Mrs Dean was in waiting for me next morning, and attacked me directly.
"Do, do, pray try and help me, my dear," she whispered, so that her
voice might not rise to the little bed-room where we could hear Esau
stamping about, knocking the jug against the basin, and snorting like a
hippopotamus over his ablutions. "You have such a way with you, and
Esau looks up to you so as being a gentleman, and I know he'll do what
you tell him."
"Nonsense, Mrs Dean!" I said; "surely he'll mind his mother more than
he does me."
"No, my dear, no," she said sadly. "He has always been the dearest and
best of boys, and I used to make him think just as I liked; but of late,
since he has been grown big and strong, he generally ends by making me
think as he likes, and he is so obstinate."
"Oh no; he's a very good fellow."
"Yes, my dear. Hush! don't talk so loud. You see he has got it into
his head that it is the best thing for us, and I want you to get it
out."
"But how can I, when I think the same?"
"Now, Mr Gordon, my dear, you don't--you can't think it's best for you
two boys to go trapesing hundreds of thousands of miles, and going
living among wild beasts in forests."
"I'm afraid I do, without the wild beasts," I said.
"But suppose you were both taken ill, my dear, there's no hospitals, or
dispensaries, or doctors out there."
"But you said you would come with us, and if we were taken ill, where
could we get a better nurse?"
"It's very kind of you to say so, my dear, and of course I shouldn't
think of going without some camomiles, and poppy-heads, and a little
castor-oil, and salts and senny, and jollop. Yes, and a roll of
sticking-plaster. And that reminds me, how is your poor ear?"
"Oh, not very bad," I said laughing. "But there, I'm afraid I cannot do
what you wish, Mrs Dean, for if Esau does not come, I shall certainly
go myself."
"And he'd be sure to, then, my dear. He'd have been a soldier by this
time, only you kind of held him back. He does think such a deal of--"
"Hallo, you two! Ketched you, have I, making plots and plans?"
"No, no, my dear."
"Why, you've been coaxing him to get me not to go."
"Well, my dear, it was something of that sort."
"Yes, I know, mother. That's just like you, trying to stop me when I'm
going to make a big fortune."
"But you don't know that you are, my dear. Such lots of people go
abroad to make fortunes, and I never knew one yet who brought a fortune
back."
"Then you're going to know two now--him and me. Breakfast ready?"
"Yes, my dears; and I thought you'd like some hot rolls, so I went and
got 'em."
"I say, mother, you're going it. Hot rolls! Are they buttered?"
"Yes, my dear, and in the oven."
"Did you cut 'em in three?"
"Yes, dear, and put plenty of butter in, as you like them."
"Hooray! Come on then, and let's begin."
"But, Esau dear, if you'll only promise to stop, you shall have hot
rolls for breakfast every morning. You shall, if I work night and day."
"Then Esau and I would rather have hard biscuit and dry bread out
yonder, Mrs Dean," I said warmly; and Esau shouted--
"Hear, hear!"
Two days passed, then a third, and we had been out, and, to please
Esau's mother, tried in several places to get engagements. But we soon
found that it was hopeless, and after tramping about for hours went back
to the cottage.
"Such waste of time, and such a lot of trouble," grumbled Esau. "Why,
we might have done a lot of good work hunting, or shooting, or
gardening, out in Merriky yonder."
But Mrs Dean only shook her head, and told us to try again; and we
tried.
I think it was on the fourth evening that we were sitting in the little
kitchen, tired, discontented, and miserable, with Mrs Dean stitching
away more quickly than ever, when we all started, for there was a double
knock at the door, "Hullo!" cried Esau.
"Hush! my dear," said his mother, mysteriously; "I know. It's either
Mr Dempster to beg you to go back, or news about a new place."
She smoothed her apron and went to the door, picking off threads and
ravelings from her dress so as to look neat, though that she always
looked; and the next moment I ran to the door too, for I heard a
familiar voice, and to my surprise found both Mr and Mrs John.
"Ah, my dear boy," he cried eagerly, "we were getting uneasy about you,
and thought you must be ill. My wife could not rest till we came."
I led them into the little parlour, and placed chairs; while Mrs Dean,
after a humble courtesy, went away into the kitchen.
"Is that your landlady?" continued Mrs John, as she glanced quickly
round; and, before I could answer, "How beautifully neat and clean."
"Yes, beautifully," assented Mr John, hurriedly. "Have you heard of an
engagement, Mayne?"
"No, sir," I said sadly.
"Then you have not tried?"
"Indeed, sir, both Esau and I have tried very hard, as his mother is so
averse to his going abroad."
"Then you have given up all thought of going abroad, my dear boy?"