CHAPTER VII.
A COMMISSION.
Colonel Bryant was just rising from dinner at the mess when MajorBarlow and Ralph arrived at the barracks, and after congratulating thelad on his return he willingly agreed to accompany them to Mrs.Conway. A quarter of an hour's walk took them to her house. Ralphremained outside when the two officers entered. Colonel Bryant lost notime in opening the subject.
"I have brought my friend Major Barlow to introduce to you, Mrs.Conway, because he has happened to hear some news that may, I think,bear upon the subject that you have most at heart."
"Ralph!" Mrs. Conway exclaimed, clasping her hands.
"We think it may refer to your son, Mrs. Conway," Major Barlow said."I have just returned from town, and happened to hear that a vesselhad been spoken with that reported having picked up a lad from a smackrun down in the channel some five months ago, which corresponds prettywell, I think, with the time your son was missing."
"Just the time," Mrs. Conway said. "Did they not say the name?"
"Well, yes. The name, as far as I heard it, for as I had not thepleasure of knowing you I was not of course so interested in thematter, was the same as yours."
"I think that there is no doubt about it, Mrs. Conway," Colonel Bryantsaid kindly. "I consider you may quite set your mind at ease, for Ihave no doubt whatever it is your son who has been picked up." Mrs.Conway was so much overcome that she sank into a chair and sat for ashort time with her face in her hand, crying happy tears and thankingGod for his mercy. Then with a great effort she aroused herself.
"You will excuse my emotion, gentlemen, and I am sure you canunderstand my feelings. I am thankful indeed for the news you havebrought me. I have never ceased for a moment to hope that my boy wouldbe restored to me; but the knowledge that it is so, and that God hasspared him to me, is for the moment overpowering. And where was theship met with, Major Barlow, and where was she bound for? How long doyou think it is likely to be before Ralph comes home?"
"Well, Mrs. Conway," Major Barlow said, hesitating a little, "the shipwas bound for India; but I understood from what was said that thevessel, that is the vessel that brought the news, had also broughthome the lad who had been carried away."
"Then, in that case," Mrs. Conway cried, "he may be home in a day ortwo. Perhaps--perhaps--and she paused and looked from one to theother.
"Perhaps he is here already," Colonel Bryant said gently. "Yes, Mrs.Conway, if you feel equal to it you may see him at once." No word wasneeded. Major Barlow opened the door, went through the hall, andcalled Ralph, and in another moment the lad was clasped in hismother's arms, and the two officers without another word went quietlyout and left them to themselves. It was some time before a coherentword could be spoken by mother or son, and it was not until they hadknelt down together and returned thanks to God for Ralph's restorationthat they were able to talk quietly of what had passed. Then Mrs.Conway poured out question after question, but Ralph refused to enterupon a narrative of his adventures.
"It's a long story, mother, and will keep very well till to-morrow. Itis past nine o'clock now, and I am sure that you want a night's restafter this excitement; and after fourteen hours on a coach, I sha'n'tbe sorry to be in bed myself. Beside, I want you to tell me first howyou have been getting on while I have been away, and all the newsabout everyone; but even that will keep. I think, mother, a cup of teafirst and then bed will be best for us both."
The next morning Ralph related all his adventures to his mother, whowas surprised indeed at his story.
"I suppose poor old Joe was never heard of, mother?"
"No, Ralph. His son has been up here a good many times to inquire ifwe had any news of you. He has gone into another fishing boat now, andhis sister has gone out to service. Their mother died years ago, youknow."
"I was afraid that he had gone straight down, mother. Nobody on boardthe brig heard any cry or shout for help. He must have been injured inthe collision."
"I must write to-day to Mr. Penfold. He has written to me severaltimes, and has been most kind. He has all along said that he believedyou would turn up one of these days, for as the weather was fine andthe sea fairly calm when you were run down, the probabilities in favorof your being picked up were great, especially as you were such a goodswimmer. I am sure he will be delighted to hear of your return."
"I hope he will not be wanting me to go straight off down thereagain," Ralph said ruefully. "I was only back with you one day,mother, after my visit to them, and now I have been five months awayit will be very hard if I am to be dragged off again."
"I am sure Mr. Penfold will not be so unreasonable as to want to takeyou away from me," Mrs. Conway said.
