"Thank you, sir," replied Charles doubtfully.
"And I am glad you told me--that is, if you have not betrayed his confidence;" and Captain Sedley looked rather sharply at Charles.
"Oh, no, sir! I have not."
"Because, when he tells me he does not intend to go, I should otherwise have insisted on knowing the reason."
Charles was already sorry he had said a word about it.
"It was a n.o.ble sacrifice, Charles," continued Captain Sedley with much enthusiasm. "If from a worthy motive we sacrifice our inclinations for the good of others, we are always sure of finding our reward--indeed, the act is its own reward."
Charles began to feel a little uneasy. It seemed to him as though Captain Sedley never looked so sharply at him before. What could he mean? He had given all his money to the widow Weston as well as Frank, but Captain Sedley"s looks seemed to reprove rather than commend him.
He did not feel satisfied with himself, or with Captain Sedley--why, he could not exactly tell; so he happened to think that his father might want him, and he ran home as fast as his legs would carry him.
But his father did not want him, and he walked nervously about the house till breakfast-time. He had no appet.i.te, and everything seemed to go wrong with him.
"Come, Charles," said his mother, "eat your breakfast, or you will get hungry before you get to Boston."
"Not going," answered he sulkily.
"Why not?" asked his father and mother in the same breath.
"Haven"t got any money."
"No money! Where is the two dollars I gave you yesterday?" asked Mr.
Hardy rather sternly.
"Gave it away."
"You did?"
"Yes, sir."
"To whom?"
"Frank proposed last night to give our money to the widow Weston instead of spending it; and like a great fool as I was, I agreed to it."
"Poor fellow! It is too bad!" added Mrs. Hardy.
"What did he do it for, then?" said Mr. Hardy.
"Of course he didn"t want to be behind Frank in doing a good action."
"But he is a long way behind him."
"Why, husband!"
"He has given the woman the money, and played the hypocrite," replied Mr. Hardy, with the most evident expression of disgust in his tones and looks. "He has acted just like a great many folks who put money into the contribution-box for missions and Bible societies, because they think it looks well."
"But, husband, you will give him some more money? You will make up the sum to him which he has given in charity?"
"Given in charity! Given in hypocrisy, you mean! I shall do no such thing."
"Deprive the poor boy of all his antic.i.p.ated pleasure?" said the indulgent mother.
"The bitter fruit of his own hypocrisy," replied Mr. Hardy.
"You are too bad!"
"No, I am not. If he gave away his money because he thought it was an act of charity that would look well, that would make Frank and his father think better of him, he is rightly served; and I am disposed to shut him up in this room with a good book to teach him better, instead of letting him go to the celebration."
Mr. Hardy was a blunt, honest man, perhaps a little too much inclined to be harsh with his son when he had done wrong. Possibly his views of parental discipline were not altogether correct, but in the main he meant right. He was disgusted at the conduct of Charles, and thought no reasonable penalty too severe for hypocrisy and deceit.
"On the other hand," continued he, "if he had made up his mind to sacrifice his inclination at the call of charity, he would not have felt as he does now. He would have been contented to stay at home. He would have found a n.o.bler satisfaction in the consciousness of having done a good deed than in all the antic.i.p.ated pleasures of the celebration. It is very plain to me the whole thing was an act of gross hypocrisy;" and Mr. Hardy rose from the table, and left the room.
Charles understood his father"s a.n.a.lysis of his conduct. He felt that it was truthful. What would his father have said if he had known his motive in seeking Captain Sedley that morning? He was ashamed of himself, and was glad that his father knew nothing about it.
He had not yet lost all hope that Captain Sedley would reimburse the sums they had given the widow, and take them to Boston. But Frank"s father, appreciating the n.o.ble sacrifice his son had made, was content that he should receive all the moral discipline to be derived from the act. Therefore he said nothing about it, and went to the city alone.
Charles waited impatiently till ten o"clock; but no one came for him, and he left the house in search of such enjoyment as Rippleton could afford him.
CHAPTER IV
THE FOURTH OF JULY
Charles Hardy was sadly disappointed. He had given his money to the widow Weston in the fullest confidence that it would be refunded to him, and that he should be able to attend the celebration in Boston.
When Frank had proposed the charitable plan, his heart told him how good and pleasant it would be to a.s.sist the poor woman. His feelings were with his friend in the benevolent design; it was a mere impulse, however, which prompted him to join in the act. He thought of the sacrifice, but the hope of not being actually compelled to make it in the end involuntarily helped him to a decision.
His father had misjudged his motive in calling him hypocritical, for he really felt like doing the n.o.ble deed. He felt kindly towards the widow Weston; but his principle was not strong and deep enough to enable him to bear with pleasure, or even with a good grace, the deprivation which his benevolent act had called upon him to suffer.
It was not so with Frank. He had given without the hope of reward; and in staying at home on the Fourth of July, he was perfectly contented, because it was the price he paid for the pleasure of doing good.
Charles, when he found that Captain Sedley did not come for him, hastened over to find Frank. He and Tony Weston were on the beach.
"h.e.l.lo, Charley! We have been waiting for you," said Frank, as he approached.
"h.e.l.lo, fellows! What"s in the wind?" replied Charles. "What are you going to do to-day?"
"We were just thinking about something."
"Has your father gone to the city, Frank?"
"Yes."