On this same day, and about this very hour, Mr Willet the elder satsmoking his pipe in a chamber at the Black Lion. Although it washot summer weather, Mr Willet sat close to the fire. He was in astate of profound cogitation, with his own thoughts, and it was hiscustom at such times to stew himself slowly, under the impressionthat that process of cookery was favourable to the melting out ofhis ideas, which, when he began to simmer, sometimes oozed forth socopiously as to astonish even himself.
Mr Willet had been several thousand times comforted by his friendsand acquaintance, with the assurance that for the loss he hadsustained in the damage done to the Maypole, he could "come uponthe county." But as this phrase happened to bear an unfortunateresemblance to the popular expression of "coming on the parish," itsuggested to Mr Willet"s mind no more consolatory visions thanpauperism on an extensive scale, and ruin in a capacious aspect.
Consequently, he had never failed to receive the intelligence witha rueful shake of the head, or a dreary stare, and had been alwaysobserved to appear much more melancholy after a visit of condolencethan at any other time in the whole four-and-twenty hours.
It chanced, however, that sitting over the fire on this particularoccasion--perhaps because he was, as it were, done to a turn; perhaps because he was in an unusually bright state of mind;perhaps because he had considered the subject so long; perhapsbecause of all these favouring circumstances, taken together--itchanced that, sitting over the fire on this particular occasion, MrWillet did, afar off and in the remotest depths of his intellect,perceive a kind of lurking hint or faint suggestion, that out ofthe public purse there might issue funds for the restoration of theMaypole to its former high place among the taverns of the earth.
And this dim ray of light did so diffuse itself within him, and didso kindle up and shine, that at last he had it as plainly andvisibly before him as the blaze by which he sat; and, fullypersuaded that he was the first to make the discovery, and that hehad started, hunted down, fallen upon, and knocked on the head, aperfectly original idea which had never presented itself to anyother man, alive or dead, he laid down his pipe, rubbed his hands,and chuckled audibly.
"Why, father!" cried Joe, entering at the moment, "you"re inspirits to-day!"
"It"s nothing partickler," said Mr Willet, chuckling again. "It"snothing at all partickler, Joseph. Tell me something about theSalwanners." Having preferred this request, Mr Willet chuckled a third time, and after these unusual demonstrations of levity, heput his pipe in his mouth again.
"What shall I tell you, father?" asked Joe, laying his hand uponhis sire"s shoulder, and looking down into his face. "That I havecome back, poorer than a church mouse? You know that. That I havecome back, maimed and crippled? You know that."
"It was took off," muttered Mr Willet,with his eyes upon the fire,"at the defence of the Salwanners, in America, where the war is."
"Quite right," returned Joe, smiling, and leaning with hisremaining elbow on the back of his father"s chair; "the verysubject I came to speak to you about. A man with one arm, father,is not of much use in the busy world."
This was one of those vast propositions which Mr Willet had neverconsidered for an instant, and required time to "tackle."
Wherefore he made no answer.
"At all events," said Joe, "he can"t pick and choose his means ofearning a livelihood, as another man may. He can"t say "I willturn my hand to this," or "I won"t turn my hand to that," but must take what he can do, and be thankful it"s no worse.--What did yousay?"
Mr Willet had been softly repeating to himself, in a musing tone,the words "defence of the Salwanners:" but he seemed embarrassed athaving been overheard, and answered "Nothing."
"Now look here, father.--Mr Edward has come to England from theWest Indies. When he was lost sight of (I ran away on the sameday, father), he made a voyage to one of the islands, where aschool-friend of his had settled; and, finding him, wasn"t tooproud to be employed on his estate, and--and in short, got on well,and is prospering, and has come over here on business of his own,and is going back again speedily. Our returning nearly at thesame time, and meeting in the course of the late troubles, has beena good thing every way; for it has not only enabled us to do oldfriends some service, but has opened a path in life for me which Imay tread without being a burden upon you. To be plain, father, hecan employ me; I have satisfied myself that I can be of real use tohim; and I am going to carry my one arm away with him, and to makethe most of it.
In the mind"s eye of Mr Willet, the West Indies, and indeed all foreign countries, were inhabited by savage nations, who wereperpetually burying pipes of peace, flourishing tomahawks, andpuncturing strange patterns in their bodies. He no sooner heardthis announcement, therefore, than he leaned back in his chair,took his pipe from his lips, and stared at his son with as muchdismay as if he already beheld him tied to a stake, and torturedfor the entertainment of a lively population. In what form ofexpression his feelings would have found a vent, it is impossibleto say. Nor is it necessary: for, before a syllable occurred tohim, Dolly Varden came running into the room, in tears, threwherself on Joe"s breast without a word of explanation, and claspedher white arms round his neck.
"Dolly!" cried Joe. "Dolly!"