Chapter IV: Dick's Grandfather

THE following morning Dick awoke refreshed and in better spirits. The sun was shining brightly into his bedroom window, and the sparrows were twittering beneath the eaves of the roof, where many feathered families dwelt; whilst a cock was crowing in a farm-yard not far distant, in answer to a smaller, shriller voice which seemed close by, and which, Dick afterwards learnt, belonged to a bantam, a pet of Miss Warren's.

Dick dressed quickly, and, having said his prayers, went downstairs into the hall. There his attention was caught by a tall, eight-day clock in a black oak case. It had a brass face, on the top of which was the model of a ship with sails unfurled, rocking automatically at every tick of the pendulum. Dick was quite fascinated by this novel sight, and stood gazing at it with round, astonished eyes until Miss Warren came upon the scene.

"Oh, my dear boy!" she cried, greeting him with a hearty kiss. "To think of your getting up without being called! Theophilus said I was to let you sleep on, and not disturb you! How do you feel this morning? Better?"

"I am quite well, thank you, Aunt Mary Ann. I was all right last night, only rather tired. What a beautiful clock! Does that ship always rock?"

"Yes, certainly; every time the clock ticks the ship rocks; it is sailing towards eternity, and, though it seems to make no progress, it is journeying on all the same. That's the way with time! Your dear mother used to sit on the stairs, when she was a tiny child, and watch the old ship sailing; it was like a companion to her."

Dick was deeply interested. He had never seen such a wonderful clock before, and he wondered his mother had not thought of telling him about it. Presently the doctor came down, and looked pleased to see the little boy evidently so much brighter. Then they went into the sitting-room, and breakfast being in readiness for them, took their places at the table.

"Theophilus, do you think Sir Richard has heard of Dick's arrival yet?" Miss Warren inquired, as she passed her brother his cup of coffee.

"I should say not," the doctor replied, "since Dick has only been a few hours in Holton. Sir Richard will no doubt see by to-day's newspaper that the vessel arrived in safety."

"Oh, and do you think he will call to-day?" Miss Warren asked eagerly, her face full of excitement, her bright eyes fixed on her brother's face.

"Impossible to say. He may, or he may wait to hear from us that Dick is here. However, I shall write a note to him after breakfast, and send it to the Manor House at once. I do not know how he will act; possibly he may call."

"Of course, that would be the right course for him to take," Miss Warren remarked. "Are you looking forward to seeing your grandfather, Dick?"

"Yes, Aunt Mary Ann," the little boy answered. He was very curious to meet this relation of his, of whose existence he had not been aware till lately. He had no means of guessing why his parents had not spoken to him of Sir Richard Gidley until they had been about to send him to England. He knew they must have had a reason for not having done so, and he felt decidedly puzzled.

"I don't know much about him," he proceeded, "except that he is my grandfather. Mother says he is a lonely old man, and that I must not be afraid of him. Why should I be afraid of him?" he asked, looking questioningly from one face to the other.

"There is no reason, Dick," Dr. Warren answered. "Sir Richard is often gruff in his manner, and speaks out sharply. No doubt your mother remembered that. She never knew him well herself, because your parents went abroad directly they were married. I daresay Sir Richard will ask you to go to the Manor House, and you will like that, will you not?"

"I don't know, Uncle Theophilus. Is it a very grand place?"

"Not now; for Sir Richard does not keep it up as he used. Still, it is a fine old house with many objects of interest about it. Several of the rooms are shut-up, I believe, as your grandfather employs only a few women-servants now-a-days. Are you fond of pictures? Yes? Well there's a picture-gallery at the Manor House where you will find likenesses of many generations of your ancestors."

"What are ancestors?" Dick asked, hoping he was not showing great ignorance by the question.

"Those from whom you are descended—those of your race who lived before you. For instance, your grandfather is your ancestor. Do you understand?"

"I think so," Dick answered thoughtfully.

After breakfast the doctor devoted an hour to the patients who came to his surgery for advice. When the last had gone, he was ready to start on his morning round; and Dick, much to his delight, found he was to accompany him as had been promised.

