"Dear Nephew,--I hold that lads of your age cannot learn too soon that
the people to pay debts are those who make them. I return your list, as
it may be useful.
"Yours,--
"F. Jakeman."
It was what I had expected. My last hope of a respite now gone to the
winds!
We walked down disconsolately to the office. Hawkesbury was back in his
place, smiling as usual. But the dread of Shoddy's visit to-morrow
drove away all thought for the present of resentment against Hawkesbury.
I was even constrained to greet him civilly, and when he asked if I had
received his letter, to say yes, I was much obliged.
On leaving the office that evening the tailor's assistant was hanging
about outside as before. I imagined he had some fresh message, and went
up to him eagerly. "Well," said I, "what is it?"
"Nothing that I know of," said he. "I was just passing this way, and
thought I'd see how you were getting on. No orders, I suppose? None of
your young gentlemen want a nice cheap suit? Pleased to make you a
consideration for the introduction. If one or two of you joined
together and took a piece, could do the lot very reasonably indeed."
So, not only was I to be exposed before my employers to-morrow, but
meanwhile my movements were being watched, for fear I should run away, I
suppose.
"Jack," said I, as we walked along, "I believe you are right after all."
"How?" said Jack.
"The only thing to do is to tell the partners all about it, before
Shoddy comes to-morrow!"
"Well," said Jack, "I don't see it could be much worse than letting them
hear all about it from him."
With which consoling but desperate resolution we proceeded.
To beguile the time, we went round by Style Street.
A youth was standing having his boots blacked as we came up. We thought
we recognised the figure--though till he turned round we could not
recall his name. Then to our surprise we saw it was Flanagan.
But such a swell as he was! He had alarmed me more than once by the
grandeur of his attire when I had met him at the parties of the "usual
lot." I had seen him rarely since. As for Jack, the two had scarcely
met since they left Stonebridge House.
"Hullo, Batchelor," he cried, as we approached, "that you? I heard
you'd been ill, and--why, Smith," he broke out, catching sight of my
companion, "how are you? Haven't seen you for ages! And the rum thing
is I was speaking about you this very moment--wasn't I, kid?"
"Yaas," said Billy, with a grin.
"You know, Batchelor, you once introduced me to this young gentleman
when we were rolling home one night after a spree--fearfully slow
parties some of those!--and I've given him a job pretty often since--and
he was just telling me about you. Lodging Drury Lane way, I hear?"
"Yes," said I. There was something so genuine in the tone of my old
schoolfellow that I could almost forgive him his grand clothes.
"I say, couldn't you come along to my rooms to-night? I'm all by
myself. Jolly to talk over old days. Come on, Smith."
"Thanks," said Smith, who, I could see, felt half shy of this old
comrade, "but I have to work for an exam., and it's coming off now in a
week or two."
"Well, Batchelor, you come," said Flanagan.
I hesitated a moment, and then consented. The fact was, I suspected
Flanagan might possibly get his clothes made at Shoddy's. In which
case, as to all appearance he must be a good customer, he might, I
thought, use his influence with the tailor to prevent the threatened
visit to-morrow.
So I went with him, much to his satisfaction, and we had a pleasant
evening together. He confided to me his troubles. How he was getting
tired of the "usual lot," and of London altogether, and wanted his
father to let him be a farmer. How he was always getting into trouble
up here in town, living by himself, with far more money than he wanted,
and no one "to pull him up," as he called it. How he often recalled
Stonebridge House with all its hardships, and wished himself back there
instead of in this unsatisfactory world of London.
"If I could only grind like Smith," said he, "it wouldn't be so bad; but
what's the use of my grinding? In fact, what's the use of my being up
here at all, when I only get into rows, and spend one half of my time
going to the dogs and the other in pulling up?"
"Well," said I, "that's better than me, who spend all my time in going
to the dogs."
"Oh, but you had Smith to keep you steady," said he. "You couldn't go
far wrong with him. I've got no one of that sort. I really wish my
father would put me to farming. A fellow couldn't go to the dogs, you
know, all among the cows, and pigs, and horses--that is," added he,
laughing, "not the sort of dogs I mean."
There was a great deal in Flanagan's troubles with which I could
sympathise. He was a fellow with a kind nature at bottom, but too easy-
going to withstand the temptations of London.
In return for his confidence I told him most of my troubles. He was
greatly interested in the story, and especially reproached himself with
his share in aiding and abetting my past extravagances.
When, however, I came to tell him of my financial troubles with
Hawkesbury and Shoddy he brightened up suddenly.
"Why, why ever didn't you tell me of that before, Batchelor?" he
exclaimed. "And this beggar Shoddy's going to show you up, is he? Ha,
ha! we'll disappoint him for once in a way. I know him of old."
"I was wondering if you knew him," said I, suddenly feeling my spirits
lightened, "and would mind asking him not to call up at the office."
"Of course I will," said Flanagan, jumping up and taking his hat. "Come
along, old man, he won't be shut up yet, I expect. If he is we'll wake
him up."
And off we went, my heart full of joy at this unexpected hope.
Shoddy's shop was still open, and its lord was at home. He greeted
Flanagan obsequiously, as a good customer.
"Ah, Shoddy, how are you? Just make out my friend's bill here, will
you--look sharp!"
Shoddy, in as much surprise as I was, promptly obeyed, adding the
interest for the last year and the next.
"Knock off that last six-and-six," demanded my friend.
"But that's for--"
"Knock it off, do you hear?" shouted Flanagan, "and receipt it."
Fancy my astonishment! I had expected to see Shoddy persuaded to
abandon his idea of calling at the office; but this was far more than I
ever dreamt of.
"Oh, Flanagan," I began, "you really--"
"Shut up," said Flanagan. "May as well owe it to me as Shoddy. There,"
added he, putting down the money and giving me the receipt, "and look
here, Mr Shoddy, the next time you try your sharp practice on us I
change my tailor."
"And now," said he, putting a note into my hand, "this will help to
square accounts with Hawkesbury and some of the others. Mind you pay it
back, do you hear?"
Before I could even turn to speak to him he had bolted round the corner
and vanished!