Quicksilver: The Boy With No Skid to His Wheel

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  DEXTER SPENDS A PLEASANT AFTERNOON.

  Dexter went up to where Helen was waiting for him, and found herdressed. "Going out!" he said.

  "Yes; I thought I would walk up to Sir James's with you," she said; andshe cast a critical eye over him, and smiled upon seeing that he onlyneeded a touch with a brush to make him presentable.

  This was given, and they set off together, the doctor only giving Dextera friendly nod in accordance with a promise made not to upset the boywith a number of hints as to how he was to behave.

  "It must come by degrees, papa," Helen said; "and any advice given nowwould only make him more conscious."

  Dexter's hair still looked horribly short, but his face did not quiteresemble now that of a boy who had just risen from a sick-bed. Helooked brighter and more animated, and in nowise peculiar; but all thesame, in their short walk, Helen was conscious of the fact that theywere being observed by every one they passed, and that plenty of remarkswere made.

  All at once she noticed that Dexter as she was speaking to him gavequite a start, and following the direction of his eyes, she saw that hewas looking at a rough-looking boy, who was approaching them with afishing-rod over his shoulder, and a basket in his hand.

  The boy's mouth widened into a grin as he passed, and Helen asked Dexterif he knew him, the friendly look he had given speaking volumes of a newdifficulty likely to be in their way.

  "I don't know whether I know him--or not," said Dexter. "I've spoken tohim."

  "Where? At the schools!"

  "No; he was fishing on the other side of the river that day I tumbledin."

  "Oh!" said Helen coldly. "Here we are."

  She turned through a great iron gate, walked up a broad flight of steps,and knocked.

  "There, Dexter," she said, as the door was opened. "I hope you willenjoy yourself."

  "Ain't you going in with me!" he whispered excitedly, as a footman in ablue and yellow livery opened the door.

  "No; good-bye."

  She nodded pleasantly, and went down the steps, leaving Dexter face toface with the footman, who had become possessed of the news of the youngguest's quality from no less a personage than Master Edgar himself.

  "Will you come in, please," he said, drawing back, and holding the dooropen with an air that should have made him gain for wages--kicks.

  Dexter said, "Yes, sir," as respectfully as if he were the workhouseporter, and took off his cap and went in.

  "This way, hif you please," said the supercilious gentleman. "You mayleave your cap here."

  Dexter put down his cap, and followed the man to a door at the furtherend of the hall.

  "What name!" said the footman.

  Dexter stared at him.

  "What name shall I announce?" said the man again with chilling dignity.

  "Please, I don't know what you mean," said the boy, feeling very muchconfused.

  The man smiled pityingly, and looked down with a most exasperating kindof condescension at the visitor,--in a way, in fact, that stamped himmentally as a brother in spirit, if not in flesh, of Maria, the doctor'smaid.

  "I 'ave to announce your name to her ladyship," said the footman.

  "Oh, my name," cried Dexter, "Obed Cole--I mean Dexter Grayson."

  He turned more red than ever in his confusion, and before he could sayanother word to add to his correction the door was thrown open.

  "Master Obed Cole Dextry Grayson," said the footman, in a loud voice;and the boy found himself standing in a large handsomely furnished roomin the presence of Lady Danby, who rose with a forced smile, and lookedvery limp.

  "How do you do, Master Grayson!" she said sadly, and she held out herhand.

  Dexter in his confusion made a dash at it, and caught it tightly, tofind that it felt very limp and cold, but the sensation did not lastlong, for the thin white fingers were snatched away.

  "Eddy, dear," said Lady Danby.

  There was no answer, and Dexter stood there, feeling very uncomfortable,and staring hard at the tall lady, who spoke in such an ill-used tone ofvoice.

  "Eddy, my darling," she said a little more loudly, as she turned andlooked toward a glass door opening into a handsome conservatory; "comeand shake hands with Master Grayson."

  There was no reply, but a faint rustling sound fell upon Dexter's quickears, telling plainly enough that some one was in the conservatory.

