The Definite Object Part 57

CHAPTER XXV

HOW SPIKE MADE A CHOICE AND A PROMISE

Monday morning found Ravenslee knocking at the opposite door, which opening, disclosed Spike, but a very chastened and humble Spike, who blushed and drooped his head and shuffled with his feet and finally stammered:

"h.e.l.lo, Geoff--I--I'm all alone, but you--you can come in if--if you care to?"

"I dropped in on my way down just to have a word with you, Spike."

With dragging feet Spike led the way into the sitting room, where lay his breakfast, scarcely tasted.

"Sit down, Geoff, I--I want to apologise," said the lad, toying nervously with his teaspoon. "I guess you think I'm a mean, low-down sort o' guy, an' you're right, only I--I feel worse 'n you think. An'

say, Geoff, if I--if I said anything th' other night, I want you to--forget it, will you?"

"Why, of course, Spike."

"Hermy's forgiven me. I--I've promised to work hard an' do what she wants."

"I'm glad of that, Spike!"

"She came creepin' into my room this mornin' before she went, but--me thinkin' she meant to give me a last call down--I pretended t' be asleep, so she just sighed an' went creepin' out again an' wrote me this," and Spike drew a sheet of crumpled note paper from his pocket and handed it to Ravenslee, who read these words:

Boy dear, I love you so much that if you destroyed my love, I think you would destroy me too. Now I must leave you to go to my work, but you will go to yours, won't you--for my sake and for your sake and because I love you so. Be good and strong and clean, and if you want some one to help you, go to your friend, Mr. Geoffrey. Good-by, dear--and remember your promise.

Ravenslee pa.s.sed back the pencilled scrawl and Spike, bending his head low, read it through again.

"I guess I've just got t' be good," he murmured, "for her sake. Oh, Geoff," he cried suddenly, "I'd die for her!"

"Better live for her, Spike, and be the honourable, clean man she wishes."

"She sure thinks you're some man, Geoff! I guess she's--kind o'--fond of you."

"That's what I've come to talk about, Spike."

"Are you--fond of her, Geoff?"

"Fond!" exclaimed Ravenslee, forgetting to drawl, "I'm so fond--I love her so much--I honour her so deeply that I want her for my wife."

"Wife?" exclaimed Spike, starting to his feet, his eyes suddenly radiant, "d'ye mean you'll marry her?"

"If she will honour me so far, Spike."

"Marry her! You'll marry her!" Spike repeated.

"As soon as she'll let me!"

"Geoff--oh, Geoff," exclaimed the boy, and choking, turned away.

"Won't you congratulate me?"

"I can't yet," gasped Spike; "I can't till I've told ye what a mean guy I've been."

"What about?"

"About you--and Hermy. Bud said you meant t' make her go the way--little Maggie Finlay went, an'--oh, Geoff, I--I kind of believed him."

"Did you, Spike--that foul beast? But you don't believe it any longer, and M'Ginnis is--only M'Ginnis, after all."

"But I--I've got to tell you more," said the lad miserably, as meeting Ravenslee's eye with an effort, he went on feverishly. "The other night after--after Bud slipped me the--the stuff an' I'd had a--a drink or two, he began askin' all about you. At first I blocked and side-stepped all his questions, but he kep' on at me, an' at last I--I give you away, Geoff--" Here Spike paused breathlessly and cast an apprehensive glance toward his hearer, but finding him silent and serene as ever he repeated:

"I--gave you away, Geoff!"

"Did you, Spike?"

"Yes, I--I told him who you really are!"

"Did you, Spike?"

"Yes! Yes! Oh, Geoff, don't you understand?"

"I understand."

"Well, why don't ye say something? Why don't ye tell me what I am? Say I'm a dirty sneak--call me a yeller cur--anything!"

"No, you were drunk, that's all; and when the drink is in, honour, and all that makes a man, is out--you were only drunk."

"Oh, but I wasn't s' drunk as all that," gasped Spike, cowering in his chair, "but he kep' on comin' at me with his questions, an' at last--when I told him how I met up with you--he kind o' give a jump--an'

his face--" Spike clenched his fists and, slowly raising them, pressed them upon his eyes. "I'll never forget th' look on--his face! So now you know as I've blown th' game on ye--given ye away--you as was my friend!"

With the word Spike sobbed and fell grovelling on his knees. "Curse me, Geoff!" he cried. "Oh, curse me, an' tell me what I am!"

"You are Hermione's brother!"

"My G.o.d!" wailed the boy. "If she knew, she'd hate me."

"I--almost think she would, Spike."

"You won't tell her, Geoff, you won't never let her know?"

"I--don't get drunk, Spike."

"But you won't tell her?" he pleaded, reaching out desperate hands, "you won't?"

"Not a word, Spike!"

"Oh, I know I'm--rotten!" sobbed the lad. "I know you ain't got no use for me any more, but I'm sorry, Geoff, I'm real sorry. I know a guy can't forgive a guy as gives a guy away if that guy's a guy's friend. I know as you can't forgive me. I know as you'll cut me out for good after this. But I want ye t' know as I'm sorry, Geoff--awful sorry--I--I ain't fit t' be anybody's friend, I guess."

"I think you need a friend more than ever, Spike!"