The Vicar's People Part 40

He nodded to her civilly enough, and was going on to the house, when from out of the look-out there came a rough "Hallo!"

"Hallo, old gentleman!" said Geoffrey, and, turning aside, he entered the summer-house, where Uncle Paul sat smoking, cane in hand, with which he pointed up towards the window where Madge had been.

"Why didn't you kiss your hand at her, eh?" snarled Uncle Paul.

"Didn't think of it, old fellow," replied Geoffrey, coolly.

"I've warned you about it, you know," said the old man, angrily. "Well, have you seen Penwynn?"

"Yes."

"And what has he got to say?"

"Given the instructions."

"To go back to London? Well, I'm glad of it; very glad of it."

"Thank you," said Geoffrey, lighting his pipe. "No, old gentleman, I've got my first job, and now I'm going to work."

"What, smoking?"

"Yes, engine-fire smoking soon, I hope."

"What, are you going to spend somebody's money over a mine?"

"Yes."

"Then it will be smoke. Whose money--a company's?"

"Business is business, Mr Paul," said Geoffrey. "I can't tell you whose money is going to be spent, for I don't believe I know. But I'll tell you this much, I'm going to open out Wheal Carnac."

"Wheal Carnac?"

"Yes, and at once."

"Then--but bah! it don't matter, you'll be paid. My hundred's gone, so its nothing to me."

They sat smoking in silence, for Geoffrey returned such short answers that the old man was offended, and scarcely a word was said. After a time, Geoffrey took out a note-book and began to make entries and draw, without noticing how intently his companion was watching him, and this went on till Mrs Mullion came and announced that the young engineer's composite tea-dinner was ready, to which he went in without a word.

"Nice company he's getting," said Uncle Paul, sourly. "Humph! he can be busy enough, now I want him. Here, hi! Trethick!" he shouted across the pa.s.sage when he went in, "I'm going down to Rumsey's to-night.

We're going to play whist. Come with me?"

"No, thanks," said Geoffrey. "I've got other cards to play now."

"Hang him and his independence! What a nuisance! And he plays such a good hand. I meant to have him for a partner. Well, never mind, if he's busy like that it will keep him from thinking about Madge. Hallo!"

he exclaimed, as he heard the gate click, "that girl's off again. I wonder where she's going now?"

He returned to his own tea, and before it was finished there was another click, when, on looking up curiously, it was to see Pengelly come limping up the path.

"Humph! we shall have the house full of miners now, I suppose. Ah, well, thank goodness, it isn't my money that's going to be sunk."

Pengelly was admitted, and his first act, on being left alone with Geoffrey, was to catch his hand, and hold it tightly between both of his.

"Why, Pengelly man, what's the matter?" cried Geoffrey, wondering at his strange manner.

"I've heard all, Mr Trethick, every word. I've heard all."

"All? All what?" cried Geoffrey.

"About those wretches--those blind, weak wretches--and my poor injured Bess."

"Oh!" cried Geoffrey, "I'd forgotten all about it, man. Bah! that's nothing."

"Nothing?" cried Pengelly, with the tears standing in his eyes, "nothing? Mr Trethick, sir, if you'd let me be your dog, I'd follow you to the world's end."

"Oh, come, come, Pengelly! don't think any more of that. How is she, though?"

"Better now, sir, and she told me all about it, and how brave you had been. G.o.d bless her! she spoke kinder to me than she had ever spoke before."

"I'm glad she was not much hurt, Pengelly. Poor weak-minded fools, what a charge to get up against her! But come, pa.s.s that over. I've news for you, Pengelly. I'm going to pump out Wheal Carnac."

"You are?" cried Pengelly, joyfully.

"I am."

"Then your fortune's made."

"Is it?" said Geoffrey, laughing. "Well, my lad, can you leave your present work for a week or two, and come and help me a little?"

"If you'll have me to help you, Mr Trethick, there's no work in the world shall keep me back; and, what's more, I swear to you that I'll never leave you till Wheal Carnac's the greatest paying mine in West Cornwall."

"Come, that's cheering, Pengelly," said Geoffrey, laughing. "Why, you are more sanguine than ever."

"Sanguine, sir? No, it's sureness, that's what my feeling is;" and, sitting down at Geoffrey's request, he was soon going into business-matters with him--where to obtain temporary pumping gear, chain and buckets, wheels, and the like, their planning taking so long that it was past nine when Pengelly rose to go.

"I should like to stretch my legs too, Pengelly," said Geoffrey. "I'll walk down with you. What do you say to getting a lantern, and having a look round the place to-night?"

"I can get a lantern," cried Pengelly, eagerly; and they went out together, meeting Madge just outside the gate, and she hurried by them with bended head, but Geoffrey hardly noticed her, being intent upon his mission.

A lantern was obtained, and matches, and they were soon down upon the sh.o.r.e, climbing along the rough path towards the promontory upon which, just dimly seen against the sky-line, stood out the dark, weird-looking engine-house. The foam that broke upon the rocks at the promontory's base was all aglow now with phosph.o.r.escent light, which rose and fell, and flashed with a wondrous brilliancy.

"Poor night for the fisher lads, sir," said Pengelly.

"Indeed! why?"

"Their nets will be all a-light with the brime, sir, and every thread will stand out in the deep water, as if afire, and not a fish will go near."

They clambered on, higher and higher, till they reached the engine-house, into which they proposed to go, and there light the lantern.