  Lady Danby sighed, and there was a very awkward pause.

  "Perhaps you had better sit down, Master Grayson," she said. "My sonwill be here soon."

  Just at that moment there was a loud important sounding cough in thehall, the handle of the door rattled loudly, and Sir James entered,walking very upright, and smiling with his eyes half-closed.

  "Aha!" he exclaimed. "Here you are, then. How do you do--how do youdo--how do you do!"

  He shook hands boisterously, nodding and smiling the while, and Dexterwondered whether he ought to say, "Quite well, thank you, sir," threetimes over, but he only said it once.

  "That's right," said Sir James. "Quite safe here, eh? No bullocks torun after us now."

  "No, sir," said Dexter uneasily.

  "But where's Eddy!" cried Sir James.

  "He was here a little while ago, my dear," said Lady Danby uneasily. "Ithink he has gone down the garden."

  "No; I think not," said Sir James. "Here, Eddy! Eddy!"

  "Yes, pa," came out of the conservatory.

  "Why, where are you, sir? Come and shake hands with our young friend."

  Master Edgar came slowly into sight, entered the drawing-room, and stoodstill.

  "Well; why don't you welcome your visitor? Come here."

  Master Edgar came a little more forward.

  "Now, then, shake hands with your friend."

  Master Edgar slowly held out a white thin hand in the direction ofDexter, who caught it eagerly, and felt as if he were shaking hands withLady Danby again.

  "That's better," said Sir James. "Now the ice is broken I hope you twowill be very great friends. There, we shall have an early dinner foryou at three o'clock. Better leave them to themselves, my dear."

  "Very well, my love," responded Lady Danby sadly.

  "Take Dexter Grayson and show him your games, and your pony, and thenyou can take him round the garden, but don't touch the boat."

  "No, pa," said Edgar slowly.

  "He's a little shy, Dexter," said Sir James.

  "No, I ain't, ma," said Edgar, in a whisper.

  "We are very glad to see you, Dexter," continued Sir James. "There,now, go and enjoy yourself out in the garden, you'll find plenty to see.Come, Eddy."

  Master Edgar looked slowly and sulkily up at his father, and seemed tohesitate, not even glancing at his visitor.

  "Well!" said Sir James sharply. "Why are you hesitating? Come: runalong. That way, Dexter, my lad. You two will soon be good friends."

  Dexter tried to smile, but it was a very poor apology for a look ofpleasure, while Sir James, who seemed rather annoyed at his son'sshrinking, uncouth conduct, laid his hand upon the boy's shoulder andled him into the conservatory.

  "Come, Eddy," he said bluffly.

  "Must I go, ma!" whispered Eddy.

  "Yes, my dear, certainly. Papa wishes it, and you must behave like ayoung gentleman to your guest."

  "Come, Eddy," shouted Sir James from the conservatory.

  Master Edgar went out sidewise in a very crabby way, and found Sir Jameswaiting.

  "There, no more shyness," said Sir James bluffly. "Go out and enjoyyourselves till dinner-time."

  He nodded and smiled at them, gave his son a push toward Dexter, andreturned to where Lady Danby was seated, with her brow all in wrinkles.

  "They will soon make friends," said Sir James. "It's Grayson's whim, ofcourse, and really, my dear, this seems to be a decent sort of boy.Very rough, of course, but Eddy will give him polish. This class of boyis very quick at picking up things; and if, after a few
weeks, Graysonis disappointed and finds out his mistake, why, then, we have behaved ina neighbourly way to him and Helen, and there's an end of it."

  "But it seems so shocking for poor Eddy, my dear," remonstrated LadyDanby.

  "Fish! pooh! tchah! rubbish! not at all!"

  "Eddy may pick up bad language from him, and become rude."

  "He had better not!" said Sir James. "He knows differently. The otheryoung dog will learn from him. Make him discontented, I'm afraid; butthere--it is not our doing."

