CHAPTER THREE.
John Rowe brought Owen's little trunk all the way from the "GreenDragon" on his own broad shoulders, and deposited it at Paul Kelson,Fluke and Company's office. Having done so he hurried off, not wishingto be thanked, and considering there was not much advantage to be gainedby another parting with his young friend. Owen, however, wasdisappointed, when he found that his box had arrived, that he had missedseeing John.
The instant five o'clock struck, Simon Fluke came out of his office, anddirecting one of his porters to bring along the boy's trunk, took Owenby the hand, and having tucked a thick cotton umbrella under his otherarm, led him out. They trudged along through numerous dirty streets andalleys, teeming with a ragged and unkempt population, and redolent ofunsavoury odours, until they emerged into a wide thoroughfare.
"Call a coach, boy!" said Mr Fluke, the first words he had spoken sincehe had left the office. "How am I to do that, sir?" asked Owen.
"Shout `Coach,' and make a sign with your hand to the first you see."
"Will the coach come up, sir, if I call it?" asked Owen.
"Of course, if the driver hears you," answered Mr Fluke in a sharptone. "The boy may be a good arithmetician, but he knows nothing ofLondon life," he muttered to himself. "To be sure, how should he? Buthe must learn--he will in time, I suppose; I once knew no more than hedoes."
Owen saw several coaches passing, and he shouted to them at the top ofhis voice, but no one took the slightest notice of him. At length thedriver of a tumble-down looking vehicle, with a superb coat of arms onthe panel, made a signal in return and drew up near the pavement.
"You will know how to call a coach in future," said Mr Fluke. "Stepin."
The porter, who had been watching proceedings, not having ventured tointerfere by assisting Owen, put the box in, after Mr Fluke had takenhis seat, and then told the coachman where to drive to. The latter,applying his whip to the flanks of his horses, made them trot off, for afew minutes, at a much faster rate than they were accustomed to move at.They soon, however, resumed their usual slow pace, and not until MrFluke put his head out of the window, and shouted, "Are you going tosleep, man?" did he again make use of his whip.
"You must learn to find your way on foot, boy," said Mr Fluke. "I donot take a coach every day; it would be setting a bad example. I neveryet drove up to the counting-house, nor drove away in one, since Ibecame a partner of old Paul Kelson, and he, it is my belief, never gotinto one in his life, until he was taken home in a fit just before hisdeath."
Owen thought he should have great difficulty in finding his way throughall those streets, but he made no remark on the subject, determining tonote the turnings as carefully as he could, should he accompany MrFluke the next morning back to Wapping.
The coach drove on and on; Mr Fluke was evidently not given toloquacity, and Owen had plenty of time to indulge in his ownreflections. He wondered what sort of place his newly found relativewas taking him to. He had not been prepossessed with the appearance ofthe office, and he concluded that Mr Fluke's dwelling-house wouldsomewhat resemble it. The coach at last emerged from the crowdedstreets into a region of trees and hedge-rows, and in a short timestopped in front of an old-fashioned red brick house, with a high wallapparently surrounding a garden behind it. At that moment the door ofthe house opened, and a tall thin female in a mob cap appeared.
"Bless me!" she exclaimed, as she advanced across the narrow spacebetween the gate and the doorway; "and so he has come!"
She eyed Owen narrowly as she spoke. Simon Fluke declining her help ashe stepped out, pointed to Owen's box, which the coachman, who had gotdown from his seat, handed to her. Mr Fluke having paid the fare,about which there was no demur, he knowing the distance to an inch, ledthe way into the house, followed by Owen, the old woman, carrying hisbox, bringing up the rear.
"I have brought him, Kezia, as I said I possibly might. Do you lookafter him; let us have supper in a quarter of an hour, for I am hungry,and the boy I am sure is."
The house wore a greater air of comfort than Owen expected to find. Inthe oak panelled parlour into which Mr Fluke led him a cheerful fireburned brightly, although the spring was well advanced, while a whitecloth was spread ready for supper.
