The School Friends Part 3

As soon as Emery's rattling tongue would allow him to answer, Lance briefly gave him the information he asked for.

"Very good, better than I had thought, for I am inclined to envy you.

At the same time, the dull existence you are compelled to lead would not have suited my taste. However, you were always better adapted to plodding work than I am," he answered, with a slight degree of envy in his tone. "But I suppose you have managed to see something of London life; if not, let me have the pleasure of initiating you. What do you say, shall we go to the theatre? I have tickets for the Haymarket, but it's a dull house, I prefer Drury Lane; and though I ought to be in at ten o'clock according to rule, I can easily explain that I was detained by Lady Dorothy, and had to wait for an omnibus."

"I am much obliged to you for your kind intentions, but I have no wish to go to a theatre, and beg that you will not on my account be late in returning home, and especially that you will not utter a falsehood as your excuse."

"Falsehood! that's a good joke," exclaimed Emery; "you use a harsh term.

We should never be able to enjoy ourselves without the privilege of telling a few white lies when necessary, ha! ha! ha! Why, my dear Lance, you seem as ignorant of the world as when you were at Elmerston."

"I knew the difference between right and wrong, as I do now," answered Lance gravely, "and I regret to hear you express yourself as you are doing. I was in hopes that the misfortunes you met with would have tended to give you more serious thoughts. Excuse me for saying so, but I speak frankly, as an old friend, and I pray that you may see things in their true light."

"Really, Lance, you have become graver and more sarcastic than ever,"

exclaimed Emery, not liking the tenor of his companion's remarks. "I only wished to find some amus.e.m.e.nt for you; and since you don't wish to be amused, I will not press you further to come with me. I myself do not care about going to the theatre, and will walk home with you as far as our roads run together."

Lance thanked him, and hoping to be able to speak seriously to him of the sin and folly of the conduct he appeared to be pursuing, agreed to his proposal.

Though Emery would rather have had a better dressed companion, yet recollecting that Lance was a gentleman by birth, he felt some satisfaction in being in his society; for notwithstanding his boastings of the fas.h.i.+onable friends he possessed, he knew perfectly well that none of those whose acquaintance he casually made were real gentlemen.

"You appear to be better off than I am in some respects, Lance," he observed. "For though I stand high in the opinion of my employer, and, I flatter myself, still higher in that of his daughter, a very charming girl I can a.s.sure you, they are not equal in social position to your relatives; and as you know, my desire has always been to move in a good circle, and maintain a high character among the aristocracy."

Though Lance could not help despising the folly of poor Emery, he felt real compa.s.sion for him as he continued to talk this sort of nonsense.

"Now, Emery," he said, "we have been schoolfellows, and you will excuse me for speaking freely to you. Would it not be wiser to accept the position in which you are placed, to work on steadily to gain a good name among those with whom you are a.s.sociated, instead of aping the manners and customs of people who enjoy wealth and undoubtedly belong to a higher social grade than you do. You will be far more respected, even by them, if you are known to be looked up to by those of your own station in life. I speak from experience: I am treated with kindness and attention, not only by all the clerks in the office, and their friends whom I occasionally meet, but by the head clerk himself, not because I am the son of a naval officer, but simply because I work hard, and try to do whatever work is given me as well as possible. Besides, my old friend, we should have a higher motive for all our actions.

Remember G.o.d sees us; and though we may give our earthly masters eye-service, we cannot deceive Him. Yet we should be influenced by a higher motive than that, not by fear alone, but by love and grat.i.tude to Him who has given us life and health, and all the blessings we enjoy, and the promise of everlasting happiness if we will accept the offer He so graciously makes us, and become reconciled to Him, through faith in the great sacrifice--His Son offered upon the cross for us, His rebellious and disobedient creatures. Pray seek for grace to realise the great fact that we are by nature and conduct rebels, vile and foul-- that if trusting to our own strength, we are in the power of our great enemy Satan, who is always trying to lead us astray--and that we have no claim whatever to G.o.d's love and protection while here on earth, or to enjoy the happiness of heaven when we leave this world--that there is but one state of existence for which, if we die in rebellion, we can be fitted, that is, to a.s.sociate for ever with the fallen angels justly cast out from His glorious presence."

Lance spoke with deep earnestness, holding Emery lightly by the arm. He might never, he felt, have another opportunity of putting the truth before him.

Emery suddenly s.n.a.t.c.hed his arm away.

"I really don't like the sort of things you have been saying," he exclaimed, "and I don't know what authority you have for talking to me thus. I did not know what you were driving at when you began to talk, or I should not have listened so patiently, I can tell you. I asked you in a friendly way to come and enjoy a little harmless amus.e.m.e.nt with me, and you in return first give me a grave lecture, such as some one might expect from a Solon, rather than from a lawyer's clerk, and then preach a sermon, which might be all very well if thundered out by the Archbishop of Canterbury from the pulpit, but really, when uttered by one young fellow to another, is simply ridiculous. I hope, for your sake, that you don't pester your brother scribes, and that head clerk you speak of, with such balderdash, or favour your princ.i.p.al with an occasional discourse in the same strain. We are old schoolfellows, as you have remarked, so you will not be offended at what I say. Ah! ah!

ah! Good evening to you, friend Solon; should we meet again, I hope you will recollect such an address as you have just given me is not to my taste. I have to go south; you go north, I fancy;" and Emery, swinging round his cane, and c.o.c.king his hat on one side, sauntered off, whistling a popular street air to show his unconcern.