As they drove down the narrow street the villagers came to their doors to gaze with curious, interested eyes at the stranger.

"Why, Uncle Theophilus, you know every one! Dick exclaimed as the doctor nodded to one person, then to another.

"You see, Dick, I have lived most of my life in this place, and I know every man, woman, and child for miles around. That's Cripps, the grocer, standing there in the doorway of his shop. That's the post-office, that little house with the porch all covered with honeysuckle; and there's Miss Tidy, the post-mistress, peeping out over the wire blind."

"Miss Tidy," Dick echoed, laughing. "What a funny name, and what a funny face!"

He spoke truly, for Miss Tidy was the possessor of a wide mouth, a tip-tilted nose, and a pair of round, green eyes that took notice of every one and everything. The post-mistress had not a great deal of work at Holton, so, often, when she found time hanging heavy on her hands, she employed herself with business concerning her neighbours.

The doctor required some stamps, so he drew up in front of the post-office; whereupon Miss Tidy came running out.

"Don't get down, I beg, Dr. Warren!" she cried, in a high, somewhat shrill voice. "What can I get for you? Stamps? Postal orders? A lovely day, is it not? Is this young gentleman the one you've been expecting from India?"

"Yes," Dr. Warren answered briefly, whilst Dick flushed as the sharp green eyes of the post-mistress scanned his face. "I will trouble you for a shilling's worth of penny stamps, if you please."

Miss Tidy retired, and presently returned with the stamps, which she handed to the doctor.

"I don't think he's much like his mother," she said, as she stood with her head on one side regarding Dick. "He's a Gidley, every inch of him, as far as appearance goes. Don't you think so, Dr. Warren?"

But the doctor would not commit himself to an opinion on the point, and merely nodded as he drove off.

"Isn't she rather an inquisitive sort of person, Uncle Theophilus?" Dick questioned.

"She is," his uncle admitted dryly; "but she means well," he added, after a moment's reflection, "and that's saying a good deal in her favour."

How beautiful everything was! How fresh and invigorating was the salt sea air! The hedges were full of wild roses, some delicate pink in hue, others china white, the latter endowed with the sweeter perfume, as though the Great Creator had given compensation to the pale flowers for their lack of colour by adding to their scent. It certainly was a perfect summer's day! Occasionally, as they drove along, Dick caught glimpses of the peaceful sea, which reflected the intense blue of the sky; then the tears rushed to his eyes as he thought how many, many hundreds of miles of water stretched between him and the mother and father he loved so well. But he fought with the emotion which threatened to overcome him; so that Uncle Theophilus never guessed how often his little nephew was nearly reduced to tears.

"I have enjoyed the drive so much," Dick said gratefully, as Firefly turned homewards; "thank you for letting me come with you, Uncle Theophilus."

"I shall be glad of your company another day," was the doctor's reply, "and by-and-by I will teach you to drive."

Arrived at home, Dick was astonished to find a carriage, drawn by a pair of sleek grey horses, in front of the doctor's house. He looked at his uncle for an explanation.

"I think your grandfather must be here," Dr. Warren said quietly. "Come with me, Dick. I suppose your aunt is entertaining Sir Richard in the drawing-room."

Thither they accordingly repaired, and found Miss Warren in conversation with a tall, fierce-looking old gentleman who was seated in an easy-chair.

"Ah, Sir Richard, I thought you would soon be here to see your grandson," the doctor remarked easily. "Dick, my boy, this is Sir Richard Gidley, your grandfather."

Dick advanced towards the old gentleman till he stood directly in front of him; then he looked him full in the face in silence for a moment, noticing how stern was his expression, and how his white moustache bristled at the ends.

"How do you do, grandfather?" said Dick politely after this brief scrutiny of the other's countenance. "I hope you are very well."

He held out his hand, which his grandfather took in silence. The old man surveyed the boy critically from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, then he exclaimed, "Humph!"

Miss Warren, who appeared nervous and ill at ease, flushed a trifle angrily, and was about to speak, when her brother anticipated her by saying,—

"Dick has been in poor health, as I believe you have been informed, Sir Richard, therefore you must not be disappointed if he appears delicate. He will be a different boy in a few month's time, you will see."