"Now come into the garden," said his host, who had entered the room,apparently merely to deposit his umbrella. A glass door opened out onsome steps which led down into a large garden, laid out in beds in whichbloomed a number of beautiful flowers, such as Owen had never beforeseen in his life, and on one side, extending along the wall, was a largegreenhouse.
"Do you know what those are, boy?" asked Mr Fluke. "Every one of thoseflowers are worth a hundred times its weight in gold. They are allchoice and rare tulips, I may say the choicest and rarest in thekingdom. I prize them above precious stones, for what ruby or sapphirecan be compared to them for beauty and elegance? You will learn in timeto appreciate them, whatever you do now."
"I am sure I shall, and I think they are very beautiful!" said Owen.
Mr Fluke made up for his former silence by expatiating on theperfections of his favourites. While the old gentleman was going theround of his flower beds, stooping down with his hands behind him, toadmire, as if to avoid the temptation of touching the rich blossoms, aperson approached, who, from his green apron, his general costume, andthe wheelbarrow he trundled full of tools before him, was easilyrecognised as the gardener. He could not have been much younger thanhis master, but was still strong and hearty.
"They are doing well, Joseph; we shall have some more in bloom in a dayor two," observed Mr Fluke.
"Yes, praise the Lord, the weather has been propitious and rewarded thecare we have bestowed on His handiworks," answered the old gardener. "Iam in hopes that the last bulbs the Dutch skipper Captain Van Tronkbrought over will soon be above ground, and they will not be long afterthat coming into bloom."
Mr Fluke, having had some confidential conversation with his gardeneron the subject of his bulbs, and given him various directions, it bythat time growing dusk, summoned Owen to return to the house.
"A pretty long quarter of an hour you've been," exclaimed Kezia to hermaster, as he re-entered; "it's always so when you get talking to my manJoseph Crump about the tulips. If the rump steak is over-done it's notmy fault."
Mr Fluke made no reply, except by humbly asking for his slippers, whichKezia having brought, she assisted him in taking off his shoes.
"There, go in both of you, and you shall have supper soon," sheexclaimed in an authoritative tone, and Mr Fluke shuffled into hisparlour.
Owen remarked, that though Mr Fluke ruled supreme in hiscounting-house, there was another here to whom he seemed to yieldimplicit obedience. Not a word of remonstrance did he utter at whateverKezia told him to do; it was, however, pretty evident that whatever shedid order, was to his advantage. Probably, had she not assumed sodetermined a manner, she would have failed to possess the influence sheexerted over her master. He made a sign to Owen to take a seat oppositehim on one side of the fire. Mrs Kezia Crump, as she was generallydesignated outside the house, placed an ample supper on the board--inlater days it would have been called a dinner--two basins of soup, someexcellently cooked rump steak, and an apple tart of goodly proportions.
"I know boys like apple tart, and you may help him as often as he asksfor it," she remarked as she put the latter dish on the table.
A single glass of ale was placed by Mr Fluke's side. Owen declinedtaking any, for he had never drank anything stronger than water.
"Very right and wise, boy," observed his host in an approving tone."You are the better without what you don't require. I never drank aglass of ale till I was fifty, and might have refrained ten years longerwith advantage, but Kezia insisted that I should take a glass at supper,and for the sake of quiet I did so. Kezia is not a person who willstand contradiction. She is sensible though. Could not have enduredher if she were not. But she is not equal to her husband Joseph. Theone rules supreme in t
he house, the other in the garden. You've seenwhat Joseph Crump has done there. What do you think of my tulips? I amindebted to Joseph for them. Beautiful! glorious! magnificent! Arethey not?"
Owen nodded his head in assent.
"Their worth cannot be told. Once upon a time one of those splendidbulbs would have fetched thousands. That was nearly two centuries ago,that events repeat themselves, and, for what we can tell, that time maycome round again, then, Owen, I shall be the richest man in England. Noone possesses tulips equal to mine."
"Indeed," said Owen; and he thought to himself, when at Wapping this oldman's whole soul seems to be absorbed in business, while out here allhis thoughts appear to be occupied in the cultivation of tulips. Howcould he have been first led to admire them? Before many minutes wereover Mr Fluke answered the question himself.
