page 177

Chapter XX.

Frank Perryman was, above everything, a man of his word; and never did he make a promise that he did not intend to keep. Clara had been this evening to see him, to supply him with what particulars she could, and he was fairly determined to write and ask the authorities in Van Dieman's Land all particulars of Matthew Grant.

"How long do you think it will take," inquired Clara, "to get a reply?"

"Well, you know a letter first must go to Melbourne, as there is no direct mail; so, I premise, it will take two months," said Frank.

"Two months? Why, it will never pass, for now you have raised my hopes I feel more anxious for reply than I ever did for anything."

"You must have patience; the time will soon pass away, and I feel morally sure we shall get better news than you anticipate."

"I hope and trust we may; for if it is as you suppose, and my letters have never been sent, my poor father will surely be heart-broken at my neglect."

"Your apparent neglect say, rather. But be of good heart, and you know not how it will cheer you when you hear again from him and know that he is well. Further, I may be able to assist him then in some way, and make life happier."

"Oh, thanks; how can I ever show myself in any way worthy of your kindness?"

page 178

"You could do one thing, Clara, if you would, that would repay me a thousand times over."

"Stay, Mr Perryman, please, ask me not that; for, as I have told you, this can never be. Besides, how should I requite your goodness by allowing you to wed the daughter of a convict. No, Mr Perryman, think of your mother, your sister Maud, and last, but not least, your own social standing, and then you will see with me that it is impossible, even if I were inclined to be selfish enough to ask you throw all aside for me. No, I thank God I am not so far ungrateful as to allow you to make this sacrifice. AS for me, I shall, as soon as I can hear that my father lives, return, and try for the future to be at least a comfort to one who hitherto has received so little, but who I know deserves so much."

"Noble, generous-hearted girl. My mother and sister would be only too happy I know to welcome you as my wife; but if you still say you wish it shall not be so, I will from this time show that I too can work to aid you disinterestedly, and will, if you bid me, never again mention the subject—at least not until I have again restored you to your father."

"Then I would ask of you this favour. I do not say that I hold out any hopes of my altering my mind, for I do not; still, if you think time will alter my determination, I would not rob you of hope, although I know full well I shall never be worthy of your love."

"You will come often and see us, at least, Clara. May I still call you Clara?"

"Why should you not do so? You have been kind to me when I most needed a friend, and if one has a right to call me Clara, surely it is you. But it is getting late, and I must return home."

"I shall at least escort you to your house, for I cannot allow you to go alone, and so late."

page 179

To this Clara offered no objection, and so they sallied forth. Little was said by either, and at last they found themselves at the residence of John Hobart, where Frank wished his companion a tender good-night and left her, and turned back again home.

He was surprised on reaching his house to find Miss Branscombe standing at the gate.

"Why, Louie, whatever keeps you up so late? Waiting for Mr. Right to come along, eh?"

"No, Frank, for me there is no such man that I know of, or if there is, I am not looking for him."

"Now, Louie, you know on this subject young ladies are allowed to fib to a certain extent, but I always thought you were the exception to that rule."

"No, Frank, I do not fib. I am waiting for no one; in fact, I forgot you were out, or I should not be here."

"Why, would you fly from me? I seem to be singularly unfortunate with ladies, Louie; can you tell me why?"

"You are not, so far as I am aware. I would not fly from you individually; but it is late, and I know I ought to have been long since in my bed."

"Come then, Louie, and we will both go in. Has Maud retired yet, or does she, too, await some midnight visitant?"

"Now, Frank, you are unjust, for you infer what you have no right to. You know Maud awaits no one."

"True, little sensitive; but you know that I am only joking, so don't be cross;" and Frank, in a brotherly way, takes Louie's arm, and they both enter the house.

She fancied for a moment that he seemed to notice her more than usually, and a gleam of happiness came across her face.

page 180

"Now you look better, Louie. Tell me what has ailed you of late; you always seem dull, as though you had the trouble of several people on your mind."

"I have nothing to tell you, Frank; you know I am not of a jovial disposition, but rather of a serious turn of mind."

"You are evading me. Come, tell me of your little trouble, and I may be able to assist you."

