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‘Very busy.’

Topham waved his hand at the paper-covered table, and appeared to sink into despondency. Thereupon Wigmore cautiously and delicately approached the next thought he had in mind, Topham–cunning fellow–at one moment facilitating, at another retarding what he wished to say. It came out at last. Would it be quite impossible for Mr. Starkey to devote himself to one sole pupil.

CHAPTER IV

‘Mr. Wigmore, I will be frank with you. If I asked an equivalent for the value of my business as a business, I could not expect you to agree to such a proposal. But, to speak honestly, my health has suffered a good deal from overwork, and I must take into consideration the great probability that in any case, before long, I shall be obliged to find some position where the duties were less exhausting.’

‘Good gracious!’ exclaimed the listener. ‘Why, you’ll kill yoursel, sir. And I’m bound to say, you look far from well.’

Topham smiled pathetically, paused a moment as if to reflect, and continued in the same tone of genial confidence. Let us consider the matter in detail. Do you propose, Mr. Wigmore, to withdraw from business at once?’

The fruiterer replied that he could do so at very short notice. Questioned as to his wishes regarding a place of residence, he declared that he was ready to live in any place where, being unknown, he could make, as it were, a new beginning.

‘You would not feel impatient,’ said Topham, ‘if, say, two or three years had to elapse before you could be ordained?’

‘Impatient,’ said the other cheerily. ‘Why, if it took ten years I would go through with it. When I make up my mind about a thing, I’m not easily dismayed. If I could have your help, sir–‘

The necessity of making a definite proposal turned Topham pale; he was so afraid of asking too much. Almost in spite of himself, he at length spoke. ‘Suppose we say–if I reside with you–that you pay me a salary of, well, L200 a year?’

The next moment he inwardly raged. Wigmore’s countenance expressed such contentment, that it was plain the good man would have paid twice that sum.

‘Ass!’ cried Topham, in his mind. ‘I always undervalue myself.’

* * * * *

It was late that evening when Starkey came home; to his surprise he found that Topham was later still. In vain he sat writing until past one o’clock. Topham did not appear, and indeed never came back at all. The overworked corresponding tutor was taking his ease at the seaside on the strength of a quarter’s salary in advance, which Mr. Wigmore, tremulously anxious to clinch their bargain, had insisted on paying him. Before leaving London he had written to Starkey, apologising for his abrupt departure, ‘The result of unforeseen circumstances.’ He enclosed six penny stamps in repayment of a sum lent, and added–

‘When I think of my great debt to you I despair of expressing my gratitude. Be assured, however, that the name of Starkey will always be cherished in my remembrance.’

Under that name Topham dwelt with the retired shopkeeper, and assiduously discharged his tutorial duties. A day came when, relying upon the friendship between them, and his pupil’s exultation in the progress achieved, the tutor unbosomed himself. Having heard the whole story, Wigmore laughed a great deal, and declared that such a fellow as Starkey was rightly served.

‘But,’ he inquired, after reflection, ‘how was it the man never wrote to ask why I sent no more work?’

‘That asks for further confession. While at the seaside I wrote, in a disguised hand, a letter supposed to come from a brother of yours in which I said you were very ill and must cease your correspondence. Starkey hadn’t the decency to reply, but if he had done so I should have got his letter at the post-office.’

Mr. Wigmore looked troubled for a moment. However, this too was laughed away, and the pursuit of gentility went on as rigorously as ever.

But Topham, musing over his good luck, thought with a shiver on how small an accident it had depended. Had Starkey been at home when the fruiterer called, he, it was plain, would have had the offer of this engagement.

‘With the result that dear old Wigmore would have been bled for who knows how many years by a mere swindler. Whereas he is really being educated, and, for all I know, may some day adorn the Church of England.’ Such thoughts are very consoling.