"And am I to go back to school again, mother?"
"Not now, certainly, Ralph. The holidays will be beginning in afortnight again; beside, you know, we were talking anyhow of yourleaving at the end of this half year."
"That's right, mother. It's high time I was doing something formyself. Beside, after doing a man's work for the last five months Ishouldn't like to settle down to lessons again."
"Well, we must think about it, Ralph, You know I consented greatlyagainst my will to your choosing the army for your profession, and Iam not going to draw back from that. You are just sixteen now, andalthough that is rather young I believe that a good many lads do gettheir commissions somewhere about that age. In one of his letters Mr.Penfold said that as soon as you came back he would take the matter inhand, and though I have good interest in other quarters and couldprobably manage it, Mr. Penfold has a great deal more than I have, andas he has expressed his willingness to arrange it I shall be gratefulto him for doing so."
"That will be first rate, mother," Ralph said in delight. "I thoughtin another year I might get my commission; but of course it would beever so much better to get it a year earlier."
For the next few days Ralph was a hero among his boy friends, and hadto tell his story so often that at last he told his mother that if itwasn't for leaving her so soon he should be quite ready to go offagain for another visit to Mr. Penfold.
"You won't be called upon to do that," she said smiling; "for thisletter that I have just opened is from him, and he tells me he iscoming here at once to see you, for he thinks it would be too hard toask me to spare you again so soon."
"You don't mean to say that he is coming all that way?" Ralph said insurprise. "Well, I am very glad."
"He asks me in his letter," Mrs. Conway said with a passing smile ofamusement, "if I can take in a young friend of his, Miss MabelWithers. He says she has never been from home before, and that itwould be a treat for her to get away and see a little of the world. Heis going to stop a few days in London, and show her the sights on hisway back."
"That will be very jolly, mother. You know I told you what a nice sortof girl she was, and how well we got on together. I don't know how Ishould have got through my visit there if it hadn't been for her. Herfather and mother were very kind too, and I was often over at theirhouse."
Mr. Penfold had not succeeded in inducing Mr. and Mrs. Withers toallow Mabel to accompany him without much argument. "You know what Ihave set my mind on, Mrs. Withers," he said. "But of course such anidea doesn't enter the young people's heads, it would be veryundesirable that it should do. But now Ralph has returned he will bewanting to get his commission at once, and then he may be away onforeign service for years, and I do think it would be a good thing forthe young people to see as much of each other as possible before hegoes. If anything happens to me before he comes back, and you know howprobable it is that this will be the case, they would meet almost asstrangers, and I do want to see my pet scheme at least on the way tobe carried out before I go. It would be a treat for Mabel, and I amsure that Mrs. Conway will look after her well."
"How long are you thinking of stopping there, Mr. Penfold?"
"Oh, ten days or a fortnight. I shall be a day or two in town as I gothrough, for I want to arrange about Ralph's commission. Then,perhaps, I shall persu
ade Mrs. Conway to come up with Ralph to townwith us, and to go about with the young people to see the sights. Now,if you and Mrs. Withers would join us there, that would complete myhappiness."
The clergyman and his wife both said that this was impossible. But Mr.Penfold urged his request with so much earnestness, that at last theyagreed to come up to town and stay with him at a hotel. And, indeed,when they recovered from the first surprise at the proposal, both ofthem thought that the trip would be an extremely pleasant one; for inthose days it was quite an event in the lives of people residing at adistance from a town to pay a visit to the metropolis.
"Then everything is arranged delightfully," Mr. Penfold said. "Thiswill be a holiday indeed for me; and however much you may all enjoyyourselves I shall enjoy myself a great deal more. Now, I suppose Imay tell Mabel of our arrangement?"
"But you don't know that Mrs. Conway will take her in yet. Surely youare going to wait to hear from her?"
"Indeed I am not, Mrs. Withers. I am as impatient as a schoolboy to beoff. And I am perfectly certain that Mrs. Conway will be very glad toreceive her. She knows Mabel, for I have given her an idea of my fancyabout that matter; and of course she will be glad to learn somethingof your girl."
"But she may not have a spare room," Mrs. Withers urged feebly.
"It is not likely," Mr. Penfold said decisively; "and if there shouldbe any difficulty on that score it will be very easily managed, asRalph can give up his room to Mabel, and come and stay at the hotelwith me."