"Twenty years ago I scarcely knew that such a flower as a tulip existed,when one day going on board a Dutch vessel I saw a flower growing in apot in the cabin. I was struck by the beauty of its form--its brilliantcolours. I learned its name. I was seized with the desire to possessit. I bought it of the skipper. The next voyage he brought me over anumber of bulbs. I wanted something to engage my thoughts, and fromthat day forward I became fonder and fonder of tulips."
The evening was passed more pleasantly than Owen had anticipated. MrFluke, indeed, appeared to be an altogether different person to what hehad seemed at his first interview with his young relative.
"Boys want more sleep than old men," said Mr Fluke, pulling out histurnip-like watch.
"Here, Kezia!" he shouted, "come and take him off to bed. She will lookafter you," he added, nodding to Owen; "you must do as she bids youthough."
The old man did not even put out a finger as Owen advanced to take hishand to wish him good night, but said, pointing to Kezia, who just thenentered the room, "There she is; go with her."
"How impatient you are, Mr Fluke, this evening," exclaimed the dame."In half a minute more I should have been here, and saved you frombawling yourself hoarse. I know how the time goes, I should think, atmy age."
Her master made no reply, but merely attempted to whistle, while Kezia,turning to Owen, said, "Come along, my child." She led him up an oakenstaircase into a room of fair proportions, in which, although thefurniture was of a sombre description, there stood a neatdimity-curtained bed.
"There, say your prayers and go to bed," said Kezia. "I will come inpresently to tuck you up, and to take away your candle."
"Thank you," said Owen; "you are indeed very kind."
"No, I ain't kind, I just do what I think right," answered the dame,who, if she did not pride herself on being an original, evidently wasone. "The old man told me that you had lost your parents, and you'llfeel the want of some one to look after you. I once had a little boymyself. He grew to be bigger than you are, but he was never strong orhearty. He used to go to the office every day of his life, hot or cold,rain or sunshine, wet through or dry; he died from over work. It wasmore my fault than the old man's though, so I don't blame him, for Iought to have kept the poor boy in bed instead of letting him go out andget wet through and through as he did time after time; but I'll takecare that it is not your fate," and Mrs Kezia sighed. "I must notstand prating here though."
She came in according to her promise. Having carefully tucked him up,she stooped down and kissed his brow.
"Thank you, thank you," said Owen. The tears rose to his eyes, and hefelt more happy than he could have supposed possible.
"Have you said your prayers?" asked Kezia.
"Yes, I never forget to do that," answered Owen.
"Good night, my child," she said; "the Lord watch over you and keepyou." Taking the light she left him.
His slumbers were peaceful. Kezia took care to call him betimes in themorning.
"The old man is off early, and he would not be pleased if you were notready to start with him," she said.
When Owen came down he saw Mr Fluke in the garden, holding a conferencewith Joseph. He presently came in to breakfast, which was as ample ameal as the supper had been.
Kezia put a small paper parcel into Owen's pocket.
"That will be for your dinner," she said; "you'll want something beforeyou come back, and you'll get nothing there fit to eat. It's as bad tolet growing boys starve as to leave plants without water, as JosephCrump says," and she looked hard at her master.
