Norman said nothing more; but he felt that Tudor had
done that which, if known, would disgrace him for
ever. It might, however, very probably never
be known; and it might also be that Tudor would never
act so dishonestly again. On the following morning
the money was paid; and in the course of the next week
the shares were resold, and the money repaid, and
Alaric Tudor, for the first time in his life, found
himself to be the possessor of over three hundred
pounds.
Such was the price which Scott, Manylodes, & Co.,
had found it worth their while to pay him for his
good report on Mary Jane.
THE THREE KINGS
And now came the all-important week. On the Saturday
the three young men went down to Hampton. Charley
had lately been leading a very mixed sort of life.
One week he would consort mainly with the houri of
the Norfolk Street beer-shop, and the next he would
be on his good behaviour, and live as respectably as
circumstances permitted him to do. His scope
in this respect was not large. The greatest respectability
which his unassisted efforts could possibly achieve
was to dine at a cheap eating-house, and spend his
evenings, at a cigar divan. He belonged to no
club, and his circle of friends, except in the houri
and navvy line, was very limited. Who could expect
that a young man from the Internal Navigation would
sit for hours and hours alone in a dull London lodging,
over his book and tea-cup? Who should expect
that any young man will do so? And yet mothers,
and aunts, and anxious friends, do expect it—very
much in vain.
During Alaric’s absence at Tavistock, Norman
had taken Charley by the hand and been with him a
good deal. He had therefore spent an uncommonly
respectable week, and the Norfolk Street houri would
have been au desespoir, but that she had other
Charleys to her bow. When he found himself getting
into a first-class carriage at the Waterloo-bridge
station with his two comrades, he began to appreciate
the comfort of decency, and almost wished that he
also had been brought up among the stern morals and
hard work of the Weights and Measures.
Nothing special occurred at Surbiton Cottage.
It might have been evident to a watchful bystander
that Alaric was growing in favour with all the party,
excepting Mrs. Woodward, and that, as he did so, Harry
was more and more cherished by her.
This was specially shown in one little scene.
Alaric had brought down with him to Hampton the documents
necessary to enable him to draw out his report on
Mary Jane. Indeed, it was all but necessary that
he should do so, as his coming examination would leave
him but little time for other business during the week.
On Saturday night he sat up at his inn over the papers,
and on Sunday morning, when Mrs. Woodward and the
girls came down, ready bonneted, for church, he signified
his intention of remaining at his work.