Mr. Withers laughed. "I see that it is of no use raising objections,Penfold; you are armed at all points. I scarcely know you, and havecertainly never seen you possessed of such a spirit of determination."
Mr. Penfold smiled. "It would have been better for me, perhaps, if Ihad always been so determined, Withers. At any rate I mean to have myown way in this matter. I have not had a real holiday for years."
So Mr. Penfold had his own way, and carried off Mabel wild withdelight and excitement upon the day after he had received Mrs.Conway's letter. There was no shade of embarrassment in the meetingbetween Mrs. Conway and the man who had once been her lover. It waslike two old and dear friends who had long been separated and now cometogether again. Mr. Penfold's first words after introducing Mabel hadreference to Ralph.
"Your boy has grown quite a man, Mary, in the last six months. Iscarcely recognized the bronzed young fellow who met vis at the coachoffice as the lad who was down with me in the summer. Don't you seethe change, Mabel?"
"Yes, he is quite different," the girl said. "Why, the first time Isaw him he was as shy as shy could be. It was quite hard work gettingon with him. Now he seems quite a man."
"Nothing like that yet, Mabel," Ralph protested.
"Not a man!" Mr. Penfold exclaimed. "What! after wandering about as apirate, capturing ships, and cutting men's throats for anything Iknow, and taking part in all sorts of atrocities? I think he'sentitled to think himself very much a man."
Ralph laughed.
"Not as bad as that, Mr. Penfold. They did take one ship, but I hadnothing to do with it; and there were no throats cut. I simply made avoyage out and back as a boy before the mast; and, as far as I havebeen concerned, the ship might have been a peaceful trader instead ofa French privateer."
"Well, Mary, you have not changed much all these years," Mr. Penfoldsaid turning to Mrs. Conway, while the two young people began to talkto each other. "I had thought you would be much more changed; but timehas treated you much more kindly than it has me. You are thirty-seven,if I remember right, and you don't look thirty. I am forty, and lookat the very least ten years older."
Mrs. Conway did not contradict him, for she could not have done sowith truth.
"You are changed, Herbert; a great deal changed," she said sadly,"although I should have know you anywhere. You are so much thinnerthan when I saw you last; but your eyes have not changed, nor yoursmile. Of course your hair having got gray makes a difference,and--and--" and she stopped.
"I am changed altogether, Mary. I was a headstrong, impetuous youngfellow then. I am a fragile and broken man now. But I am happy to meetyou again. Very happy in the thought that I can benefit your son. Ihave an interest in life now that I wanted before; and in spite of mybeing anxious about Ralph while he was away, have been happier for thelast six months than I have been for seventeen years past." Mrs.Conway turned away to conceal the tears that stood in her eyes, and amoment later said:
"I am a most forgetful hostess, Mabel. I have not even asked you totake off your things. Please come along and let me show you your room.Supper will be ready in a minute or two, and here are we stopping andforgetting that you and Mr. Penfold must be almost famished."
As soon as they had sat down to supper, Mr. Penfold said, "By the way,Ralph, I have a piece of news for you. We stopped a couple of days,you know, in town, and I saw my friend at the Horse Guards, and had achat about you. He seemed to think that you would be better if youwere a few months older; but as he acknowledged that many commissionshad been given to lads under sixteen, and as you had just arrived atthat age, and as I told him you have had no end of experience withpirates and buccaneers, and all that sort of thing, he was silenced,and your commission will appear in the next _Gazette_."
"Oh, Mr. Penfold!" Ralph exclaimed as he leaped from his seat indelight. "I am obliged to you. That is glorious. I hardly even hoped Icould get a commission for some months to come. Don't look sad,mother," he said, running round and kissing her. "I shan't be goingout of England yet, you know; and now the war is over you need have nofear of my getting killed, and a few months sooner or later cannotmake much difference."
"I shall bear it in time, Ralph," his mother said, trying to smilethrough her tears. "But it comes as a shock just at first."
