by L. T. Meade
go; but Ican't tell you the exact way. There, Faith, child, why don't you go toSunday-school, same as the other little lads and lasses about? Theyteach everythink about coming to Jesus in Sunday-school."
"I wish with h'all my heart I could go," answered Faith.
"Well, child, I see nothink agen it. There's one jest round the corner,and the bell's a-ringing now; but there, I can't stay another moment."
Mrs Mason hurried away, and Faith still sat still; but a devouring wishwas now possessing her. If she only could just once go to Sunday-schooland hear about Jesus, and learn that He was really alive, and that shecould take Roy to Him! Oh! if only it were possible that Roy mightreceive this great and wonderful blessing, why it would be worth evenher father's great anger, should he learn that she had disobeyed him.Faith trembled and hesitated, and finally rose to her feet. If only Roywould awake, she could take him with her. But no; Roy was very tiredand very sound asleep. By the time little Roy awoke, Sunday-schoolwould be over, and she would have lost all hope of hearing of Jesus foranother week.
Suppose she left Roy just for once--just for the first and last time inall her life--she would only be an hour away, and in that hour whatpossible harm could happen to the little child? and she would learn somuch, oh! so much, which could help him by-and-by.
Yes; she thought she might venture. She would have returned long beforeher father came back, most likely long before Roy awoke. It was worththe little risk for the sake of the great gain. She placed thefireguard carefully before the fire, kissed her little brother, and witha beating heart slipped out.
No; there was no possible fear for little Roy.
CHAPTER FOUR.
Before Faith had been gone quite half an hour her father returned. Thiswas an unusual proceeding, for generally he spent his Sunday afternoonsin a working men's club round the corner. He was one of the mostinfluential members of this club--its most active and stirringrepresentative. He organised meetings, got up debates, and did, inshort, those thousand and one things which an energetic, clever man cando to put fire and life into such proceedings. He had come home now todraw up the minutes of a new organisation which he and a few otherkindred spirits were about to form.
It was to be a society in every way based on the laws of justice andreason. Religious, and yet allowing all harmless and innocentamusements both for Sundays and weekdays; temperate, but permitting theuse of beer and wine in moderation.
Warden felt very virtuous and very useful as he sat down with pen andpaper before him. No one could say of him that he spent his time fornought. How blameless and good and excellent was his life! Never,never would it be necessary for those lips to cry to his Maker, "God bemerciful to me a sinner!"
A little restless movement, and faint, satisfied baby sigh from thesofa, interrupted these self-satisfied meditations. He looked round andsaw little Roy. "Bless us! is the child there? and wherever is Faith?"he said to himself.
He got up and approached his little boy. The child was looking asbeautiful as such a lovely creature would look in his sleep. Wardenwent on his knees to watch him more earnestly. Yes; the golden-browneyelashes, the tangled mass of bright hair, the full pouting lips, therounded limbs, made up a picture which might well cause any father'sheart to beat with love and pride; and doubtless there was much of bothin Warden's soul just then. He gazed long and earnestly. Before herose to his feet he even bent and kissed the little flushed cheek.
"Yes," he said to himself; "he's a very, very lovely boy. If ever a manhad cause for ambition I have. With God's help, that boy shall take hisplace with any gentleman in the land before I die."
He sat down again by his table, but instead of continuing his work heremained for a time, one hand partly shading his eyes, while he indulgedin a meditation. Yes; he must save as much money as possible; for Roy'seducation must begin early. Roy must have this, Roy must have that. Hedid not think of Faith at all. Faith was but a girl. He began toconsider by what means he could add to his earnings, by what means hecould retrench his present expenses. The rooms they now lived in werecomfortable, but far from cheap. Ought they not to go into poorerlodgings? for now they spent all he earned, and where, if that was so,would be the money to put little Roy to school by-and-by?
In the midst of these thoughts, the door was pushed softly open, and aman's face appeared. It just appeared above the frame of the door, andlooked in with timid, bloodshot eyes.