  Lady Danby sighed.

  "They'll come back in a hour or two quite companions," continued SirJames. "Boys like that are a little awkward at their first meeting.Soon wear off. I am going to write letters till three. After theirdinner perhaps I shall take them in the boat down the river."

  Lady Danby sighed again, and Sir James went to see to his letters forthe post.

  By this time Master Edgar had walked softly out on to the lawn, with hisright hand in his pocket, and his left thumb playing about his mouth,looking the while in all directions but that occupied by Dexter, whofollowed him slowly, waiting for his young host to speak.

  But Eddy did not seem to have the slightest intention of speaking. Heonly sidled away slowly across the lawn, and then down one of thewinding paths among the shrubs and ornamental trees.

  This went on for about ten minutes, during which they got to be furtherand further from the house, not a word being spoken; and though Dexterlooked genial and eager as he followed his young host, the silencechilled him as much as did the studied way in which his companionavoided his eyes.

  "What a beautiful garden you've got!" said Dexter at last.

  There was no reply.

  Eddy picked up a stone, and threw it at a thrush.

  "It's bigger than Dr Grayson's," said Dexter, after a pause.

  Eddy picked a flower, gave a chew at the stalk; then picked it topieces, and threw it away.

  Then he began to sidle along again in and out among the trees, and onand on, never once looking at his companion till they were at the bottomof the garden. A pleasant piece of lawn, dotted with ornamental trees,sloped down to the river where, in a Gothic-looking boat-house, open ateither end, a handsome-looking gig floated in the clear water.

  "That your boat?" said Dexter eagerly, as his eyes ran over thecushioned seats, and the sculls of varnished wood lying all ready alongthe thwarts.

  Edgar made no reply, only moved nearer to the water, and threw himselfon a garden seat near the edge.

  "Isn't this a good place for fishing?" said Dexter, trying another tack.

  No answer, and it was getting very monotonous. But Dexter took it allgood-humouredly, attributing the boy's manner more to shyness thanactual discourtesy.

  "I say, don't you fish sometimes!"

  No reply.

  "Have you got any rods and lines!"

  Eddy gave a contemptuous sniff, which might have meant anything.

  "There's lots at Dr Grayson's," said Dexter eagerly, for the sight ofthe roach gliding about in the clear water in the shade of theboat-house excited the desire to begin angling. "Shall I go and fetchthe rods and lines?"

  Eddy leaned back in the garden seat, and rested his head upon his hand.

  In despair Dexter sighed, and then recalled Sir James's words abouttheir enjoying themselves.

  It was a lovely day; the garden was very beautiful; the river ran by,sparkling and bright; but there was very little enjoyment so far, andDexter sat down upon the grass at a little distance from his young host.

  But it was not in Dexter's nature to sit still long, and after staringhard at the bright water for a few minutes, he looked up brightly atEdgar.

  "I say," he cried; "that bullock didn't hurt you the other day, did it?"

  Edgar shifted himself a little in his seat, so that he could stare inthe other direction, and he tried to screw up his mouth into what wasmeant to be a supercilious look, though it was a failure, beingextremely pitiful, and very small.

  Dexter waited for a few minutes, and then continued the one-sidedconversation--

  "I never felt afraid of bullocks," he said thoughtfully. "If you hadrun after them with your stick--I say, you got your stick, didn't you?"

  No reply.

  "Oh, well," said Dexter; "if you don't want to talk, I don't."

  "I don't want to talk to a boy like you," said Edgar, without looking.

  Dexter started, and stared hard.

  "I'm not accustomed to associate with workhouse boys."

  Dexter flinched.

  Not long back the idea of being a workhouse boy did not trouble him inthe least. He knew that there were plenty of boys who were notworkhouse boys, and seeing what freedom they enjoyed, and how muchhappier they seemed, something of the nature of envy had at times creptinto his breast, but, on the whole, he had been very well contented tillhe commenced his residence at the doctor's; and now all seemed changed.

