"Oh, dear!" groaned Aleck. "How am I to face him?" and he went on till
only a few steps divided him from the cultivated garden, where he
stopped again. "I wonder where he is. In the study, I suppose--write,
write, write, at that great history. Can't I leave it and get into my
room with a bad headache? It's only true. It aches horribly. I'll
send word by Jane that I'm too poorly to come down. Bah!" muttered the
boy. "What nonsense; he'd come up to me directly with something for me
to take. I wonder whether he is in his room or out in the garden. He
mustn't see me till I've been up into my room and done something to my
hair. Perhaps he's in the summer-house and I can get in and upstairs
without his seeing me. Oh, if I only--"
"Hullo! Aleck, lad, what are you doing there? Why are you so late?
Dinner has been ready quite an hour."
The captain had suddenly appeared from behind a great clump of waving
tamarisk, and stood looking down at the lad.
"I was coming to see if you were in sight, and--why, what in the name of
wonder is the matter with you? Where have you been? Why, by all that's
wonderful, you've been fighting!"
"Yes, uncle," said the lad, with a gasp of relief, for it seemed to him
as if, instead of taking the bold plunge, swimming fashion, he had been
suddenly dragged in.
"I thought so," cried the captain, angrily. "Here--no, stop; come up to
the house, to my room. We can't talk here."
"I don't see why not," thought the lad, dismally. "There's plenty of
room, and we could get it over more easily, even if he does get into a
furious passion with me."
But the captain had wheeled round at once and began to stump back along
over the shell and crunching spar-gravel path, his chin pressed down
upon his chest, and not uttering a word, only coughing slightly now and
then, as if to clear his voice for the fierce tirade of angry words that
was to come.
He did not glance round nor speak, but strode on, evidently growing more
and more out of temper, the lad thought, for as he walked he kept on
kicking the loose shelly covering of the path over the flower beds,
while the silence kept up seemed to Aleck ominous in the extreme.
"But, never mind," he thought; "it must soon be over now. What a sight
I must look, though! He seemed to be astonished."
Culprit-like, the lad followed close at his uncle's heels till the side
entrance was reached, where, with what seemed to be another sign of his
angry perturbation, the old officer stopped short, rested one hand upon
the door-post to steady himself, and began to very carefully do what was
not the slightest degree necessary, to wit: he scraped his shoes most
carefully over and over again--for there was not even a scrap of dust to
remove.
"Stand back a moment, sir," cried the captain, suddenly. "Jane has
heard us, and is carrying in the dinner. Don't let her see you in that
state."
Aleck shrank to one side, and then as a door was heard to close, started
forward again in obedience to his uncle's order.
"Now in, quick--into the study."
He led the way sharply, and Aleck sprang after him, but the ascent of so
many steps gave the maid time to re-open the little dining-room door,
from which point of vantage she was able to catch a glimpse of the lad's
face, which looked so startling that she uttered an involuntary "Oh,
my!" before letting her jaw drop and pausing, her mouth wide open and a
pair of staring eyes.
"Come in!" roared the captain, angrily, as Aleck paused to turn for a
moment at the door; and instead of entering, stood shaking his head
deprecatingly at the maid, while his lips moved without a sound escaping
them as he tried to telegraph to one who took much interest in his
appearance: "Not hurt much. I couldn't help it!"
He started violently then at his uncle's stern command, uttered like an
order to a company of men to step into some deadly breach, and the next
moment the door was closed and the old man was scowling at him from the
chair into which he had thrown himself, sending it back with the legs,
giving forth a sound like a harsh snort as they scraped over the bare
oaken floor.
Aleck drew a long deep breath and tried to tighten up his nerves, ready
for what he felt was going to be a desperate encounter with the
fierce-looking old man whom from long experience he knew to be harsh,
stern, and troubled with a terrible temper, which made him morose and
strange at times, his fits lasting for days, during which periods he
would hardly speak a word to his nephew, leaving him to himself save
when he came upon him suddenly to see that he was not wasting time, but
going on with one or other of the studies which the old man supervised,
or working in the garden.
"I want you, though you lead this lonely life with me, Aleck," he would
say, frowning heavily the while, "to grow up fairly learned in what is
necessary for a young man's education, so that some day, when I am dead
and gone out of this weary world, you may take your place as a
gentleman--not an ornamental gentleman, whose sole aim is to find out
how he can best amuse himself, but a quiet, straightforward, honourable
gentleman, one whom, if people do not admire because his ways are not
the same as theirs, they will find themselves bound to respect."
These strange fits of what Aleck, perhaps instigated by Jane, their one
servant, called "master's temper," would be followed by weeks of mental
blue sky, when the black clouds rolled away and the sun of a genial
disposition shone out, and the old man seemed as if he could not lavish
enough affection upon his nephew. The result of all this was that the
boy's feelings towards the old man, who had always occupied the position
of father to him as well as preceptor, were a strange mingling of fear
of his harshness, veneration of his learning and power of instructing
him in everything he learned, and love. For there were times when Aleck
would say, gloomily, to himself, "I'm sure uncle thoroughly hates me and
wishes me away," while there were times when he was as happy as the days
were long, and ready to feel certain that the old man loved him as much
as if he were his own child.
