English
EarlyonemorninginDecemberJohnhadjustledmeintomyboxaftermydailyexercise,andwasstrappingmyclothonandJameswascominginfromthecornchamberwithsomeoats,whenthemastercameintothestable.
Helookedratherserious,andheldanopenletterinhishand.
Johnfastenedthedoorofmybox,touchedhiscap,andwaitedfororders.
"Good-morning,John,"saidthemaster."IwanttoknowifyouhaveanycomplainttomakeofJames."
"Complaint,sir?No,sir."
"Isheindustriousathisworkandrespectfultoyou?"
"Yes,sir,always."
"Youneverfindheslightshisworkwhenyourbackisturned?"
"Never,sir."
"That'swell;butImustputanotherquestion.
Haveyounoreasontosuspect,whenhegoesoutwiththehorsestoexercisethemortotakeamessage,thathestopsabouttalkingtohisacquaintances,orgoesintohouseswherehehasnobusiness,leavingthehorsesoutside?"
"No,sir,certainlynot;andifanybodyhasbeensayingthataboutJames,Idon'tbelieveit,andIdon'tmeantobelieveitunlessIhaveitfairlyprovedbeforewitnesses;it'snotformetosaywhohasbeentryingtotakeawayJames'character,butIwillsaythis,sir,thatasteadier,pleasanter,honester,smarteryoungfellowIneverhadinthisstable.
IcantrusthiswordandIcantrusthiswork;heisgentleandcleverwiththehorses,andIwouldratherhavetheminchargewithhimthanwithhalftheyoungfellowsIknowofinlacedhatsandliveries;andwhoeverwantsacharacterofJamesHoward,"saidJohn,withadecidedjerkofhishead,"letthemcometoJohnManly."
Themasterstoodallthistimegraveandattentive,butasJohnfinishedhisspeechabroadsmilespreadoverhisface,andlookingkindlyacrossatJames,whoallthistimehadstoodstillatthedoor,hesaid,"James,mylad,setdowntheoatsandcomehere;IamverygladtofindthatJohn'sopinionofyourcharacteragreessoexactlywithmyown.
Johnisacautiousman,"hesaid,withadrollsmile,"anditisnotalwayseasytogethisopinionaboutpeople,soIthoughtifIbeatthebushonthissidethebirdswouldflyout,andIshouldlearnwhatIwantedtoknowquickly;sonowwewillcometobusiness.
Ihavealetterfrommybrother-in-law,SirCliffordWilliams,ofCliffordHall.
Hewantsmetofindhimatrustworthyyounggroom,abouttwentyortwenty-one,whoknowshisbusiness.
Hisoldcoachman,whohaslivedwithhimthirtyyears,isgettingfeeble,andhewantsamantoworkwithhimandgetintohisways,whowouldbeable,whentheoldmanwaspensionedoff,tostepintohisplace.
Hewouldhaveeighteenshillingsaweekatfirst,astablesuit,adrivingsuit,abedroomoverthecoachhouse,andaboyunderhim.
SirCliffordisagoodmaster,andifyoucouldgettheplaceitwouldbeagoodstartforyou.
Idon'twanttopartwithyou,andifyouleftusIknowJohnwouldlosehisrighthand."
"ThatIshould,sir,"saidJohn,"butIwouldnotstandinhislightfortheworld."
"Howoldareyou,James?"saidmaster.
"NineteennextMay,sir."
"That'syoung;whatdoyouthink,John?"
"Well,sir,itisyoung;butheisassteadyasaman,andisstrong,andwellgrown,andthoughhehasnothadmuchexperienceindriving,hehasalightfirmhandandaquickeye,andheisverycareful,andIamquitesurenohorseofhiswillberuinedforwantofhavinghisfeetandshoeslookedafter."
"Yourwordwillgothefurthest,John,"saidthemaster,"forSirCliffordaddsinapostscript,'IfIcouldfindamantrainedbyyourJohnIshouldlikehimbetterthananyother;'so,James,lad,thinkitover,talktoyourmotheratdinner-time,andthenletmeknowwhatyouwish."
InafewdaysafterthisconversationitwasfullysettledthatJamesshouldgotoCliffordHall,inamonthorsixweeks,asitsuitedhismaster,andinthemeantimehewastogetallthepracticeindrivingthatcouldbegiventohim.
Ineverknewthecarriagetogooutsooftenbefore;whenthemistressdidnotgooutthemasterdrovehimselfinthetwo-wheeledchaise;butnow,whetheritwasmasterortheyoungladies,oronlyanerrand,GingerandIwereputinthecarriageandJamesdroveus.
AtthefirstJohnrodewithhimonthebox,tellinghimthisandthat,andafterthatJamesdrovealone.
ThenitwaswonderfulwhatanumberofplacesthemasterwouldgotointhecityonSaturday,andwhatqueerstreetsweweredriventhrough.
Hewassuretogototherailwaystationjustasthetrainwascomingin,andcabsandcarriages,cartsandomnibuseswerealltryingtogetoverthebridgetogether;thatbridgewantedgoodhorsesandgooddriverswhentherailwaybellwasringing,foritwasnarrow,andtherewasaverysharpturnuptothestation,whereitwouldnothavebeenatalldifficultforpeopletorunintoeachother,iftheydidnotlooksharpandkeeptheirwitsaboutthem.
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