  "I'm not a workhouse boy," he said hotly.

  "Yes, you are," retorted Edgar, looking at him hard, full in the face,for the first time. "I know where you came from, and why you werefetched."

  Dexter's face was burning, and there was an angry look in his eyes, ashe jumped up and took a couple of steps toward where Edgar sat back onthe garden seat. But his pleasant look came back, and he held out hishand.

  "I'm not ashamed of it," he said. "I used to be at the workhouse.Won't you shake hands!"

  Edgar sniffed contemptuously, and turned his head away.

  "Very well," said Dexter sadly. "I don't want to, if you don't."

  Edgar suddenly leaped up, and went along by the side of the river, whileDexter, after a few moments' hesitation, began to follow him in alonely, dejected way, wishing all the time that he could go back home.

  Following out his previous tactics, Edgar sidled along path after path,and in and out among the evergreen clumps, all the while taking care notto come within sight of the house, so that his actions might be seen;while, feeling perfectly helpless and bound to follow the caprices ofhis young host, Dexter continued his perambulation of the garden in thesame unsatisfactory manner.

  "Look here," cried Edgar at last; "don't keep following me about."

  "Very well," said Dexter, as he stood still in the middle of one of thepaths, wondering whether he could slip away, and return to the doctor's.

  That seemed a difficult thing to do, for Sir James might see him going,and call him back, and then what was he to say? Besides which, when hereached the doctor's there would be a fresh examination, and he feltthat the excuse he gave would not be satisfactory.

  Dexter sighed, and glanced in the direction taken by Edgar.

  The boy was not within sight, but Dexter fancied that he had hidden, andwas watching him, and he turned in the other direction, lookinghopelessly about the garden, which seemed to be more beautiful andextensive than the doctor's; but, in spite of the wealth of greenery andflowers, everything looked cheerless and cold.

  Dexter sighed. Then a very natural boyish thought came into his head.

  "I wonder what's for dinner," he said to himself; but at the same timehe knew that it must be a long while yet to dinner-time, and, sighingonce more, he walked slowly down the path, found himself near the riveragain, and went and sat on a stump close to the boat-house, where hecould look into the clear water, and see the fish.

  It was very interesting to him to watch the little things gliding hereand there, and he wished that he had a rod and line to try for some ofthem, when all at once he started, for a well-aimed stone struck himupon the side of the head, and as it reached its goal, and Dexterstarted up angrily, there was a laugh and a rustle among the shrubs.

  As the pain went off, so did Dexter's anger, and he reseated himselfupon the stump, thinking, with his young wits sharpened by his earlylife.

  "I don't call this coming out to enjoy myself," he said drily. "Wonderwhether all young gentleman behave like this?"

  Then he began thinking about
Sam Stubbs, a boy at the workhouse school,who was a terrible bully and tyrant, knocking all his companions about.

  But the sight of the clean-looking well-varnished boat, floating soeasily in the shade of the roof of its house, took his attention, and hebegan thinking of how he should like a boat like that to push off intothe stream, and go floating along in the sunshine, looking down at thefish, and fastening up every now and then to the overhanging trees. Itwould be glorious, he thought.

  "I wish Dr Grayson had a boat," he thought. "I could learn to row it,and--"

  _Whack_!

  Dexter jumped up again, tingling with pain; and then with his facescarlet he sat down once more writhing involuntarily, and drawing hisbreath hard, as there was a mocking laugh.

  The explanation was simple. Master Edgar was dissatisfied. It was verypleasant to his spoiled, morbid mind to keep on slighting and annoyinghis guest by making him dance attendance upon him, and dragging himabout the garden wherever he pleased to go; but it was annoying anddisappointing to find that he was being treated with a calm display ofcontempt.

  Under these circumstances Master Edgar selected a good-sized stone--onewhich he thought would hurt--and took excellent aim at Dexter, where hesat contemplating the river.

  The result was most satisfactory: Dexter had winced, evidently sufferedsharp pain, but only submitted to it, and sat down again twistinghimself about.