"Kezia's a wonderful woman," remarked Mr Fluke, after she had left theroom. "I have a great respect for her, as you see. She is worth herweight in gold; she keeps everything in order, her husband and me toboot. Years ago, before she came to me, I had a large black tom cat; hewas somewhat of a pet, and as I kept him in order, he always behavedproperly in my presence. He had, however, a great hatred of allstrangers, especially of the woman kind, and no female beggar ever cameto the door but he went out and arched his back, and spat and screechedand hissed at her until she took her departure. When I engaged Keziaand Joseph Crump, I thought Tom would understand that they were inmatesof the house, and behave properly. But the very first time Kezia wentupstairs, after she and her husband had installed themselves in theirroom below, there was Tom standing on the landing with his back uplashing his tail, and making a most hideous noise. Most women wouldhave turned round and run down again, or perhaps tumbled over and brokentheir necks; but Kezia advanced, keeping her eye on Tom, and as hesprang at her, she guessing that he would do so, seized him by the neckand held him at arm's length until every particle of breath was squeezedout of his body. `There,' she exclaimed, as she threw him over thebanisters, `two cannot rule in one house,' and she went upstairs andcommenced her work. When I arrived at home, and saw Tom lying dead onthe floor, I asked who had killed the cat. `I killed him,' answeredKezia, and she then told me how it had happened. `If you think I waswrong, and don't like it, give me a month's warning; I am ready to go,'she said. I didn't say a word in reply, and I tell you I have a greaterrespect for that woman than for any of her sex, and maybe I have morefear of her than I ever had of old Tom, who, once or twice, until Itaught him better manners, had shown his evil disposition even to me."
"Mrs Kezia is a very kind, good woman," observed Owen; "I am sure ofthat."
"She's a wise woman," answered Mr Fluke; "if she were not, she couldnot manage my house. Now, boy, finish your breakfast, and be preparedto start with me in ten minutes."
Owen lost no time in getting ready.
"Come along," he heard Mr Fluke shout; and hurrying out of the roomwhere he was waiting, he found that gentleman descending the steps.
"Stay, you have forgotten your umbrella. What are you thinking about,Mr Fluke, this morning?" exclaimed Kezia, handing it to him as shespoke.
Mr Fluke tucked it under his arm, and taking Owen by the hand they setoff.
"Do not dawdle on the way back, and take the coach if it rains hard,"cried Kezia, shouting after them.
They walked the whole distance at a fair pace, which Owen could easilymaintain. He was glad of the exercise, although he did not like passingthrough the narrow and dirty streets at the further end of his walk,where squalor and wretchedness appeared on every side. Mr Fluke beingso used to it, was not moved by what they beheld.
"Surely something ought to be done for these poor people," thought Owen."If my father had been here, he would have spent every hour of the dayin visiting among them, and trying to relieve their distress." Owen wasnot aware that much of the misery he witnessed arose from the drunkenand dissipated habits of the husbands, and but too often of the wivesalso.
On their arrival at the office, which had just before been opened, MrFluke handed Owen over to Mr Tarwig, who at once set him to work.There was plenty to do. Two clerks had recently left; their places hadnot been supplied. Owen was therefore kept hard at work the greaterpart of the day, and a short time only allowed him for eating the dinnerwhich Kezia Crump had provided. He was better off, however, than mostof the clerks, who had only a piece of brea
d to eat if they remained inthe office, or if they went out, had to take a very hurried, ill-dressedmeal at a cookshop. Some, indeed, were tempted to imbibe instead aglass of rum or gin, thus commencing a bad habit, which increased onthose who indulged in it.
The weather was fine, and Owen walked backwards and forwards every daywith Mr Fluke. One day a box arrived marked private, and addressed toS. Fluke, Esquire. On glancing at the contents, Mr Fluke had it againclosed, and that evening he went away earlier than usual, a portercarrying the box to the nearest coach-stand. Owen was saved his longwalk, which, as the weather grew warmer, was sometimes fatiguing. Thebox, which had been carried into the parlour was again opened by Keziaand Owen, who begged leave to help her. After supper Mr Fluke, whoappeared for the time to have forgotten his tulips, employed himself inexamining the contents, which proved to be the books he had directedJohn Rowe to purchase for him.
"Your friend has performed his commission well," he said, as he lookedover book after book. "I recognise Susan's handwriting--yourgrandmother, I mean; it must seem a long time ago to you, but to me itis as yesterday. I had not from the first moment any doubt as to yourbeing Susan Fluke's grandchild, but I am now convinced of it. You willfind more interesting reading in these books than in any I possess, andyou are welcome to make use of them."
Owen accepted the offer, and for many an evening afterwards pored overin succession most of the well-remembered volumes.
