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Llewellyn wants to go either to Oxford or Cambridge, said Leslie. It has been the dream of his life.
Yes, it has been the dream of his life, replied the mother.
She glanced at Llewellyn, whose face was now white as death.
It is the dream of my life no longer, he said. His voice was
husky, not to say rough.
Then, what is it you want, my boy?
Parker went up and clapped his hand heavily on the boys shoulder.
Nothing from you, sir, was Llewellyns answer. Oh, I am obliged, of course, or I try to be obliged; but I dont want anything. What is more, sir, I wouldnt take anything.
Llewellyn! said his mother.
I dont wish to take anything from Mr. Parker, mother. I was about to tell you when we were alone; but I will tell you now, instead. I accepted a situation to-day at Lee & Forrests.
Lee & Forrests! said the mother. You accepted a situation at that big drapers round the corner? Llewellyn, you must be mad!
I am not. I have been thinking about it for some time; this is not as sudden as it looks to you. You know young Forrest has been my friend at school, and there is a vacancy in the shop. They want a boy to train for the business, and Mr. Forrest is so pleased with me for applying that he is going to start me at once. I saw him to-day, and I accepted it, mother, subject to your leave, which, of course, you will give. Mr. Forrest said it would do him a lot of good to have a lad like me about the place; and young Forrest himself goes to one of the universities. It is a good thing for me, mother, and I have made up my mind.
There was a dead silence in the room. Mrs. Gilroys face looked white; all the pleasure had left it. She glanced at Parker, whose deep-set eyes twinkled half with fun and half with sympathy. He patted Llewellyn again on the shoulder.
The truth now, he said; you are too proud to take help from me?
I am, said Llewellyn.
Thats a right spirit; but I am going to tempt you. I will give you two hundred a year if you wish to go to Oxford.
No, thank you, answered the boy. He shook the kindly hand off and stepped back a foot.
But why, my lad?
Oh, Llewellyn, why? said the mother.
Oh, Llewellyn, are you mad? cried Leslie.
I will tell you why, if you all want to know, said Llewellyn. I dont choose to be beholden to anybody, not even to Mr. Parker, who was my fathers friend. I may some day go to the university; but I dont think there is much chance of it. Sir, I will tell you another reason: I want to help my mother; she needs help at once. She could take it from me when she could not take it from a stranger. If I went to Oxford I could not earn any money for three or four years; now I start at once with a pound a week. I can live at home, too, and half the money will go straight towards the house. In a years time my screw is to be raised. It is all settled, sir. I am obliged to you all the same, but I cant take your help.
As Llewellyn finished he turned to leave the room.
One moment, please, interrupted Parker. I respect you, boy. Shake hands. If I had had a son of my own I could only wish that he had been of similar metal. Youll do, young sir youll do.
CHAPTER X LLEWELLYNS GIFT
Mother is asleep, she said; and I think she has been crying she sighs so heavily in her sleep; it is not like her. I would not wake her for the world; but I knew you would be up, Lew, and I felt that I must have a talk with you.
All right that is, if you really wish it, said Llewellyn, slightly stretching himself, and a frown coming between his brows. He had been bending over a volume of Platos Republic, and some sheets of manuscript, scribbled over as if in frantic haste, were scattered about the table. When Leslie approached he pushed the manuscript helter-skelter into a waste-paper basket and shut up the book.
Why did you do that? said Leslie; why do you hide your real thoughts from me, Lew? Dont you want me to know? We have always been more than ordinary brother and sister to each other. What is the matter with you?
Still Llewellyn did not reply. He stood up and looked at his sister with as expressionless a face as he could possibly manage to assume.
It is no use, said Leslie. She went up to him now, raised herself on tiptoe, and kissed him on his cheek. You have done it, and it is noble of you, it is splendid of you; but why why?
How can you ask me why? he answered. Cant you guess?
I guess partly, replied the girl; you want to help mother. But surely you could help her much more effectually in the long run by doing what Mr. Parker wishes. It is such a chance, and it was put in your way, Lew; you didnt go out of your way to seek it. Perhaps God meant you to accept it.
No, dont, cried Llewellyn dont say that. A spasm of pain flitted across the boys face, then vanished.
I
want to help mother, and I will, he said stoutly. I dont intend her to do all the toiling and money-making any longer. I am almost a man, Leslie; I shall be seventeen my next birthday. Oh, in one sense it is young! but it is not young with me, for I think I am older than my years. I wont see her grinding without putting my own shoulder to the wheel. Its just intolerable!