Mattie:-A Stray Volume II Part 14

"Oh! no. He sticks up for you like a champion!"

"I thought he would. He never spoke ill of any one in his life, and he always took the part of those who were unfortunate. I was sure he would not side against me!"

"Sit down, Mattie, sit down!"

"Thank you, no, sir! I shall never sit down in the house of any one who has heard ill news of me, until I can clear myself, or time clears me. I shall never go near Mr. Wesden's, although I feel for all the sorrow there."

"You know what has happened, then?"

"I have put on black, as for a lost mother. I was at the funeral, but they did not see me. Oh! sir, I know all about you--what should I do alone in the world, if I didn't think of those who _saved_ me when I was young?"

"And what are you doing?"

"Getting my living by needlework, by artificial flower making, or by anything that's honest which falls in my way. I keep at work, and hunt about for work, and there are some good people, I find, who take pity upon those situated like myself. I'm not afraid, sir, of doing well!"

"Glad to hear it, Mattie."

Mattie motioned Ann Packet to retire. Ann, who had been standing in the doorway all this time, open-mouthed and open-eared, withdrew at the hint. Mattie advanced and laid her hand upon Mr. Hinchford's arm.

"He goes there very often--they are engaged!"

Mr. Hinchford, who had always one thought uppermost, understood this at once--there was no necessity for any nominative cases--"Boy Sid" always understood!

"Yes."

"But he don't go to business now--the business is over."

"Who told you?"

"I read it in the paper a lodger lends me sometimes. Mr. Sidney's out of work!"

"At present--for a day or two."

"He has heard of something that will better him?"

"He will--in a day or two."

"And you--you're out of work too, sir?"

"That confounded Ann has told you----"

"Not a word, sir--but I have had a habit of looking for you, when you pa.s.sed the house where I lodged, twice a-day--and I couldn't settle down, or feel comfortable, until you _had_ pa.s.sed. And when you did not come, I knew what had happened."

"Still full of curiosity, Mattie," said Mr. Hinchford, feeling the tears in his eyes at this evidence of Mattie's interest in him.

"Curious about all of you," she said, with a comprehensive gesture; "I don't feel so far away when I know what has happened, or is happening.

And wanting to know the worst, or the best of everything, I come like an inquisitive little body, as I have always been, to take you by surprise like this!"

"But--but, my good girl, I can't tell you that we're very lucky just now. But Sid must not hear that I am getting very uncomfortable, and becoming less able to bear up as I ought to do, just to keep him strong, do you see? And if all goes on like this much longer, both out of work, what will become of us? Oh! dear, dear, dear!--what a miserable old man I've been to him and myself, and everybody! Oh! to be comfortably out of the world, and a burden to no one!"

"Sir," said Mattie, earnestly, "a blessing to some. Don't you remember when you were stronger, being a blessing to me--you, my first friend!

And don't you know that you're a blessing to that good son of yours, and that he thinks so, and loves you as he ought to do? You mustn't make him unhappy by giving way at this time."

"I don't give way before him, that's not likely. Strong as a rock, child!"

The rock shook and trembled from summit to base, but Mattie did not smile at the contrast which his words suggested.

"What are you doing for him now, sitting here, Mr. Hinchford, and trying to _look_ your best?"

"Doing?--what can I do?"

"That's what I have been thinking about, sir. When I'm at the flower-making--which I'm learning in over-time, because it don't pay just yet--I get, oh! such lots of time to think."

"Well?" he asked eagerly.

Mr. Hinchford always forgot disparity of age, and was content to be taught by Mattie, and receive advice from her. He wondered at it afterwards, but never when the spell of her presence was on him, when her young vigorous mind overpowered his weak efforts to rebel.

"Well, I have thought that Mr. Wesden, being a little--just a little--suspicious, would soon object to the engagement, if Mr. Sidney kept out of work too long. I can't say, for I don't perhaps understand Mr. Wesden, but it has been my idea; and oh! sir, they are so suited to each other, Harriet and he!"

"Well," he said again, "I don't think that Mr. Wesden's likely to object--but go on."

"And when I heard that the firm had failed, I began to wonder what he would do; for places are hard to get, even when one's clever now-a-days, and _has_ a character to back him. And I wanted to ask you if you had thought of your brother, sir!"

"Why--what do you know of my brother?"

"He came one night to Great Suffolk Street to see you--don't you remember? I knew him by his likeness to yourself, before I saw his name upon his card."

"My brother!"

Mr. Hinchford gave a tug to his stock; it had not struck him before, and its very absurdity rather amused him. His brother, who turned a deaf ear to his own plaints, when misfortune was fresh upon him--when that brother's help might have saved him, as he thought, from all the troubles and adversities which had oppressed him since their bitter quarrel.

"And he's a rich man--I have been asking about him--he's a banker, sir, and keeps a great many hands."

"Yes, yes, I know," he said impatiently; "but it's no good. I wouldn't ask a favour of him for the world. If it hadn't been for him, my old age would not be like this!"

"He's an old man--perhaps he's altered very much," suggested Mattie; "he might know something that would suit Mr. Sidney."

"Don't speak of him again," Mr. Hinchford said, with some severity.

"Very well, sir," was the sad response; "then I'll go now."

"Will you not wait till Sid comes back?--I'm sure he----"

"No, no, sir--I would rather not see him--I am pressed for time, and have a great deal to do when I get back. There's one thing more I came for, sir."

"What's that?"

"I want you to try and remember a letter which you gave me, when I went away from Great Suffolk Street."