Aunt Judy's Tales Part 16

"'Nonsense!' replied the old partner. 'However, my dear boy--for I really must call you so--it was that very thing that made your father's fortune; I mean that he was just as unpretending as he was clever. Everybody trusts an unpretending man. And YOU'LL make your fortune too in the same manner, trust me, before long. Now, boys!'

added he, turning to his sons, 'you hear what I say, and mind you take the hint! As for the young puppies of the present day, who fancy themselves fit to sit in the chair of their elders as soon as ever they have learnt their alphabet, and are for thrusting themselves forward in every company--Mr. Franz, I'll own it to you, because you will understand me--I have no patience with such rude, impertinent Jackanapeses, and always long to kick them down-stairs.'

"The old partner stood in front of Mr. Franz as he spoke, and clenched his fist in animation. Mr. Franz sat on thorns. He first went hot, and then he went cold--he felt himself kicked down-stairs as he listened--he was ready to cry--he was ready to fight--he was ready to run away--he was ready to drop on his knees, and confess himself the very most impertinent of all the impertinent Jackanapes'

race.

But he gulped, and swallowed, and shut his teeth close, and n.o.body found him out; only he looked very pale, which the good mother soon noticed, and said she to her husband:-

"'My dear love, don't you see how f.a.gged and weary it makes Mr. Franz look, to hear you raving on about a parcel of silly lads with whom HE has nothing in common? You will frighten him out of his wits.'

"'Mr. Franz will forgive me, I know,' cried the old partner, gently.

'Jacintha, my dear, fetch the wine and cake!'

"The kind, careful souls feared he was delicate, and insisted on his having some refreshment; and then papa ordered the young people to give their guest some music; and Franz sat by while the sons and daughters went through a beautiful opera chorus, which was so really charming, that Mr. Franz did forget himself for a minute, clapped violently, and got half-way through the word 'encore' in a very loud tone. But he checked himself instantly, coloured, apologized for his rudeness, and retreated further back from the piano.

"Of course, this new symptom of modesty was met by more kindness, and followed by a sly hint from the merry Jacintha, that Mr. Franz's turn for singing had come now!

"Poor Mr. Franz! with the recollection of the morning's adventure on his mind, and his father's rule ringing in his ears, he felt singing to be out of the question, so he declined. On which they entreated, insisted, and would listen to no refusal. And Jacintha went to him, and looked at him with her sweetest smile, and said, 'But you know, Mr. Franz, you said you could sing a little; and if it's ever so little, you should sing WHEN YOU'RE ASKED!' and with that Miss Jacintha offered him her hand, and led him to the piano.

"Franz was annoyed, though he ought to been pleased.

"'But how AM I to keep out of people's way,' thought he to himself, 'if they will pull me forward? It's the oddest thing I ever knew. I can't do right either way.'

"Then a thought struck him:-

"'I have no music, Miss Jacintha,' said he, 'and I can't sing without music;' and he was going back again to his chair in the corner.

"'But we have all the new music,' was her answer, and she opened a portfolio at once. 'See, here's the last new song!' and she held one up before the unfortunate youth, who at the sight of it coloured all over, even to the tips of his ears. Whereupon Miss Jacintha, who was watching him, laughed, and said she had felt sure he knew it; and down she sat, and began to play the accompaniment, and in two minutes afterwards Mr. Franz found himself--in spite of himself, as it were-- exhibiting in THE song, the fatal song of the morning's adventure.

"It was a song of tender sentiment, and the singer's almost tremulous voice added to the effect, and a warm clapping of hands greeted its conclusion.

"But by that time Mr. Franz was so completely exhausted with the struggles of this first effort on the new plan, that he began to wish them good-night, saying he would not intrude upon them any longer.

"They would shake hands with him, though he tried to bow himself off without; and the old partner followed him down-stairs into the hall.

"'Mr. Franz,' said he, 'we have been delighted to make your acquaintance, but this has been only a quiet family party. Now we know your SORT, you must come again, and meet our friends. Wife will fix the day, and send you word; and don't you be afraid, young man!

Mind you come, and put your best foot forward among us all!'

"Franz was almost desperate. His conscience began to reproach him.

What! was he going to accept all this kindness, like a rogue receiving money under false pretences? He was shocked, and began to protest:-

"'I a.s.sure you, dear sir, I don't deserve--You are quite under a mistake--I really am not--the fact is, you think a great deal better of me than--"

"'Nonsense!' shouted the old partner, clapping him vigorously on the back. 'Why, you're not going to teach me at my time of life, surely?

