Jonah Trimble may not have been a genius of the first water, but he was
at least wise enough to know that he could not both have his cake and
eat it. His discovery of Jeffreys' villainy was a most appetising cake,
and it wanted some little self-denial to keep his own counsel about it,
and not spoil sport by springing his mine until all the trains were
laid.
Another consideration, moreover, which prevented his taking immediate
action was that Jeffreys was extremely useful at Galloway House, and
could not be spared just yet--even to the gallows. In a few months'
time, when the good name of the school, which had rapidly risen since he
came upon the scene, was well established, things might be brought to a
climax. Meanwhile Jonah Trimble would keep his eye on his man, read his
_Eugene Aram_, and follow up his clues.
Jeffreys awoke on the following morning with a feeling of oppression on
his mind which for a little time he could not define. It was not his
guardian's words, bitter as they had been; it was not the insolence of
his fellow-usher, intolerable as that was becoming. When at last his
wandering thoughts came in and gave the trouble shape, he found it took
a much more practical form. He was in debt seven pounds to Mr
Frampton. It never occurred to him to wonder whether Mr Halgrove had
been telling him the truth or not, nor to his unbusinesslike mind did it
occur that his guardian, as the trustee responsible for what money he
once had, was liable for the debt, however much he might like to
repudiate it.
No; all he knew was that Mr Frampton was owed seven pounds, and that he
himself had nothing, or next to nothing, to pay. By hard saving during
the six months he had managed to save a sovereign, but of this only last
week he had spent the greater part in boots and clothing. Now his
worldly wealth consisted of four shillings! He was down early that
morning, and was relieved to find that Mrs Trimble was in the parlour
alone, without her son. The good lady was in an amiable mood. The
school was getting on, and something told her that it was not greatly
due either to her own exertions or the influence of Jonah. Therefore,
being a mathematical old lady, she subtracted herself and Jonah from the
present school staff, and came to the conclusion that Jeffreys must have
had a hand in the improvement.
"Young man," said she, in reply to her assistant's greeting, "you've
been with me six months. Are you comfortable?"
"Pretty well," said Jeffreys. "I'm very fond of my boys, and I always
get on comfortably with you."
The mathematical dame once more went to work, and answered, "You and
Jonah don't hit it, I suppose. You don't know Jonah, young man. He may
not be easily satisfied, but he's a gentleman."
"I'm sure," said Jeffreys, to whom this tribute seemed the last he
should expect to hear bestowed on his amiable fellow-usher, "I try to
get on with him, and shall go on trying."
"That's right," said Mrs Trimble, once more shuddering at the prospect
of being left short-handed. "What I was going to say to you was, that
now you've been here six months, and are not a forward young man, and
don't drink, I shall raise your wages, and give you thirty shillings a
month instead of twenty. How will that suit you?"
"You are very kind," said the grateful Jeffreys, with a tremble in his
voice which quite moved the old lady's heart; "it will be very
acceptable."
"Very good. You need not mention it to Jonah," added she hurriedly, as
that young gentleman's footsteps were heard that moment on the stairs.
The only difference which the unconscious Jeffreys was aware of in the
conduct of Jonah Trimble towards himself was that the young gentleman
was a trifle more hectoring and a trifle more facetious than before.
But even to the little mind of Jonah Trimble it had been revealed that
at present it would be extremely awkward for Galloway House if Jeffreys
went "on strike." He was a good teacher and manager; and his boys were
devoted to him. Of course, when a boy goes home from school full of the
praises of his teacher, his parents are pleased too, and think well of
the school, and tell their friends what a nice place it is for boys, and
so on. It is a good advertisement, in fact. Besides, with Mrs Trimble
so lazy, and Jonah himself so unattractive, it would involve a great
deal of trouble all round if Jeffreys deserted it. They knew by
experience that young fellows of good education did not as a rule jump
at the situation of second usher in Galloway House. And they knew,
also, something of the horrors of a prolonged vacancy in their staff.
Jonah was rather relieved when Jeffreys, immediately after school, shut
himself up in his own room, and remained there studying for the rest of
the evening. The proceeding favoured a little idea of his own, which
was to revisit the spot where he had tied his bootlace the evening
before, and see if an examination of that fatal spot would throw any
fresh light on his investigation. Accordingly after tea he sallied
forth with a trowel in his coat pocket. It was rather a dismal
expedition, for it rained, and there was a cool breeze. The lane was
muddy even in the roadway, and on the banks it was a quagmire. Still
Jonah was too full of his mystery seriously to mind the weather.
He trudged up and down the lane, sharply scrutinising the hedge for his
bootlace. For a long time his perseverance was unrewarded. At length,
however, his eye detected the welcome flutter of a bright tag among the
leaves, and he recognised the scene of last night's damp sojourn.
He clambered up onto the bank, regardless of his garments, and commenced
an anxious scrutiny. The bank itself showed no signs of a "mystery."
Even the traces of Jeffreys' visit to it the night before were
obliterated by the soaking rain. The field on the other side was
equally unsuggestive. Jonah trampled around in circles on the young
corn, but never a pistol, or a rusty knife, or a bottle of poison, did
he discover.