"Oh! nothing, nothing," he said hastily; "I ask no favours for myself--I"m doing well, thank you--very well indeed! Where"s my stick and hat? I--I think I"ll bid you good morning now, Geoffry."
"I shall see you again, I daresay--I can always send a message to you by your son, who will be here to-morrow, perhaps. Good-bye, old fellow--Maurice, see to your uncle."
Maurice Hinchford, noticing the feeble steps of the new relation, offered his arm, which was declined by a hasty shake of the head.
"I"m strong enough, sir--but the meeting has upset me just a little.
Geoffry," turning back to address his brother, "we won"t say anything more about that old affair--I think you meant well, after all."
"I hope I did. Good day."
"Good day, brother."
Maurice closed the door behind his uncle.
"He"s getting quite the old man," said Mr. Hinchford to his nephew; "he had an iron nerve once. He seems very feeble to me--does he enjoy good health?"
"Oh! first rate health--he"s a strong man for his age, Mr. Hinchford.
Don"t you think so?"
"Perhaps he is. You can"t expect him like myself, eight years younger than he."
"Well, no," said the nephew, drily.
"He ought not to worry himself about business at his age--why, I have given it up myself," he added.
"Oh! indeed!"
Business had given him up; but the old man did not think of it that moment. He was anxious to show the Hinchfords in the best light possible, lest Sid should be looked down upon too much when he came to his new berth.
"And your father must feel the cares of business a little?"
"Not a bit," said Maurice; "he wouldn"t be happy out of the bank! He"s strong and well, thank G.o.d, and one of the best-hearted men and fathers in the world. Too good a father, by half, for that matter!"
"How"s that?"
"Oh! it"s difficult to explain," was the answer of the nephew, whose cheeks flushed a little at the question; "you"ll excuse me now, uncle.
Through here and straight across the office--good day."
He shook hands with Mr. Hinchford, and left him at the door of the inner office which the old gentleman had pa.s.sed through half an hour since, less hopeful of good fortune in store for the Boy!
CHAPTER V.
"THE NEW BERTH."
Mr. Hinchford scarcely maintained an equable demeanour until Sidney"s return; the burden of good news was almost too much for him, and just to wile away the time, and experience the blessed privilege of telling a good story twice, he found out Ann Packet and enlightened her as to the new chance that was presented to Sid.
When Sidney returned, and informed his father that there was no news, Mr. Hinchford bade him not despair, for good luck was sure to turn up in one direction or another.
"Despair!" cried Sidney, cheerfully; "why, I haven"t dreamed of despairing yet! Is it likely?"
"Shall I tell you some bad news, Sid?"
"Out with it!"
Mr. Hinchford detailed his dismissal from service at the builder"s office. Sidney looked a little discomfited at first, but clapped his father on the shoulder heartily.
"We can bear it--you and I together. You"ll be better away from business, and have your health better. I shall be strong enough for the two of us, sir."
"Good lad--but if nothing turns up."
"Oh! but it will!"
"And, oh! but it has!" cried the father; "now for the good news, Sid, which I have been keeping back till it has nearly burst me."
Mr. Hinchford exploded with his confession, and Sidney listened not unmoved at it. In his heart he had grown dispirited, though not despondent, and the news was grateful to him, and took a load therefrom which had seemed to become a little heavier every day. He would have preferred a clerkship away from his relation"s office; but his pride was not so great as his common sense, and he saw the advantages which might accrue to him from an earnest application to business. He remembered, with a slight feeling of discomfort, his past hauteur to the man from whom he now accepted service; but he had had a fall since then, and the hopes of that time--with one bright exception--had been bubble-blown, and met the fate of bubbles. He had been too sanguine; now he was matter-of-fact, and must proceed coolly to work. He had ten years to work in--what would be the end of them? His heart had sunk a little; upon cool reflection he began to doubt whether he had acted well in confiscating the affections of one to whom he might never be able to offer a home.
Still he judged Harriet Wesden by himself, and judged her rightly. If she loved him for himself, she would not care what money he brought her; and if his affection were selfish, knowing what an end to a love story his life must be, he had concealed nothing from her, and the truth had only drawn her closer to him. He felt that that was his one hope, and he could not be magnanimous enough to insist upon its dissolution, and of the unfitness of his prospects to her own. When the time came round and left him penniless; or when he saw, three or four years hence, that there was no chance of saving money, and he remained still the clerk with an income that increased not, it would be time to resign her--not now, when she loved him, and he was happy in her smiles, and understood her, as he thought, so well.
He entered upon his novitiate at his uncle"s banking-house; his father had not reiterated the hint which Geoffry Hinchford had given him about relationship, but Sid was a young man who knew his place, and who kept it, and rather shunned his relations than forced himself upon them.
Uncle and nephew proved themselves very different beings to what Sidney had imagined; they were kind to him in their way--they were even anxious he should do the family name credit; they watched his progress, and were quick enough to see that he would prove a valuable and energetic auxiliary.
Geoffry Hinchford was pleased at his nephew"s reticence, and took note of it as he had taken note of most things during his earthly pilgrimage.
He even condescended to give him a little advice in the shape of a warning one day.
"Sidney," he said, when chance brought them together in that bank back parlour, "how do you like your cousin Maurice for a master?"
"He is very kind to me."
"Ah! that"s it--that"s his fault. When I"m gone, I have a fear that he will make a muddle of the bank with his easiness. He"s the best son that ever lived, I think, but he"s too easy."
Sidney did not consider himself warranted in replying to this.
"So take my advice, Sidney, and steer clear of him as much as you can,"
he said.
"I don"t think that the advice is needed, sir. Our position--"
"Fiddle-de-dee--he never cared for position, and, unfortunately, he"s taken a fancy to you. The scamp wanted to double your salary yesterday, without any rhyme or reason, only relationship. Foolish, wasn"t it?"
"Well, I don"t deserve any increase of salary yet, sir--it has not been fairly earned," was the frank answer.
"Exactly--now listen to me. I think it is just possible that Mr. Maurice may forget that your salary is small, and that you have a father to keep. Let me tell you that he is an expensive acquaintance, and a little removed from your sphere."