CHAPTER XVII.
THE SCARRED FACE.
We are now about to pass over a space of three years, partly because noincidents of importance marked their passage, though they wrought animportant change in our hero. We leave him an uneducated boy offifteen. We meet him again a youth qualified to appear to advantage inany society. Of course, this change was not wrought without persistenteffort. Tom was, as we know, an unusually smart boy, with a quick wit,and an aptness to learn. But talent avails little unless cultivated.Our hero, however, kept up his habit of evening study, at first underMordaunt's instruction. The latter was amazed at the progress of hispupil. He seemed to fly along the path of knowledge, and to masterdifficulties almost by intuition. At the end of a year he was as goodan English scholar as most boys of his age. But this did not satisfyhim. He induced Mordaunt to join him in securing the services of anative French teacher, and was speedily able to read the language withease, and to speak it a little. He also found it for his interest tolearn something of German, on account of the number of German customerswhich Mr. Ferguson had. To these solid acquirements he added a coupleof quarters at a fashionable dancing-school, and the result of all was,that he not only became a good scholar, but was able to appear toadvantage in the social gatherings to which Mordaunt and himself werefrequently invited.
Maurice Walton was no longer able to laugh at his rusticity, but, onthe other hand, was forced to admit to himself, with a twinge ofjealousy, that the rough, uncultured boy of former days had whollyeclipsed him in every desirable accomplishment, as well as in the solidbranches. For Maurice spent his evenings in quite a different way fromour hero--at the billiard-saloon or bar-room, or in wandering about thestreets without object. The result was that Mr. Ferguson, detecting thedifference between the two clerks, and recognizing the superior valueof Gilbert, for he has now laid aside his street-name of Tom, promotedhim much more rapidly than Maurice. The latter received but ten dollarsa week, after three years' service, while our hero had been advanced totwenty. This was naturally felt by Maurice as a bitter grievance, andhe sometimes complained of it to Gilbert himself.
"Ferguson treats me meanly," he said, just after the last rise ofGilbert.
"How is that, Maurice?"
"He won't raise my salary. He is only going to give me ten dollars aweek, the same as last year. How much is he going to give you?"
"Twenty."
"Just twice as much!" exclaimed Maurice, angrily. "He has no businessto make any difference between us."
"I wish he would give you twenty dollars, too," said Gilbert.
"Do you?" asked Maurice, suspiciously.
"Certainly. I am none the better off for your getting small pay."
"If you really feel so, suppose you ask him to give me more."
Gilbert hesitated.
"I am afraid he would think I was interfering in his affairs."
"Just as I thought. You were not in earnest in what you said. You liketo triumph over me because I came here the same time you did, and onlyget half as much."
Maurice spoke in a bitter tone, which might partly be excused by hismortification and disappointment.
"You are quite mistaken, Maurice," said Gilbert.
"I will believe that when you go to Mr. Ferguson and ask him to raisemy salary."
Gilbert reflected a moment, and then said, suddenly:
"I'll do it."
"You will?" asked Maurice, surprised.
"Yes. He may be angry with me, but I'll risk it. Only if he refuses,you won't blame me?"
"No, I won't. You're such a favorite with him that he may do it foryou. When will you go?"
"Now."
Mr. Ferguson was sitting alone in his counting-room when Gilbertentered.
"May I speak with you a moment, Mr. Ferguson?" he asked.
"Yes, Gilbert. What is it?"
"I hope you will excuse me for interfering in what is none of mybusiness, but I promised Maurice I would speak to you."
"Oh, it's on Maurice's business, is it?" said the merchant.
"Yes, sir. He is very much disturbed because you have raised my salary,and have not raised his. I get twenty dollars a week, and he only ten."
"He thinks it unjust, does he?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you ask him to step into the office, and come back hereyourself?"
The two clerks were speedily in the presence of their employer.
"So you think you ought to have a higher salary, Walton?" began Mr.Ferguson.
"I don't think Grey earns twice as much as I do, sir."
"Perhaps you think he does not earn any more."
"I don't see why he does."
"Then I will tell you. You have both been with me about the same lengthof time, you a little longer, I think, but length of service does notalways enhance the value of service. Grey has devoted his evenings tostudy. He has acquired such a knowledge of German in particular that hecan wait upon German customers. He has mastered all the details of thebusiness, which you have not done. You are often late, ofteninattentive, and are no better clerk now than you were a year ago. Thatis the reason I am willing to give Gilbert higher pay than you. If youwish to fare as well as he has done, pursue the same course."
"I don't feel like studying in the evening; I am too tired," saidMaurice, sullenly.
"Do as you please about that; but there is still another way in which,without any more time, you can make yourself more valuable, and meritincrease of pay."
"How is that, sir?"
"Always be on the alert while you are here in the store. Then, in placeof an indifferent salesman, you may become a good one--such as I shouldbe very sorry to lose. At present, I confess I should not feel it to bea great loss if you withdrew to another establishment."
Maurice listened sullenly. It chafed his pride to be thus addressed byhis employer, in presence of Gilbert.
As they went back to their duty, our hero said:
"I did the best I could for you, Maurice. You can't blame me."
"No, but I blame him. He has no business to be so partial to you. Allthe difference between us is, that you can jabber Dutch a little. Thatisn't worth ten dollars a week extra. He's down on me for something orother; I don't know why."
"I don't make any comparison between us, Maurice," said Gilbert. "I amperfectly willing you should get as high pay as I do."
"You are very kind," said Maurice, sarcastically.
"Now, don't get mad with a fellow," said Gilbert, good humoredly. "Ican't help it."
But Maurice was sullen all day, and for some days subsequently. Heinsisted on regarding Gilbert as a successful rival, and would haveinjured him if he could.
It was about this time that our hero had his thoughts suddenly recalledto the uncle who had defrauded him of his birthright. Walking in Vinestreet one morning, he suddenly came face to face with the man whoseboots he had brushed, more than three years before, on the steps of theAstor House. He knew him at once by the _peculiar scar upon his rightcheek_, of which he had taken particular notice when they first met.