masterman ready-第29章

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f　Mr。　Masterman；　the　ship…builder；　was　still　alive。　He　told　me　that　he　had　been　dead　about　three　months。　‘And　to　whom　did　he　leave　his　money？'　I　asked；　‘for　he　was　very　rich；　and　had　no　kin。'　‘He　had　no　relations；'　replied　the　gentleman；　‘and　he　left　all　his　money　to　build　an　hospital　and　almshouses。　He　had　a　partner　in　his　business　latterly；　and　he　left　the　yard　and　all　the　stores　to　him；　I　believe；　because　he　did　not　know　whom　to　leave　it　to。　There　was　a　lad　whom　I　knew　for　certain　he　intended　to　have　adopted　and　to　have　made　his　heir　…　a　lad　of　the　name　of　Ready；　but　he　ran　away　to　sea；　and　has　never　been　heard　of　since。　It　is　supposed　that　he　was　lost　in　a　prize；　for　he　was　traced　so　far。　Foolish　boy　that　he　was。　He　might　now　have　been　a　man　of　fortune。'

〃‘Very　foolish　indeed；'　replied　I。

〃‘Yes；　but　he　has　harmed　more　than　himself。　His　poor　mother；　who　doted　upon　him；　as　soon　as　she　heard　that　he　was　lost；　pined　away　by　degrees；　and'

〃‘You　don't　mean　to　say　that　she　is　dead？'　interrupted　I；　seizing　the　gentleman　by　the　arm。

〃‘Yes；'　replied　he；　looking　at　me　with　surprise；　‘she　died　last　year　of　a　broken　heart。'

〃I　fell　back　on　the　luggage　behind　me；　and　should　have　fallen　off　the　coach　if　the　gentleman　had　not　held　me。　He　called　to　the　coachman　to　pull　up　the　horses；　and　they　took　me　down；　and　put　me　inside；　and　as　the　coach　rolled　on；　I　cried　as　if　my　heart　would　break。〃

Ready　appeared　so　much　affected；　that　Mr。　Seagrave　proposed　that　he　should　leave　off　his　history　for　the　present。

〃Thank　you；　sir；　it　will　be　better；　for　I　feel　my　old　eyes　dim　with　tears；　even　now。　It's　a　dreadful　thing　in　after…life　to　reflect　upon；　that　your　foolish　conduct　has　hastened　the　death　of　a　most　kind　mother；　but　so　it　was；　William；　and　I　give　you　the　truth　for　your　advantage。〃



Chapter　XL

A　few　mornings　afterwards；　Juno　came　in　before　breakfast　with　six　eggs　in　her　apron；　which　she　had　found　in　the　hen…house。

〃Look；　Missy　Seagrave　…　fowls　lay　eggs　…　soon　have　plenty　…　plenty　for　Master　William　…　make　him　well　again　…　and　plenty　for　chickens　by　and　by。〃

〃You　haven't　taken　them　all　out　of　the　nests；　Juno；　have　you？〃

〃No；　leave　one　in　each　nest　for　hen　to　see。〃

〃‘Well；　then；　we　will　keep　them　for　William；　and　I　hope；　as　you　say；　they　will　make　him　strong　again。〃

〃I　am　getting　quite　strong　now；　mother；〃　replied　William；　〃I　think　it　would　be　better　to　leave　the　eggs　for　the　hens　to　sit　upon。〃

〃No；　no；　William；　your　health　is　of　more　consequence　than　having　early　chickens。〃

For　a　few　days　Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready　were　employed　at　the　garden　clearing　away　the　weeds；　which　had　begun　to　sprout　up　along　with　the　seeds　which　had　been　sown；　during　which　time　William　recovered　very　fast。　The　two　first　days；　Juno　brought　in　three　or　four　eggs　regularly；　but　on　the　third　day　there　were　none　to　be　found。　On　the　fourth　day　the　hens　appeared　also　not　to　have　laid；　much　to　the　surprise　of　Mrs。　Seagrave；　as　when　hens　commence　laying　eggs　they　usually　continue。　On　the　fifth　morning；　when　they　sat　down　to　breakfast；　Master　Tommy　did　not　make　his　appearance；　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　asked　where　he　was。

〃I　suspect；　madam；〃　said　Old　Ready；　laughing；　〃that　Tommy　will　not　come　either　to　his　breakfast　or　his　dinner　to…day。〃

