Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/104

92 for a moment in my eyes), 'if you will allow me, write to Dr. Craven about you.—Not that I doubt what you say; but you must see.… You understand? '

'Perfectly.—You have no guarantee that I am not a rogue.'

'Aha! I think you are wrong there! However,' (suddenly), 'how much did you get for your coat?'

'Fifteen shillings.'

'And you have lived on that for nearly three weeks?'

'Just three weeks.'

'Impossible! You are joking!'

'No, sir, since I did. My room only cost me four shillings a week, and I'

'Then you must have lived on a shilling a week?'

'No. I have not paid my rent for this third week yet.'

'And how are you going to?'

'I cannot say. Perhaps, I may get an ushership in some school, within the next few days. I should anticipate my pay.'

He stood up; we looked for some little in one another's eyes. Then he stretched out his arm, and let his hand fall on my shoulder.

'You are a brave fellow,' he said, 'and I believe you are a true one. I believe what you have told me. There, there, now.' (For my eyes were suddenly full of tears)—'There, there, there, there, there! It's all right now.' And he turned away and let his arm drop. Then: 'Stop,' said he, 'did you know Blake at Glastonbury?' 'He left just before I came; but I met him once. He came to examine a school at Blackheath, where I was.' 'Ah, I am sorry! He was a dear, dear friend of mine—an old college chum; but I had known him before then. He was a Wykehamist.'

'Yes; so I remember.'

'It would have been enough to me that he had thought well of anyone. He would have liked you, I am sure.'

He smiled, and added:

'You see that I have let slip how well I think of you, and what you have said to me.'

'Thank you, sir. Some day, perhaps, I may be able