Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles Part 117

"It is the place I thought to fill," said he. "It is the place that was promised me."

"Not promised," replied Mr. Ashley. "Not thought to be promised. A very long time ago, you may have been spoken of conditionally, as likely to fill it. Conditionally, I say."

"Conditionally on what, sir?"

"On your fitness for it. By conduct and by capability."

"What is the matter with my conduct, sir?" returned Cyril, his tone a sharp one.

"It is bad," curtly replied Mr. Ashley. "Deceitful in public; bad in private. I have told you once before this morning, that I do not care to go into details; you must know that there is no necessity for my doing so."

Cyril paused. "I have been led to expect, sir, that you would take me into partnership."

"Not by me," said the master.

"My father and mother had given me the hope ever since I came here."

"I cannot help that. They had no authority for it from me."

"They have always said I should be made your partner and son-in-law,"

persisted Cyril.

"They have! It is very obliging of them, I am sure, to settle my affairs for me, even to the disposal of my daughter! Pray what nice little destiny may they have carved out for Mrs. Ashley or for my son?"

Cyril chafed at the words. He would have liked, just then, to strike Mr.

Ashley, as he had struck William. "Would I ever have demeaned myself to enter a glove manufactory, disgracing my family, had I known I was to be only a workman in it?" he cried. "No, sir, that I never would. I am rightly served, for putting myself out of my position as a gentleman."

Mr. Ashley, but for the pity he felt, could have laughed outright. He really did feel pity for Cyril. He believed that the unhappy way in which the young Dares were turning out might be laid to the fault of their rearing, and this had rendered him considerate to Cyril. _How_ considerate he had for a long while been, he himself alone knew: Cyril perhaps suspected.

"It is a shame!" cried Cyril. "To be dealt with in this way is nothing less than a fraud upon me. I was led to expect that I should be made your partner."

"Wait a bit, Cyril. I am willing to put you right upon the point. The proposal, that you should be placed here, emanated in the first instance from your father. He came to me one day, here, in this very room, saying that he concluded I should not put Henry to business, and thought it would be a fine opening for his son Cyril. He hinted that I should want some one to succeed me; and that you might come to it with that view. But I most distinctly disclaimed endorsing that hint in the remotest degree. I would not subscribe to it so much as by a vague 'Perhaps it may be so.' All that I conceded upon the point was this. I told Mr. Dare that when the time came for me to be looking out for some one to succeed me--if it ever did come--and I found his son--you--had served me faithfully, was upright in conduct and in heart--one, in short, whom I could thoroughly confide in--why, then he should have the preference over any other. So much I did say, Cyril, but no more."

"And why won't you give me the preference, sir?"

Mr. Ashley looked at him, apparently in surprise that he could ask the question. He bent his head forward, and spoke in a low tone, but one full of meaning.

"Upright in conduct and in heart, I said, Cyril. It was an absolute condition."

Cyril's gaze fell before Mr. Ashley's. His conscience may have p.r.i.c.ked him, and he had the grace to look ashamed of himself. There ensued a pause.

Presently Cyril looked up. "Then I am to understand, sir, that all hope of being your partner and successor is over?"

"It is. It has been over this many a year, Cyril. I should do wrong to deal otherwise than perfectly plainly with you. Were you to reform anything there may have been amiss in your conduct, to become a model of excellence in the sight of Helstonleigh, I could never admit your name to be a.s.sociated with mine. The very notion is offensive to me."

Cyril--it was a great wonder--restrained his pa.s.sion. "Perhaps I had better leave, then?" he said.

"You are welcome to stay until you can find a situation more agreeable to you," replied Mr. Ashley. "Provided you undertake to behave yourself."

"Stay! and for nothing in the end!" echoed Cyril. "No, that I never will! If I must remain a dependant, I'll try it on at something else. I am sick of this."

He untied his ap.r.o.n, dashed it on to the floor, and went out without another word. So furiously did he stamp through the serving-room, that James Meeking turned round to look at him, and d.i.c.k, taking a recreative balance at that moment on the edge of an upright coal-scuttle, thought he must be running for the fire-engines. d.i.c.k's speculations were disturbed by the sound of the master's voice, calling to him.

He hastened to the counting-house, and was ordered to "take that ap.r.o.n away." d.i.c.k picked it up and withdrew with it, folding it carefully against Mr. Cyril should come in. d.i.c.k little thought the manufactory had seen the last of him.

Mr. Ashley was indulging in a quiet laugh. "Demeaning himself by entering my manufactory! Disgracing his family--the high blood of the Dares! Poor Cyril! William, do you look at it in the same light?"

William had remained in the room, taking no part whatever in the final contest. He had stood with his back to them, following his occupation.

He turned round now.

"Sir, you know I do not."

"You once told me it presented no field for getting on. What was the word you used?--was it ambition? Truly, there's not much ambition attached to it. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with my career, William, although I am only the glove manufacturer, Thomas Ashley."

_He_ satisfied! How many a one would be proud to be in the position of Thomas Ashley! William did not say so. He began to speak of Cyril Dare.

"Do you think he will come back again, sir?"

"I do not think he will. Should he do so, the doors are closed to him.

He has left of his own accord, and I shall not allow him to return."

"I am very sorry," remarked William. "It has been partly my fault."

"Do not make yourself uneasy. I have _tolerated_ Cyril Dare here; have allowed him to remain on sufferance: and that is the best that can be said of it."

"He may feel it as a blow."

"As a jubilee, you mean. It will be nothing less to him. He has hated the manufactory with all his heart from the moment he first entered it, and is now, if we could see him, kicking up his heels with delight at the emanc.i.p.ation. Cyril Dare my partner!"

William continued his work, saying nothing. Mr. Ashley resumed:

"I must be casting my thoughts around for a fitting subst.i.tute to succeed to the post of ambition Cyril coveted. Can you direct me to any quarter, William?"

Mr. Ashley was now standing at William's side, looking at him as he went over the gloves left by Cyril. He saw the red flush mount to his face.

Mr. Ashley laid his hand on William's shoulder, and spoke in low tones, full of emotion.

"It may come, my boy; my almost son! And when Thomas Ashley's head shall be low in the grave, the leading manufacturer of this city may be William Halliburton."

A loud rapping at the door with a thick stick interrupted the master's words. He turned to behold Mr. Dare. It appeared that Cyril had by chance met his father in the street almost immediately after going out; he had volunteered to him a most exaggerated account, and Mr. Dare had come, as he said, to learn the rights of it.

William left the room. He could not avoid remarking the bowed, broken appearance of the man. Mr. Ashley related the particulars, and the listener was obliged to acknowledge that Cyril had been to blame--had been too hasty.

"I confess it appears so," he said. "He must have been led away by temper. But, Mr. Ashley, you ought to stretch a point, and make a concession. We are kinsmen."

"What concession?"

"Discharge William Halliburton. Things can never go on smoothly between him and Cyril. Stretch a point to oblige us, and send him away."