Lance was too much hurt and astonished at the effect his earnest and faithful remarks had produced to say anything. He stood irresolute for a minute, feeling much inclined to run after Emery, and to entreat him not to take what he had said thus amiss. Just then he saw that his old schoolfellow was joined by another youth of a similar appearance, and the two went into a tobacconist's together. It would be hopeless, he felt, to attempt saying anything more. He therefore hastened homewards, hoping that he might before long have another opportunity of again speaking seriously to Emery.

CHAPTER SIX.

Emery had been sent by his employer on a commission of some importance.

On his return he gave a highly satisfactory account of the way he had performed it. He had risen, in consequence of his address and supposed abilities, high in the favour of Mr Padman, who placed perfect confidence in his zeal and honesty. He was always prepared beforehand with a sufficient excuse when he intended to be late out, or to break through any of the rules of the establishment. He was utterly regardless of the truth Lance had put before him, that G.o.d at all times sees us, and that those who deceive their fellow-men are sure, misled by Satan, to be discovered at last, and left to the consequences of their sin.

Emery, proud of what he considered his cleverness, and trusting to the confidence Mr Padman placed in him, became bolder in his proceedings.

"There was no young man," he said to himself, "so much thought of as he was;" and believing that Miss Padman also looked on him with a favourable eye, he determined to propose to marry her. He consulted old Sa.s.s, who, seeing no reason to doubt his success, advised him to try his chance. If he failed, Sa.s.s, knowing his secret, thought that he might take advantage of it. If he succeeded, he himself would certainly benefit by the influence he had gained over the young gentleman. Emery had to wait some time for the desired opportunity of speaking alone to Miss Padman. That young lady, however, did not hold her father's shopman in the high estimation he had flattered himself. Others had taken care to whisper that Emery was not as correct in his conduct as he professed to be, and she thought her father unwise in placing so much confidence in him. When, therefore, he at length made her an offer, she replied that she considered him very presumptuous, and begged him to understand that she had no more regard for him than for the boy who swept out the shop, or for any one else in the establishment; and having discovered how he deceived her father, she should put Mr Padman on his guard. As the young lady was perfectly cool and decided, Emery had discernment enough to perceive that her decision was final, and as is often the case with weak natures, any better feeling he might have entertained for her was turned into hatred.

As there was no one else to whom he could express his anger and vexation, he called as soon as he could leave the shop on Sa.s.s Gange.

"Well, it was a toss up, I thought, from the first, and you have lost,"

observed the old man. "However, Master Emery, don't be cast down, there is as good fish in the sea as out of it. If the girl threatens you, as you say, I would advise you to cut the concern altogether. You will get disrated, depend upon it, and be worse off. Make hay while the sun s.h.i.+nes. Now, my lad, I don't want you to do anything that would get you into trouble, but there is nothing worth having without some risk. You have often said you would like a new sort of life instead of the humdrum counter-jumping work you have got to do. What do you say to making a start for South America or the Pacific? You might lead a jolly life among the natives, with nothing to do and lots of pretty girls to make love to, who would not treat you like Miss Padman, that I can tell you."

Thus the old sailor ran on, describing in overdrawn colours, with a large admixture of fable, the life he had himself led in his early days.

He did not say how he had seen his companions, some murdered, and the rest dying of disease, or that he himself had narrowly escaped with his life.

Emery listened eagerly. He had felt how unsatisfactory was the life he was trying to lead, the constant rebuffs of those into whose society he tried to thrust himself, and the hopelessness of succeeding in his foolish aims, and Satan was of course ready to suggest that he might find far greater enjoyment in something new.

"It will be capital fun!" he exclaimed at last; "but I have spent every s.h.i.+lling of my salary, and am in debt to a pretty considerable amount to some who look upon me as Mr Padman's future son-in-law, and to others who have taken me to be a young man of fortune; and if I were to sell my whole wardrobe, I don't suppose it would fetch enough to pay for a good sea outfit and my pa.s.sage."

"So I thought," said Gange; "and as I have a notion that you have been shamefully treated by Miss Padman, if I were you, I would help myself in a way I can suggest to you, and the loss will fall upon her more than on her father, who is an old donkey, and it will do him no harm either.

The chances are that he will send you to-morrow to pay the receipts of the shop into the bank, and as business is brisk just now, it's likely to be a good round sum. I shall be sure to be sent to look after you, to see that no one picks your pockets, or knocks you down, or makes off with it. Now, then will be the time to fill your purse, and have some cash to spare for me. I won't be very hard on you. To say the truth, I have had a little business of my own on hand, and have made up my mind to cut and run, so you won't have me here as your friend much longer if you stay. Come, what do you say? a free and independent life, with plenty of money in your pocket; or hanging on here, to be snubbed by Miss Padman, and jeered at by the other fellows at your ill luck. She is sure to tell them, and the chances are there is some one she likes better than you."

