'
Those were exactly my own foolish words, for which I could have
beaten myself afterwards; but Mr. Castleford only gave a slight
grave smile, and said, 'You mean that your brother's real defect is
in courage, moral and physical.'
'Yes,' I said, with a great effort at expressing myself. 'When he
is frightened, or bullied, or browbeaten, he does not know what he
is doing or saying. He is quite different when he is his own self;
only nobody can understand.'
Strange that though the favoured home son and nearly sixteen years
old, it would have been impossible to utter so much to one of our
parents. Indeed the last sentence felt so disloyal that the colour
burnt in my cheeks as the door opened; but it only admitted
Clarence, who, having heard the front door shut, thought the coast
was clear, and came in with a load of my books and dictionaries.
'Clarence,' said Mr. Castleford, and the direct address made him
start and flush, 'supposing your father consents, should you be
willing to turn your mind to a desk in my counting-house?'
He flushed deeper red, and his fingers quivered as he held by the
table. 'Thank you, sir. Anything--anything,' he said hesitatingly.
'Well,' said Mr. Castleford, with the kindest of voices, 'let us
have it out. What is in your mind? You know, I'm a sort of
godfather to you.'
'Sir, if you would only let me have a berth on board one of your
vessels, and go right away.
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