It would be pleasanter perhaps to take leave of Mr. Bult.i.tude thus, as he sits by his bedroom fire in the first flush of supreme and unalloyed content.
But I feel almost bound to point out a fact which few will find any difficulty in accepting, namely, that, although the wrong had been retrieved without scandal or exposure, for which Paul could not be too thankful, there were many consequences which could not but survive it.
Neither father nor son found himself exactly in the same position as before their exchange of characters.
It took Mr. Bult.i.tude considerable time and trouble to repair all the damage his son"s boyish excesses had wrought both at Westbourne Terrace and in the City. He found the discipline of his clerks" room and counting-house sorely relaxed, and his office-boy in particular attempted a tone towards him of such atrocious familiarity that he was indignantly dismissed, much to his astonishment, the very first day. And probably Paul will never quite clear himself of the cloud that hangs over a man of business who, in the course of however well regulated a career, is known to have been at least once "a little odd."
And his home, too, was distinctly demoralised: his cook was an artist, unrivalled at soups and entrees; but he had to get rid of her notwithstanding.
It was only too evident that she looked upon herself as the prospective mistress of his household, and he did not feel called upon as a parent to fulfil any expectations which d.i.c.k"s youthful cupboard love had unintentionally excited.
For some time, as fresh proof of d.i.c.k"s extravagances came home to him, Paul found it cost him no little effort to restrain a tendency to his former bitterness and resentment, but he valued the new understanding between himself and his son too highly to risk losing it again by any open reproach, and so with each succeeding discovery the victory over his feelings became easier.
As for d.i.c.k, he found the inconveniences at which his father had hinted anything but imaginary, as will perhaps be easily understood.
It was an unpleasant shock to discover that in one short week his father had contrived somehow to procure him a lasting unpopularity. He was obviously looked upon by all, masters and boys, as a confirmed coward and sneak. And although some of his companions could not fairly reproach him on the latter score, the imputation was particularly galling to d.i.c.k, who had always treated such practices with st.u.r.dy contempt.
He was sorely tempted at times to right himself by declaring the real state of the case; but he remembered his promise and his father"s unexpected clemency and his grat.i.tude always kept him silent.
He never quite understood how it was that the whole school seemed to have an impression that they could kick and a.s.sault him generally with perfect impunity; but a few very unsuccessful experiments convinced them that this was a popular error on their part.
Although, however, in everything else he did gradually succeed in recovering all the ground his father had lost him, yet there was one respect in which, I am sorry to say, he found all his efforts to retrieve himself hopeless.
His little sweetheart, with the grey eyes and soft brown hair, cruelly refused to have anything more to do with him. For Dulcie"s pride had been wounded by what she considered his shameless perfidy on that memorable Sat.u.r.day by the parallel bars; the last lingering traces of affection had vanished before Paul"s ingrat.i.tude on the following Monday, and she never forgave him.
She did not even give him an opportunity of explaining himself, never by word or sign up to the last day of the term showing that she was even aware of his return. What was worse, in her resentment she transferred her favour to Tipping, who became her humble slave for a too brief period; after which he was found wanting in polish, and was ignominiously thrown over for the shy new boy Kiffin, whose head d.i.c.k found a certain melancholy pleasure in punching in consequence.
This was d.i.c.k"s punishment, and a very real and heavy one he found it.
He is at Harrow now, where he is doing fairly well; but I think there are moments even yet when Dulcie"s charming little face, her pretty confidences, and her chilling disdain, are remembered with something as nearly resembling a heartache as a healthy unsentimental boy can allow himself.
Perhaps, if some day he goes back once more to Crichton House "to see the fellows," this time with the mysterious glamour of a great public school about him, he may yet obtain forgiveness, for she is getting horribly tired of Kiffin, who, to tell the truth, is something of a milksop.
As for the Garuda Stone, I really cannot say what has become of it.
Perhaps it was dashed to pieces on the cobble-stones of the stables behind the terrace, and a good thing too. Perhaps it was not, and is still in existence, with all its dangerous powers as ready for use as ever it was; and in that case the best I can wish my readers is, that they may be mercifully preserved from finding it anywhere, or if they are unfortunate enough to come upon it, that they may at least be more careful with it than Mr. Paul Bult.i.tude, by whose melancholy example I trust they will take timely warning.
And with these very sincere wishes I beg to bid them a reluctant farewell.