  Edgar laughed heartily, in fact the tears stood in his eyes, and heretreated, but only to where he could watch Dexter attentively.

  "He's a coward," said Edgar to himself. "All that sort of boys are."And with the determination of making his visitor a kind of captive tohis bow and spear, or, in plainer English, a slave to his caprices, hewent to one of the beds where some sticks had lately been put to someyoung plants, and selecting one that was new, thin, and straight, hewent back on tiptoe, watched his opportunity, and then brought the stickdown sharply across Dexter's back.

  He drew back for a few moments, his victim's aspect being menacing; butDexter's young spirit had been kept crushed down for a good many years,and his custom had been under many a blow to sit and suffer patiently,not even crying aloud, Mr Sibery objecting to any noise in the school.

  Dexter had subsided again. The flashes that darted from his eyes haddied out, and those eyes looked subdued and moist.

  For the boy was mentally, as well as bodily hurt, and he wondered whatHelen would say, and whether Sir James would correct his son if he sawhim behaving in that manner to his visitor.

  "Hey: get up!" said Edgar, growing more bold, as he found that he couldill-use his guest with impunity; and as he spoke he gave him a roughpoke or two with the sharp end of the stick, which had been pointed withthe gardener's pruning-knife.

  His treatment of Dexter resembled that which he had been accustomed tobestow upon an unfortunate dog he had once owned--one which became sofond of him that at last it ran away.

  "Do you hear!" cried Edgar again. "Get up."

  "Don't: you hurt."

  "Yes: meant to hurt," said Edgar, grinning. "Get up."

  He gave Dexter so sharp a dig with the stick that the latter jumped upangrily, and Edgar drew back; but on seeing that the visitor only wenton a few yards to where there was a garden seat, and sat down again, theyoung tyrant became emboldened, and went behind the seat with amalicious look of satisfaction in his eyes.

  "Don't do that," said Dexter quietly. "Let's have a game at something.Do you think we might go in that boat?"

  "I should think not indeed," cried Edgar, who now seemed to have foundhis tongue. "Boats are for young gentlemen, not for boys from theUnion."

  Dexter winced a little, and Edgar looked pleased.

  "Get up!" he shouted; and he made another lunge with the stick.

  "I'm always getting into trouble," thought Dexter, as the result of thelast few days' teachings, "and I don't want to do anything now."

  "Do you hear, blackguard? Get up!"

  There was another sharp poke, a painful poke, against which, as he movedto the other end of the seat, Dexter uttered a mild protest.

  "Did you hear me say, `Get up'?" shouted Edgar.

  Dexter obeyed, and moved a little nearer to the water's edge.

  "I wish it was time to go," he said to himself. "I am so miserablehere."

  "Now, go along there," said Edgar sharply. "Go on!"

  The boy seemed to have a donkey in his mind's eye just then, for hethrust and struck at Dexter savagely, and then hastily threw down thestick, as an angry glow was gathering in his visitor's countenance. Forjust then there was a step heard upon the gravel.

  "Ah, Eddy, my darling," said a voice; and Lady Danby walked languidlyby, holding up a parasol. "At play, my dear?"

  She did not glance at Dexter, who felt very solitary and sad as the ladypassed on, Master Eddy throwing himself on the grass, and picking it offin patches to toss toward the water till his mother was out of sight,when he sprang up once more, and picked the stick from where he hadthrown it upon a bed.

  As he did this he glanced sidewise, and then stood watching for a fewminutes, when he made a playful kind of charge at his visitor, and drovethe point of the stick so vigorously against his back that the clothgave way, making a triangular hole, and causing the owner no littlepain.

  "Don't," cried Dexter appealingly; "you hurt ever so. Let's play atsome game."

  "I'm going to," cried Edgar, with a vicious laugh. "I'm going to playat French and English, and you're the beggarly Frenchman at Waterloo.That's the way to charge bayonets. How do you like that, and that, andthat!"

