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- THE SON "OF" HISi I FATHER.1…

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THE SON "OF" HIS i FATHER. BY MRS OLIPHANT, Author of THE CHRONICLES OF CAKLINGFOBD," OLIVER'S BKIDE," "MADAM," &C. [THE RIGHT OF TBANSLATION IS RESERVED. J CHAPTER XXIIL—BKOTHEE AND SISTER. knew her way about, aucl where to go and Hat to see. She wad not disturbed by the noise y clangour of what she called "The Under- ?CoUnd," a mode of conveyance which a» first f^ildered the country boy, to whom the clash of lra»i after train, the noise, the complication, the Ctowds pouring this way and that, took away a. i JWerstandine, and who felt himself a child In the of his sister, who knew exactly when the *t train which she wanted was coming, and all fjtout it and steered him in her deft London way hr<>ueh the tumult. 14 How can you toil which i? Which?'' John cried, feeling the dust in his J'oat, the din in his ears, and his eyes growing 2* and hot with the flutter of the crowd, and all the sights that flashed past huxi, and the 5>ke and suffocating atmosphere. 01), I can t li. I only know," said Susie. She was at her in the midst of the commotion, looking as and as modest and composed as if she were piking in country lanes, not afraid of the pronged stations of th8 Metropolitan, the dingy Platforms the confusions of porters shouting and ??°rg clanging. John had meant to take care of sister, but it was he who clung to her in the r^dst of the bewilderment and the noise. She which train to take, she knew when to L ,aHge into another, when to stop; though to they bore no distention, neither the stations ,?e names of which he never could discover, nor directions—for as yet John was not even a\\tare which was north or south, east or west. Under Susie's guidance, however, he saw and J?amt a great deal in that first wonderful day. took him from the Tower to St. Paul's, and to the Abbey, to the Houses of Parliament to the Abbey, to the Houses of Parliament -to the Parks—as she was used to do with gangers, with convalescent patients sometimes, 114 that more gently—and with their relations friends who would come up from the country see somebody in the hospital, and then «0P^em" Nate longing the unknown world around them, tIll Susie, always kind, took pity on their igno- l}y this means she had been trained in t e r^ties of cicerone, and was extremely emcien ■Rowing just enough and not too much—whicn i-> for, a guide too erudite is a confusion o lQe simple mind. She took her brother, in tne fiddle of the day, to a modest place on the o s<irts of the city, which she knew by this kind ot •Scursion, to give him something to eat, and there pointed out to him what he found as interesting as anything—the young men and middle-aged 1n.en of all classes in pursuit of luncheon, crowding kind of hotel and eating-house. It gave J°bn altogether a new view of that busy life, ^here there is no time to go home for meals, but !*here everyone has comfortable means of being M with no makeshifts or picnic arrangements, a whole population toiling to supply the briet necessary repast. This with all its immense sup- Wy and demand, and the sight of the men about i"6 streets, plunging into and being s^.a" !°»ed up in the high buildings which 5ave replaced, in so many cases magni- ?^ently the old shabby offices an(* chain- bers in which London laboured and grew rich, as exciting to John, or, perhaps, more so, if truth must be told, than the historical places to which Susie guided him. He was overawed by Paul's, where heiAstood under the great dome, heard the waves so to speak, of the great sea of London dashing oustide with a rhythmic force: the venerable Abbey, with all its records, *eQt to his heart. But, for a youth of his day, fading eagerly upon the verge of life and long- Ity? to take part himself in all that was going on, flood and pressure of men steadily pushing lQeir |way along the streets, all with some object hr pursuit, pressing in crowds to snatch their a$ty meal, pouring back again into every kind of 'ice, in every possible capacity, this was to him f^e most interesting of all. Should he himself 7* like that in a week or two?