Essential Novelists - Dinah Craik. August Nemo
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resolutely, “I would like to be anything that was honest and honourable. It’s a notion of mine, that whatever a man may be, his trade does not make him — he makes his trade. That is — but I know I can’t put the subject clear, for I have not got it clear in my own head yet — I’m only a lad. However, it all comes to this — that whether I like it or not, I’ll stick to the tanning as long as I can.”
“That’s right; I’m so glad. Nevertheless”— and I watched him as he stood, his foot planted firmly, no easy feat on the shifting bark-heap, his head erect, and his mouth close, but smiling —“Nevertheless, John, it’s my opinion that you might be anything you liked.”
He laughed. “Questionable that — at least at present. Whatever I may be, I am just now the lad that drives your father’s cart, and works in your father’s tan-yard — John Halifax, and very much at your service, Mr. Phineas Fletcher.”
Half in fun, half in earnest, he uncovered his fair locks, with a bow so contradictory to the rest of his appearance, that I involuntarily recalled the Greek Testament and “Guy Halifax, Gentleman.” However, that could be no matter to me, or to him either, now. The lad, like many another, owed nothing to his father but his mere existence — Heaven knows whether that gift is oftenest a curse or a boon.
The afternoon had waned during our talk; but I was very loth to part with my friend. Suddenly, I thought of asking where his home was.
“How do you mean?”
“Where do you live? where do you take your meals and sleep?”
“Why, as to that, I have not much time for eating and drinking. Generally I eat my dinner as I go along the road, where there’s lots of blackberries by way of pudding — which is grand! Supper, when I do get it, I like best on this bark-heap, after the men are away, and the tan-yard’s clear. Your father lets me stay.”
“And where is your lodging, then? Where do you sleep?”
He hesitated — coloured a little. “To tell the truth — anywhere I can. Generally, here.”
“What, out-of-doors?”
“Just so.”
I was much shocked. To sleep out-of-doors seemed to me the very lowest ebb of human misery: so degrading, too — like a common tramp or vagabond, instead of a decent lad.
“John, how can you — why do you — do such a thing?”
“I’ll tell you,” said he, sitting down beside me in a dogged way, as if he had read my thoughts, guessed at my suspicions, and was determined to show that he feared neither — that he would use his own judgment, and follow his own will, in spite of anybody. “Look here. I get three shillings a week, which is about fivepence a day; out of that I eat threepence — I’m a big, growing lad, and it’s hard to be hungry. There’s twopence left to pay for lodging. I tried it once — twice — at the decentest place I could find, but —” here an expression of intolerable disgust came over the boy’s face —“I don’t intend to try that again. I was never used to it. Better keep my own company and the open air. Now you see.”
“Oh, John!”
“Nay — there’s no need to be sorry. You don’t know how comfortable it is to sleep out of doors; and so nice to wake in the middle of the night and see the stars shining over your head.”
“But isn’t it very cold?”
“No — not often. I scoop out a snug little nest in the bark and curl up in it like a dormouse, wrapped in this rug, which one of the men gave me. Besides, every morning early I take a plunge and a swim in the stream, and that makes me warm all day.”
I shivered — I who feared the touch of cold water. Yet there with all his hardships, he stood before me, the model of healthy boyhood. Alas! I envied him.
But this trying life, which he made so light of, could not go on. “What shall you do when winter comes?”
John looked grave. “I don’t know: I suppose I shall manage somehow — like the sparrows,” he answered, perceiving not how apposite his illustration was. For truly he seemed as destitute as the birds of the air, whom ONE feedeth, when they cry to Him.
My question had evidently made him thoughtful; he remained silent a good while.
At last I said: “John, do you remember the woman who spoke so sharply to you in the alley that day?”
“Yes. I shall never forget anything which happened that day,” he answered, softly.
“She was my nurse once. She is not such a bad woman, though trouble has sharpened her temper. Her biggest boy Bill, who is gone off for a soldier, used to drive your cart, you know.”
“Yes?” said John, interrogatively; for I was slow in putting forth my plans — that is, as much of them as it was needful he should know.
“Sally is poor — not so very poor, though. Your twopence a night would help her; and I dare say, if you’ll let me speak to her, you might have Bill’s attic all to yourself. She has but one other lad at home: it’s worth trying for.”
“It is indeed. You are very kind, Phineas.” He said no more words than these — but their tone spoke volumes.
I got into my little carriage again, for I was most anxious not to lose a day in this matter. I persuaded John to go at once with me to Sally Watkins. My father was not to be seen; but I ventured to leave word for him that I was gone home, and had taken John Halifax with me: it was astonishing how bold I felt myself growing, now that there was another beside myself to think and act for.
We reached Widow Watkins’ door. It was a poor place — poorer than I had imagined; but I remembered what agonies of cleanliness had been inflicted on me in nursery days; and took hope for John.
Sally sat in her kitchen, tidy and subdued, mending an old jacket that had once been Bill’s, until, being supplanted by the grand red coat, it descended upon Jem, the second lad. But Bill still engrossed the poor mother’s heart — she could do nothing but weep over him, and curse “Bonyparty.” Her mind was so full of this that she apparently failed to recognise in the decent young workman, John Halifax, the half-starved lad she had belaboured with her tongue in the alley. She consented at once to his lodging with her — though she looked up with an odd stare when I said he was “a friend” of mine.
So we settled our business, first all together, then Sally and I alone, while John went up to look at his room. I knew I could trust Sally, whom I was glad enough to help, poor woman! She promised to make him extra-comfortable, and keep my secret too. When John came down she was quite civil to him — even friendly.
She said it would really be a comfort to her, that another fine, strapping lad should sleep in Bill’s bed, and be coming in and out of her house just like her poor dear boy.
I felt rather doubtful of the resemblance, and indeed half-angry, but John only smiled.
“And if, maybe, he’d do a hand’s turn now and then about the kitchen — I s’pose he bean’t above it?”
“Not a bit!” said John Halifax, pleasantly.
Before we left I wanted to see his room; he carried me up, and we both sat down on the bed that had been poor Bill’s. It was nothing to boast of, being a mere sacking stuffed with hay — a blanket below, and another at top; I had to beg from Jael the only pair of sheets John owned for a long time. The attic was very low and small, hardly big enough “to whip a cat round,” or even a kitten — yet John gazed about it with an air of proud possession.
“I declare I shall be as happy as a king. Only look out of the window!”
Ay, the window was the grand advantage; out of it one could crawl on to the roof, and from the roof was the finest view in all Norton Bury. On one side, the town, the Abbey, and beyond it a wide stretch of meadow and woodland as far as you could see;