The New Mistress Part 36

"I'm very glad you're in trouble, Miss Thorne," said Mr William Forth Burge, as he took the chair in the little parlour which Hazel placed for him, Mrs Thorne, not being dressed to her own satisfaction, having escaped into the kitchen, where her son was seated, sulky, and with his countenance full of gloom.

"Are you?" said Hazel, smiling sadly.

"No; not glad you're in trouble, but that you've felt that I could help you," said the visitor, suddenly recollecting that Hazel was standing, and rising to put a chair for her in turn.

"I am so lonely here--so helpless," said Hazel after a pause, for she hesitated to begin and lay bare the trouble that was at her breast.

"Well, don't say lonely, Miss Thorne," said the great man. "I'm sure my sister and me has always felt a sort of longing to be neighbours, and to be friendly. For don't you think because I'm a rich man that it's made a bit of difference in me."

"I felt your kindness so much, Mr Burge," she replied earnestly, "that I ventured to ask for your advice and help in this very great trouble."

"That's right," he exclaimed, his admiration and respect for the speaker shining out of his honest eyes. "I'm a very plain, common sort of man, my dear, but I've had lots of business experience, and p'r'aps I can help you better than some people would think."

There was a pause here, for Hazel's tongue seemed to refuse its office.

Her visitor's manner was so tender and kind, as well as respectful, that it touched her to the heart, and she looked at him piteously, as if imploring him to give her time.

"It's a good big bit of trouble, I can see, my dear," he said quietly.

"Give yourself time and speak out; and if William Forth Burge can help you through with it, you may feel that it's as good as done. Suppose I try a bit of a guess--just to help you like. Now, is it money? Don't be offended at my saying so, but is it money, now?"

"It is about money," faltered Hazel, making an effort.

"I thought so," he said, brightening up and rubbing his hands softly.

"Then don't you worry a bit more, my dear; for my sister Betsey's got lots of money saved up, and there's nothing wouldn't please her better than putting your bit of trouble all right for you."

"I must explain to you, Mr Burge," said Hazel.

"Oh, I don't know," he said gently. "It might hurt you, perhaps; and, dear heart alive! why should you make yourself miserable about such a thing as money! Now, just you look here, my dear Miss Thorne. I'm going straight home, and I'll send down my sister Betsey, and you just say offhand to her what will put it straight--fifty, or a hundred, or two hundred, or whatever it is--and she'll have it in her ridicule, and the job's done. There, I shall make you cry if I stay, and I don't want to do that, you know. Good-bye. G.o.d bless you!"

He had started up, and was standing, hat in hand, holding out his hand to her, which she took and held while she tried to speak.

"No, no, Mr Burge," she said at last. "Let me tell you all."

"To be sure you shall," he said soothingly. "There, there! don't be afraid to speak to me, my dear.--Just you say to yourself, 'William Forth Burge is an old friend of mine, and I'd trust him with anything, and he's just the man to go to when I'm in trouble.'"

"You are very kind," faltered Hazel, fighting hard to be brave. And at last she told him the story of her brother's lapse.

"The young dog!" he cried angrily; and his voice was raised. "How dare he do such a thing, and disgrace you and his mamma? I--I could thrash him well."

"It is so terrible--so shocking a thing. I don't know what to do, Mr Burge. I feel so helpless: for the people, his employers--seemed to hint at prosecution."

"Is--is he in there?" whispered Mr William Forth Burge, winking one eye and pointing with his thumb at the door.

"Yes; he is in the next room," replied Hazel.

"I shouldn't wonder a bit," said the visitor very loudly. "I should say they are sure to prosecute and put him in prison."

The moment after he nodded and frowned and winked at Hazel.

"Let's frighten him a bit," he whispered. "Let him think he is going to be in great trouble, and it will make him remember. But you give me the people's names, my dear, and I'll set my lawyer on to 'em; and don't you worry yourself any more. I'll square it all for you, and make it right."

"But the shame--the disgrace!" cried Hazel.

"It's no shame or disgrace of yours, my dear," he said. "You couldn't help it. I had three boys in my place at different times as was bitten that way. Lots of 'em are. A silly young dog! He deserves to be well flogged. But just you leave the thing to me, and I'll put it right.