—full ot business, ull of work, bis mind all engaged with something 0utside of himself, no time to inquire into his history, or discuss his relationships, or make pftiself wretched, perhaps, about things that might out of so little importance? This was the fought that took entire possession of his mind as e W'ent on. ''Do you think you'll like it, John ? I don't know if I'll like it. That's not what P&9 wants to know—one wants to know how one to get on." «{ I should think," said Susie, hesitating a little, should think—that you are sure to get on if y°U try." t V It shant be for the want of trying," said «ohn. Oh," said Susie, "that is the thing we'll think most—that you should try, John. If you try your very best and don't succeed, it's not your auit. That is what mother will think of, and I, too." 1 But I mean to succeed," said John. Many y v« said it before him, and yet failed miserably, et each new aspirant means to win, and is as ?erCaiu of his power to do so as those that went Wore. John's purposeshone in his eyes, and his Canity communicated itself to his sister. She her hand through his arm, giving him an pressure. oh, how I wish and pray you may and j? too. Oh, John, with all my heart! hat will do more for mother, to heal her wounds, anything else in the world." D0 more for mother] That was not what he as thinking of. He drew his arm away, perhaps "Hiewhat coldly. The mother, who was Emily, ad but few claims upon him. If Susie had said i" *°r herself, if Elly had said it, that would have een a motive. He did not feel inspired by the presented to him now. And there was a Pause between them, and Susie saw that she had a mistake, and that this was not the spell. ^?ey went .011 after for some time very soberly, Without any question on John's part, or offer of Information on the part of Susie—in a sort of e'lvy, dispirited way. At last she pressed bis again, and said, 44 Ob, John I wish you had /re feeling about mother. If you only knew "at a life she has had, what a hard life I ^n't do much, one way or another. I can only 5 £ Rnd by her, and do what I can to please her. you, y,>o are different. You can do so much. lJ, John t" It is of 110 use. She does not believe that I ever be good for anything, t- jmetimesl think —dislikes me, Susie." < Oh, John how can you say so, her own son, \er only son. She has always thought of you, ^ays that I know." How has she thought of me? That I am sure j go wrong? I know," said John, with a sudden JJspirafcion, that is what .she expects—that I go wrong. She is always waiting to see me it. I don't know why, but I am sure it has *^ays been in her mind." She didn't know you, John," said Susie, ^agedy, not seeing that she assented to his sug- gestion, "how could she know you? We had Jever seen vou since you were a chikl; and if she th,,VJght ''Why has she never seen me since I was a ?"ild," the buy asked sternly, why is it I didn't «How you, Susie, my only sister, till now?" ,t Oh, as for that," she said, pressing his arm, that didn't matter, did it? You and I would j^Ways understand eaeh other. It is only to say '"&t you are John and I am Susie. We didn't i.ii,y more." *'If sister and brother do that, shouldn't mother r^d son do it?" said John, "and we don't, you *'iow; She expects everything that is bad of me, ^od I thing-everything that is-" "No," she cried, "don't say that; oh, John, 9°n't say that. It is all that you don't know her. ••ait ;i little, only wait a little. She has had a fcreat deal to bear. She has had to put on what is "'most a mask to hide her heart, which has been Wounded oh, so wounded! John, you don't know." Not by me," he said, "I have never done to her. But she has made up her mind *hat I will tarn out badly. Don't contradict ir,o, for I know." Susie made no attempt to contradict him. Ie patted his arm softly, and said, Poor Mother, poor mother," under her breath. John \\>as not ill-pleased that she should take his Mother's part it seemed suitable that she should do so—the thing that was becoming and Natural. He did not want her to come to his ji^e. And then she was so wrung so ridiculously, fantastically wrong, th.it someone to support i^id stand np for her was doubly necessary. ■Poor mother who would not even have it in her power to be glad, as tfie commonest mother would when her Son turned out the reverse of all she feared. "If you would only forget," said Susie, this potion you have taken into your head, :1 n(' SC° on 'as I know you will go on) well, and make ymr :-Vay, mother will be beside herself with joy. Oh, jt Will make up for everything that is past, 911 she *jas had to bear and there is nobody can do that you. This appeal left John cold. He was thoroughly determined to go on well—by nature in the first Wace, for he felt no inclination for anything else. I) nd if Susie had implored him tor her own sake, t. for Elly's sake, hu would have responded mag- nanimously, and pri i) s^pd everything uhe-pleased "-but for his mother, for the woman whose real fcame (if ^he only knew it) was Emily, how could "at affect him ? He needed no reply, and pi e- ^Hly their attention WAS diverted by some new Jhtng which was Strang-' to the country lad, and r'ey discoursed on this subject no morn. They ^ad readied the Strand, the scene of John's ad- future of the previous night, when Susie sud- eftlv dropped his arm very hastily, and with a word of explanation, bidding him wait her, took refuge suddenly in a