"Did I say I was disappointed?" snapped Sir Richard, evidently displeased that his face had betrayed his thought.

"No; but you looked it," the doctor retorted bluntly.

"You are eight years old, I think," Sir Richard said, turning his attention to his grandson again. "You don't look it. Your father was inches taller at your age."

"Oh, I shall grow away now I'm in England," Dick replied hopefully. "Father said he expected I should be grown out of his knowledge before we meet again." A slight mist crossed the brown eyes for a minute but was winked away. "When I came into the room just now I thought I had seen you before," he continued; "but of course I never had. I know what made me think so, though. I see it now."

"What do you see?" asked Sir Richard curiously.

"Why, that you're like father! Your eyes are like his, only different in the way they look; and you speak like him, too—only not quite the same!"

"That's not a very lucid explanation," Sir Richard said, with an involuntary smile; "but it would be strange if there was no likeness between me and my son," he added, a pleased look creeping over his stern face.

"Ah, now you're more like him!" Dick cried, his pale countenance lighting up with pleasure. "I'm so glad you are! I shall like you so much better—"

"You are very fond of your father?" Sir Richard interrupted questioningly.

"Yes," Dick answered, "indeed I am! When I grow up I mean to be a brave soldier like he is!"

"You would not be a Gidley if you were a coward!" the old man declared. "You come from a fighting race!"

The look of disappointment on his face had given way to one of interest. He turned to the doctor, and asked if it was intended the boy should go to school. "Not for the present," Dr. Warren answered, shaking his head; "his parents would rather have his health set up first, and I think they are wise. There is nothing really amiss with him; he is merely suffering from the effects of the Indian climate."

Sir Richard nodded, and appeared relieved. He glanced from the sister to the brother, and after a moment's hesitation, said,—

"I suppose you will neither of you raise any objection to the boy's coming to see me? When I declined the responsibility of looking after him, I of course did not mean he was not to come near me. Will you allow him to spend to-morrow at the Manor House?"

"Certainly, Sir Richard," Dr. Warren agreed. "You would like to go, would you not, Dick?"

"Ye-s," Dick replied doubtfully. "Didn't you want to look after me, grandfather? Well, I'm glad, because I think I'd rather be here with Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Theophilus!"

There was an awkward pause after this very frank avowal, and Sir Richard grew almost purple with indignation. At length he exclaimed caustically,—

"It's evident you have not been brought up to have a very good opinion of your grandfather!"

"Are you angry?" Dick enquired wonderingly. "I never heard of you at all until the night mother said I was to go to England, then she told me about you!"

"And what she told you did not make you long to see me, I suppose?" sneered Sir Richard.

"She only said that you were a very lonely old man, and that I must treat you with great respect, and not be afraid of you," Dick said, looking more and more surprised as he noticed his grandfather's anger, which appeared to him quite unwarranted. "I have treated you with respect, haven't I?" he asked anxiously; "And I'm not afraid of you!" he added as an after-thought.

Sir Richard looked searchingly at the child's open countenance; then the anger slowly died from his face, and he smiled. There was something very straightforward about this grandson of his which he could not but admire; and it amused him that the boy had frankly said he felt no fear of him. A great many people were afraid of Sir Richard Gidley—afraid of rousing his temper, which was harsh and unforgiving, and afraid of the cruel, cutting tongue which was his favourite weapon, and which he never scrupled to use to his own advantage. His household trembled before him; his daughter, when she visited him, never dared cross his will in any way; the villagers stood in awe of him; but this pale-faced, delicate-looking boy stood boldly before him, and declared he was not afraid of him!

"I am not angry," he said, "or I should not want you to come and see me to-morrow. I shall send the carriage for you at twelve o'clock, and it will take you back in the evening. Will that arrangement suit you?" he enquired, turning to Miss Warren.

She said it would; and after that he took his departure, the doctor seeing him into his carriage. Dick was glad neither his aunt nor his uncle asked him what he thought of his grandfather, for his private opinion was that Sir Richard Gidley was a most disagreeable old man.