But what are you going to do with him afterwards? You can't keep him here!"

It was a question Hazel could not answer, for like a blow the idea came to her that by his act of dishonest folly her brother had lost his character, and that the chances were greatly against his obtaining further employment.

"Ah! You don't know," said Mr William Forth Burge cheerfully. "You can't think. It is a job, isn't it? Sometimes, my dear, I have thought that boys are a regular mistake. They're a terrible lot of trouble, unless they make up their minds to be very careful and particular, and that they don't often do. But never you mind. We'll see if we can't set it all right by-and-by. We'll get him out of the sc.r.a.pe first, and then see what's to be done with him afterwards. Now, suppose I put down who the people are; and you may as well give me the letters you talked about.--That's right. Now wait a bit."

Mr William Forth Burge's coat was b.u.t.toned very tightly across his chest, and he had some difficulty in getting at the breast-pocket; but he extricated therefrom a large metallic paper pocket-book, such as would be used by a commercial traveller about to receive an order, opened the clasp, found a suitable place, and fixed it by placing the elastic band of the pocket-book round the leaves, after which he moistened the tip of the pencil between his lips from habit, and proceeded to enter the day and date of the month.

"Nothing like doing these things in a business-like way, my dear," he said, as he wrote on, asking questions and making his notes, ending by saying:

"Now, suppose we have in the young fellow."

"Have him in?" faltered Hazel.

"Yes; let's have him in and give him a bit of a talking to. Don't you think it will be best?"

Hazel thought for a few moments, and in that brief s.p.a.ce she seemed to realise exactly what Percy would say, and how he would resent being taken to task by their visitor.

Mr William Forth Burge guessed her thoughts, and nodded and smiled.

"You're afraid I shall be too hard upon him. That's just the way with worn--I mean ladies. You're too gentle and kind--just like your nature.

Why, my sister, Betsey, she'd come here in a case like this, and she'd tell that brother of yours that he was a very naughty boy, and mustn't do so any more, and there would be an end of it; only it wouldn't do any good. For, bless you, my dear, if you talk like that to a boy who has been a bit out in the world, he'll pretend to be very sorry and that he's going to be quite square, and as soon as you're out of sight he'll grin at you and think how soft you are. Now, suppose you fetch him in."

For answer Hazel rose and went to the kitchen, where she found that Percy had tried to secure himself by taking his two young sisters one upon each knee, and holding them there as a sort of armour of innocence against attack.

"Percy, there is a gentleman in the next room wishes to see you."

"Oh, I can't go--I daren't go!" the boy said excitedly. "What does he want?"

"Surely, Hazel, my dear, you are not going to expose poor Percy to insult," cried Mrs Thorne.

"Mamma," said Hazel firmly, "I have asked Mr Burge to come down here and help me in an endeavour to settle Percy's affairs."

"Settle his affairs! Oh! surely, Percy, you have not been such a bad boy as to go and get into debt?"

"Yes, mother," said Hazel quickly, as she responded to the boy's imploring look, "Percy has behaved badly, and entangled himself with a very serious debt and Mr Burge is going to see what can be done."

"Then you've been a bad, wicked, thoughtless boy, Percy!" exclaimed Mrs Thorne in a whining voice; "and I don't know what you don't deserve-- going spending your money in such a reckless way, and then taking trust for things you ought not to have had."

"Don't you turn against me, ma," whimpered the lad.

"But I must turn against you, Percy. It is my duty as your mamma to teach and lead you, and when you are going wrong to scold you for being naughty. Now, put those children down directly, and go upstairs and brush your hair, and then go and see Mr William Forth Burge, who will, I dare say, being a very respectable sort of man, talk to you for your benefit. Hazel, my dear, make my compliments to Mr William Forth Burge, and tell him I am much gratified by his calling, but that I never receive till after three o'clock. Tuesdays and Fridays used to be my days, but of course one cannot be so particular now."

"Yes, mother," said Hazel quietly. "Come, Percy," she continued, and she took his hand.