To The West Part 16

"I'll be back again directly," she whispered. "I want to speak to Esau."

She was back directly, and Mrs John held out her hand to her.

"Thank you, thank you so very much," she whispered. "I am so sorry to have given you all this trouble."

Mrs Dean laughed.

"Trouble!" she said, merrily; "as if it was trouble for one woman to help another. I mean a lady," she said, colouring.

There was silence for a few moments, and then Mrs John said--

"I thought I must come down to see Mayne. Has he told you of his wish to go with us to the West?"

"Told me?" cried Mrs Dean, excitedly. "Ah, now you are talking about trouble indeed."

"We came down to tell him that it is impossible--foolish of him to think of such a thing."

"Oh, thank you kindly, ma'am," cried Mrs Dean; "and me thinking all kinds of evil of you, and that you had been persuading him to go."

"No, no, my good woman, no," said Mr John.

"And thank you too, sir. And I hope Mr Gordon will take it to heart, for if he had gone my Esau would have been sure to go too, and I should have seemed to be quite alone in the world."

"Yes, it would be hard for you," said Mrs John, looking at her searchingly. "Mayne, my dear, you will not try and influence her son?"

I shook my head.

"Oh, but he don't, ma'am, never," said Mrs Dean, eagerly; "he crosses him; but my Esau always sets Mr Gordon here up for a hidle, and thinks whatever he does must be right."

"Why, Mayne," said Mr John, smiling, "I did not know you were such a model boy."

"Oh, but he is, sir," cried Mrs Dean; "and my Esau is ever so much better since--"

"I'm going for a walk," I said, with my face scarlet.

But just then there was a tap at the door, to which Mrs Dean responded, and came back directly with a little tray, on which was her favourite black teapot and its companions.

"I'm afraid, ma'am, it isn't such tea as you're used to, but I thought a cup--and my boy Esau got it ready."

Mrs John gave her a grateful look, and soon after, very much refreshed, she quite sat up, Mrs Dean helping her to a chair.

"But oh, my dear," she said, "you're so weak and thin; you're not fit to take a long voyage and a journey such as Mr Gordon talked about."

"If I stay in England I shall die," said Mrs John, sadly.

"Oh, don't say that, my--ma'am. But are you going alone?"

"No; with my husband."

"And soon?"

"The vessel sails in a fortnight."

"A fortnight? There, Mr Gordon, you see you could not go. It is too soon."

"And you will give up all thought of going, Mayne?" said Mrs John, "for our sake."

I was silent for a few moments, and then my voice was very husky as I said--

"For some years now I have had no friends except Mrs Dean and her son.

Then I met Mr John Dempster, and since then it has been like having old times. Now you are going away, and you say don't go too."

"Yes, yes," said Mrs John; "I am speaking for your good."

"I know you think you are, Mrs John; but if Mr John here had at my age been placed in my position, I'm sure he would not have done as you advise."

"I'm afraid I should, my boy," he faltered. "I never did have your energy."

"Then I can't help it," I cried. "I shall not say good-bye to you, for go I must."

"Oh, Mr Gordon," cried Mrs Dean, "if you go Esau is sure to go too."

"Then we will try the harder either to make you a home out there, or to come back here prosperous men."

"Then I say it again," cried Mrs Dean, just as if she were putting my hopes into shape, "you two couldn't make a home comfortable; so if it is to be, why there's an end of it. And look here, sir and ma'am, this poor dear is not fit to go all that long journey alone, and as I'm going too, I shall come along with you and tend to her, and do the best I can."

"Oh no, no," cried Mrs John.

"It is impossible," said Mr John.

"Do you want to wake up some day, sir," cried the little woman firmly, "and find this poor, weak, suffering thing dying for want of help? Of course you don't. Here, Esau," she cried, throwing open the door.

"Yes, mother; more hot water?" came from the kitchen.

"No; you may begin to pack up. We're going across the sea."

Before Mr and Mrs John left us that night it was all settled; and when I returned from going part of the way with them, I found Esau and his mother hard at work, planning as to what was to be taken and what sold, Mrs Dean rousing her son's anger as I entered the kitchen, and making him stamp.

"Why, what is the matter?"

"Mother is so obstinate," he cried.

"Why, what about? Does she say now she will not go?"

"No, Mr Gordon, I only told him I must take my four flat-irons with me.

They don't take up much room, and take 'em I will. Why, bless the boys! do you think you won't want clean shirts?"