Not going to turn as conceited as that, after all, eh? Come, come, Mr. Franz, no nonsense! And to-morrow,' he added, 'I'll send you letters of introduction to some of my friends, who will show you the lions, and make much of you. You will be well received wherever you take them, first for my sake, and afterwards for your own. There, there! I won't hear a word! No thanks--I hate them! Good night.'

"And the old partner fairly pushed Mr. Franz through the door.

"'Oh dear, oh dear!' was the waiter's exclamation when Franz reached the hotel, and the light of the lamp shone on his white, worn-out face. 'Oh dear, oh dear! I fear you've been a silly young gentleman over again! What HAVE you been doing this time?'

"'I've been trying to keep out of everybody's way all the evening,'

growled Mr. Franz, 'and they would pull me forward, in spite of myself.'

"'No--really though?' cried the waiter, as if it were scarcely possible.

"'Really,' sighed poor Mr. Franz.

"'Then do me the honour, sir,' exclaimed the waiter, with a sudden deference of manner; and taking the tips of Franz's fingers in his own, he bent over them with a salute. 'You're a wise young gentleman now, sir, and your fortune's made. I'm glad you've hit it at last!

"And Mr. Franz had hit it at last, indeed," continued Aunt Judy, "as appeared more plainly still by the letters of introduction which reached him next morning. They were left open, and were to this effect:-

"' . . . The bearer of this is the son of an old friend. One of the most agreeable young men I ever saw. As modest as he is well educated, and I can't say more. Procure him some amus.e.m.e.nt, that a little of his shyness may be rubbed off; and forward his fortunes, my dear friend, as far as you can . . . '

"Franz handed one of these letters to his friend the waiter, and the 'officious fellow' grinned from ear to ear.

"'There is only one more thing to fear,' observed he.

"'And what?' asked Franz.

"'Why, that now you're comfortable, my dear young gentleman, your head should be turned, and you should begin to make yourself agreeable again, and spoil all.'

"'Oh, pooh! bother agreeable; _I_ say now, as you did,' cried Franz, laughing. 'No, no, my good friend, I'm not going to make myself agreeable any more. I know better than that at last!'

"'Then your fortune's safe as well as made!' was the waiter's last remark, as he was about to withdraw: but Franz followed him to the door.

"'I found out a rather curious thing this evening, do you know!'

"'And that was?--' inquired his humble friend.

"'Why, that I was sitting all the time in that very att.i.tude my mother recommended--with my head a little down, you know--so that I really don't think they noticed my snub.'

"The waiter got as far as, 'Oh, pooh!' but Franz was nervous, and interrupted him.

"'Yes--yes! I don't believe there's anything in it myself; but it will be a comfort to my mother to think it was her advice that made my fortune, which she will do when I tell her that!'

"'Ah!--the ladies will be romantic now and then!' exclaimed the waiter, with a flourish of his hand, 'and you must trim the comfort to a person's taste.'

"And in due time," pursued Aunt Judy, "that was exactly what Mr.

Franz did. Strictly adhering to his father's rule, and encouraged by its capital success that first night, he got so out of the habit of being pert, and foolish, and inconsiderate, that he ended by never having any wish to be so; so that he really became what the old partner had imagined him to be at first. It was a great restraint for some time, but his modest manners fitted him at last as easy as an old shoe, and he was welcome at every house, because he was NEVER IN THE WAY, and always knew when to retire!

"It was a jovial day for Papa and Mamma's Watchmaker when, two years afterwards, Mr. Franz returned home, a partner in the old partner's prosperous business, and with the smiling Jacintha for his bride.

"And then, in telling his mother of that first evening of his good fortune, he did not forget to mention that he had hung down his head all the time, as she had advised; and, just as he expected, she jumped up in the most extravagant delight.

"'I knew how it would be all along!' cried she; 'I told you so! I knew if you could only hide that terrible snub all would be well; and I'm sure our pretty Jacintha wouldn't have looked your way if you hadn't! See, now! you have to thank your mother for it all!'

"Franz was quite happy himself, so he smiled, and let his mother be happy her way too; but he opened his heart of hearts to poor old- fas.h.i.+oned papa, and told him--well, in fact, all his follies and mistakes, and their cure. And if mamma was happy in her bit of comfort, papa was not less so in his, for there is not a more delightful thing in the world than for father and son to understand each other as friends; and old Franz would sometimes walk up and down in his room, listening to the cheerful young voices up-stairs, and say to himself, that if Mother Franz--good soul as she was--did not always quite enter into his feelings, it was his comfort to be blessed with a son who did!"