shop. He had ■°t, recovered from his surprise wiien he was ae<*iSted by some one who came up with great >°^ia-lity, holding out his hand, and in wh<>ti> with no small surprise, recognised his cquaintance, the tather of the child he had -Scued, the man who had been so grateful enthusiastic in his thanks, Montressor, who ailed him with a heartiness that was almost d3?yfi soaking hands violently and protesting his c Is it really you in the flesh, my dear young And I've found you, then, in daylight, vi Quite natural. You're not the good fairy in Pantomime, nor yet the Red Cross Knight, as »,e -Nelly says you are. And none the worse? see y°u' y°unS J'' said John, "it's nothing; indeed, it's llnK- I hope she's all right, and that she has ^ken^.oharm." creat e s taken harum, sir; but she's a young her Ure of a highly nervous organisation, and You'll10 and me, we are always anxious. W conie in and see me chyld, Mr May, and noth; F thank her deliverer. We talk of of a lifM6 Se, If you'll believe me. Ye are a sort r id her t?°d' me young hero, to the little one, ^nble Parent?» anc^ ye'H not pa«8 me *i' "I crtn't come in to.d:ty," said Júhn blushing a little, yet not without a sense that all this ap- plause was pleasant, "for I'm waiting for my sister, who has gone into one of these shops. I am glad I did not go after her, 'or I should not have seen you L'ut I will come another time to see you and the little girl." Do," said Montressor. He was a person who could not bo called unobtrusive: his hat had a. cock upon his head, and his elbow against his side, which called the attention of passers-by. His shaven face with its deep lines, and mobile features, and even his way of standing about, occupying much more than his proper share of the pavement, aroused the attention of the passers-by. John felt unpleasantly that the people who passed stared, and that one or two lingered a littJe, con- templating the old actor, with that frank curio- sity which the British public permits itself to dis- play. John, being young and shy, did not like these demonstrations; but they pleased the object of them, who stood outside a little, and said to his young companion—"They remember Montressor, Though the managers consider me pas^e, sir, me old admirers, them tbat have once flocked to see me in my iavourite parts, have not forgotten me. The public makes up for the injustice of the official-me kind fnends-me good friends This would be sweet to the heart of me faithful partner, Mr May." "Yes, perhaps she would like it," said John, hesitating. But for himself he could not disguise that he shrank from the appreciation of the pas- sengers in the Strand. Montressor was too much occupied by the pleasure it gave himself, how- ever, to observe this. "The public, Mr May," he said' "is the best of masters to the artist. As soon as ye-can get face to face with it, sir, the battle's done. It's the officials, the managers, the middle men, those that live upon the artist's blood :—but a generous public never forgets an old servant." He looked round upon the people who stared and lingered, as if with the intention of addressing his thanks to them, while poor John sbrank into himself, 1 think I must bid you good-bye, sir, said the boy. "My sister is waiting, for me. Ill come and see you soon, and ask for—for the little girl." xr Must ye go ?—then I'll not detain ye. You re right not to keep a lady waiting. Yes, come, my youn^ hero—with us you'll ever find a grateful welcome. And I'll tell Nelly ye have promised. Good-bye, and a father's blessing, Mr May." To John's surprise, Susie came out to him from the shop, whence she had seen everything, and heard something, looking very agitated and pale. "You don't mean to say, John," she said suddenly carrying him away in the opposite ction, "that that man knows you by the name i May." I never said anything about it," said John, in his surprise, "but it is true, whoever told you. That is the name be knows me by—and why not, since it is my name?" "Oh, John!" cried Susie, with tears in her eyes, when I told you it was for family reasons, for property, and that sort of thing. Why will you be so perverse Do you think it is a nice thing, do you think it looks honest and true, to have two names ?" Perhaps not," said the lad, but then let me have my own that was mine when I was a little child. Your family reasons, Susie, they were never told to me." Then for mere pride you will make an end of all mother has done and tried to do all her life, because she couldn't explain to you, a little boy that couldn't understand? you 11 expose her to all sorts of trouble, and yourself, yourself to-) The tears weie in Susie's eyes, Her countenance, so gentlp and mild, was suffused with angry colour, with indignation and impatience. Even that man," she said, "even that man, a