went upstairs to put her bonnet on.
"And you can go and fetch a hansom-cab, George, while she's a-doing ofit," said Mr. Kemp. "Pick out a good 'orse--spotted-grey, if you can."
Mr. Wright arose and, departing with a suddenness that was almoststartling, exploded harmlessly in front of the barber's, next door butone. Then with lagging steps he went in search of the shabbiest cab andoldest horse he could find.
"Thankee, my boy," said Mr. Kemp, bluffly, as he helped Mrs. Bradshaw inand stood with his foot on the step. "By the way, you had better go backand lock my pocket-book up. I left it on the washstand, and there's bestpart of a thousand pounds in it. You can take fifty for yourself to buysmokes with."
There was a murmur of admiration, and Mr. Wright, with a frantic attemptto keep up appearances, tried to thank him, but in vain. Long after thecab had rolled away he stood on the pavement trying to think out aposition which was rapidly becoming unendurable. Still keeping upappearances, he had to pretend to go home to look after the pocket-book,leaving the jubilant Mr. Hills to improve the shining hour with MissBradshaw.
Mr. Kemp, returning home at midnight--in a cab--found the young manwaiting up for him, and, taking a seat on the edge of the table, listenedunmoved to a word-picture of himself which seemed interminable. He wasonly moved to speech when Mr. Wright described him as a white-whiskeredjezebel who was a disgrace to his sex, and then merely in the interestsof natural science.
"Don't you worry," he said, as the other paused from exhaustion. "Itwon't be for long now."
"Long?" said Mr. Wright, panting. "First thing to-morrow morning youhave a telegram calling you back--a telegram that must be minded. D'yesee?"
"No, I don't," said Mr. Kemp, plainly. "I'm not going back, never nomore--never! I'm going to stop here and court Mrs. Bradshaw."
Mr. Wright fought for breath. "You--you can't!" he gasped.
"I'm going to have a try," said the old man. "I'm sick of going to sea,and it'll be a nice comfortable home for my old age. You marry Bella,and I'll marry her mother. Happy family!"
Mr. Wright, trembling with rage, sat down to recover, and, regaining hiscomposure after a time, pointed out almost calmly the variousdifficulties in the way.
"I've thought it all out," said Mr. Kemp, nodding. "She mustn't know I'mnot rich till after we're married; then I 'ave a letter from New Zealandsaying I've lost all my money. It's just as easy to have that letter asthe one you spoke of."
"And I'm to find you money to play the rich uncle with till you'remarried, I suppose," said Mr. Wright, in a grating voice, "and then loseBella when Mrs. Bradshaw finds you've lost your money?"
Mr. Kemp scratched his ear. "That's your lookout," he said, at last.
"Now, look here," said Mr. Wright, with great determination. "Either yougo and tell them that you've been telegraphed for--cabled is the properword--or I tell them the truth."
"That'll settle you then," said Mr. Kemp.
"No more than the other would," retorted the young man, "and it'll comecheaper. One thing I'll take my oath of, and that is I won't give youanother farthing; but if you do as I tell you I'll give you a quid forluck. Now, think it over."
Mr. Kemp thought it over, and after a vain attempt to raise the promisedreward to five pounds, finally compounded for two, and went off to bedafter a few stormy words on selfishness and ingratitude. He declined tospeak to his host at breakfast next morning, and accompanied him in theevening with the air of a martyr going to the stake. He listened instony silence to the young man's instructions, and only spoke when thelatter refused to pay the two pounds in advance.
The news, communicated in halting accents by Mr. Kemp, was received withflattering dismay. Mrs. Bradshaw refused to believe her ears, and it wasonly after the information had been repeated and confirmed by Mr. Wrightthat she understood.
"I must go," said Mr. Kemp. "I've spent over eleven pounds cablingto-day; but it's all no good."
"But you're coming back?" said Mr. Hills.
"O' course I am," was the reply. "George is the only relation I've got,and I've got to look after him, I suppose. After all, blood is thickerthan water."
"Hear, hear!" said Mrs. Bradshaw, piously.
"And there's you and Bella," continued Mr. Kemp; "two of the best thatever breathed."
The ladies looked down.
"And Charlie Hills; I don't know--I don't know when I've took such afancy to anybody as I have to 'im. If I was a young gal--a single younggal--he's--the other half," he said, slowly, as he paused--"just the one Ishould fancy. He's a good-'arted, good-looking----"
"Draw it mild," interrupted the blushing Mr. Hills as Mr. Wright bestoweda ferocious glance upon the speaker.
"Clever, lively young fellow," concluded Mr. Kemp. "George!"
"Yes," said Mr. Wright.
"I'm going now. I've got to catch the train for Southampton, but I don'twant you to come with me. I prefer to be alone. You stay here and cheerthem up. Oh, and before I forget it, lend me a couple o' pounds out o'that fifty I gave you last night. I've given all my small change away."
He looked up and met Mr. Wright's eye; the latter, too affected to speak,took out the money and passed it over.
"We never know what may happen to us," said the old man, solemnly, as herose and buttoned his coat. "I'm an old man and I like to have thingsship-shape. I've spent nearly the whole day with my lawyer, and ifanything 'appens to my old carcass it won't make any difference. I haveleft half my money to George; half of all I have is to be his."
In the midst of an awed silence he went round and shook hands.
"The other half," with his hand on the door--"the other half and my bestgold watch and chain I have left to my dear young pal, Charlie Hills.Good-bye, Georgie!"
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