Mr Fluke, the next morning, on his way to the office, called at anupholsterer's, and purchased a dark oak bookcase, which he ordered to besent home immediately. On his return home, with evident satisfaction hearranged the books within it.
Owen had every reason to be thankful for the kind treatment he received,but the life he spent was a dull one. In reply to letters he wrote tohis friends at Fenside they warmly congratulated him on his goodfortune.
Day after day he went to the office, where he was kept hard at work fromthe moment of his arrival until the closing hour, for, as it was foundthat he was more exact in his calculations than any one else, and as hewrote a hand equal to the best, he had always plenty to do, a fewminutes only were allowed him to take his frugal dinner. Frequentlyalso he was unable to enjoy even a few mouthfuls of such fresh air asWapping could afford.
Generally he walked in and out with Mr Fluke, but he sometimes had togo alone. He was soon able to find his way without difficulty, but henever had an opportunity of going in other directions, so that all heknew of London was the little he saw of it while visiting the sightswith John Rowe. Whatever the weather, he had to trudge to and fro.Several times he got wet through, and had to sit all day in his dampclothes.
Kezia suggested to Mr Fluke that the boy required a fresh suit--"Hisown is threadbare, and would be in holes if I did not darn it up atnights," she observed.
"It's good enough for the office, and what more does he want?" answeredMr Fluke. "Why, I have worn my suit well-nigh ten years, and it is asgood as ever. Who finds fault with my coat, I should like to know?"
"The boy wants a thick overcoat, at all events," continued Kezia, whohad no intention of letting the matter drop. "If you don't get him one,I will. He will catch his death of cold one of these days. He is notlooking half as well as he did when he came, although he has grownwonderfully; he will, indeed, soon be too big for his jacket andtrousers, if they do not come to pieces first."
"Do as you choose, Kezia," said Mr Fluke. "You always will have yourown way, so there's no use contradicting you."
"Then I'll get him a fresh suit and a topcoat before many hours areover, and not a day too soon either," answered Kezia, rubbing her handsin the way she always did when well satisfied with herself or withthings in general.
"No! no!" almost shrieked Mr Fluke. "If he gets a topcoat that willhide the threadbare jacket you talk of, and that will serve well enoughin the office for a year to come, or more."
"You said, Mr Fluke, that I was to do as I chose," exclaimed Kezia,looking her master in the face. "You are a man of your word, and alwayshave been from your youth upwards, and I, for one, will not let youbreak it in your old age. I choose to get Owen a new suit and atopcoat, so say no more about the matter."
The next morning Kezia appeared in her bonnet and shawl as Owen wasabout to start.
"Let the old man go on first, I am going with you," she said.
Mr Fluke was never a moment behind time in starting from home, and heknew that Owen could easily overtake him.
Kezia accompanied Owen to Mr Snipton's, a respectable tailor in theCity, where she ordered an entire suit and a thoroughly comfortabletopcoat.
"Take his measure," she said, "and allow for his growing; remember SimonFluke will pay for the things."
Mr Snipton did as he was directed, and while Owen hurried on toovertake Mr Fluke before he reached the office, Kezia returned home.Owen had, however, to wear his threadbare jacket for some days longer.During this period he was returning one evening, and was crossingBishopsgate Street, when a hooded gig, or cab, as it was called,containing two young gentlemen--one of whom, dressed in a naval uniform,was driving--came dashing along at a rapid rate. It was in a narrowpart of the street, of which a waggon and some other vehicles occupied aconsiderable portion. In attempting to pass between the waggon andpavement the cab was driven against the hinder wheel of the ponderouswaggon, which was going in the same direction that it was--towards theBank. The natural consequence ensued--the horse came down, and both theyoung gentlemen were thrown out, one narrowly escaping falling under thewheel of the waggon, while the tiger behind, whose head struck againstthe hood, fell off stunned. Owen ran forward to render what assistancehe could.
"Go to the horse's head, boy!" exclaimed the elder of the gentlemen,addressing Owen in an imperious tone, while he was picking himself up."Reginald, are you hurt?"