stranger, could Oh, John, will you go against grand- father, as well as the rest of us 1 He left you the most of what he had, and his own good name, John Sandford, because he had no son. Will you go against grandfather and grandmother too ?". (f T t-j No," said John, after a pause, I never did, and I never will. I suppose they wished it, though they never said anything. But, Susie, I m no longer a child. All those circumstances you speak of,"hat you have known for years and years, surely may be told to me, too ?" She shuddered a little, and turned her face away. I'll speak to mother," she said in a sub- dued voice. Then more boldly, "But if you're to be John Sandford, as grandfather said, you can't be—the other. Is it right to have two names? It is just the one thing that cannot be done. It looks as if one were dishonest, untrue, to hide one's only I have no reason to do that," said John, if you are sure grandfather intended it to be so." He never said anything to me. I always took it for granted, without inquiring. I'had forgotten the other. As for Mr Montressor." said John, "I did it without thought. I had been think- ing it over a great deal, and it just came into my head." "And how do you know Montressor?" Susie asked. Why, Susie, that is the man of last night." The man of last night! the man whose child- And you gave him that other name ? Oh She gave a little fluttering cry, then paused, with a. look of consternation growing upon her face. She stopped short for a moment in the streets, in the extremity of her perplexed and troubled sensations. Then she caught John's arm again, with a close pressure. "Don't see that man any more. Ob, promise me not to see that man any more." "Why?" said John. "He is not, perhaps, so well known as he thinks, but he is a good fellow enough, and knows a lot. He is very kind. You should see him with his little girl and then he was so kind to me." Oh, John, oh John Susie cried. It bad all been so pleasant when they had set out, when nothing but the ordinary incidents of living had to be taken into account. But now they had struck upon more difficult ground. CHAPTER XXIV.—BEGINNING LIFE. That day John's future career was determined summarily, without any further consultation of his wishes. It was the career he had himself chosen, the very same career about which there had been so many consultations at home in the old times. This was how be described to himself a period so very little withdrawn from the present moment. At home—he had no home now, not even the shadow of one. It was the profession lie had chosen—Elly's trade the one they had fixed upon in their youthful fervour as the best for the ad- vantage of the race, as well as for the worthy work and fit advancement of the young workman, who, in his way, was still to bo a Christian knight. To make lighthouses and harbours for the safety of travellers at sea, and roads and bridges for the advantage of those at home—that was how the boy and girl bad regarded it, or rather the girl and boy, for John had taken the matter from the beginning more soberly thau Elly, taking satisfaction in the idea of learning surveying and all the other necessary prelimi- naries, even mathematics, at which he ha.d always been so much the best. But when he was called to another interview in his mother's room at the hospital, and with her pen in her hand, suspended in the midst of the reports she was writing, or the accounts she was miking up, Mrs Sandford had given him the letter which he was to take to a certain addieSs, and so begin work at once, John's heart rose within him in resistance and indigna- tion. "I have settled everything his mother said. "You have nothing to do but to send up your name and this note. Well, it is what I understood you had set your heart upon, isn't it so? You want to be an engineer. So my father said." "Yes, I want to be an engineer," John re- plied. And they were sending you to a foundry in Liverpool—which is quite a different thing—when I interfered. You were not giatetul tome, though your grandmother also, I believe, had been very very much against it. You wanted to go there be- cau.se I did not want you to go. Wasn't that the reason? You must put away these childish ideas, Juhu. Understand, once for all, tliac it is your real good I am seeking, and that it cau do no good in any way to retain this position of anta- goutSintoino." "I wish no antagonism," said the boy. "I think everything is settled very quickly, very-- summarily. I think I might known a little. I am nearly eighteen. I might be allowed some- thing to say." Be sile.it, Susie," said Mra Sandford, 'there is no reason wiiyyou shouid interfere. You have been allowed a great deal to say. I have followed | your own lead altogether. Imighthaveputyou III a merchant's office, which would have been more