CHAPTER XI
UNDER THE SOFA
Two minutes later the burly form of Constable Brownrigg appeared at thedoor. He was already, to tell the truth, cooling down a little andbeginning to feel rather ashamed of himself; and when his eyes lightedon the tiny figure in the window--looking even smaller and more fragilethan Ferdy really was--the clumsy but far from bad-hearted man could atfirst find nothing to say for himself. Then--
"I beg pardon, sir, I hope I haven't upset you, but dooty's dooty!"
Ferdy raised his head a little, and looked the constable straight in theface, without condescending to notice the half apology.
"What is it you want of me?" he said coldly.
"It's all along of that there Jesse Piggot," replied Brownrigg, "as bada lot as ever were!"
"What's he been doing?" said Ferdy again in the same tone, ratherturning the tables upon the constable, as if he--Brownrigg--and notFerdy himself, was the one to be cross-questioned.
The man glanced round him half suspiciously.
"He was seen coming here, sir."
"Well, suppose he _had_ come here, you can't take him up for that?" saidthe boy. "I'm asking you what harm he'd done."
"He got up a row at Bollins this afternoon, and half killed a poorlad--Bill Turner by name--threw him down and half stunned him."
"Half stunned him," repeated Ferdy, "that's not quite the same as halfkilling him. Have you sent him to the hospital?"
"Well no, sir," said the constable, "he come to again--them boys hasnine lives more than cats. I don't suppose he's really much the worse.But these Draymoor fights must be put a stop to, they're getting worseand worse; I've had orders to that effect," drawing himself up.
"And has Jesse Piggot been mixed up with them lately?" said Ferdyseverely.
Again the constable looked rather small.
"Well no, sir," he repeated, "but what does that matter, if he's beenthe offender to-day."
This was true enough.
"But what do you want _me_ to do?" asked Ferdy.
"To detain the lad if he comes here and give him up to the lawfulauthorities," said Brownrigg more fluently. "Everybody knows you've beenvery kind to him, but it's no true kindness to screen him from thepunishment he deserves."
A new idea struck Ferdy.
"Did he begin the fight then?" he said. "There's such a thing as--asdefending oneself, quite rightly. Supposing the other boy started it?"
"That will be all gone into in the proper time and place," saidBrownrigg pompously. "An example must be made, and--"
Before he had time to finish his sentence Ferdy interrupted himjoyfully. He had just caught sight of the pony-carriage driving inrapidly. For some garbled account of what had happened had been given toMr. Ross by the group of men and boys still hanging about the gates, andhe hurried in, afraid of finding his boy startled and upset.
Nor did the sight of the stout constable reassure him. On the contraryit made Mr. Ross very indignant. He scarcely noticed Brownrigg'shalf-apologetic greeting.
"What's all this?" he said sharply. "Who gave you leave to come up hereand disturb an invalid?"
Brownrigg grew very red, and murmured something about his "dooty."
"STEP DOWNSTAIRS, IF YOU PLEASE, AND THEN I'LL HEAR WHATYOU'VE GOT TO SAY."]
"You've exceeded it in this case, I think you'll find," the master ofthe house replied severely. "Step downstairs if you please, and thenI'll hear what you've got to say," and to Ferdy's inexpressible relief,for the consciousness of Jesse's near presence was beginning to make himterribly nervous.
Mr. Ross held the door wide open and the constable shamefacedly left theroom. Scarcely had he done so when there came a subterranean whisper,"Master Ferdy," it said, "shall I come out?"
"No, no," Ferdy replied quickly. "Stay where you are, Jesse, unlessyou're choking. Mamma will be coming in most likely. Wait till papacomes back again, and I can tell him all about it."
Rather to Ferdy's surprise, the answer was a sort of giggle.
"I'm all right, thank you, Master Ferdy--as jolly as a sand-boy. And youdid speak up to the old bobby, Master Ferdy; you did set him down. ButI'm right down glad Bill Turner's none the worse, I am. It give me aturn when they called out I'd done for him."
And Ferdy understood then that the giggle came in part from relief ofmind.
"Hush now, Jesse," he said. "I want to watch for Brownrigg's going. Andtill he's clear away, you'd best not come out, nor speak."