"Not much," was the answer of the younger, who began swearing in nomeasured terms at the waggoner for not keeping out of the way, andordering him to stop. The latter, however, taking no notice of this,went on. "They got the worst of it this time," he muttered. "Betterthat than to have run over an old woman, as I see'd just such a pair asthey do not long ago."
A fresh volley of abuse uttered by the young naval officer followed theretreating waggoner.
"Come, Reginald, don't waste your breath on the rascal," cried the eldergentleman. "I'll help the boy to hold down the horse, while you undothe traces. What's become of Cato?"
"Here I, my Lord," said the black tiger, who, having partiallyrecovered, now came hobbling up.
Owen, in the meantime, had been using every exertion to keep down thespirited horse, until the harness, detached from the cab, would allowthe animal to rise without injuring itself. Several persons, mostlyidle men and women, instead of coming forward to assist, stood by,amused at the disaster which had occurred to the gentlemen.
"Had but the young cove kept a decent tongue in his head plenty wouldhave been ready to help him," remarked one of the bystanders.
The black boy seemed somewhat afraid of the horse, and having scarcelyrecovered was of no use. The gentlemen, therefore, had to depend ontheir own exertions, aided by Owen.
The one called Reginald, when once he set to work, quickly got theharness unstrapped.
"Here, Arlingford, you take the horse's head, and let him get up. Outof the way, boy, or he'll be over you," he shouted to Owen.
The horse, hitherto held down by Owen, rose to its feet. It took sometime before the eldest of the young men, by patting its neck andspeaking soothingly, could quiet the animal sufficiently to be again putinto the cab. Owen assisted in buckling up the harness, while the blacktiger, now recovered, came and held the horse.
"Have you got a coin about you of some kind, Arlingford?" asked thenaval officer. "If you have, chuck it to the young fellow."
Owen did not hear this remark.
"Here, boy," cried the elder, putting half-a-crown into Owen's hand;"just take this."
"No, thank yo
u, sir," answered Owen, returning the money. "I am happyto have been of any service. I did not think of a reward."
"Take it, stupid boy," said Reginald.
Owen persisted in declining, and turned away.
"A proud young jackanapes! What is he thinking about?" exclaimedReginald, who spoke loud enough for Owen to hear him.
"Here, I say, boy, don't be a fool, take this," and Reginald pitched thecoin at Owen, who, however, not stopping to pick it up, walked on. Asmay be supposed, a scramble immediately ensued among the mob to obtainpossession of the coin, until, shoving at each other, three or fourrolled over against the horse. The effect of this was to make theanimal set off at a rate which it required the utmost exertions of thedriver to control. Indeed the cab nearly met with another accidentbefore it had proceeded many yards.
Owen had remarked a coronet on the cab. "Can those possibly be youngnoblemen who made use of such coarse language, and who appear to be soutterly devoid of right feeling?" he thought to himself. "I hope that Ishall not meet them again; but I think I should remember them,especially the youngest, who had on a naval uniform. His being a sailorwill account for the activity he showed in unbuckling the harness."
Owen gave an account of the incident to Mrs Kezia.
"That is like you, Owen," she said. "Do what is right without hope offee or reward. I am afraid that the old man does not give you much ofeither. What salary are you getting?"
"I have received nothing as yet; nor has Mr Fluke promised me asalary," answered Owen. "I conclude that he considers it sufficient toafford me board and lodging, and to teach me the business. I should notthink of asking for more."
"And you'll not get it until you do," observed Mrs Kezia. "I'll seeabout that one of these days."
"Pray do not speak to Mr Fluke," exclaimed Owen, earnestly; "I amperfectly content, and I am sure that I ought not to think of asking fora salary. If he is good enough to pay for the clothes you have ordered,I shall be more than satisfied, even were I to work even harder than Ido."
Mr Fluke, however, grumbled, and looked quite angry at Owen, when heappeared in his new suit. Mrs Kezia had been insisting, in her usualstyle, that the boy required new shoes, a hat, and underclothing.