The unhappy youth listened to all the old tempter said, instead of at once seeking for grace to put away temptation and to say, "Get thee behind me, Satan." He consented to all Sa.s.s had proposed.

"That's right!" said the old sailor, "I like your spirit, my boy; I will help you, depend on me. You had better get your portmanteau packed with all your best things, and just carry it down the first thing in the morning. You can tell the house-porter that you are going away for a day; he will not ask questions, and I will send a man to bring it here."

All other arrangements were speedily made. Sa.s.s had evidently thought the matter over, and Emery was impressed by what he fancied the clever way all risks had been provided against.

Emery went home. He felt too nervous to sleep soundly, and rising, lighted a candle and packed up his portmanteau, keeping out his best things, in which to dress in the morning. If questions were asked, he would say that his mother was ill, and that he intended to ask leave to go home in the evening. The thoughts of the sinfulness of the act he was about to commit did not trouble him so much as the fear of possible detection. Still, the plan proposed by Sa.s.s was so feasible, and the arrangements he had made so perfect, that he had great hopes all would go right. He thought the matter over and over. Sometimes the remarks made by Lance would force themselves upon him, but he put them away, muttering, "That's all old women's nonsense, I am not going to be prevented from doing what I like by such stuff." Dressing, and putting all the small articles of value he possessed into his pockets, as soon as he thought the porter would be opening the house he carried down his portmanteau, observing to the man as he did so, that he had had a sad letter the previous night, and should be compelled to start for home as soon as he could get leave from Mr Padman. In a short time the porter sent by Sa.s.s appeared, and he got it sent off without any questions being asked. He then went back to his room, and afraid of going to bed again with the risk of oversleeping himself, sat down in a chair by his bedside. Not having slept a wink during the night, his head soon dropped on his chest. His dreams were troubled--he felt a fearful pressure round his neck--it seemed that a cap was drawn over his eyes-- the murmuring sound of numberless voices rang in his ears--he was standing on the platform at Newgate, the drop was about to fall beneath his feet. He had once witnessed such a scene, and gazed at it with indifference, moving off among the careless throng with the remark "Poor wretch! he has got what he deserved." Could it be possible that he himself was now standing where he had seen the unhappy culprit launched into eternity. He awoke with a start, and found to his satisfaction that he had been only dreaming. His eyelids were heavy, his eyes bloodshot. He washed his face in cold water, and endeavoured to laugh off the recollection of his dream while he brushed his hair and arranged his cravat. He went down-stairs and joined his companions in the breakfast-room. They rallied him on his rakish look. He talked in his usual affected way, managing, however, to bring in the falsehood he had already uttered about his mother's illness. It would a.s.sist, he hoped, to account for his not returning from the bank.

After a good breakfast he went with apparent diligence to business, waiting with anxious trepidation to be summoned by Mr Padman to convey the money received to the bank. Sometimes, as Lance's words, and the recollection of his horrid dream, would intrude, he almost hoped that some one else would be selected; then he thought of, his debts, and the consequence of Miss Padman's communication to her father, and the sneers of his companions, and he resolved to carry out the plan proposed by Sa.s.s Gange.

The expected summons came. He received nearly 400 pounds, with the usual directions.

"I need not tell you to be careful, Dulman, and keep out of crowds,"

said Mr Padman as he gave him the money.

Emery, b.u.t.toning up his coat, replied, with a forced smile, that he need have no fear on that score, though it was with difficulty that he prevented his knees from knocking together as he walked away.

He hastened out of the house. As he expected, before getting far, on looking back, he saw Sa.s.s Gange following at his heels. Would it not be safer, after all, to pay the money in? Miss Padman might relent; and should he be captured, the dreadful dream of the morning might be realised. "Pooh! they don't hang for such things as that," he said to himself.

Directly afterwards he felt Sa.s.s's hand laid on his shoulder.

"Have you a goodish sum, my lad?" he asked.

"Seldom have had more at one time," answered Emery.

"Then come along, don't let us lose the chance." Sa.s.s called a cab, and forced his dupe into it. They drove away to Gange's lodgings.

He ran in and brought down Emery's portmanteau, and a sea-bag with his own traps. The cabman was ordered to drive to Euston Square station.

Sa.s.s had a railway guide; he had been consulting it attentively; they might catch a train starting for Liverpool.

"Is it most in notes or gold?" asked Sa.s.s.

"About a third in gold, the rest in bank-notes, with a few cheques,"

said Emery.

"Hand me out the gold, then, it will suit me best," said Sa.s.s. "I will be content with that as my share. You can get rid of the notes better than I can."

Sa.s.s promised double fare to the cabman if he would drive faster.

Emery wanted to keep some of the gold for himself, but Sa.s.s insisted on having the whole of it. He made Emery pay the fare. They had three minutes to spare.