English
Sobytheclevernessoftwogirlsadarkcloudwasthinnedawayandturnedintosunshine.
Overoneofthem,alas,anothercloudwasgathering,whichcouldnotbesoeasilydispersed.
Ofthesethreehouseholdswhichfatehadthrowntogether,twohadalreadybeenunitedbytiesoflove.
Itwasdestined,however,thatabondofanothersortshouldconnecttheWestmacottswiththeHayDenvers.
BetweentheAdmiralandthewidowaverycordialfeelinghadexistedsincethedaywhentheoldseamanhadhauleddownhisflagandchangedhisopinions;grantingtotheyachts-womanallthathehadrefusedtothereformer.
Hisownfrankanddownrightnaturerespectedthesamequalitiesinhisneighbor,andafriendshipsprangupbetweenthemwhichwasmorelikethatwhichexistsbetweentwomen,foundeduponesteemandacommunityoftastes.
“Bytheway,Admiral,”saidMrs.Westmacottonemorning,astheywalkedtogetherdowntothestation,“IunderstandthatthisboyofyoursintheintervalsofpayinghisdevotionstoMissWalkerisdoingsomethingupon‘Change.”
“Yes,ma’am,andthereisnomanofhisagewhoisdoingsowell.
He’sdrawingahead,Icantellyou,ma’am.
Someofthosethatstartedwithhimarehulldownastarnnow.
Hetouchedhisfivehundredlastyear,andbeforehe’sthirtyhe’llbemakingthefourfigures.”
“ThereasonIaskedisthatIhavesmallinvestmentstomakemyselffromtimetotime,andmypresentbrokerisarascal.Ishouldbeverygladtodoitthroughyourson.”
“Itisverykindofyou,ma’am.Hispartnerisawayonaholiday,andHaroldwouldliketopushonabitandshowwhathecando.
Youknowthepoopisn’tbigenoughtoholdthelieutenantwhentheskipper’sonshore.”
“Isupposehechargestheusualhalfpercent?”
“Don’tknow,I’msure,ma’am.I’llswearthathedoeswhatisrightandproper.”
“ThatiswhatIusuallypay—tenshillingsinthehundredpounds.IfyouseehimbeforeIdojustaskhimtogetmefivethousandinNewZealands.Itisatfourjustnow,andIfancyitmayrise.”
“Fivethousand!”exclaimedtheAdmiral,reckoningitinhisownmind.“Lemmesee!That’stwenty-fivepoundscommission.Aniceday’swork,uponmyword.Itisaveryhandsomeorder,ma’am.”
“Well,Imustpaysomeone,andwhynothim?”
“I’lltellhim,andI’msurehe’lllosenotime.”
“Oh,thereisnogreathurry.Bytheway,Iunderstandfromwhatyousaidjustnowthathehasapartner.”
“Yes,myboyisthejuniorpartner.Pearsonisthesenior.Iwasintroducedtohimyearsago,andheofferedHaroldtheopening.Ofcoursewehadaprettystiffpremiumtopay.”
Mrs.Westmacotthadstopped,andwasstandingverystifflywithherRedIndianfaceevengrimmerthanusual.
“Pearson?”saidshe.“JeremiahPearson?”
“Thesame.”
“Thenit’salloff,”shecried.“Youneednotcarryoutthatinvestment.”
“Verywell,ma’am.”
Theywalkedontogethersidebyside,shebroodingoversomethoughtofherown,andhealittlecrossedanddisappointedathercapriceandthelostcommissionforHarold.
“Itellyouwhat,Admiral,”sheexclaimedsuddenly,“ifIwereyouIshouldgetyourboyoutofthispartnership.”
“Butwhy,madam?”
“Becauseheistiedtooneofthedeepest,slyestfoxesinthewholecityofLondon.”
“JeremiahPearson,ma’am?Whatcanyouknowofhim?Hebearsagoodname.”