"There is nothing in which you can help me, or I would ask of you, for I know you would do so."

"Well, look you, Louie, if you ever do want aid or advice, come to me, for none would give it freer than I."

"I know, and thank you, Frank, as much as if I had really something to ask. But now, I will say good-night, or Maud will scold me for gossiping so late."

"Good-night, then," said Frank, "happy dreams;" and away went Louie to think for hours of how happy it would make her were she to be blest with the chance of accepting what another had so recently refused.

Did Frank ever dream how this tender-hearted girl loved him? No, not for one instant. He thought she liked him perhaps as a brother, for they had almost grown up together, but the real state of affairs he never even surmised.

Louie found Maud fast asleep, for she had no trouble. She loved her brother, mother, and also Louie—in fact, she was a general liker, and with everybody she was a great favourite; but she had no love trouble. Many of the young men who visited their house tried to court her, but she met all their advances in her usual lively way—in fact, she treated it all as a matter of fun, and she had never so far thought seriously enough of anybody to think them in love, or to wander in that direction herself. So she was doubly blest; for who is there of the millions of this page 181world's population who can so take the best part of this world's gifts and enjoy them, and leave the unpleasant parts for others? But such is life—we are all the victims of circumstances and our disposition, which has more to do with our joys in this troublesome world than aught else. And so Louie had troublous thoughts, because she was in love, and he she loved knew it not, and did not reciprocate; while Frank lay for hours hoping that sooner or later he would win Clara's love, and so secure his own happiness, but always determined whether or no to try and help her out of her difficulties.

And Clara, poor Clara! how she hoped and prayed for the welfare of him she could have made so happy, but would not, because she deemed herself all unworthy, and for what reason— because another had sinned against both. Away with such notions! Let the dead past bury the past; but in the bright and glorious future, if we will but make it so, let us think of this alone, and many an aching heart will be soothed, and those who may be for ever weary shall for ever be at rest.

Now, Hobart, with his rise in life, like all such men, became to his inferiors in position overbearing in his style, and as Frank Perryman gained popularity so Hobart lost—not only with the working or industrious classes, but he also disgusted the aristocrats by his continual bowing and scraping. Besides, by many he was snubbed, for not a few shady transactions were talked of as being perpetrated by him; and though he rose in his profession, and in a monetary sense, yet by the majority was he disliked and suspected. With old Parks he became an intimate friend, for the old fellow was reputed to have accumulated much money, and, according to popular opinion, by questionable means; and Hobart, who was remarkably fond of recounting his sharpness, found in the old fellow a patient listener, for the subject pleased him. It was to his taste, and so they visited and became, in the opinion of each other, great men. They would sit for hours drinking whisky and smoking page 182cigars, and see who could tell the best tale of sharpness, which, amongst men of any conscientious scruples, would be looked on as tricks for which they would banish the lowest menial in their employ. With these two, however, it was a congenial topic; and of times would Amelia and Clara, in consequence, be thrown into each other's company. Clara made no confidants beyond Frank, and Amelia had no secrets to tell. She would often speak of young men of her set when at home who aspired to her hand and fortune; but as she was in this always guided by her parents, and did not seem to have a mind of her own, she looked on the rejecting of a lover, because her father said so, as a matter of course, and it never caused her a moment's thought. It is true Clara listened to her stories, but not with any desire to hear more; she was too kind at heart to show her any coolness, and so things went on in this strain.