〃What　can　you　mean；　Ready？〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃Why；　madam；　I　will　tell　you。　I　thought　it　very　odd　that　there　were　no　eggs；　and　I　thought　it　probable　that　the　hens　might　have　laid　astray；　so　I　went　about　yesterday　evening　to　search。　I　could　not　find　any　eggs；　but　I　found　the　egg…shells；　hid　under　some　cocoa…nut　leaves；　and　I　argued；　that　if　an　animal；　supposing　there　was　any　on　the　island；　had　taken　the　eggs；　it　would　not　have　been　so　careful　to　hide　the　egg…shells。　So；　this　morning；　I　fastened　up　the　door　of　the　hen…house；　and　only　left　open　the　little　sliding　door；　by　which　the　fowls　go　in　to　roost；　and　then；　after　you　were　up；　I　watched　behind　the　trees；　and　saw　Tommy　come　out；　and　go　to　the　hen…house。　He　tried　the　door；　and　finding　it　fast；　crept　into　the　hen…house　by　the　little　sliding…door。　As　soon　as　he　was　in　I　let　down　the　slide；　and　fastened　it　with　a　nail；　so　there　he　is；　caught　in　his　own　trap。〃

〃And　there　shall　he　remain　all　day；　the　little　glutton！〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃Yes；　it　will　serve　him　right；〃　replied　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃and　be　a　lesson　to　him。〃

Mr。　Seagrave；　Ready；　and　William；　as　usual；　went　down　to　their　work；　Mrs。　Seagrave　and　Juno；　with　little　Caroline；　were　busy　indoors。　Tommy　remained　very　quiet　for　an　hour；　when　he　commenced　roaring；　but　it　was　of　no　use；　no　one　paid　any　attention　to　him。　At　dinner…time　he　began　to　roar　again；　but　with　as　little　success：　it　was　not　till　the　evening　that　the　door　of　the　hen…house　was　opened；　and　Tommy　permitted　to　come　out。　He　looked　very　foolish；　and　sat　down　in　a　corner　without　speaking。

〃Well；　Tommy；　how　many　eggs　did　you　suck　to…day〃　said　Ready。

〃Tommy　won't　suck　eggs　any　more；〃　said　the　urchin。

〃No；　you　had　better　not；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃or　you　will　find；　in　the　end；　that　you　will　have　less　to　eat；　instead　of　more；　as　you　have　this　day。〃

Tommy　waited　very　quietly　and　very　sulkily　till　supper　was　ready；　when　he　made　up　for　lost　time。　After　which　Ready　continued　his　narrative。

〃I　told　you；　William；　that　I　was　informed　by　the　gentleman　on　the　coach　that　my　mother　had　died　of　a　broken　heart；　in　consequence　of　my　supposed　death。　I　was　in　agony　until　I　arrived　at　Newcastle；　where　I　could　ascertain　all　the　facts　connected　with　her　decease。　When　the　coach　stopped；　the　gentleman；　who　had　remained　outside；　came　to　the　coach　door；　and　said　to　me；　‘If　I　mistake　not；　you　are　Masterman　Ready；　who　ran　away　to　sea；　are　you　not？'　‘Yes；　sir；'　replied　I；　very　sorrowfully；　‘I　am。'　‘Well；　my　man；'　said　he；　‘cheer　up；　when　you　went　away　you　were　young　and　thoughtless；　and　certainly　had　no　idea　that　you　would　have　distressed　your　mother　as　you　did。　It　was　not　your　going　to　sea；　but　the　report　of　your　death；　which　preyed　so　much　upon　her　mind；　and　that　was　not　your　fault。　You　must　come　with　me；　as　I　have　something　to　say　to　you。'

〃‘I　will　call　upon　you　to…morrow；　sir；'　replied　I；　‘I　cannot　do　anything　until　I　talk　to　the　neighbours　and　visit　my　poor　mother's　grave。　It　is　very　true　that　I　did　not　intend　to　distress　my　mother；　and　that　the　report　of　my　death　was　no　fault　of　mine。　But　I　cannot　help　feeling　that；　if　I　had　not　been　so　thoughtless；　she　would　be　still　alive　and　happy。'　The　gentleman　gave　me　his　address；　and　I　promised　to　call　upon　him　next　morning。　I　then　went　to　the　house　my　mother　used　to　live　in。　I　knew　that　she　was　not　there；　yet　I　was　disappointed　and　annoyed　when　I　heard　merry　laughter　within。　I　looked　in；　for　the　door　was　open；　in　the　corner　where　my　mother　used　to　sit；　there　was　a　mangle；　and　two　women　busily　at　work；　others　were　ironing　at　a　large　table；　and　when　they　cried　out　to　me；　‘What　do　you　want？'　and　laughed　at　me；　I　turned　away　in　disgust；　and　went　to　a　neighbouring　cottage；　the　inmates　of　which　had　been　very　intimate　with　my　mother。　I　found　the　wife　at　home；　but　she　did　not　know　me；　and　I　told　her　who　I　was。　She　had　attended　my　mother　during　her　illness；　till　the　day　of　her　death；　and　she　told　me　all　I　wished　to　know。　It　was　some　little　relief　to　my　mind　to　hear　that　my　poor　mother　could　not　have　lived；　as　she　had　an　incurable　cancer；　but　at　the　same　time　the　woman　told　me　that　I　was　ever　in　her　thoughts；　and　that　my　name　was　the　last　word　on　her　lips。　She　also　said　that　Mr。　Masterman　had　been　very　kind　to　my　mother；　and　that　she　had　wanted　nothing。　I　then　asked　her　to　show　me　where　my　mother　had　been　buried。　She　put　on　her　bonnet；　and　led　me　to　the　grave；　and　then；　at　my　request；　she　left　me。　I　seated　myself　down　by　the　mound　of　turf　which　covered　her；　and　long　and　bitterly　did　I　weep　her　loss　and　pray　for　forgiveness。

