"Quite right," said Mr. Price. "I like to see young people make their own way," he added meaningly. "It"s good for "em."
It was plain to all that he had taken a great fancy to Mr. Potter. He discussed the grocery trade with the air of a rich man seeking a good investment, and threw out dark hints about returning to England after a final visit to Australia and settling down in the bosom of his family.
He accepted a cigar from Mr. Potter after supper, and, when the young man left-at an unusually late hour-walked home with him.
It was the first of several pleasant evenings, and Mr. Price, who had bought a book dealing with Australia from a second-hand bookstall, no longer denied them an account of his adventures there. A gold watch and chain, which had made a serious hole in his brother-in-law"s Savings Bank account, lent an air of substance to his waistcoat, and a pin of excellent paste sparkled in his neck-tie. Under the influence of good food and home comforts he improved every day, and the unfortunate Mr.
Spriggs was at his wits" end to resist further encroachments. From the second day of their acquaintance he called Mr. Potter "Alf," and the young people listened with great attention to his discourse on "Money: How to Make It and How to Keep It."
His own dealings with Mr. Spriggs afforded an example which he did not quote. Beginning with shillings, he led up to half-crowns, and, encouraged by success, one afternoon boldly demanded a half-sovereign to buy a wedding-present with. Mrs. Spriggs drew her over-wrought husband into the kitchen and argued with him in whispers.
"Give him what he wants till they"re married," she entreated; "after that Alfred can"t help himself, and it"ll be as much to his interest to keep quiet as anybody else."
Mr. Spriggs, who had been a careful man all his life, found the half-sovereign and a few new names, which he bestowed upon Mr. Price at the same time. The latter listened unmoved. In fact, a bright eye and a pleasant smile seemed to indicate that he regarded them rather in the nature of compliments than otherwise.
"I telegraphed over to Australia this morning," he said, as they all sat at supper that evening.
"A gold watch and chain lent an air of substance to his waistcoat."
"About my money?" said Mr. Potter, eagerly.
Mr. Price frowned at him swiftly. "No; telling my head clerk to send over a wedding-present for you," he said, his face softening under the eye of Mr. Spriggs. "I"ve got just the thing for you there. I can"t see anything good enough over here."
The young couple were warm in their thanks.
"What did you mean, about your money?" inquired Mr. Spriggs, turning to his future son-in-law.
"Nothing," said the young man, evasively.
"It"s a secret," said Mr. Price.
"What about?" persisted Mr. Spriggs, raising his voice.
"It"s a little private business between me and Uncle Gussie," said Mr.
Potter, somewhat stiffly.
"You-you haven"t been lending him money?" stammered the bricklayer.
"Don"t be silly, father," said Miss Spriggs, sharply. "What good would Alfred"s little bit o" money be to Uncle Gussie? If you must know, Alfred is drawing it out for uncle to invest it for him."
The eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Spriggs and Mr. Price engaged in a triangular duel. The latter spoke first.
"I"m putting it into my business for him," he said, with a threatening glance, "in Australia."
"And he didn"t want his generosity known," added Mr. Potter.
The bewildered Mr. Spriggs looked helplessly round the table. His wife"s foot pressed his, and like a mechanical toy his lips snapped together.
"I didn"t know you had got your money handy," said Mrs. Spriggs, in trembling tones.
"I made special application, and I"m to have it on Friday," said Mr.
Potter, with a smile. "You don"t get a chance like that every day."
He filled Uncle Gussie"s gla.s.s for him, and that gentleman at once raised it and proposed the health of the young couple. "If anything was to "appen to break it off now," he said, with a swift glance at his sister, "they"d be miserable for life, I can see that."
"Miserable for ever," a.s.sented Mr. Potter, in a sepulchral voice, as he squeezed the hand of Miss Spriggs under the table.
"It"s the only thing worth "aving-love," continued Mr. Price, watching his brother-in-law out of the corner of his eye. "Money is nothing."
Mr. Spriggs emptied his gla.s.s and, knitting his brows, drew patterns on the cloth with the back of his knife. His wife"s foot was still pressing on his, and he waited for instructions.
For once, however, Mrs. Spriggs had none to give. Even when Mr. Potter had gone and Ethel had retired upstairs she was still voiceless. She sat for some time looking at the fire and stealing an occasional glance at Uncle Gussie as he smoked a cigar; then she arose and bent over her husband.
"Do what you think best," she said, in a weary voice. "Good-night."
"What about that money of young Alfred"s?" demanded Mr. Spriggs, as the door closed behind her.
"I"m going to put it in my business," said Uncle Gussie, blandly; "my business in Australia." "Ho! You"ve got to talk to me about that first,"
said the other.
His brother-in-law leaned back and smoked with placid enjoyment. "You do what you like," he said, easily. "Of course, if you tell Alfred, I sha"n"t get the money, and Ethel won"t get "im. Besides that, he"ll find out what lies you"ve been telling."
"I wonder you can look me in the face," said the raging bricklayer.
"And I should give him to understand that you were going shares in the hundred and ten pounds and then thought better of it," said the unmoved Mr. Price. "He"s the sort o" young chap as"ll believe anything. Bless "im!"
Mr. Spriggs bounced up from his chair and stood over him with his fists clinched. Mr. Price glared defiance.
"If you"re so partikler you can make it up to him," he said, slowly.
"You"ve been a saving man, I know, and Emma "ad a bit left her that I ought to have "ad. When you"ve done play-acting I"ll go to bed. So long!"
He got up, yawning, and walked to the door, and Mr. Spriggs, after a momentary idea of breaking him in pieces and throwing him out into the street, blew out the lamp and went upstairs to discuss the matter with his wife until morning.
Mr. Spriggs left for his work next day with the question still undecided, but a pretty strong conviction that Mr. Price would have to have his way. The wedding was only five days off, and the house was in a bustle of preparation. A certain gloom which he could not shake off he attributed to a raging toothache, turning a deaf ear to the various remedies suggested by Uncle Gussie, and the name of an excellent dentist who had broken a tooth of Mr. Potter"s three times before extracting it.
Uncle Gussie he treated with bare civility in public, and to blood-curdling threats in private. Mr. Price, ascribing the latter to the toothache, also varied his treatment to his company; prescribing whisky held in the mouth, and other agreeable remedies when there were listeners, and recommending him to fill his mouth with cold water and sit on the fire till it boiled, when they were alone.
He was at his worst on Thursday morning; on Thursday afternoon he came home a bright and contented man. He hung his cap on the nail with a flourish, kissed his wife, and, in full view of the disapproving Mr.
Price, executed a few clumsy steps on the hearthrug.
"Come in for a fortune?" inquired the latter, eying him sourly.
"No; I"ve saved one," replied Mr. Spriggs, gayly. "I wonder I didn"t think of it myself."
"Think of what?" inquired Mr. Price.
"You"ll soon know," said Mr. Spriggs, "and you"ve only got yourself to thank for it."
Uncle Gussie sniffed suspiciously; Mrs. Spriggs pressed for particulars.