  "Not at all," said Dexter, trying hard to be good-humoured.

  "Then you'll have to like it, and ever so much more, too. Get up,blackguard. Do you hear?"

  Dexter rose and retreated; but, with no little agility, Edgar got beforehim, and drove him toward the water, stabbing and lunging at him sosavagely, that if he had not parried some of the thrusts with his handshis face must have been torn.

  Edgar grew more and more excited over his work, and Dexter received anasty dig on one hand, another in the cheek, while another grazed hisear.

  This last was beyond bearing. The hurt was not so bad as several whichhe had before received; but, perhaps from its nearness to his brain, itseemed to rouse Dexter more than any former blow, and, with an angrycry, he snatched at and caught the stick just as it came near his face.

  "Let go of that stick! Do you hear?" cried Edgar.

  For response Dexter, who was now roused, held on tightly, and tried topull the stick away.

  "Let go," cried Edgar, tugging and snatching with all his might.

  Dexter's rage was as evanescent as it was quick. It passed away, and ashis enemy made another furious tug at the stick Dexter suddenly let go,and the consequence was the boy staggered back a few yards, and thencame down heavily in a sitting position upon the grass.

  Edgar sat and stared for a few moments, the sudden shock being anythingbut pleasant; but, as he saw Dexter's mirthful face, a fit of rageseized him, and, leaping up, he resumed his attack with the stick.

  This time his strokes and thrusts were so malicious, and given with sodecided a desire to hurt his victim as much as was possible, that, shortof running away, Dexter had to do everything possible to avoid theblows.

  For the most part he was successful; but at last he received so numbinga blow across the arm that he quivered with pain and anger as he sprangforward, and, in place of retreating, seized the stick, and tried towrest it away.

  There was a brief struggle, but pretty full of vigour.

  Rage made Edgar strong, and he fought well for his weapon, but at theend of a minute's swaying here and there, and twistings and heavingsinnumerable, Edgar's arms felt as if they were being torn from his body,the stick was wrenched away, and as he stood scarlet with passion, hesaw it whirled into the air, to fall with a loud splash into the river.

  Edgar ground his teeth for a moment or two, and then, as white withanger as his
adversary was red, he flew at him, swaying his arms round,and then there was a furious encounter.

  Edgar had his own ideas about fighting manoeuvres, which he had triedagain and again upon his nurse in bygone times, and upon any of theservants with whom he had come in contact. His arms flew round likeflails, or as if he had been transformed into a kind of human firework,and for the next five minutes he kicked, scratched, bit, and tore at hisadversary; the next five minutes he was seated upon the grass, howling,his nose bleeding terribly, and the crimson stains carried by his handsall over his face.

  For Dexter was not perfect: he had borne till it was impossible to bearmore, and then, with his anger surging up, he had fought as adown-trodden English boy will sometimes fight; and in this case with thepluck and steadiness learned in many a school encounter, unknown to MrSibery or Mr Hippetts, the keen-eyed and stern.

  Result: what might be expected. Dexter felt no pain, only an intensedesire to thrash the virulent little tyrant who had scratched his face,kicked his shins, torn at his hair--it was too short still for a goodhold--and, finally, made his sharp, white teeth meet in his visitor'sneck.

  "Served you right!" muttered Dexter, as he knelt down by the river, andbathed his hands and face before dabbing them dry with hispocket-handkerchief. "No business to treat me like that."

  Then, as he stood rubbing his face--very little the worse for theencounter--his anger all passed away, and the consequences of his actdawned upon him.

  "Look here," he said; "it was all your fault. Come to the water; thatwill soon stop bleeding."

  He held out his hand, as he bent over the fallen tyrant, meaning to helphim to rise, when, quick as lightning, Edgar caught the hand profferedto him and carried it to his teeth.

  Dexter uttered a cry of pain, and shook him off, sending him backwardsnow upon the grass, just as a shadow fell across the contending boys,and Sir James stood frowning there.