"What book?"
"I don"t care what book--any book! Give it me, and I"ll kiss it, and swear on it that I"ve told you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"You"ll have to tell something more of yourself before I"ve done with you. Where did you live before you lived nowhere?"
"Hailsham, your honour."
"Where"s that?"
"Don"t know, your honour."
"How far from here?"
"Six days, your honour."
"None of your nonsense. How far?"
"Couldn"t tell to a yard, if you was to skin me alive. It took me six days to git here."
"You walked?"
"Yes, your honour; every step of the way."
"Who did you live with at Hailsham?"
"Mother."
"You said you had none."
"More I have. She"s dead."
"Father too?"
"Yes; ever so long ago."
"What brought you here?"
"My legs."
Miser Farebrother restrained his anger--for which there was no sound reason, the lad"s manner being perfectly respectful.
"What did you come here for?"
"To see grandfather. I heerd mother talk of him and grandmother ever so many times, and that they lived down here; so when she was buried I thought I might do worse than come and see "em."
"Have you seen them?"
"No, your honour; they"re dead too." The lad added, mournfully, "Everybody"s dead, I think."
"They lived down here, you say?"
"Yes; "most all their lives; in this fine house. They was taking care of it for the master."
Some understanding of the situation dawned upon Miser Farebrother, and a dim idea that it might be turned to his use and profit.
"What was their name?"
"Barley, your honour. That"s my name, Tom Barley; and if you"d give me a job I"d be everlastingly thankful."
Miser Farebrother, with his eyes fixed upon the lad"s face, into which, in the remote prospect of a job, a wistful expression had stolen, considered for a few moments. Here was a lad who knew n.o.body in the neighbourhood and whom n.o.body knew, and who recognized in him the master of Parksides. In a few days he intended to enter into occupation, and he had decided not to bring a servant with him. Tom Barley would be useful, and was, indeed, just the kind of person he would have chosen to serve him in a rough way--a stranger, whose only knowledge of him was that he was the owner of Parksides; and no fear of blabbing, having nothing to blab about. He made up his mind. He took a little book from his pocket, the printed text of which was the calculation of interest upon ten pounds and upward for a day, for a week, for a month, for a year, at from five to fifty per cent. per annum.
"Take this book in your hand and swear upon it that you have told me the truth."
Tom Barley kissed the interest book solemnly, and duly registered the oath.
"If I take you into my service," said Miser Farebrother, "will you serve me faithfully?"
A sudden light of joy shone in Tom Barley"s eyes. "Give me the book again, your honour, and I"ll take my oath on it."
"No," said Miser Farebrother. As a matter of fact, he had been glad to get the book back in his possession, not knowing yet whether Tom Barley could read, and being fearful that he might open it and discover its nature; "I"ll be satisfied with your promise. But you can"t sleep in the house, you know."
"There"s places outside, your honour; there"s one where the horses was.
That"ll be good enough for me."
"Quite good enough. How much money have you got?"
"I had a penny when I reached here, your honour, but it"s gone. I spent it in bread."
"Is that all you"ve had to eat?"
"No, your honour; I killed a rabbit."
"Very well. I take you into my service, Tom Barley. Twopence a week, and you sleep outside. When you"re a man I"ll make your fortune if you do as you"re told. What"s to-day?"
"Monday, your honour," said Tom Barley, now completely happy. "The church bells was ringing yesterday."
"On Thursday night," said Miser Farebrother, "at between twelve and one o"clock, I shall be here with a cart. There will be a lady in it besides me, and--and--a child. You understand?"
"Yes, your honour, I"m awake."
"Be awake then, wide awake, or you will get in trouble. I shall want you to help get some things out of the cart. There will be a moon, and you will be able to see me drive up. Look out for me. Here"s a penny on account of your first week"s wages. You can buy some more bread with it, and if you like you can kill another rabbit. Was it good?"
"Prime, your honour."
"It ought to be. It was _my_ rabbit, you know, Tom Barley, and you"ll kill no more than one between now and Thursday. The skins are worth money, and many a man"s been hanged for stealing them. You will not forget?--Thursday night between twelve and one."
"No fear of my forgetting, your honour," said Tom Barley, ducking his head in obeisance; "I shall be here, wide awake, waiting for you."