The sight of his mother's tears sobered Ralph for a time, and duringsupper the conversation was chiefly supported by Mr. Penfold, whojoked Ralph about his coming back in a few years a general withoutarms or legs; and was, indeed, so cheerful and lively that Mabel couldscarcely believe her ears, so wholly unlike was he to the quiet friendshe had known as long as she could remember. The next fortnight was adelightful one to Mabel, and indeed to all the party. Every day theywent driving-excursions through the country round. Ramsgate and Dealand Folkestone were visited, and they drove over to Canterbury andspent a night there visiting the grand cathedral and the old walls.
The weather was too cold for the water, for Christmas was close athand; but everything that could be done was done to make the time passhappily. Mrs. Conway exerted herself to lay aside her regrets atRalph's approaching departure, and to enter into the happiness whichMr. Penfold so evidently felt. The day before their departure for townan official letter arrived for Ralph, announcing that he was gazettedinto his majesty's 28th Regiment of foot, and that he was in onemonth's date from that of his appointment to join his regiment atCork.
"Now, Miss Mabel," Mr. Penfold said gayly, after the first talk overthe commission was concluded, "you will have for the future to treatMr. Ralph Conway with the respect due to an officer in his majesty'sservice."
"I don't see any change in him at present," the girl said, examiningRalph gravely.
The boy burst into a laugh.
"Wait till you see him in uniform, Mabel," Mr. Penfold went on. "I amafraid that respect is one of the moral qualities in which you aredeficient. Still I think that when you see Ralph in his uniform, youwill be struck with awe."
"I don't think so," Mabel said, shaking her head. "I don't think hewill frighten me, and I feel almost sure that he won't frighten theFrenchmen."
"My dear child," Mr. Penfold said gravely, "you don't know what Ralphis going to turn out yet. When you see him come back from the warsseven or eight inches taller than he is now, with great whiskers, andperhaps three or four ornamental scars on his face, you will be quiteshocked when you reflect that you once treated this warrior as aplayfellow."
Upon the following day the party went up to London, and were joinednext
morning by Mr. and Mrs. Withers. Mabel declared that she did notthink any people ever could have enjoyed themselves so much as theyall did. They went to Exeter 'Change to see the animals and to thetheater at Drury Lane, to the Tower and Ranelagh Gardens, toWestminster Abbey and St. Paul's, and they went down by coach toHampton Court and to Greenwich, and they saw his majesty the kingreview the Guards in Hyde Park. Altogether it was a gloriousfortnight. Mr. Penfold was the life and soul of the party, and had hehad his way they would have seen far more than they did. But Mr. andMrs. Withers and Mrs. Conway all said that they wanted to enjoythemselves and not to be worn out, and several times they stayed athome when Mr. Penfold and the two young people went to see sights, orto wander about the streets and look at the shops, which was as greata treat as any thing. Mr. Penfold went with Ralph to a military tailorand ordered his outfit, and to other shops, where he purchased such astock of other garments that Mrs. Conway declared Ralph would requirenothing for years. On the last day of the fortnight the uniforms andtrunks and clothes all arrived at the hotel, and of course Ralph hadto dress up and buckle on his sword for the first time. Mrs. Conwayshed a few tears, and would have shed more had not Mr. Penfold madeevery one laugh so; and Mabel was seized with a fit of shyness for thefirst time in her life when Mr. Penfold insisted that the ladiesshould all kiss the young officer in honor of the occasion. And thenext morning the whole party went down to the wharf below LondonBridge to see Ralph on board the packet for Cork. Before leaving thehotel Mr. Penfold slipped an envelope with ten crisp five pound notesin it into Ralph's hand.
"I have paid in, my boy, two hundred pounds to the regimental agents,and in future shall make you an allowance of the same amount everyyear. You will see what other officers spend. My advice to you is: donot spend more than others, and do not spend less. Money will keepvery well, you know, and a little reserve may always come in useful.When you once go on foreign service you will not find much occasionfor money. I want you just to hold your own with others. I considerthat it is quite as unfortunate for a young man to spend more thanthose around him as it is for him to be unable to spend as much. No, Idon't want any thanks at all. I told your mother I should look afteryou, and I am going to, and it has given a vast pleasure to me to havesuch an interest. Write to me occasionally, my boy; your letters willgive me great pleasure. And should you get into any scrape, tell mefrankly all about it."