in my way but I have adopted yours with- out a word. You could scarcely point out to me the right peopie to apply to, 1 suppose ? It is only so far as this goes that I have acted for myself. But I don't see that this conversation can do us any good. John. Nit- Barrett is a great supporter of the hospital, he is a very good man, and he is one of the first in his pro- Session. He wiil take you rather for my sake, it is true, thiiij your own, but that can't be helped at your age; and as he takes you without any preouun., that is so much to your advantage, lie will settle how you are to begin, and ail about it when you go ti> him, which i. hooe will be at or.ee -to.day." "V John went a\va,y with his letter without saying any more, and he carried ou his mother's orders, but \yithout any pleasure iu the beginning, though as a ma-tier ot lact it was his own choice. That she meant his good, that she was doing the best she could f°r luui> he oelieved, though grudgingly but way shouhi ^he do it so hardly, without grace or kindness, without anything that would make it pleasant? How may such a question be asked how impossible to answer ;t. To mean everything that is best in the world, to take trouble to do it, to solid benefits on the head of a dependant, a child, or retainer, and yet to do it all so as to make the kindness an office, almost an insult. What a curious perversion is this of everything that is best and .tenderest John's mother was substantially right as well a.s sub- stantially kind. She had chosen the best guidance for her Sson. She had in no way thwarted his I inclinations. She had indeed loilowed their natural bent, taken trouble to find the means of satisfying them and yet I John went away without a word. He obeyed her and his fate, But he thus attained his own wish as if it had been a hardship, and submitted as to a fiat pro- nouoced in entire difference to his wishes. What he would have liked to do as he crossed the bridge, and felt the playful gust of the April wind in his face, would have been to drop the letter in the river, and go away in one of those outward bound ships, ou one of those clanging railways which made a black network all about, to the end of the world. That would have pleased him indeed I To throw the letter into the dark quick flowing tide, to dis- appear and be no more heard of and finally, years after, to re-appear prosperous and great, John May, bringing wealth and reputation with him. His mind dallied with this dream as he went along, a.nd especially as he crossed the I bridge, which suggested freedom and movement. There is no thougnt that is so apt to come to a very young mind. To go away mysteriously, suddenly, leavixg no trace, and in the future— that future that is scarcely further off to seven- teen than to-morrow to a chifd—to come back triumphant to the confusion of all prophets of evil. Sometimes the young dreamer will carry out his vision, bringing misery and self-reproach to those he leans be- hind, but coming back in most cases far from triumphant, forced by destitution or misery, perhaps, or at best disenchanted and dreary, dazzling no one with the success which has ceased to be sweet. Perhaps, John, who had a great deal of sense, perceived this—at all events he was held by those bonds of duty which had lain on him lightly in the past, yet had created a tradition and necessity of obedience, which nothing be had yet encountered was strong enough to abrogate. He felt the temptation, but it never occurred to him as one to which he could yield—and though his heart was in revolt and pride all in arms, yet he trudged along soberly across the river to Great George-street where he was bound, without any active resistance, feeling himself under the guidance and control of an un<> kindly fate. He was received not unkindly, however, though with great gravity, by Mr Barrett, the gentleman to whom bis mother's letter was addressed, and who questioned him as to ais studies, how far he bad gone in his mathematics, ana whether he had made any acquaintance with the special work of the profession he desired to take up. Mr Barrett was a very serious person, indeed, in t dress which was almost clerical, and with manners more solemn than ever clergyman had, which is a curious effect not unusual among lay persons who assume the attitude of advice and exhortation, which is supposed to be the special privilege of the clergy. Mr Barrett's necktie was not white, but the grey and black with which it was striped were faint, producing a sort of illusion in point of colour, and his manners were more distinctive even than his tie. I know your mother," he said. She is an excellent woman, a most worthy person. Her son ought to be satisfactory, and I hope you will prove so but she has had many trials, much more than fall to the ordinary