〃It　was　quite　dark　when　I　left　the　spot　and　went　back　to　the　cottage　of　the　kind　woman　who　had　attended　my　mother。　I　conversed　with　her　and　her　husband　till　late；　and　then；　as　they　offered　me　a　bed；　I　remained　with　them　that　night。　Next　morning　I　went　to　keep　my　appointment　with　the　gentleman　whom　I　had　met　in　the　coach：　I　found　by　the　brass　plate　on　the　door　that　he　was　a　lawyer。　He　desired　me　to　sit　down；　and　then　he　closed　the　door　carefully；　and　having　asked　me　many　questions；　to　ascertain　if　I　was　really　Masterman　Ready；　he　said　he　was　the　person　employed　at　Mr。　Masterman's　death；　and　that　he　had　found　a　paper　which　was　of　great　consequence；　as　it　proved　that　the　insurance　of　the　vessel　which　had　belonged　to　my　father　and　Mr。　Masterman；　and　which　had　been　lost；　had　not　been　made　on　Mr。　Masterman's　share　only；　but　upon　my　father's　as　well；　and　that　Mr。　Masterman　had　defrauded　my　mother。　He　said　he　had　found　the　paper　in　a　secret　drawer　some　time　after　Mr。　Masterman's　death；　and　that　my　mother　being　dead；　and　I　being　supposed　to　be　dead；　he　did　not　see　any　use　in　making　known　so　disagreeable　a　circumstance；　but　that；　now　I　had　re…appeared；　it　was　his　duty　so　to　do；　and　that　he　would　arrange　the　matter　for　me；　if　I　pleased；　with　the　corporation　of　the　town；　to　whom　all　Mr。　Masterman's　property　had　been　left　in　trust　to　build　an　hospital　and　almshouses。　He　said　that　the　insurance　on　the　vessel　was　three　thousand　pounds；　and　that　one…third　of　the　vessel　belonged　to　my　father；　so　that　a　thousand　pounds　were　due　to　him；　which　the　interest　for　so　many　years　would　increase　to　above　two　thousand　pounds。　This　was　good　news　for　me；　and　you　may　suppose　I　readily　agreed　to　all　he　proposed。　He　set　to　work　at　once；　and　having　called　together　the　mayor　and　corporation　of　the　town；　and　proved　the　document；　they　immediately　agreed　that　I　was　entitled　to　the　money；　and　that　it　should　be　paid　to　me　without　any　contest。　Thus　you　see；　Master　William；　was　a　new　temptation　thrown　in　my　way。〃

〃How　do　you　mean　a　temptation？　It　surely　was　very　fortunate；　Ready；〃　said　William。

〃Yes；　William；　it　was；　as　people　say；　fortunate；　according　to　the　ideas　of　the　world；　every　one　congratulated　me；　and　I　was　myself　so　inflated　with　my　good　fortune；　that　I　forgot　all　the　promises　of　amendment；　all　the　vows　of　leading　a　good　life；　which　I　made　over　my　poor　mother's　grave。　Now　do　you　perceive　why　I　called　it　a　temptation；　Master　William？〃

〃My　dear　child；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃riches　and　prosperity　in　this　world　prove　often　the　greatest　of　temptations；　it　is　adversity　that　chastens　and　amends　us；　and　which　draws　us　to　God。〃

〃As　soon　as　the　money　was　in　my　own　hands；〃　continued　Ready；　〃I　began　to　squander　it　away　in　all　manner　of　folly。　Fortunately；　I　had　not　received　it　more　than　ten　days；　when　the　Scotch　second　mate　came　like　a　guardian　angel　to　save　me。　As　soon　as　I　had　made　known　to　him　what　had　taken　place；　he　reasoned　with　me；　pointed　out　to　me　that　I　had　an　opportunity　of　establishing　myself　for　life；　and　proposed　that　I　should　purchase　a　part　of　a　vessel；　on　condition　that　I　was　captain　of　her。　I　liked　this　idea　very　much；　and　being　convinced　that　I　had　been　making　a　fool　of　myself；　I　resolved　to　take　his　advice；　but　one　thing　only　restrained　me：　I　was　still　very　young；　not　more　than　twenty　years　old；　and　although　I　could　navigate　at　one　time；　I　had　latterly　paid　no　attention。　I　told　Sanders　this；　and　he　replied；　that　if