"A young man wishes to see you, Mr. Melville," said the servant.
George Melville looked up in some surprise from his book, and said: "Youmay show him up."
"It must be Herbert," he thought.
But when the door was opened, and the visitor shown in, Mr. Melvillefound it was an older person than Herbert. Eben, for it was he,distorted his mean features into what he regarded as a pleasant smile,and, without waiting to receive a welcome, came forward with extendedhand.
"I believe you are Mr. Melville," he said, inquiringly.
"Yes, that is my name," said Melville, looking puzzled; "I don'tremember you. Have I met you before?"
"You saw me in father's store, very likely," said Eben. "I am EbenGraham, son of Ebenezer Graham, the postmaster."
"Indeed! That accounts for your face looking familiar. You resemble yourfather very closely."
"I'm a chip off the old block with modern improvements," said Eben,smirking. "Father's always lived in the country, and he ain't verystylish. I've been employed in Boston for a couple of years past, andgot a little city polish."
"You don't show much of it," thought Melville, but he refrained fromsaying so.
"So you have come home to assist your father," he said, politely.
"Well, no, not exactly," answered Eben, "I feel that a country storeisn't my sphere."
"Then you propose to go back to the city?"
"Probably I shall do so eventually, but I may stay here in Wayneboro awhile if I can make satisfactory arrangements. I assure you that it wasnot my wish to take Herbert Carr's place."
"Herbert told me that you had assumed his duties."
"It is only ad interim. I assure you, it is only ad interim. I am quiteready to give back the place to Herbert, who is better suited to it thanI."
"I wonder what the fellow is driving at," thought Melville. Eben did notlong leave him in doubt.
"Herbert tells me that he has made an engagement with you," continuedEben, desiring to come to his business as soon as possible.
"Yes, we have made a mutual arrangement."
"Of course, it is very nice for him; and so I told him."
"I think I am quite as much a gainer by it as he is," said Melville.
"Herbert was right. He is easily suited," said Eben, to himself.
"Of course," Eben added, clearing his throat, "Herbert isn't so much ofa companion to you as if he were a few years older."
"I don't know that; it seems to me that he is a very pleasant companion,young as he is."
"To be sure, Herbert is a nice boy, and father was glad to help himalong by giving him a place, with a larger salary than he ever paidbefore."
"What is he driving at?" thought Melville.
"To come to the point, Mr. Melville," said Eben, "I have made bold tocall upon you to suggest a little difference in your arrangements."
"Indeed!" said Melville, coldly. Though he had no idea what his singularvisitor was about to propose, it struck him emphatically that Eben wasinterfering in an unwarrantable manner with his affairs.
"You see," continued Eben, "I'm a good deal nearer your age thanHerbert, and I've had the advantage of residing in the city, whichHerbert hasn't, and naturally should be more company to you. Then,again, Herbert could do the work in the post office and store, which Iam doing, nearly as well as I can. I'll undertake to get father to givehim back his place, and then I shall be happy to make an arrangementwith you to go hunting and fishing, or anything else that you choose.I am sure I should enjoy your company, Mr. Melville," concluded Eben,rubbing his hands complacently and surveying George Melville with aninsinuating smile.
"You have certainly taken considerable trouble to arrange this matterfor me," said Melville, with a sarcasm which Eben did not detect.
"Oh, no trouble at all!" said Eben, cheerfully. "You see, the idea cameinto my head when Herbert told me of his arrangements with you, and Ithought I'd come and see you about it."
"Did you mention it to Herbert?" asked George Melville, with somecuriosity.
"Well, no, I didn't. I didn't know how Herbert would look at it. I gotHerbert to take my place in the store while I ran over to see you aboutthe matter. By the way, though I am some years older than Herbert, Ishan't ask more than you pay him. In fact, I am willing to leave the payto your liberality."
"You are very considerate!" said Melville, hardly knowing whether to beamused or provoked by the cool assurance of his visitor.
"Oh, not at all!" returned Eben, complacently. "I guess I've fetchedhim!" he reflected, looking at Mr. Melville through his small,half-closed eyes.
"You have certainly surprised me very much, Mr. Graham," said Melville,"by the nature of your suggestion. I won't take into consideration thequestion whether you have thought more of your own pleasure or mine.So far as the latter is concerned, you have made a mistake in supposingthat Herbert's youth is any drawback to his qualification as acompanion. Indeed, his youth and cheerful temperament make him moreattractive in my eyes. I hope, Mr. Graham, you will excuse me for sayingthat he suits me better than you possibly could."
Eben's countenance fell, and he looked quite discomfited and mortified.
"I didn't suppose a raw, country boy would be likely to suit a gentlemanof taste, who has resided in the city," he said, with asperity.
"Then you will have a chance to correct your impression," said Melville,with a slight smile.
"Then you don't care to accept my offer?" said Eben, regretfully.
"Thank you, no. If you will excuse me for suggesting it, Mr. Graham,it would have been more considerate for you to have apprised Herbert ofyour object in asking him to take your place this evening. Probably hehad no idea that you meant to supersede him with me."
Eben tossed his head.
"You mustn't think, Mr. Melville," he said, "that I was after the extrapay. Six dollars doesn't seem much to me. I was earning ten dollars aweek in Boston, and if I had stayed, should probably have been raised totwelve."
"So that you were really consenting to a sacrifice in offering to entermy employment at six dollars a week?"
"Just so!"
"Then I am all the more convinced that I have decided for the best inretaining Herbert. I do not wish to interfere with your prospects in thecity."
"Oh, as for that," said Eben, judging that he had gone too far, "Idon't care to go back to the city just yet. I've been confined prettysteadily, and a few weeks in the country, hunting and fishing, will dome good."
George Melville bowed, but said nothing.
Eben felt that he had no excuse for staying longer, and reluctantlyrose.
"If you should think better of what I've proposed," he said, "you canlet me know."
"I will do so," said Melville.
"He's rather a queer young man," muttered Eben, as he descended thestairs. "It's funny that he should prefer a country boy like Herbert toa young man like me who's seen life, and got some city polish--at thesame price, too! He don't seem to see his own interest. I'm sorry, forit would have been a good deal more interesting to me, going round withhim a few hours a day, than tending store for father. There's one thingsure, I won't do it long. I'm fitted for a higher position than that, Ihope."
"For downright impudence and cool assurance, I think that young man willbear off the palm," thought George Melville, as his unwelcome visitorleft the room. "Herbert is in no danger from him. It would probablysurprise him if he knew that I should consider his company as anintolerable bore. I will tell Herbert to-morrow the good turn his friendhas tried to do him."
CHAPTER IX. THE SOLITARY FARMHOUSE.
Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune Page 8