Quicksilver Part 94

"Down the garden," said Helen.

"Humph! Hope he is not getting into fresh mischief."

"I hope not, papa," said Helen; "and really I think he is trying very hard."

"Yes," said the doctor, going on with his writing. "How are his knuckles now? can he hold a pen?"

"I think I would let him wait another day or two. And, papa, have you given him a good talking to about that fight?"

"No. Have you?"

"Yes, two or three times; and he has promised never to fight again."

"My dear Helen, how can you be so absurd?" cried the doctor testily.

"That's just the way with a woman. You ask the boy to promise what he cannot perform. He is sure to get fighting again at school or somewhere."

"But it seems such a pity, papa."

"Pooh! pish! pooh! tchah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the doctor, at intervals. "He gave that young scoundrel a good thrashing, and quite right too. Don't tell him I said so."

The doctor had laid down his pen to speak, but he took it up again and began writing, but only to lay it aside once more.

"Dear me! dear me!" he muttered. "I don't seem to get on with my book as I should like."

He put down his pen again, rose, took a turn or two up and down the room, and then picked up the newspaper.

"Very awkward of that stupid fellow Limpney," he said, as he began running down the advertis.e.m.e.nts.

"What did he say, papa, when you spoke to him?"

"Say? Lot of stuff about losing _prestige_ with his other pupils. Was sure Lady Danby did not like him to be teaching a boy of Dexter's cla.s.s and her son. Confound his impudence! Must have a tutor for the boy of some kind."

Helen glanced uneasily at her father, and then out into the garden.

"Plenty of schools; plenty of private tutors," muttered the doctor scanning the advertis.e.m.e.nts. "Hah!"

"What is it, papa!"

The doctor struck the paper in the middle, doubled it up, and then frowned severely as he thrust his gold spectacles up on to his forehead.

"I've made a mistake, my dear,--a great mistake."

"About Dexter!"

"Yes: a very great mistake."

"But I'm sure he will improve," said Helen anxiously.

"So am I, my dear. But our mistake is this: we took the boy from the Union schools, and we kept him here at once, where every one knew him and his late position. We ought to have sent him away for two or three years, and he would have come back completely changed, and the past history forgotten."

"Sent him to a boarding-school!"

"Well--er! Hum! No, not exactly," said the doctor, pursing up his lips. "Listen here, my dear. The very thing! just as if fate had come to my help."

The doctor rustled the paper a little, and then began to read--

"'Backward and disobedient boys.'"

"But Dexter--"

"Hush, my dear; hear it all. Dexter is backward, and he is disobedient; not wilfully perhaps, but disobedient decidedly. Now listen--

"'Backward and disobedient boys.--The Reverend Septimus Mastrum, MA Oxon, receives a limited number of pupils of neglected education. Firm and kindly treatment. Extensive grounds. Healthy situation. For terms apply to the Reverend Septimus Mastrum, Firlands, Longspruce Station.'"

"There! What do you say to that?" said the doctor.

"I don't know what to say, papa," said Helen rather sadly. "Perhaps you are right."

"Right!" cried the doctor. "The very thing, my dear. I'll write to Mr Mastrum at once. Three or four years of special education will be the making of the boy." The doctor sat down and wrote.

The answer resulted in a meeting in London, where the Reverend Septimus Mastrum greatly impressed the doctor. Terms were agreed upon, and the doctor came back.

"Splendid fellow, my dear. Six feet high. Says Mrs Mastrum will act the part of a mother to the boy."

"Does he seem very severe, papa?"

"Severe, my dear? Man with a perpetual smile on his countenance."

"I do not like men with perpetual smiles on their countenances, papa."

"My dear Helen, do not be so prejudiced," said the doctor angrily. "I have seen Mr Mastrum: you have not. I have told him everything about Dexter; he applauds my plan, and a.s.sures me that in two or three years I shall hardly know the boy, he will be so improved." Helen sighed.

"We had a long discussion about my book, and he agrees that I am quite right. So pray do not begin to throw obstacles in the way."

Helen rose and kissed her father's forehead.

"I am going to do everything I can to aid your plans, papa," she said, smiling. "Of course I do not like parting with Dexter, and I cannot help feeling that there is some truth in what you say about a change being beneficial for a time; but Dexter is a peculiar boy, and I would rather have had him under my own eye."

"Yes, of course, my dear. Very good of you," said the doctor; "but this way is the best. Of course he will have holidays, and we shall go to see him, and so on."

"When is he to go, papa?"

"Directly."

"Directly?"

"Well, in a day or two."