FullReads

“I don’t like it–it’s irrevocable.”

A chuckle escaped old Heythorp.

“As death.”

Joe Pillin’s voice passed up into the treble clef.

“I can’t bear irrevocable things. I consider you stampeded me, playing on my nerves.”

Examining the signatures old Heythorp murmured:

“Tell your lawyer to lock it up. He must think you a sad dog, Joe.”

“Ah! Suppose on my death it comes to the knowledge of my wife!”

“She won’t be able to make it hotter for you than you’ll be already.”

Joe Pillin replaced the deed within his coat, emitting a queer thin noise. He simply could not bear joking on such subjects.

“Well,” he said, “you’ve got your way; you always do. Who is this Mrs. Larne? You oughtn’t to keep me in the dark. It seems my boy met her at your house. You told me she didn’t come there.”

Old Heythorp said with relish:

“Her husband was my son by a woman I was fond of before I married; her children are my grandchildren. You’ve provided for them. Best thing you ever did.”

“I don’t know–I don’t know. I’m sorry you told me. It makes it all the more doubtful. As soon as the transfer’s complete, I shall get away abroad. This cold’s killing me. I wish you’d give me your recipe for keeping warm.”

“Get a new inside.”

Joe Pillin regarded his old friend with a sort of yearning. “And yet,” he said, “I suppose, with your full-blooded habit, your life hangs by a thread, doesn’t it?”

“A stout one, my boy”

“Well, good-bye, Sylvanus. You’re a Job’s comforter; I must be getting home.” He put on his hat, and, lost in his fur coat, passed out into the corridor. On the stairs he met a man who said:

“How do you do, Mr. Pillin? I know your son. Been’ seeing the chairman? I see your sale’s gone through all right. I hope that’ll do us some good, but I suppose you think the other way?”

Peering at him from under his hat, Joe Pillin said:

“Mr. Ventnor, I think? Thank you! It’s very cold, isn’t it?” And, with that cautious remark, he passed on down.

Alone again, old Heythorp thought: ‘By George! What a wavering, quavering, thread paper of a fellow! What misery life must be to a chap like that! He walks in fear–he wallows in it. Poor devil!’ And a curious feeling swelled his heart, of elation, of lightness such as he had not known for years. Those two young things were safe now from penury-safe! After dealing with those infernal creditors of his he would go round and have a look at the children. With a hundred and twenty a year the boy could go into the Army–best place for a young scamp like that. The girl would go off like hot cakes, of course, but she needn’t take the first calf that came along. As for their mother, she must look after herself; nothing under two thousand a year would keep her out of debt. But trust her for wheedling and bluffing her way out of any scrape! Watching his cigar-smoke curl and disperse he was conscious of the strain he had been under these last six weeks, aware suddenly of how greatly he had baulked at thought of to-day’s general meeting. Yes! It might have turned out nasty. He knew well enough the forces on the Board, and off, who would be only too glad to shelve him. If he were shelved here his other two Companies would be sure to follow suit, and bang would go every penny of his income–he would be a pauper dependant on that holy woman. Well! Safe now for another year if he could stave off these sharks once more. It might be a harder job this time, but he was in luck–in luck, and it must hold. And taking a luxurious pull at his cigar, he rang the handbell.

“Bring ’em in here, Mr. Farney. And let me have a cup of China tea as strong as you can make it.”