The Story of Antony Grace Part 10

"I should think you're fifty, sir."

"Fifty-eight, young un; and so's Jabez. There, you go and put his name and address down. Fifty-eight he is, and I'm fifty-eight, so there's a pair of us. Now, then, write away: Mr Jabez Rowle, Ruddle and Lister."

"Mr Jabez Rowle," I said, writing it carefully down, "Good. Now Ruddle and Lister."

"Ruddle and Lister."

"Commercial printers."

"Com-mer-cial prin-ters."

"Short Street, Fetter Lane."

"Fetter Lane."

"And now let's look." I handed him the sc.r.a.p of paper.

"Why, it's lovely. Copper-plate's nothing to it, young un. There, you go up and see him, and tell him you've come up to London to make your fortune, and he'll help you, I went up to London to make mine, young un."

"And did you make it, sir?" I said eagerly. He looked down at his shabby clothes, smoothed his hair, and then, with a curious smile upon his face--

"No, young un, I didn't make it. I made something else instead."

"Did you, sir?"

"Yes, young un--a mess of it. Look here, I might have got on, but I learned to drink like a fish. Don't you. Mind this: drink means going downwards into the mud; leaving it alone means climbing up to the top of the tree. Bless your young heart, whatever you do, don't drink."

"No, sir," I said, "I will not;" but I did not appreciate his advice.

"There, you stick to that paper. And now, how much money have you got?"

"Money, sir?"

"Yes, money. London's a hundred miles away, and you can't walk."

"I think I could, sir."

"Well, try it; and ride when you're tired. How much have you got?"

I took out my little blue silk purse, and counted in sixpences half-a-crown.

He looked at me for some few moments, and then stood thinking, as if trying to make up his mind about something.

"I'll do it," he muttered. "Look here, young un, you and I are old friends, ain't we?"

"Oh, yes!" I said eagerly.

"Then I will do it," he said, and untying his neckerchief, he, to my great surprise, began to unroll it, to show me the two ends that were hidden in the folds. "For a rainy day," he said, "and this is a rainy day for you. Look here, young un; this is my purse. Here's two half-sovs tied up in these two corners--that's one for you, and one for me."

"Oh, no, sir," I said, "I'd rather not take it!" and I shrank away, for he seemed so poor and shabby, that the idea troubled me.

"I don't care whether you'd rather or not," he said, untying one corner with his teeth. "You take it, and some day when you've made your fortune, you give it me back--if so be as you find I haven't succeeded to my estate."

"Do you expect to come in for an estate some day, sir?" I said eagerly.

"Bless your young innocence, yes. A piece of old mother earth, my boy, six foot long, and two foot wide. Just enough to bury me in."

I understood him now, and a pang shot through me at the idea of another one who had been kind to me dying. He saw my look and nodded sadly.

"Yes, my lad, perhaps I shall be dead and gone long before then."

"Oh, sir, don't; it's so dreadful!" I said.

"No, no, my boy," he said quietly; and he patted my shoulder, as he pressed the half-sovereign into my hand. "Not so dreadful as you think.

It sounds very awful to you youngsters, with the world before you, and all hope and brightness; but some day, please G.o.d you live long enough, you'll begin to grow very tired, and then it will seem to you more like going to take a long rest. But there, there, we won't talk like that.

Here, give me that money back?"

I handed it to him, thinking that he had repented of what he had done, and he hastily rolled the other half-sovereign up, and re-tied his handkerchief.

"Here," he said, "stop a minute, and don't shut the door. I shall soon be back."

He hurried out, and in five minutes was back again to gaze at me smiling.

"Stop a moment," he said, "I must get sixpence out of another pocket. I had to buy an ounce o' 'bacco so as to get change. Now, here you are-- hold out your hand."

I held it out unwillingly, and he counted eight shillings and four sixpences into it.

"That's ten," he said; "it's better for you so. Now you put some in one pocket and some in another, and tie some up just the same as I have, and put a couple of shillings anywhere else you can; and mind and never show your money, and never tell anybody how much you've got. And mind this, too, when anybody asks you to give him something to drink, take him to the pump. That's all. Stop. Don't lose that address. Gov'nor's not down, I s'pose?"

"No, sir," I said.

"All right then, I shan't stay. Good-bye, young un. When are you going?"

"I'm not quite sure yet, sir."

"No? Well, perhaps I shan't see you again. Jabez Rowle, mind you.

Tell him all about yourself, mind, and--good-bye."

He trotted off, but came back directly, holding out his hand.

"G.o.d bless you, young un," he said huskily. "Good-bye."

Before I could speak again, the door closed sharply, and I was alone.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

I TAKE A BOLD STEP.