"You'll be the ruin of me with your extravagant notions, Kezia,"exclaimed Mr Fluke; "you'll spoil the boy. How can you ever expect himto learn economy?"
He, notwithstanding, gave Mrs Kezia the sum she demanded.
Had it not been for her, Owen would probably have had to wear hisclothes into rags. Mr Fluke would certainly not have remarked theirtattered condition.
Notwithstanding all Kezia's care, however, Owen's health did not mend.Months went by, he was kept as hard at work as ever.
Kezia expostulated. At last Mr Fluke agreed to give him some work inthe open air.
"I'll send him on board the ships in the river; that will do him goodperhaps."
The very next day Owen was despatched with a letter on business toCaptain Aggett of the ship "Druid," then discharging cargo in theThames.
Owen had seen Captain Aggett at the office; he was a tall, fine-lookingman, with a pleasant expression of countenance. He recognised Owen ashe came on board.
"Stop and have some dinner, my boy," he said; "the steward is just goingto bring it in."
Owen, being very hungry, was glad to accept the invitation, and CaptainAggett himself declared that he could not write an answer until he hadhad something to eat. Possibly he said this that Owen might have alegitimate excuse for his delay. The captain had a good deal ofconversation with Owen, with whom he seemed highly pleased. He took himover the ship, and showed him his nautical instruments, which Owen saidhe had never seen, although he had read about them, and knew their use.
"What! have you learned navigation?" asked Captain Aggett.
"I am acquainted with the principles, and could very soon learn it, Ibelieve, if I had a book especially explaining the subject," answeredOwen.
Captain Aggett handed one to him, telling him to take it home and studyit.
"Is this the first time you have been on board a ship?" asked thecaptain.
"Yes, sir; for since I came to London I never have had time, havingalways had work to do in the office," answered Owen.
"How long have you been there?" asked the captain, who remarked thatOwen had a cough, and looked very pale.
"Rather more than a year, sir."
"Not a very healthy life for a lad accustomed to the country. A seatrip would do you good. Would you like to make one?"
"Very much, if Mr Fluke would allow me," answered Owen. "I should notwish to do anything of which he might not approve."
"I'll see about it, youngster," said Captain Aggett.
Although Owen was sent on several trips of the same description to othervessels, he was still kept too constantly at work in the office tobenefit much by them.
He naturally told Kezia of his visit to Captain Aggett, and of theinvitation he had received.
"Although I should be very sorry to have you go away from here, Owen, Iam sure that the captain is right. It is just what you want; a seavoyage would set you up, and make a man of you, and if you remain in theoffice you'll grow into just such another withered thing as the old man.I'll speak to him, and tell him, if he wants to keep you alive andwell, he must let you take a voyage with the good captain. I have heardof him, and Mr Fluke has a great respect for him, I know."
Mrs Kezia did not fail to introduce the subject in her usual manner.Mr Fluke would not hear of it.
"Nonsense," he answered, "the boy does very well; he can walk to andfrom the office, and eats his meals."
"He does not eat one-half what he used to do," answered Kezia; "he isgrowing paler and paler every day. He has a nasty cough, and you willhave him in his grave before long if you don't take care."
"Pooh! pooh!" answered Mr Fluke. "Boys don't die so easily as that."He turned away his head to avoid Kezia's glance.
She did not let the matter drop, however. A fortnight or more hadpassed by. Mr Fluke had missed one of his favourite tulips, which grewin a flower-pot.
On inquiring for it of Joseph: "It's all safe," was the answer, "I'mtrying an experiment with it."
Whenever Mr Fluke asked about the tulip, he always received the samereply: "We shall see how it gets on in a few days." At length oneafternoon when he came home, somewhat to his surprise, Kezia appeared inthe garden.
"What about that tulip, Joseph, which master was asking for?" she said.
"Should you like to see it, sir?" asked Joseph.
"Of course I should," answered Mr Fluke, expecting to see the flowergreatly improved in size and beauty.
"I told Joseph to put it in the tool-house, just to see how it looksafter being shut up in the dark without air," said Kezia in her mostdetermined manner.