“NooneinthisworldknowsJeremiahPearsonasIknowhim,Admiral.IwarnyoubecauseIhaveafriendlyfeelingbothforyouandforyourson.Themanisarogueandyouhadbestavoidhim.”
“Buttheseareonlywords,ma’am.DoyoutellmethatyouknowhimbetterthanthebrokersandjobbersintheCity?”
“Man,”criedMrs.Westmacott,“willyouallowthatIknowhimwhenItellyouthatmymaidennamewasAdaPearson,andthatJeremiahismyonlybrother?”
TheAdmiralwhistled.“Whew!”criedhe.“NowthatIthinkofit,thereisalikeness.”
“Heisamanofiron,Admiral—amanwithoutaheart.
IshouldshockyouifIweretotellyouwhatIhaveenduredfrommybrother.
Myfather’swealthwasdividedequallybetweenus.
Hisownshareheranthroughinfiveyears,andhehastriedsincethenbyeverytrickofacunning,low-mindedman,bybasecajolery,bylegalquibbles,bybrutalintimidation,tojugglemeoutofmyshareaswell.
Thereisnovillainyofwhichthemanisnotcapable.Oh,IknowmybrotherJeremiah.IknowhimandIampreparedforhim.”
“Thisisallnewtome,ma’am.‘Ponmyword,Ihardlyknowwhattosaytoit.
Ithankyouforhavingspokensoplainly.
Fromwhatyousay,thisisapoorsortofconsortforamantosailwith.
PerhapsHaroldwoulddowelltocuthimselfadrift.”
“Withoutlosingaday.”
“Well,weshalltalkitover.Youmaybesureofthat.Buthereweareatthestation,soIwilljustseeyouintoyourcarriageandthenhometoseewhatmywifesaystothematter.”
Ashetrudgedhomewards,thoughtfulandperplexed,hewassurprisedtohearashoutbehindhim,andtoseeHaroldrunningdowntheroadafterhim.
“Why,dad,”hecried,“Ihavejustcomefromtown,andthefirstthingIsawwasyourbackasyoumarchedaway.ButyouaresuchaquickwalkerthatIhadtoruntocatchyou.”
TheAdmiral’ssmileofpleasurehadbrokenhissternfaceintoathousandwrinkles.“Youareearlyto-day,”saidhe.
“Yes,Iwantedtoconsultyou.”
“Nothingwrong?”
“Ohno,onlyaninconvenience.”
“Whatisit,then?”
“Howmuchhaveweinourprivateaccount?”
“Prettyfair.Someeighthundred,Ithink.”
“Oh,halfthatwillbeample.ItwasratherthoughtlessofPearson.”
“Whatthen?”
“Well,yousee,dad,whenhewentawayuponthislittleholidaytoHavreheleftmetopayaccountsandsoon.
Hetoldmethattherewasenoughatthebankforallclaims.
IhadoccasiononTuesdaytopayawaytwocheques,oneforL80,andtheotherforL120,andheretheyarereturnedwithabanknoticethatwehavealreadyoverdrawntotheextentofsomehundreds.”
TheAdmirallookedverygrave.“What’sthemeaningofthat,then?”heasked.
“Oh,itcaneasilybesetright.YouseePearsoninvestsallthesparecapitalandkeepsassmallamarginaspossibleatthebank.
Stillitwastoobadforhimtoallowmeeventorunariskofhavingachequereturned.
Ihavewrittentohimanddemandedhisauthoritytoselloutsomestock,andIhavewrittenanexplanationtothesepeople.
Inthemeantime,however,Ihavehadtoissueseveralcheques;soIhadbettertransferpartofourprivateaccounttomeetthem.”
“Quiteso,myboy.Allthat’smineisyours.ButwhodoyouthinkthisPearsonis?HeisMrs.Westmacott’sbrother.”
“Really.Whatasingularthing!Well,Icanseealikenessnowthatyoumentionit.Theyhaveboththesamehardtypeofface.”
“Shehasbeenwarningmeagainsthim—saysheistherankestpirateinLondon.Ihopethatitisallright,boy,andthatwemaynotfindourselvesinbrokenwater.”