"I cannot assist you, Peter Davis," called out Warden in his full, loudtones. "There's no manner of use in your waiting here. You know myopinion of such conduct as yours."
"Yes; but I means to reform--I do indeed," replied Davis. He had so fargathered courage now as to advance a step or two into the room. "'Tish'all so 'ard on a feller. When he's down h'every one throws a stone athim. I'm h'ever so sorry fur givin' way to the drink, and I'm goin' totake the pledge--I am indeed."
"It is disgusting, any man drinking himself into the condition of abeast--lower, far lower than a beast," answered Warden, in his mostbitter tones. "There now, Davis, you know my opinion. I am pleased,however, to hear you mean to change your ways."
"Yes, indeed, indeed I do--Mr--Mr Warden; and wot I made bold to comeyere fur were to axe ef you'd may be help me. I don't mean fur myself,but fur the poor wife. The wife, her 'ad a little 'un last night, andwe h'an't never a sup nor a bite in the house. I thought, may be, Mr--Mr Warden, as seeing we belonged to the werry same club, as you'd maybe let me have the loan of five shillings, or even harf-a-crown, jestone harf-crown, and returned most faithful, Mr Warden."
Warden laughed loudly.
"No; not a shilling, nor a sixpence," he said. "I never encouragedrunkards; and as to your belonging to our club, you won't have that tosay long unless you mend yer ways."
"But 'tis fur the wife," continued Davis. "The wife, as honest a bodyas h'ever breathed, and she's starving. No, no, it h'aint, h'indeed itain't, to spend on drink. I'm none so low as that comes to. I won'tspend a penny of it on drink. Oh! Mr Warden, the wife and thenew-born babe is a dying of hunger. Lend us jest one shilling, h'evenone shilling, for the love of h'Almighty God! How 'ud you like ef yerh'own little lad there were starving?"
"Look here," said Warden, rising to his feet. "I'm busy, and I can't beinterrupted. If you don't leave the room at once I must just put youout I may as well tell you plainly that I _don't believe a word yousay_, and not one farthing will you ever get from me."
"Then God furgive yer fur the werry _'ardest_ man I h'ever met," saidpoor Davis. "I think," he added, "as I'd as lief 'ave my chance wid theh'Almighty as yourn, when h'all is reckoned up. I never, never heerd asyou did a real kind thing in yer life, and I pity them children as h'isto be brought h'up by you."
Warden laughed again disagreeably, and, shutting the door on Davis,returned to his work; but the little incident and the burning, angrywords of the despairing man shook him unpleasantly, and his temper,never one of the best, was in such a ruffled condition, that it onlywanted the faintest provocation to kindle it into a blaze. Thisprovocation (not a very slight one) came in the shape of his little son.Roy had awakened, and after looking round in vain for Faith, had sliddown off the horse-hair sofa. He was thoroughly refreshed by his sleep,and was just in the mood when a very little child, in its eager desirefor occupation, may do incalculable mischief.
Warden did not know that the little fellow had awakened. He sat withhis back to the sofa, and was now thoroughly absorbed in his work. Hewas drawing up a prospectus for the new society, and his head was bentlow over the paper. By his side lay, in a neat and complete form, aprize essay, which he had taken some three months of hard work and hardthought to put together. The subject was one of the popular subjects ofthe day. The prize was only open to working men. Warden had every hopeof gaining the prize. If so, he would win 50 pounds. His essay wascomplete. He had sat up late the night before, finishing it, and it wasto be posted to its destination that very evening. Now, with anunconscio
us jerk of his elbow, he tossed the neatly pinned togetherpages on to the floor. He knew nothing of this fact; but as they laywide open from their fall on the floor, they presented a very temptingspectacle to the eager eyes of little Roy. He approached the preciousmanuscript softly, sat down on the carpet, and began the delicious workof tearing it into pieces. For a quarter of an hour there was perfectstillness, at the end of which time nothing whatever remained ofWarden's prize essay but a pile of scattered fragments which surroundedlittle Roy. When the deed of mischief was fully done, and not before,the little fellow gave