"He must," thought the boy, "or he wouldn't have nursed and coddled me
up so when I had that fever and the doctor told Jane that he had done
all he could, and that I should die--go out with the tide next day.
That's what I like in uncle," he mused, "when he isn't out of temper--
he's so clever. Knew ever so much better than the doctor. What did he
say then? `Doctors are all very well, Aleck, but there are times when
the nurse is the better man--that is, when it's a cock nurse and not a
hen. You had a cock nurse, boy, and I pulled you through.'"
But the love was in abeyance on this particular morning at the Den, as
the old man had named his out-of-the-way solitary dwelling, and Aleck
felt that the place was rightly named as he stood ready to face the
savage-looking denizen of the place, who, after staring him down with a
pair of fiercely glowing eyes, suddenly opened upon him with:
"Now, then, sir! So you've been fighting?"
"Yes, uncle," said the boy, meekly.
"Who with?"
"Some of the Rockabie boys, uncle."
"Hah! And in the face of all that I have said and taught you about your
being different by your birth and education from the young ragamuffin
rout of Rockabie harbour! Cannot you run over there in your boat and do
what business you have to carry out without being mixed up in some
broil?"
"No, uncle."
"Disgraceful, sir! A gentleman's education should teach him that his
weapons are words properly applied, and not tooth and nail, blows and
kicks."
"I never bit or kicked, uncle," said Aleck, sullenly.
"Of course not, sir; and don't retort upon me in that insolent way. You
know perfectly well that I was speaking metaphorically. Did you for a
moment imagine I thought you used your teeth and claws like a savage
dog?"
"No, uncle."
"Then don't reply to me like that. Of course I would know you would use
your fists. Look at your knuckles!" thundered the old man.
Aleck looked at those parts of his person dismally, and they looked bad.
For the skin was damaged in three places, and the nail of his left
thumb was split in a painful way.
"Disgusting," said the old man. "I trusted you to go over there, and
you come back a disreputable wreck. All my teaching seems to be thrown
away upon a pugnacious untrustworthy boy."
"I'm not pugnacious, uncle, if they'd let me alone."
"Bah! You ought to be above noticing the scum of the place."
"I am, uncle, and I don't notice them," pleaded the boy; "it's they who
will notice me."
"How, pray?"
"I can't go into the place without their mobbing me and calling me
names."
"Contemptible! And pray, sir," cried the old man, in harsh, sarcastic
tones, "what do they call you?"
"All sorts of things," replied the boy, confusedly. "I can't recollect
now. Yes, I know; sometimes they shout `Fox' or `Foxy' after me."
"And pray why?"
"Because they say I've just come out of the Den."
"Rubbish."
"At other times it's `Spider.'"
"Spider?"
"Yes, uncle; because I've got such long legs."
"Worse and worse," cried the old man. "To fight for that! It is
childish."
"Oh, I didn't fight for that, uncle!"
"What for, then, pray, sir?"
"Sometimes they lay wait for me and hide behind a smack or the harbour
wall, and pelt me with shells and the nasty offal left about by the
fishermen."
"Disgusting! The insolent young dogs! They deserve to be flogged. So
that is why you fought this morning?"
"Sometimes they throw pebbles and cobble stones, uncle," said the boy,
evasively. "And they're so clever with them; they throw so well. I
don't like to be hit and hurt, uncle. I suppose I've got a bad temper.
I do keep it under so long as they call me names and throw nasty, soft
things, but when a stone hits me and hurts, something inside my chest
seems to get loose, and I feel hot and burning. I want to hurt whoever
threw as much as he hurt me."
"What!" cried the old man. "Haven't I taught you, sir, that you must be
above resenting the attacks of the vulgar herd?"
"Yes, uncle."
"Of course. I have always had to bear those assaults, boy. And so the
young ruffians threw stones at you?"
Aleck hesitated.
"It was heads and bits of fish to-day, uncle."
"The scum! The insolent scum! And some of the offal hit you?"
"Well, no; nothing hit me, uncle. They followed me about all through
the place, and shouted at me every time I came out of a shop."
"Bah! And because some young ragamuffins were insolent to you, my
nephew must lower himself to their level. This is not the first time,
sir. You have complained to me before, and you remember what I said to
you one day when you came back after engaging in a most degrading
scuffle."
"Yes, uncle."
"You promised me that should never occur again, after I had pointed out
to you what your conduct ought to be, and how that the more you noticed
these young rascals' proceedings the worse it would be."
"Yes, uncle, but I couldn't remember it to-day. You can't tell how bad
it was, and how hard to bear."
"I? Not tell? Not know?" cried the old man, passionately. "I not know
what it is to be the butt of a few boys? You talk in your ignorance,
sir, like a fool talketh. Why, for long years past I have been the mark
for the contumely and insult of civilised England. Don't make your
paltry excuses to me. I say your conduct has been disgraceful. You
were trusted to go. I made no objection, sir, save that for your sake
and protection you should have an experienced boatman to help manage
your boat on the way back, and you come home in this degraded state--
hands and face bruised, your lips cut, and your eyes swollen up ready to
turn black with horrible bruises. Aleck, it is blackguardly. You make
me feel as if I ought to treat you as you deserve--take down that dusty
old riding whip and flog you soundly."