HaroldhadturnedalittlepaleasheheardMrs.Westmacott’sopinionofhisseniorpartner.
Itgaveshapeandsubstancetocertainvaguefearsandsuspicionsofhisownwhichhadbeenpushedbackasoftenastheyobtrudedthemselvesasbeingtoomonstrousandfantasticforbelief.
“Heisawell-knownmanintheCity,dad,”saidhe.
“Ofcourseheis—ofcourseheis.ThatiswhatItoldher.
Theywouldhavefoundhimoutthereifanythinghadbeenamisswithhim.
Blessyou,there’snothingsobitterasafamilyquarrel.
Stillitisjustaswellthatyouhavewrittenaboutthisaffair,forwemayaswellhaveallfairandaboveboard.”
ButHarold’slettertohispartnerwascrossedbyaletterfromhispartnertoHarold.
Itlayawaitinghimuponthebreakfasttablenextmorning,anditsenttheheartintohismouthashereadit,andcausedhimtospringupfromhischairwithawhitefaceandstaringeyes.
“Myboy!Myboy!”
“Iamruined,mother—ruined!”Hestoodgazingwildlyinfrontofhim,whilethesheetofpaperfluttereddownonthecarpet.
Thenhedroppedbackintothechair,andsankhisfaceintohishands.
Hismotherhadherarmsroundhiminaninstant,whiletheAdmiral,withshakingfingers,pickeduptheletterfromthefloorandadjustedhisglassestoreadit.
apictureofthecountryside
“MyDEARDENVER,”itran.“BythetimethatthisreachesyouIshallbeoutofthereachofyourselforofanyoneelsewhomaydesireaninterview.
Youneednotsearchforme,forIassureyouthatthisletterispostedbyafriend,andthatyouwillhaveyourtroubleinvainifyoutrytofindme.
Iamsorrytoleaveyouinsuchatightplace,butoneorotherofusmustbesqueezed,andonthewholeIpreferthatitshouldbeyou.
You’llfindnothinginthebank,andaboutL13,000unaccountedfor.
I’mnotsurethatthebestthingyoucandoisnottorealizewhatyoucan,andimitateyoursenior’sexample.
Ifyouactatonceyoumaygetcleanaway.
Ifnot,it’snotonlythatyoumustputupyourshutters,butIamafraidthatthismissingmoneycouldhardlybeincludedasanordinarydebt,andofcourseyouarelegallyresponsibleforitjustasmuchasIam.
Takeafriend’sadviceandgettoAmerica.
Ayoungmanwithbrainscanalwaysdosomethingoutthere,andyoucanlivedownthislittlemischance.
Itwillbeacheaplessonifitteachesyoutotakenothingupontrustinbusiness,andtoinsistuponknowingexactlywhatyourpartnerisdoing,howeverseniorhemaybetoyou.
“Yoursfaithfully,
“JEREMIAHPEARSON.”
“GreatHeavens!”groanedtheAdmiral,“hehasabsconded.”
“Andleftmebothabankruptandathief.”
“No,no,Harold,”sobbedhismother.“Allwillberight.Whatmatteraboutmoney!”
“Money,mother!Itismyhonor.”
“Theboyisright.Itishishonor,andmyhonor,forhisismine.
Thisisasoretrouble,mother,whenwethoughtourlife’stroubleswereallbehindus,butwewillbearitaswehaveborneothers.”
Heheldouthisstringyhand,andthetwooldfolksatwithbowedgreyheads,theirfingersintertwined,strongineachother’sloveandsympathy.
“Weweretoohappy,”shesighed.
“ButitisGod’swill,mother.”
“Yes,John,itisGod’swill.”
“Andyetitisbittertobear.Icouldhavelostall,thehouse,money,rank—Icouldhaveborneit.Butatmyage—myhonor—thehonorofanadmiralofthefleet.”
