CHAPTER XIII. PROFESSOR PUFFER.
|Three days later Mr. McCracken said to Bernard at the breakfast table:"Well, I have secured a position for you."
"Indeed, sir, what is it?" inquired Bernard, with interest. "Is it inthe city?"
"No; did you particularly wish to live in the city?"
"No, sir; as long as the position is a good one, and is likely to leadto something, I am not particular."
"You are a sensible boy. Let me say, then, that my friend ProfessorPuffer--Ezra Puffer--perhaps you have heard of him--requires a boy offair education as secretary and literary assistant. Though he has neverseen you, he will take you on my recommendation."
"But, sir," said Bernard, considerably amazed, "am I qualified to beliterary assistant to a professor?"
"As to that, I don't think anything will be required beyond the abilityof a fair scholar. You have a fair education, I take it."
"Yes, sir."
"You know a little Latin and French, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"And write a good hand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then I have no doubt you will suit my friend Puffer."
"Of what is he professor?"
"I can't tell you exactly, but I believe he is interested inantiquities. By the way, he is going to Europe. I suppose you won'tobject to going with him."
"No; I shall like it," said Bernard, in a tone of satisfaction.
"I thought you would. How soon can you be ready?"
"Whenever you wish."
"Professor Puffer will sail to-morrow in a packet ship, and I havepromised to take you on board. He is so busy making preparations that hecannot call here."
"I should like to make his acquaintance before I start."
"Why?" asked Mr. McCracken sharply. "Can't you accept him on myrecommendation?"
"I hope he isn't like Mr. Snowdon."
"You will find him to be a gentleman. Is that satisfactory?"
"Oh, yes, sir. Don't imagine I want to make trouble. Only I had a littlecuriosity in regard to him; that is all. Have you any idea how I shallbe employed?"
"Well, to tell the truth, I can't give you much idea. Your labors willbe light, and you will have a chance to see the world. Upon my word,young man, you are very fortunate. If at your age I had such anopportunity I should have been delighted. If, however, you would preferto go back to the care of Mr. Snowdon, I won't object to gratifyingyou."
"Oh, no; I am quite satisfied," said Bernard hastily. "I shall certainlyprefer Professor Puffer. What is his appearance?"
"I should say that he was about my age. He has but one eye, the otherhaving been destroyed by an accident when he was a young man. I thinkthe other eye is weak, and it is probably for this reason that herequires a secretary."
"Very likely, sir."
"You can pack your valise to-day, and to-morrow morning I will take youto the vessel."
Mr. Stackpole had left the city, and Bernard did not have an opportunityof seeing his father's old friend Alvin Franklin, so that he was unableto inform either of his departure for Europe. He was sorry for this, ashe looked upon both as friends, and would have liked to have had theirgood wishes.
Somehow he never looked upon his guardian as a friend. The informationhe had received from Mr. Franklin, moreover, had excited in his mind asuspicion as to Mr. McCracken's honesty.
However, he was to have an opportunity of supporting himself. Mr.McCracken had told him that Professor Puffer would pay him twenty-fivedollars a month, besides his board and traveling expenses, and this herightly considered as an unusual salary for a boy of his age.
About nine o'clock the next morning he started with Mr. McCracken forthe ship Vesta. It lay at a North River pier, and half an hour or lessbrought them to it. It was a ship of fair size, but as Bernard knew verylittle about ships of any kind--he had never been on one--he was not ina condition to judge on this point.
They boarded the ship, and Mr. McCracken addressed the second mate, whomhe knew slightly.
"Is Professor Puffer on board?" he asked.
"Yes, sir; he is in the cabin."
"Thank you."
They proceeded to the cabin, where they found the professor. He was ashort, rather stout man, with a red face, scanty hair, and a green shadecovering the lost eye.
Mr. McCracken went up and shook his hand.
"Professor Puffer," he said, "I have brought Bernard Brooks, your newsecretary. I hope he will prove satisfactory."
Professor Puffer turned his glance towards Bernard, whom he examinedattentively. Then he said, in a deep bass voice: "I have taken him onyour recommendation, Mr. McCracken. You know what I want. If you say hewill suit me I have no doubt he will. Young man, I hope we shall get onwell together."
"I hope so, sir."
"Has your guardian acquainted you with the details of your engagement?"
"He hasn't told me exactly what I will have to do."
"You will learn in good time," said the professor, with a wave of hishand.
"Whatever the duties are I will try to give you satisfaction."
"All right!"
"You can look about the vessel, Bernard," said Mr. McCracken, "while theprofessor and I have a little conversation."
"All right, sir. I shall be glad to do so."
So Bernard walked about the ship and watched with interest thepreparations for departure. It was all new to him, and he could not helpfeeling elated when he reflected that he was about to see something offoreign countries, while at the same time earning his living.
He was obliged to confess that Professor Puffer did not come up to hisexpectations. In fact, he looked like anything but a literary man orprofessor. Bernard had imagined a tall, slender man, with a highintellectual brow, a pale face, an air of refinement and cultivation,and a quiet manner. Professor Puffer was quite the reverse. He lookedmore like a sailor, and his red face seemed to indicate that he was nota member of a total abstinence society.
"I never in the world should think that he was a professor," reflectedBernard. "However, appearances are not always to be trusted, and he maybe very intellectual, though he certainly does not look so. I do hope weshall get along well together."
He was interrupted in his reflections by the appearance of Mr. McCrackenon deck.
"I shall have to say good-by, Bernard," said his guardian, "as thevessel is about ready to start. I hope you will be a good boy and givesatisfaction to Professor Puffer. If you do not, you cannot expect me todo anything more for you."
"No, sir, I won't. I thank you for procuring me the situation. I willtry to justify your recommendation."
"All right! Well, good-by."
It might have been supposed that Mr. McCracken would have shaken handswith Bernard now that he was about to go away to a distant point and foran indefinite time, but he did not offer to do it, and Bernard on thewhole was glad to have it so. He felt a physical repulsion for Mr.McCracken which he could not explain, and preferred to dispense with allsigns of friendliness.
He felt rather relieved, too, when Mr. McCracken had left the vessel,and he had seen the last of him, for a time at least.
The preparations for departure continued. The sailors were busy, andsoon the vessel left her wharf, and was towed out into the stream.Bernard watched the shipping in the harbor, the ferry-boats darting hereand there, the Jersey shore, and later the spires and warehouses of thegreat city on the other side of the river. He rather wondered why he didnot see Professor Puffer, but that gentleman had gone below. At lengthBernard thought it time to inquire the whereabouts of his employer. Thesteward led him below, and pointed to the door of a stateroom. Heknocked at the door, and did not at first have a reply. A second knockelicited an indistinct sound which he interpreted as "Come in!"
He opened the door and saw the professor lying in the lower berth inwhat appeared to be a stupor.
"Don't you feel well, Professor Puffer?" asked Bernard.
"Who are you?" returned the professor, with
a tipsy hiccough.
This, with the undeniable smell of liquor, and a whisky bottle on thefloor, showed clearly enough what was the matter with the professor.
Bernard was shocked. He had always had a horror of intemperance, and heregarded his corpulent employer with ill-concealed disgust.
"I am Bernard Brooks, your new secretary," he answered.
"Thatsh all right! Take a drink," returned the professor, trying toindicate the bottle.
"No, thank you. I am not thirsty," said Bernard.
"Give it to me, then."
Much against his will Bernard handed the bottle to his learned employer,who poured down the small amount that was left in it.
"Thatsh good!" he ejaculated.
"Have I got to occupy the room with a man like that?" thought Bernard,with disgust. "I hope there are very few professors like ProfessorPuffer."