lot." John did not make any reply: at all events nothing was audible of what he said, though in reality he kept up a fierce fire of response. If she has bad many trials she ought to have kept them to herself," was what he said hotly within himself. I hope that you begin work with the hope and intention of making up to her a little for all she had to bear," Mr Barrett resumed. She has been for many years under my personal observa- tion, and anyone more devoted to duty I never saw*" i-, "Oh, yes," said John to himself, that is like Emily not because she likes to do it, but because it's duty," which was at once a hostile and a foolish remark." But you must remember," said his adviser, U that London is a place full of temptation and danger. Everywhere it is easy to go wrong so much easier unfortunately than to do right; but in London the devil is roaring at every street corner, seeking whom be may devour. You must make up your mind to struggle stoutly against his wiles. I can't even shut out of my office, though I try to be as careful as possible, those who prefer the broad path to the narrow: but I hope you will not let yourself be led away." I hope I shall do my duty, sir," said John, this time audibly enough, in a not very sweet or genial voice. I hope you will—that is the right way to look at it: especially to a young man in your position a great deal of care is necessary. Among my other pupils you will find some who have less occasion, as people say, to work. 1 don't myself allow that. I think every man ought to work, and work with all his strength,it not for necessity, yet for—duty as you say. But the sons of parents who are well off in this world's goods, often take a great deal of-licence, which you, Saudford, in your position, must net take as an example. You must keep your nose at the grindstone. It is doubly important for you in your circumstances." It was all that John could do not to demand audibly as he did in his own consciousness: What are my circumstances then, what is my special position ?" His position bad been a very good one all his life till now, the best in the village after the Rector's family, their comrade and associate. He never had any occasion to think of himself as received on sufferance as inferior to any one. It wounded his pride bitterly to b6 compelled to look upon himself in this way. Your advancement will depend on yourself," Mr Barrett continued. It is for you to prove what you can do. After you have gone through your course of instruction, if you show yourself diligant, careful, and, above all, trustworthy, you will receive our best recommendation. Hut all this must depend entirely on yourself. We can't, of course, take you upon our shoulder and guarantee your future. This I hope your mother tully understands. I am willing to stretch a point for a woman who has acquitted herself so well under trying circumstances. But she must understand, and you must understand, that we don't make ourselves responsible for you you must in the end stand or hll on your own merits. The firm cannot carry you on their shoulders about the world-" I {hope no one expected anything of the kind," cried John, aching and throbbing with wounded pride. No, no, I hope not. I think it is always better to make these things quite plain at first. The premium I remit with pleasure to such a worthy woman as Mrs Sandford, to show my sense of her admirable conduct under very trying "I beg your pardon," cried John. "I don't wisb for my part to come in on better terms than thejothers. I down want any charity. I, have not my own money at this moment, but I shall have it when I come of age, and I assure you there will be no difficulty about paying the premium then.' Mr Barrett looked at him with astonished eyes. To have charity cast back in his teeth is agree- able to no man. He stammered as he replied with mingled indignation and astonishment, "I —I don't understand you. What—what do you mean ? Are you coming to me to propose an arrangement onyourewn account, or to complete one made by your mother ?" He regained his composure as he went on. If this be temper, my young friend, we had better break off at once. I don't want any touchy people taking offence about my place." His tone bad changed. He had given up exhortation and good advice, and spoke sharply, with a ring of reality in his voice which brought John to himself. I beg your pardon, sir. I am, perhaps, wrong. I am not ill-tempered nor touchy. I do want to do my duty, and learn my work, and make my way. It was only the idea of charity: and I had never been used to it John said. I am afraid you'll have a great deal to struggle with in your disposition, if that's how you take things," said Mr Barrett, shaking his head. He added quickly, I don't know that I've time to go into the question of your