"He couldn"t look at me and doubt me." But I were not to be caughtwith such chaff from such a fellow as him, and so I told him; and, byway of being even, I asked him after his father (who I knew had turnedhim out of doors), as if they was the best friends as ever was. So then,to spite me--for you see we were getting savage, for all we were so civilto each other--he began to inquire after Master Frederick, and said, whata scrape he"d got into (as if Master Frederick"s scrapes would ever washGeorge Leonards" white, or make "em look otherwise than nasty, dirtyblack), and how he"d be hung for mutiny if ever he were caught, andhow a hundred pound reward had been offered for catching him, andwhat a disgrace he had been to his family--all to spite me, you see, mydear, because before now I"ve helped old Mr. Leonards to give George agood rating, down in Southampton. So I said, there were other familiesbe thankful if they could think they were earning an honest living as Iknew, who had far more cause to blush for their sons, and to far awayfrom home. To which he made answer, like the impudent chap he is,that he were in a confidential situation, and if I knew of any young manwho had been so unfortunate as to lead vicious courses, and wanted toturn steady, he"d have no objection to lend him his patronage. He,indeed! Why, he"d corrupt a sairt. I"ve not felt so bad myself for years aswhen I were standing talking to him the other day. I could have cried tothink I couldn"t spite him better, for he kept smiling in my face, as if hetook all my compliments for earnest; and I couldn"t see that he mindedwhat I said in the least, while I was mad with all his speeches."
"But you did not tell him anything about us--about Frederick?"
"Not I," said Dixon. "He had never the grace to ask where I was staying;and I shouldn"t have told him if he had asked. Nor did I ask him whathis precious situation was. He was waiting for a bus, and just then itdrove up, and he hailed it. But, to plague me to the last, he turned backbefore he got in, and said, "If you can help me to trap Lieutenant Hale,Miss Dixon, we"ll go partners in the reward. I know you"d like to be mypartner, now wouldn"t you? Don"t be shy, but say yes." And he jumpedon the bus, and I saw his ugly face leering at me with a wicked smile tothink how he"d had the last word of plaguing."
Margaret was made very uncomfortable by this account of Dixon"s.
"Have you told Frederick?" asked she.
"No," said Dixon. "I were uneasy in my mind at knowing that badLeonards was in town; but there was so much else to think about that Idid not dwell on it at all. But when I saw master sitting so stiff, and withhis eyes so glazed and sad, I thought it might rouse him to have to think of Master Frederick"s safety a bit. So I told him all, though I blushed tosay how a young man had been speaking to me. And it has done mastergood. And if we"re to keep Master Frederick in hiding, he would have togo, poor fellow, before Mr. Bell came."
"Oh, I"m not afraid of Mr. Bell; but I am afraid of this Leonards. I musttell Frederick. What did Leonards look like?"
"A bad-looking fellow, I can assure you, miss. Whiskers such as Ishould be ashamed to wear--they are so red. And for all he said he"d gota confidential situation, he was dressed in fustian just like a workingman."
It was evident that Frederick must go. Go, too, when he had socompletely vaulted into his place in the family, and promised to be sucha stay and staff to his father and sister. Go, when his cares for the livingmother, and sorrow for the dead, seemed to make him one of thosepeculiar people who are bound to us by a fellow-love for them that aretaken away. Just as Margaret was thinking all this, sitting over thedrawing-room fire--her father restless and uneasy under the pressure ofthis newly-aroused fear, of which he had not as yet spoken--Frederickcame in, his brightness dimmed, but the extreme violence of his griefpassed away. He came up to Margaret, and kissed her forehead.
"How wan you look, Margaret!" said he in a low voice. "You have beenthinking of everybody, and no one has thought of you. Lie on this sofa-thereis nothing for you to do."
"That is the worst," said Margaret, in a sad whisper. But she went and laydown, and her brother covered her feet with a shawl, and then sate onthe ground by her side; and the two began to talk in a subdued tone.
Margaret told him all that Dixon had related of her interview withyoung Leonards. Frederick"s lips closed with a long whew of dismay.
"I should just like to have it out with that young fellow. A worse sailorwas never on board ship--nor a much worse man either. I declare,Margaret--you know the circumstances of the whole affair?"
"Yes, mamma told me."
"Well, when all the sailors who were good for anything were indignantwith our captain, this fellow, to curry favour--pah! And to think of hisbeing here! Oh, if he"d a notion I was within twenty miles of him, he"dferret me out to pay off old grudges. I"d rather anybody had the hundredpounds they think I am worth than that rascal. What a pity poor oldDixon could not be persuaded to give me up, and make a provision forher old age!"
"Oh, Frederick, hush! Don"t talk so."
Mr. Hale came towards them, eager and trembling. He had overheardwhat they were saying. He took Frederick"s hand in both of his:
"My boy, you must go. It is very bad--but I see you must. You have done all you could--you have been a comfort to her."
"Oh, papa, must he go?" said Margaret, pleading against her ownconviction of necessity.
"I declare, I"ve a good mind to face it out, and stand my trial. If I couldonly pick up my evidence! I cannot endure the thought of being in thepower of such a blackguard as Leonards. I could almost have enjoyed-inother circumstances--this stolen visit: it has had all the charm whichthe French-woman attributed to forbidden pleasures."
"One of the earliest things I can remember," said Margaret, "was yourbeing in some great disgrace, Fred, for stealing apples. We had plentyof our own--trees loaded with them; but some one had told you thatstolen fruit tasted sweetest, which you took au pied de la lettre, and offyou went a-robbing. You have not changed your feelings much sincethen."