The evening before Mrs. Conway had had a long talk with Ralph. "I donot think I need to give you much advice, my boy. You have alreadybeen out in the world on your own account, and have shown that you canmake your way. You are going into a life, Ralph, that has manytemptations. Do not give way to them, my boy. Above all, set your faceagainst what is the curse of our times: over-indulgence in wine. It isthe ruin of thousands. Do not think it is manly to be vicious becauseyou see others are. Always live, if you can, so that if you kept atrue diary you could hand it to me to read without a blush on yourcheek; and always bear in mind, that though I shall not be there tosee you, a higher and purer eye will be upon you. You will try; won'tyou, Ralph?"
"I will indeed, mother."
Mr. Penfold did his best to keep up the spirits of all of the partywhen they parted on board the packet; but Mrs. Conway quite broke downat last. Mabel cried unrestrainedly, and his own eyes had a suspiciousmoisture in them as he shook hands with Ralph. Fortunately they hadarrived a little late at the wharf, and the partings were consequentlycut short. The bell rang, and all the visitors were hurried ashore;then the hawsers were thrown off and the sails hoisted. As long as theparty remained in sight Ralph stood on the stern waving hishandkerchief to them; then, having removed the traces of tears fromhis cheeks, he turned to look at what was going on around him.
The packet was a brig of about two hundred tons, and she carried abouttwenty passengers, of whom fully half Ralph judged by their appearanceto be military men. Before they had reached the mouth of the river hefound that one among them Captain O'Connor, belonged to his ownregiment, as did another young fellow about his own age namedStapleton, who had been gazetted on the same day as himself. CaptainO'Connor, who was a cheery Irishman, full of life and spirits, at oncetook Ralph in hand, and was not long in drawing from him the story ofhis adventures with the privateers.
"You will do, my lad. I can see you have got the roughness rubbed offyou already, and will get on capitally with the regiment. I can't sayas much for that young fellow Stapleton. He seems to be completelypuffed up with the sense of his own importance, and to be an unlickedsort of cub altogether. However, I have known more unlikely subjectsthan he is turn out decent fellows after a course of instruction fromthe boys; but he will have rather a rough time of it at first Iexpect. You will be doing him a kindness if you take an opportunity totell him that a newly-joined ensign is not regarded in the same lightas a commander-in-chief. It is like a new boy going to school, youknow. If fellows find out he is a decent sort of boy, they soon lethim alone; but if he is an ass, especially a conceited ass, he hasrather a rough time of it. As you are in the same cabin with him, andhave had the advantage of having knocked about the world a bit, youmight gently hint this to him."
"I have been chatting with him a bit," Ralph said. "He has never beento school, but has been brought up at home, and I think from what hesaid he is the heir to an estate. He seemed rather to look down uponschools."
"So much the worse for him," Captain O'Connor said. "There is nothinglike a school for bringing a fellow to his level, unless it is aregiment; and the earlier in life the process takes place the lesspainful it is."
"I don't think he will turn out a bad sort of fellow," Ralph said. "Heis, as you say, rather an ass at present. I will do what I can to givehim a hint; but as I should say he is at least a year older than I am,I do not suppose it will be of much use."
The voyage was a pleasant one, and Ralph was quite sorry when theyentered the Cove of Cork and dropped anchor. The next morning the shipsailed up the river, and the following day the party disembarked.Captain O'Connor's servant came on board as soon as the vessel reachedthe quay, and his master charged him to pick out his luggage and thatof the two young officers; he then at once proceeded with them to thebarracks. Ralph felt extremely pleased that Captain O'Connor was withthem, as he felt none of the shyness and unpleasantness he wouldotherwise have experienced in joining a set of entire strangers.
Captain O'Connor was evidently a favorite in the regiment, for hisarrival was heartily greeted. He at once introduced the two lads totheir future comrades, took them to the colonel, looked after theirquarters, and made them at home. In their absence he spoke warmly infavor of Ralph. "You will find Conway a first-rate young fellow. Hehas seen something of the world, has been carried out to the WestIndies by a French privateersman, and has gone through a lot ofadventures. He is a bright, pleasant, good-tempered fellow. The otheris as green as grass, and has never been away from his mother'sapron-string. However, I do not think you will find him a bad sort offellow when he has got rid of his rawness. Don't be too hard upon him,you boys. Remember easy does it, and don't be pushing your jokes toofar. He is not a fool and will come round in time."