To The West Part 9

But he did not say it loud enough for the constable to hear, the words being meant for me, and after once more shaking hands with us the man said, "Good-bye," and we were out in the busy streets once more--as it seemed to me, the only two lads in London with nothing to do.

I was walking along by Esau's side, low-spirited in spite of our acquittal, for everything seemed so novel and strange, when Esau, who had been whistling, looked round at me.

"Now then," he said, "will you come with me?"

"Where?"

"Woolwich. 'Tillery."

"No. And you are not going."

"Oh, ain't I?"

"No," I said. "You are going home. Your mother must be very anxious about us."

"I'd forgotten all about her," cried Esau. "I say, look: here's old Demp."

If I had obeyed my first inclination I should have turned down the first street to avoid our late employer; but I kept on boldly, as he came towards us, and I expected that he would go by, but he stopped short, and looked from one to the other.

"Oh, here you are," he said; "look out, my lads, I have not done yet.

If you think I am going to be beaten like this, you are--"

"Come on, Esau," I whispered, and we did not hear the end of his threat.

"There!" cried Esau. "Now what do you say? He'll be giving us into custody again. 'Tillery's our only chance. He daren't touch us there.

But I say, he isn't going back to the office. Let's run and get what's in our desks. There's my old flute."

"I thought you did not want to be given into custody again?" I cried.

"Why, if we go and try to touch anything there, and he catches us, he is sure to call in the police."

"Never thought o' that," said Esau, rubbing one ear. "I say, don't be a coward. Come on down to Woolwich."

"You go on directly to your mother and tell her all about it."

"I say, don't order a fellow about like that. You ain't master."

"You do as I tell you," I said, firmly.

"Oh, very well," he replied, in an ill-used tone. "If you say I am to, I suppose I must. Won't you come too?"

"No; I'm going up to see Mr John Dempster to tell him all about it, and ask him to give me his advice."

"Ah, it's all very fine," grumbled Esau; "it's always Mr John Dempster now. You used to make me a friend and ask my advice: now I'm n.o.body at all. You always was such a gentleman, and too fine for me."

"Don't talk like that, Esau," I said; "you hurt me."

He turned and caught hold of my hand directly. "I didn't mean it," he said, huskily. "On'y don't chuck me over. I won't go for a soldier if you don't want, but let's stick together."

"I should like to, Esau," I said, "for I've no friends but you and Mr John."

"Oh, I don't know 'bout friends," he said. "I don't want to be friends, 'cause I'm not like you, but let's keep together. I'll do anything you want, and I'll always stick up for you, same as you did for me."

"I should be an ungrateful brute if I did part from you, Esau, for I shall never forget how kind you and your mother have always--"

"Don't! don't! don't!" he cried, putting his fingers in his ears. "Now you're beginning to preach at me, and you know I hate that. I say, let's call at the auction-rooms and say good-bye to old Dingle.

Dempster won't be there."

I hesitated, and then hurried down the next street with Esau, for I thought I should like to say a friendly word to the porter, who had always been pleasant and kind, little thinking how it would influence my future career.

He was just inside the long sale-room, and he came out to us directly to shake hands gleefully.

"All right, lads," he cried. "I know all about it. I was there, and heard every word. Serve him precious well right! Ah, you're lucky ones. Wish I was out of his service. What are you both going to do?"

"I don't know," I said sadly. "Esau here wants to be a soldier."

"Yes, he always was mad that way. Don't you listen to him."

"Better be a soldier than old Demp's clerk."

"Don't you be too sure, my lad," said Dingle. "There are such things as drill-sergeants in the army, and they tell me they're a kind of Double Dempsters. It's awkward for you, Master Gordon. You see, you'll have to send to the guv'nor for a reference when you try for another place, and he won't give you one, see if he does."

"No," I said sadly, "there is no chance there. What would you do?"

"Well," he said, taking off his carpet cap, and stroking his thin grey hair, "it's easy to advise anybody, but it ain't easy to advise right."

"Never mind," I said, "try."

"Well, sir, speaking as a poor man, if I was like you, out of a 'gagement, and no character 'cept for being able to thrash your own master--"

"Oh, Dingle!" I cried.

"Well, sir, it's true enough," he said; and he bent down to indulge in a long silent fit of laughter.

"Don't do that," I said uneasily, "it's nothing to laugh at."

"Well, 'tis, and it 'tisn't, sir," said Dingle, wiping his eyes on the corner of his ap.r.o.n.

"What would you do if you were out of an engagement?"

"Me? I should do what my brother did--hemigrate."

"Your brother did, Ding? To a nice place?" cried Esau.

"Yes, my lad, and he's getting on fine."

"Then why didn't you go too, and get on fine?"

"'Cause I've got a houseful o' children, and nearly all gals. That's why, Clevershakes."