There was not very long to wait. For though Mr. Ross spoke out his mindvery plainly to the constable, he made short work of it, and within tenminutes of the man leaving the oriel room, Ferdy had the pleasure, as heannounced to Jesse in a sort of stage whisper, of seeing the worthy Mr.Brownrigg walking down the drive, some degrees less pompously than onhis arrival. Nor was he now accompanied by poor little Barney, whom Mr.Ross had kept back, struck by pity for the lad's white, frightened face,as the constable could not say that there was any "charge" against_him_, except that he had been an eye-witness of the "row."
"It's all right now, Jesse," Ferdy added in a minute or two. "He's quitegone--old Brownrigg, I mean--so you'd better come out."
Jesse emerged from his hiding-place, a good deal redder in the face thanwhen he went in, though he was still trembling inwardly at the idea ofmeeting Ferdy's father.
"You don't think, Master Ferdy--" he was beginning, when the door openedand both Mr. and Mrs. Ross came in.
"Ferdy, darling," exclaimed his mother, "you've not been reallyfrightened, I hope--" but she stopped short, startled by an exclamationfrom her husband.
"Jesse!" he said. "You here after all! Upon my word!" And for a momenthe looked as if he were really angry. Then the absurd side of the matterstruck him, and it was with some difficulty that he suppressed a smile.
"My dear boy," he went on, glancing at the tiny, but determined-lookingfigure on the couch, "you'll be having your poor old father pulled upfor conniving at felony."
"I don't know what that is, papa," said Ferdy. "But if it means hidingJesse under the sofa--yes, I _did_ do it, and I'd do it again. It wasn'tJesse thought of it, only he was afraid that if Brownrigg took him awayhe'd be put in prison and have nobody to speak up for him, and perhapshave been kept there for ever and ever so long."
"Your opinion of the law of the land is not a very high one apparently,Jesse," said Mr. Ross, eying the boy gravely.
Jesse shuffled and grew very red.
"I'll do whatever you think right, sir," he said stoutly. "If I mustgive myself up to Brownrigg, I'll run after him now. I don't want to getMaster Ferdy nor you into any bother about me, after--after all you'vedone for me," and for the first time the boy broke down, turning hisface away to hide the tears which he tried to rub off with the cuff ofhis sleeve.
"Oh, papa," said Ferdy pleadingly, his own eyes growing suspiciouslydewy, "mamma, mamma, look at him."
Up to that moment, to tell the truth, Mrs. Ross's feelings towards Jessehad not been very cordial. The sight of him had startled her and madeher almost as indignant with him as with the constable. But now her kindheart was touched. She glanced at her husband, but what she saw alreadyin his face set her mind at rest.
"Come, come," said Mr. Ross, "don't put yourself out about it, Ferdy.Tell me the whole story quietly, or let Jesse do so," and afterswallowing one or two sobs, Jesse found voice to do as he was desired.He told his tale simply and without exaggeration, though his voice shookand quivered when he came to the sad part of the destruction of the manyweeks' labour of himself and his "pupils," and Mrs. Ross could not keepback a little cry of indignation.
"It is certainly not _Jesse_ who deserves punishment," she said eagerly,turning to her husband.
"If he could have controlled himself," said Mr. Ross, "to the point of_not_ knocking down that bully, Turner, his case would have been a stillstronger one. Do you see that, my boy?" he went on, turning to Jesse,who murmured something indistinctly in reply.
"I'm glad he did kno
ck him down all the same, papa," said Ferdy. "Youdon't now think Jesse need give himself up to the p'lice?" he addedanxiously.
"Certainly not," said Mr. Ross, "but it will be best for me to seeBrownrigg and tell him all I now know--except--no I don't think I willtell him of the hiding-place under your sofa, Ferdy." Then turning againto Jesse, "To-morrow is Sunday," he said; "do you generally go to seeyour friends at Draymoor on a Sunday?"
"Sometimes," said Jesse; "not always, sir."
"Then they won't think anything of it if they don't see you to-morrow?"
"Oh lor, no," Jesse replied. "They'd think nothing of it if they neversaw me again. It's only Barney that cares for me or me for him of allthat lot."
"Oh yes, by the bye--Barney!" said Mr. Ross, starting up. "I left himdownstairs, poor little fellow. He is in my study--you know where thatis, Jesse, run and fetch him," and Jesse, delighted at this proof ofconfidence, started off quite cheerfully on his errand.