“Nohonorcanbelost,John,wherenodishonorhasbeendone.Whathaveyoudone?WhathasHarolddone?Thereisnoquestionofhonor.”
Theoldmanshookhishead,butHaroldhadalreadycalledtogetherhisclearpracticalsense,whichforaninstantinthepresenceofthisfrightfulblowhaddesertedhim.
“Thematerisright,dad,”saidhe.“Itisbadenough,Heavenknows,butwemustnottaketoodarkaviewofit.
Afterall,thisinsolentletterisinitselfevidencethatIhadnothingtodowiththeschemesofthebasevillainwhowroteit.”
“Theymaythinkitprearranged.”
“Theycouldnot.Mywholelifecriesoutagainstthethought.Theycouldnotlookmeinthefaceandentertainit.”
“No,boy,notiftheyhaveeyesintheirheads,”criedtheAdmiral,pluckingupcourageatthesightoftheflashingeyesandbrave,defiantface.
“Wehavetheletter,andwehaveyourcharacter.We’llweatherityetbetweenthem.
It’smyfaultfromthebeginningforchoosingsuchaland-sharkforyourconsort.
Godhelpme,IthoughtIwasfindingsuchanopeningforyou.”
“Deardad!Howcouldyoupossiblyknow?
Ashesaysinhisletter,ithasgivenmealesson.
Buthewassomucholderandsomuchmoreexperienced,thatitwashardformetoasktoexaminehisbooks.Butwemustwastenotime.ImustgototheCity.”
“Whatwillyoudo?”
“Whatanhonestmanshoulddo.Iwillwritetoallourclientsandcreditors,assemblethem,laythewholematterbeforethem,readthemtheletterandputmyselfabsolutelyintheirhands.”
“That’sit,boy—yard-armtoyard-arm,andhaveitover.”
“Imustgoatonce.”Heputonhistop-coatandhishat.“ButIhavetenminutesyetbeforeIcancatchatrain.ThereisonelittlethingwhichImustdobeforeIstart.”
Hehadcaughtsightthroughthelongglassfoldingdoorofthegleamofawhiteblouseandastrawhatinthetennisground.
ClarausedoftentomeethimthereofamorningtosayafewwordsbeforehehurriedawayintotheCity.
Hewalkedoutnowwiththequick,firmstepofamanwhohastakenamomentousresolution,buthisfacewashaggardandhislipspale.
“Clara,”saidhe,asshecametowardshimwithwordsofgreeting,“Iamsorrytobringillnewstoyou,butthingshavegonewrongintheCity,and—andIthinkthatIoughttoreleaseyoufromyourengagement.”
Clarastaredathimwithhergreatquestioningdarkeyes,andherfacebecameaspaleashis.
“HowcantheCityaffectyouandme,Harold?”
“Itisdishonor.Icannotaskyoutoshareit.”
“Dishonor!Thelossofsomemiserablegoldandsilvercoins!”
“Oh,Clara,ifitwereonlythat!WecouldbefarhappiertogetherinalittlecottageinthecountrythanwithalltherichesoftheCity.
Povertycouldnotcutmetotheheart,asIhavebeencutthismorning.
Why,itisbuttwentyminutessinceIhadtheletter,Clara,anditseemstometobesomeold,oldthingwhichhappenedfarawayinmypastlife,somehorridblackcloudwhichshutoutallthefreshnessandthepeacefromit.”
“Butwhatisit,then?Whatdoyoufearworsethanpoverty?”
“TohavedebtsthatIcannotmeet.Tobehammeredupon‘Changeanddeclaredabankrupt.
ToknowthatothershaveajustclaimuponmeandtofeelthatIdarenotmeettheireyes.Isnotthatworsethanpoverty?”
“Yes,Harold,athousandfoldworse!Butallthismaybegotover.Istherenothingmore?”
“Mypartnerhasfledandleftmeresponsibleforheavydebts,andinsuchapositionthatImayberequiredbythelawtoproducesomeatleastofthismissingmoney.
