Part 12 (1/2)
CHAPTER NINE
Mr butterfield's office--My future prospects--I again visit the ”Ears-- My next visit to the ”E over the shi+p, I meet with an accident--Once more a prisoner--The hold of the ”Emu”--Not a stoay--My possible fate--No bones broken--”The blue above and the blue below”--Perseverance conquers all difficulties--On the high seas--Sea-sick--On the kelson-- I give way to despair--”Help! Help!”--The yarn of Saer--I review my past life--Never say die--Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink--My efforts meet with some success
Aunt Debwas said about my plans for the future As soon as I had finished, Mr butterfield, looking at his watch, told me to run out for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, and said that when I came back he would take me doith him to his office
”I shall not keep you there,” he remarked; ”you will afterwards co for you to do”
I obeyed, and as soon as I got out of the house I ran off in the direction of the country I wanted to see green fields and hedges and trees I enjoyed the fresh air and exercise, and was longer away than I intended Onfor me at the door
”Punctuality is the soul of business Re for tenthat the time had passed faster than I had expected
He walked along with sedate steps, for he was not given to rapid locoround as he went
He had not spoken since we left the house, and I felt that I was passing frouest to that of a junior clerk Still, not being overwhelmed with bashfulness at any time, and as I was anxious to knohat had passed between hi my future career, I looked up and asked him
”Your aunt will communicate her wishes to you,” he answered ”You will see presently the sort of work you will be expected to perform in my office Let me tell you that many lads would consider theive you”
He said no more His manner, it struck me, was far less cordial than it had been, and I could not help thinking that I was indebted for this to Aunt Deb, who had probably given him an account of my adventures at home Now I aht; but I did not think so at the tith reached Water Street, and entered the office of Tallow, Candle of a small outer roo of shi+ps and other information In it was an enclosed space, behind which sat on high stools two venerable-looking clerks, busily engaged in writing Speaking a feords to them, Mr butterfield passed on to an inner roo froht or ten persons of various ages, all scribbling away as fast as their pens could move Their thin and pallid faces did not prepossessAt the farther end, in a darker corner, was a vacant stool
”That will be your place, Richard, when you come here to-radually rise, till one day I may hope to see you one of my head clerks”
I looked askance at the dark corner, and I then scanned the faces of the occupants of the other seats I could say nothing likely to please Mr butterfield, and I therefore kept silence
”You will begin work on Monday Now go back to your aunt, ishes to have you with her for the present”
I longed to say, ”I thought, sir, you were going to talk toto sea;” but before I could speak, Mr butterfield, turning round, walked into his private office and left , I felt, very foolish As I did not wish to undergo a long inspection fro atmore freely when I found ht to have returned home; but instead of that I madeat the vessels I was not long in finding out the ”E apparently got h there were still soside ready to be shi+pped I had a great longing to go on board and try to see the captain, and to ask him if he would take ine to be the captain; and I therefore, after walking up and down the quay for souessed by er that it must be near luncheon-ti the house I -roolad to find that you are more punctual than usual, dick,” she said ”You will soon, I hope, becoular in your habits Follow the example of so excellent a man as my cousin, Godfrey butterfield
You are pleased with your excellent prospects in his office, I hope?”
To this reht, Aunt Deb, that Mr butterfield was going to speak to you about o to sea He told me that he would do so, and that he would have no difficulty in gettingto sea!” replied Aunt Deb ”My cousin did speak to me on the subject, and I told hi so, and that I felt sure your father would not do so either What! To throay the brilliant prospects which through my means have been opened out to you? What! Desert your family and enerously consents to becoard he has for me? What! Go and run all the risks of a turbulent ocean, and perhaps lose your life, and cause sorrow to those who have an affection for you, ratify an insane fancy? No, dick--no! I told my cousin Godfrey butterfield, at once, that if he had any regard for ; and I begged hiive you employment in his office, so as to turn your mind away from the silly ideas you have entertained”
”I'ed to you, Aunt Deb, for what you have done,” I said,”It was no idle fancy in my mind, but my fixed resolution to beco your opposition”
”Hoity-toity!” exclaimed Aunt Deb, as not accustomed to be set at defiance ”You will understand, dick, that you were placed in e, and o into Mr butterfield's office, and to work hard there, so that you may do credit to my recommendation some day, and render support to your family
In case of your father's death, ould become of you all? I, who have devoted e of their ars, and I should very likelyto sea as by any other ain exclaimed Aunt Deb; ”eat your luncheon, and don't talk nonsense”
As I was very hungry, I obeyed her, but at first I felt as if the food I put in et on as well as usual Aunt Deb's behaviour tothe next few days did not contribute to reconcileand adding up long colu to scold me when I made mistakes I pictured to myself my future dreary life--to have to sit in a dull office all day, and then to have to come home with no other society than that of Mr butterfield and Aunt Deb as long as she remained at Liverpool I knew nobody at Liverpool, and did not see hoas to form any acquaintances of my own After luncheon, on Saturday, Aunt Deb, in consideration, she said, of o and take a walk by myself, as she felt indisposed to leave the house I very naturally wandered down to the docks to have a look at the ”Emu” before she sailed, and to inspect any other vessels that ht take my fancy I much missed my cutter yacht, as I found there existed places where I could have sailed her I had spent soot back to the quay where the ”Eht of the high stool in the dark corner of Mr butterfield's office; the dreary, dreary days I was doos in the society of Aunt Deb and her cousin, and the not more lively Sundays, with attendances at three services, for Aunt Deb was very strict in this respect Hapless fate, with nothing better to expect than a head clerkshi+p The business I knew I should detest Then I thought of the free life on the ocean, the strange lands I should visit, the curious people I should see, and the liberty I fancied I should enjoy
As I had had a fair education, and knew that I could ation, I expected without difficulty to work my way up till I became an officer, and then to have the command of such a fine shi+p et to sea? Mr butterfield positively refused to obtain an appointment for me without the consent of Aunt Deb and that of iven Would the captain take me without further introduction, if I should offer h to know that that was very unlikely
Suddenly the idea seized me, should I stow myself away on board, and not appear until the shi+p had sailed out to sea? I had a notion, notwithstanding, that this would not be a wise proceeding I should certainly not be treated as an officer, and should very probably be sent forward to becoet to sea? I thought and thought