"In the tool-house!" exclaimed Mr Fluke. "What in the world made youput it there, Joseph?"
"Kezia bade me, sir, and you know I dare not disobey her," answeredJoseph, demurely.
"And I bade him just for the reason I said," exclaimed Kezia.
"Let us see it by all means," cried Mr Fluke, hastening in thedirection of the tool-house, which was in a corner of the garden on thenorth side, out of sight.
Kezia stalked on before her master and her husband. She entered first,and came out with a flower-pot in her hand. The tulip, instead ofhaving gained in size and beauty, looked withered, and its once proudhead hung down, its colours sadly faded.
"There," she exclaimed; "that's just like our Owen. You shut him up inyour dark office, and expect him to grow up strong and healthy, with thesame bright complexion he had when he came to us. Some natures willstand it, but his, it is very certain, cannot. Maybe, if we put thistulip in the sun and give it air and water, it will recover; and so mayhe, if you allow him to enjoy the fresh breezes, and the pure air of thesea. Otherwise, as I have told you, all your kindness and the goodintentions you talk of to advance him in life will come to
nothing. Irepeat it, Mr Fluke, Owen Hartley will be in his grave before anotheryear is out if he has to breathe for eight hours or more every day theclose atmosphere of Kelson, Fluke and Company's office."
Mr Fluke walked away without answering Kezia, and kept pacing up anddown the garden in a state of perturbation very unusual for him.
Owen had been kept at the office, and did not get home until late. Heobserved that Mr Fluke was watching him narrowly.
"Yes, you do look somewhat pale," said the old gentleman; "I see it now.How do you feel, boy?"
"Very well, sir," answered Owen, naturally enough; "only a little tirednow and then. It is my own fault, I suppose, that I do not sleep sosoundly as I used to do, and do not care much about my food."
The next day, although without any preconcerted arrangement, CaptainAggett called at Mr Fluke's office, and desired to see him on privatebusiness.
The captain had been a regular customer for many years, and Mr Flukeheld him in great respect.
"I have taken a fancy to that boy of yours, a relative I understand. Ihave observed how ill he looks, very different from what he was when Isaw him first on my last voyage. If you will let me take him a trip Iwill bring him back safe and sound, the dangers of the sea excepted, andbetter able by far than he is now to attend to your interests."
Mr Fluke declined to give a positive answer. He would see if the boycould be spared; he was very useful in the office, and it would bedifficult to get any one to supply his place.
"I will come for a reply to-morrow," said Captain Aggett, as he took hisdeparture.
"Well, are you going to let our Owen make a voyage?" asked Kezia whenMr Fluke came home. "There are plenty of captains who would be readyto take the boy. He would be able to make himself as useful to them ashe is to you, and you would be at no cost."
Mr Fluke, however, only gave Kezia the same reply he had to CaptainAggett.
"I tell you, before long he'll leave the place vacant whether you likeit or not," observed Kezia in a firm voice, looking sternly at hermaster.
"You must have your own way, Kezia," answered Mr Fluke, turning hishead aside to avoid her gaze, as a dog does when scolded. "If the boywishes to go, he may go, but I'll not send him off against his will."
Owen was called in and told of Captain Aggett's offer. He acknowledgedthat he wished to accept it.
"You have been very kind to me, sir," he said, "and I do not wish toleave you, but I should like to make a voyage and see something of theworld, and I feel as if it would set me up. When I come back I hope tobe of more use to you than ever."
So it was settled. Mr Fluke never drew back when he had once made apromise, and next day, when Captain Aggett called, Mr Fluke told himthat he might take Owen, and that he himself would defray any expensesto which he might be put on the boy's account.
Owen wrote immediately to his friends at Fenside.
John, who replied, expressed their anxiety for the dangers to which hewould be exposed on a long voyage, but if it was considered to be forhis good, they would not urge him to remain on shore, and would prayearnestly that he might be preserved from all the perils of the deep.
Kezia desired him to ascertain from Captain Aggett what articles wererequired for his outfit; and immediately on obtaining a list, set towork to prepare all that lay within her province.