Ithasbeenconfidedtohimtoinvest,andhehasembezzledit.I,ashispartner,amliableforit.
IhavebroughtmiseryonallwhomIlove—myfather,mymother.
Butyouatleastshallnotbeundertheshadow.Youarefree,Clara.Thereisnotiebetweenus.”
“Ittakestwotomakesuchatie,Harold,”saidshe,smilingandputtingherhandinsidehisarm.
“Ittakestwotomakeit,dear,andalsotwotobreakit.
IsthatthewaytheydobusinessintheCity,sir,thatamancanalwaysathisownsweetwilltearuphisengagement?”
“Youholdmetoit,Clara?”
“NocreditorsoremorselessasI,Harold.Never,nevershallyougetfromthatbond.”
“ButIamruined.Mywholelifeisblasted.”
“Andsoyouwishtoruinme,andblastmylifealso.
Noindeed,sir,youshallnotgetawaysolightly.
Butseriouslynow,Harold,youwouldhurtmeifitwerenotsoabsurd.
Doyouthinkthatawoman’sloveislikethissunshadewhichIcarryinmyhand,athingonlyfittedforthesunshine,andofnousewhenthewindsblowandthecloudsgather?”
“Iwouldnotdragyoudown,Clara.”
“ShouldInotbedraggeddownindeedifIleftyoursideatsuchatime?
ItisonlynowthatIcanbeofusetoyou,helpyou,sustainyou.
Youhavealwaysbeensostrong,soaboveme.
Youarestrongstill,butthentwowillbestronger.
Besides,sir,youhavenoideawhatawomanofbusinessIam.Papasaysso,andheknows.”
Haroldtriedtospeak,buthisheartwastoofull.
Hecouldonlypressthewhitehandwhichcurledroundhissleeve.
Shewalkedupanddownbyhisside,prattlingmerrily,andsendinglittlegleamsofcheerinessthroughthegloomwhichgirthimin.
TolistentoherhemighthavethoughtthatitwasIda,andnotherstaidanddemuresister,whowaschattingtohim.
“Itwillsoonbeclearedup,”shesaid,“andthenweshallfeelquitedull.
Ofcourseallbusinessmenhavetheselittleupsanddowns.
Why,Isupposeofallthemenyoumeetupon‘Change,thereisnotonewhohasnotsomesuchstorytotell.
Ifeverythingwasalwayssmooth,youknow,thenofcourseeveryonewouldturnstockbroker,andyouwouldhavetoholdyourmeetingsinHydePark.Howmuchisitthatyouneed?”
“MorethanIcaneverget.Notlessthanthirteenthousandpounds.”
Clara’sfacefellassheheardtheamount.“Whatdoyoupurposedoing?”
“IshallgototheCitynow,andIshallaskallourcreditorstomeetmeto-morrow.IshallreadthemPearson’sletter,andputmyselfintotheirhands.”
“Andthey,whatwilltheydo?”
“Whatcantheydo?Theywillservewritsfortheirmoney,andthefirmwillbedeclaredbankrupt.”
“Andthemeetingwillbeto-morrow,yousay.Willyoutakemyadvice?”
“Whatisit,Clara?”
“Toaskthemforafewdaysofdelay.Whoknowswhatnewturnmattersmaytake?”
“Whatturncantheytake?Ihavenomeansofraisingthemoney.”
“Letushaveafewdays.”
“Oh,weshouldhavethatintheordinarycourseofbusiness.
Thelegalformalitieswouldtakethemsomelittletime.
ButImustgo,Clara,Imustnotseemtoshirk.Myplacenowmustbeatmyoffices.”
“Yes,dear,youareright.Godblessyouandguardyou!
IshallbehereinTheWilderness,butalldayIshallbebyyourofficetableatThrogmortonStreetinspirit,andifeveryoushouldbesadyouwillhearmylittlewhisperinyourear,andknowthatthereisoneclientwhomyouwillneverbeabletogetridof—neveraslongaswebothlive,dear.”
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