feelings. The manager will tell you about hours and all arrangements. I hope he will have a good account to give me of your work and progress. Good day." This was all he made by hia outburst of impa- tience and indignation. He left a disagreeaole impression on the mind of his new employer, and went out himself sore, humiliated and injured, feeling himself in the wrong. It was not his fault, he said to himself. It was the different position in which he found himself, so different from the past. That he should be of no account, received, if not out of charity, at least out of a humiliating kindness, because of his mother's admirable conduct in her trying circumstances— in what trying circumstances? John could not be- lieve that his father's death had been so tremen- dous a grief as all these sayings seemed to imply. And then to be no longer consulted, no longer even told what was going to happen to him, sent off a with a note like an errand boy getting a place The pride or the humiliation of the boy who has always felt himself to be somebody, and suddenly discovers himself to be nobodv, is not of much consequence to the world. It is, not of much importance even to himself. In most cases it does him a great deal of good, and he lives to feel that, and smile at the keen pangs of his boy- hood. And yet there are few pangs more keen., They cut like knives through the sensitive fibres of poor John's heart, nnd the only refuge which his pride could take, was in imagining circum- stances in which he should vindicate himself, tremendous accidents, in which his courage and presence of mind should avert catastrophe,, misfortunes in which he should be the deliverer—the most common of sufferings, uie most usual of all the dreams of self-compensa- tion. It was with his head full of all these new complications that he returned—not home, which was the word that came to his lips in spite of himself. Not home, he had now no home. Nobody could call Mrs Sandford's rooms at the hospital, borne, not even Susie. John's heart swelled as he caught himself on the eve of using that antiquated word, that word which had no signification any more and then he thought of Elly under the old pear tree with her algebra, thinking of him. She had told him to think of her 1;0. A little picture rose before him quite sud- denly. Elly under the pear tree with her algebra A smile flickered to his lips at the thought. She would be sure to think of him, for she was not very fond of algebra, and to escape a little from those mystic signs and symbols, Elly would be glad to take refuge in recollections of her friend who was almost like a brother. He thought he could see her under the old pear tree, with the wind in her hair, lifting the long, heavy, beautiful locks. The pear blossoms would not be over yet, the sun would make it shine like an old castle with turrets of white. Mr Cattley would still look over Elly's algebra and shake his head. Ob. yes, he would shake his head more than ever: for John would not be there to suggest a way out of those thorny paths, and Elly would not make much of them without that help. It gave him a sensation of pleasure, as if ne had escaped for a moment from all the gravities of fate, into that cheerful garden, and found a glimpse of something like home in EUy's bright face. "Y dU must find fresh lodgings, nearer to your work," said Mrs Sandford, when she received hi's report", which was given, it is unnecessary to say, with considerable reticence, and disclosed nothing about the little encounter with Mr Bar- rett on the subject of the premium, any more than it didjof that imaginary glimpse of Elly in the reetory garden. I am very glad it is all settled so comfortably but you must find lodgings near your work." I shall not mind the walk. After the day's work I should like it." No. I should not like it for you. I don't want you to get the habit of roaming about London. It is not good either for soul or body. A lodging near the office is best." You surely don't mean to shut me up in the evenings," said the boy. You don't mean me to stay indoors all the night ?" It would be much better foryou if you did— for yourself. You could find plenty to occupy you. You might carry on your studies, or if you wanted amusement you might read. Twenty years hence you will be pleased to think that was how you spent your nights." I caa see no reason*" be laid. "why I could not do al) that, and yet live where I am. That is because you love the streets," said his ninth" "I know: oh, I do not require that you: ,I ¡ tf'¡¡ me. You like the movement and the noise and the amusement." It is quite tmc," said John, "and is there anv harm ?" Oh." she said, did not I tell you, Susie—he is his father's sou," 1 To bl' continued. 1

Y GOLOFN GYMREIG

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