Aleck started violently, and his eyes flashed through the narrow slits
of lids.
"But I can't treat you, an educated, thoughtful lad, in such a degrading
way. The lash is only for those whose nature is low and vile--whose
education has never placed them upon a level with such as you. It would
be the right punishment for the lads who continually annoy and assault
you. But as for you--Aleck, I am hurt and disappointed. To come back
like this because a few boys pelted you!"
"No, uncle, it was not because of that," cried the lad, warmly.
"Then, why was it, sir?"
Aleck was silent, and the sailor's advice suddenly came to mind: "Tell
him you won and thrashed your man."
But the words would not come, and while he remained silent Captain Donne
spoke again, very sternly now:
"Do you hear me, sir?"
"Yes, uncle," said the boy, desperately.
"Then answer my question. You say it was not because you were pelted
and called names. Why, then, did you degrade yourself like this and
fight?"
"It was because--no, no, uncle," cried the boy, through his teeth, which
were compressed tightly as if he was afraid that the simple truth would
escape; "I--I can't tell you."
"Then there is something more?"
"Yes, uncle."
"What is it, then?" cried the old man, whose own temper was rapidly
getting the mastery. "Speak out, sir, and let me hear whether you have
any decent excuse to offer for your conduct. Do you hear?"
"Yes, uncle," faltered the lad.
"Then speak, sir."
"I--I can't, uncle. Don't ask me, please."
"What! I will and do ask you, sir," cried the old man, furiously: "and
what is more, I will be told. I am the proper judge of your conduct.
How dare you refuse to speak--how dare you tell me almost to my face
that you will not answer my question?"
"I don't tell you that, uncle," cried the boy, passionately. "I only
say I can't tell you."
"You obstinate young scoundrel! How dare you!" roared the old man, now
almost beside himself with rage. "Tell me this instant. Why, then, did
you engage in this disgraceful encounter?"
Aleck darted an imploring look at the old man, which seemed to be
begging him piteously not to press for the answer, but in his furious
outbreak the old man could not read it aright--could only set it down to
stubbornness--and, completely overcome by the passion bubbling up to his
brain, he started to his feet and pointed to the door, but only to dash
his hand down upon the table the next moment.
"No," he cried, "if you forget your duty to me, Aleck, I will not forget
mine to you. I'll not be angry, but quite cool. Now, sir," he cried,
with his face looking congested and his heavy grey brows drawn down over
his glowing eyes, while his voice sounded hoarse and strange. "Aleck,
tell me at once. I'll have an answer before you leave this room. Why
did you engage in that disgraceful fight?"
"I can't tell you, uncle," said the boy, in a hoarse whisper.
"Ha! That means, sir, that you are obstinately determined not to
speak?"
"It isn't obstinacy, uncle."
"Don't contradict me, sir. I say it is obstinacy. Now, once more, for
the last time, will you answer my question?"
Aleck drew in a long, low, hissing breath and stood fast for a few
moments, before saying, in a low tone, his voice quivering the while:
"I can't tell you, uncle."
There was a dead silence in the room for a few moments then; so dead was
the silence, in fact, that if the proverbial pin had dropped it would
have sounded loudly on the polished oaken boards.
Then the old man spoke, in a curiously suppressed tone of voice.
"Very well," he said, huskily; "it is what was bound to come sooner or
later. I see I have made another of the mistakes which have blasted my
existence. I must have time to think out what I shall do. One thing is
very evident--you have rebelled against my rule, Aleck, and are
struggling to get away to think and act, sir, for yourself. I have done
my best for you, but in my isolation I have doubtless been blind and
narrow. It is the natural result of our solitary life here--the young
spirit seeking to soar."
"Oh, no, uncle--" began the boy.
"Silence, sir!" thundered the old man. "Hear me out. I say it is so,
and I know. You resent my holding the tether longer, but you are too
young yet to fly unheld. I have my duty to do for your mother's sake
and for yours. I must have time to think out my plans, but in the
meantime prepare yourself to go to some school or institution for a year
or two before entering upon your profession."
"But, uncle!"
"That will do, sir," said the old man, sternly. "You have struck your
blow against my authority, and this painful episode in my life must
end."
"If you'd only let me speak, uncle!" cried the boy, passionately.
"I begged of you to speak, sir," said the old man, coldly. "I ordered
you to speak; but in each case you refused. Well, now then, tell me
simply--I ask again on principle--why did you fight those boys?"
Aleck set his teeth and hung his head.
"That will do," said the old man, in deep, husky tones. "Go to your
room and get rid of as much of the traces of your encounter as you can
before going down to your dinner. You need not interrupt me here again
till I send for you. There--go."
The old man once more raised his hand to point towards the door, and,
unable to contain himself longer, Aleck rushed out, made for his room,
and shut and bolted himself in.