With Parks Hobart had been more confiding than with any other of his acquaintances, for he felt that he could trust him with certain matters. He had in many ways told him of how successful he had been in business, and he had further informed him of his interest in Fixer's venture; and the old fellow had often thought, and even hinted at, what a good match Hobart and Amelia would make, as of course Hobart said not a word of how many thousands they had floating alone on the name of Frank. The firm of Fixer and Co. had now become in the eyes of the people of South Canterbury a big concern, one whose credit was enormous, and whose capital was also large. They had long since bought, and had built ships, with which they did all their own shipping; and so far as Fixer had first predicted, the mercantile spec had been a success beyond their highest anticipations. Fixer, however, never spoke of his business unless he had a motive in doing so, and then he was too discreet to say one word too much. He gave no one his confidence, and no one knew from him aught of his business. With his employés he was a fair and just master, and was in all cases prompt in his payments to them, but always exact to a fraction. page 183Any promises he made to them he always kept, and at the same time his discipline was strict. Those with whom he had to deal found him extremely exact, and in all his monetary transactions he took special care to be in a position to keep his word, and so he inspired confidence. Nor was he less respected by those with whom he came in contact outside of business. His company was courted, and he was considered rich; and often would one of his most intimate friends say, "Fixer, the Co. of your firm is, I suppose, your relatives who have departed this life, and whose will was made in your favour;" to which remark he would smile in his own peculiar style, but not affirm or contradict in any way, so they believed what they chose; but this was no concern of Mr Fixer, who strictly endeavoured to mind his own business, and never tried to interfere with others. So he gradually went on, with but one object, that of furthering his own interest, and he never tried to assume to be what he was not. His household affairs were managed with economy, and what company he kept was never or rarely seen at his own house. He always feared that sooner or later Hobart would upset things by some rash act, but it must be said of him that he did all in his power to prevent any such occurrence. Frank Perryman's good opinion Fixer was most careful to obtain and keep. Not that he courted his society, but when he could by any means get it, he made the best possible use he could of the time to increase the favourable impression Perryman already had of him. Frank always spoke of Fixer as a gentleman, and considered that he was one who improved on acquaintance. He had, as he promised Maud, mentioned the fact to Fixer of his having had a clerk of his name in his employ.

"No doubt," replied Fixer, "it was one of my poor relations. Some families boast of their rich connections; I can boast of my poor ones, for we are about the poorest lot I think you would find in a day's march. What was his Christian name, Perryman?"

"Felix," answered Frank, without the shade of suspicion, "and I should say about fifteen years your junior."

page 184

"Oh, Felix? then I suppose some one of my relatives must have been foolish enough to conclude one Felix was not enough in the family. For my part, I should say it was one too many."

At this last remark Frank laughed. But in his own mind he reversed what Fixer had said about poor relations, although as to the clerk he formed no opinion. And so with care and coolness, Fixer avoided prevaricating; and still when he told the truth he did it in such a way that no one thought he meant what he said, but concluded his modesty induced him to avoid parading any display, and that he was not the kind of man to boast of his aristocratic connections. Thus were all deceived; and had anyone, even Hobart, told Frank that Fixer was really the clerk formerly in their employ he would not have believed a word of it, and no one could have persuaded him. With reference to the apparent disparity in the age, this was occasioned by the fact of Fixer, when a clerk, having paid such particular attention to keeping his face so cleanly shaved that everyone was under the impression he had been unable to grow any hair at all. Formerly, too, he had taken special care to dress entirely different from now; for, as he assumed the character of a man of business, he entirely altered his style.

Now the matter of the land spec was not at all to Fixer's liking. He knew too well how land fluctuated in value; and although he was aware that, should they be lucky enough to strike the market at the right moment, it would be all well— in fact, they would probably make a hundred per cent. on the affair. Then again, if they could not do this, or perhaps were unable to sell at all, they would be literally done for—they could not meet their bills, and then Frank Perryman would learn all. In fact, it would take the whole of Hobart's share in the business, and nearly the whole of Frank's, to pay up; ruin would come, in spite of all the scheming of Fixer and Hobart. Day by day did this probability become more impressed on Fixer's mind, until it was quite a trouble to him. page 185The survey of the property was at once commenced, and large sums were spent in advertising, to try and work up the speculative spirit of the public before the sale came. Fair terms were to be allowed in the matter of the purchase money, and all was done by Fixer to successfully carry out Hobart'e pet scheme; but how will it succeed? Ah, how many in New Zealand have asked the same question; how many built castles in the air on land speculations, some of which have fallen about their ears? Others, too, have not only built imaginary castles, but great and lofty ones which nothing will pull down, for they are a reality. Yes, many castles in New Zealand have been built out of such land speculations, which were entered into wholly and solely on bills. How will this one terminate? So far, the innocent have suffered, and the guilty been triumphant; but we shall in the future see.