When he was out of hearing, Mr. Ross said thoughtfully, "It won't do forthat lad to remain in this neighbourhood, I see. I must have a talkabout him again with Dr. Lilly, and probably with Brock. Something mustbe decided as to his future, and if he really has talent above theaverage he must be put in the right way towards making it of use."
Ferdy's eyes sparkled; sorry as he would be to be parted from Jesse,this was what he, as well as Miss Lilly, had long been hoping for.Before he had time to say anything, a tap at the door told that the twoboys were outside.
"Come in," said Mr. Ross, and then Jesse reappeared, half leading, halfpushing his small cousin before him.
Mrs. Ross was touched by Barney's white face and general air ofdelicacy.
"Don't look so scared," she heard Jesse whisper to him.
"You must be tired, Barney," she said kindly. "Jesse and you must havesome tea before you go back to Draymoor."
"Jesse's not to go back to Draymoor, mamma," said Ferdy, looking upquickly.
"No," said Mr. Ross, "that is what I wish to speak to Barney about. Willyou tell your father, Barney--is it to your father's house that Jessegoes on Sundays generally?"
"No, sir, please, sir, I haven't a father--mother and me's alone. It'smy uncle's."
"Well, then, tell your uncle from me," continued Mr. Ross, "that I thinkit best to keep Jesse here at present, and that he was not to blame forthe affair this afternoon. I shall see the constable again about itmyself."
Barney's face expressed mingled relief and disappointment.
"Yes, sir," he said obediently. "There'll be no more classes then, Isuppose?" he added sadly. "Is Jesse not even to come as far as Bollins?"
"Not at present," replied Mr. Ross, and then, feeling sorry for thelittle fellow, he added: "If your mother can spare you, you may comeover here to-morrow and have your Sunday dinner with your cousin in theservants' hall."
Both boys' faces shone with pleasure.
"And will you tell the lads, Barney," said Jesse, "how it's all been.And what I minded most was their things being spoilt."
Barney's face grew melancholy again.
"Don't look so downhearted," said Mr. Ross. "We won't forget you and theother boys. Your work has already done you great credit."
Ferdy's lips opened as if he were about to speak, but the little fellowhad learnt great thoughtfulness of late, and he wisely decided that whathe had to say had better be kept till he was alone with his parents.
Just then Christine made her appearance, very eager to know more aboutthe constable's visit and the exciting events of the afternoon. So Mrs.Ross left her with her brother while she herself took the two boysdownstairs to put them into the housekeeper's charge for tea, of whichboth struck her as decidedly in need.
"Papa," said Ferdy, when he had finished going over the whole storyagain for his sister's benefit, "don't you think if Jesse has to go awaythat _I_ might take on the class, one or two evenings a week any way?Mr. Brock might come sometimes--extra, you know--just to see how theywere getting on. And they would be quite safe here, and nobody woulddare to spoil their things."
"And Miss Lilly and I would help," said Christine eagerly. "There aresome of them, Jesse has told us, that want to learn other things--notonly wood-carving--that _we_ could help them with. Miss Lilly's beenhaving lessons herself in basket-making."
"Dr. Lilly has reason to be proud of his granddaughter," said Mr. Rosswarmly. "We must talk it all over. It would certainly seem a terriblepity for the poor fellows to lose what they have gained, not merely inskill, but the good habit of putting to use some of their leisurehours--miners have so much idle time."
"There's the big empty room downstairs near the servants' hall," saidFerdy. "Could not I be carried down there, papa?"
Mr. Ross hesitated. He felt doubtful, but anxious not to disappoint theboy, for as his eyes rested on the fragile little figure and he realisedwhat Ferdy's future life might be, he could not but think to himself howhappy and healthy a thing it was that his child should be so ready tointerest himself in others, instead of becoming self-engrossed anddiscontented.
"We must see what Mr. Stern says," he replied, "and--yes, it will soonbe time for the other doctor's visit. It would be a long walk fromDraymoor for the lads."
"_They_ wouldn't mind," said Ferdy decisively.
"And now and then," said Christine, "we might give them tea for atreat--once a month or so. Oh! it would be lovely!"