mr. Channing turned his head and looked at him. He did not understand. ”You could not take it, Arthur; you could not be absent from the office; and young Jupp takes the organ. What is it that you are talking of?”
Arthur explained in his quiet manner, a glad light s.h.i.+ning in his eyes. Jupp had left the college for good; Mr. Williams had offered the place to him, and Mr. Galloway had authorized him to accept it. He should only have to go to the office for two hours before breakfast in a morning, to make up for the two lost in the day.
”My brave boy!” exclaimed Mr. Channing, making prisoner of his hand. ”I said this untoward loss of the suit might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. And so it will; it is bringing forth the sterling love of my children. You are doing this for me, Arthur.”
”Doing it a great deal for myself, papa. You do not know the gratification it will be to me, those two hours' play daily!”
”I understand, my dear--understand it all!”
”Especially as--” Arthur came to a sudden stop.
”Especially as what?” asked Mr. Channing.
”As I had thought of giving up taking lessons,” Arthur hastily added, not going deeper into explanations. ”I play quite well enough, now, to cease learning. Mr. Williams said one day, that, with practice, I might soon equal him.”
”I wonder what those parents do, Arthur, who own ungrateful or rebellious children!” Mr. Channing exclaimed, after a pause of thought. ”The world is full of trouble; and it is of many kinds, and takes various phases; but if we can only be happy in our children, all other trouble may pa.s.s lightly over us, as a summer cloud. I thank G.o.d that my children have never brought home to me an hour's care. How merciful He has been to me!”
Arthur's thoughts reverted to Hamish and his trouble. He felt thankful, then, that it was hid from Mr. Channing.
”I have already accepted the place, papa. I knew I might count upon your consent.”
”Upon my warm approbation. My son, do your best at your task. And,” Mr. Channing added, sinking his voice to a whisper, ”when the choristers peal out their hymn of praise to G.o.d, during these sacred services, let your heart ascend with it in fervent praise and thanksgiving. Too many go through these services in a matter-of-course spirit, their heart far away. Do not you.”
Hamish at this moment came in, carrying the books. ”Are you ready, sir? There's not much to do, this evening.”
”Ready at any time, Hamish.”
Hamish laid the books before him on the table, and sat down. Arthur left the room. Mr. Channing liked to be alone with Hamish when the accounts were being gone over.
Mrs. Channing was in the drawing-room, some of the children with her. Arthur entered. ”Mrs. Channing,” cried he, with mock ceremony, ”allow me to introduce you to the a.s.sistant-organist of the cathedral.”
She smiled, supposing it to be some joke. ”Very well, sir. He can come in!”
”He is in, ma'am. It is myself.”