Nothing but Money! CHAPTER 27.
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Notwithstanding the threatening attitude assumed by Mrs. Guyton — notwithstanding the marshaling of her forces — it was no part of her plan to risk a serious battle, if that desperate issue could be avoided. By a resolute bearing, she made strategy the more successful. The fact, that Mr. Guyton believed her when she said that she would leave his house rather than permit his children to exercise a dominant influence, caused him the more readily to fall in with her wily plans for removing them to a distance.
For awhile, John held himself coldly aloof from his stepmother; but she, after Edwin's departure for school, gradually broke down the wall of angry reserve which he had thrown up between them, and assumed a degree of interest in the boy that, with a little indulgence in spending money, laid his mind open to almost any influence she might choose to exercise.
"This idle life, for one of your age, is dreadful, John," she said to him, as they were alone, one morning, speaking in a tone of interest.
"Oh, well, father's rich!" he answered, tossing his head in an independent, don't care sort of way — "there's no use in my doing anything. A gentleman's life is for me."
"For shame, John! Anything but a drone or an idler. Henry goes to the counting-room every day."
"Adam! Bah!" And John curled his lip. "He'd eat dirt for a dollar, and then bury the money after it was earned."
"Henry loves money too well, I know," said Mrs. Guyton; "but he's willing to earn it."
"Don't tell me of him," returned John, with some impatience, "the mean, stingy fellow! Let him earn his money and keep it, if he will; but don't hold him up as my example."
"I'll tell you what I've been thinking, John," said his stepmother, changing her tone, and speaking in a way meant to inspire him with the thought in her mind. "You'd like to see the world, I know. Every young man does. Your father's firm is loading a vessel for the Pacific. Now, why not go in it as supercargo?"
John started up, and stood, all interest for a moment or two; then clapping his hands together, he replied, while a warm flush came into his face —
"I'd like that! But — " And his countenance changed a little.
"What?"
"Father would say no."
"I'm not so sure of that, John. But, would you really like the place?"
"Of supercargo?"
"Yes."
"Grandly! I've always had a wish to go to sea." There was an eagerness in John's manner that showed how strongly the idea was taking hold of him.
"I do not believe that your father, on reflection, will object," said Mrs. Guyton.
"Will you ask him about it?"
"Yes. And I think you'd better leave the matter entirely in my hands. And, first, let me caution you not to say anything on the subject to Henry. He has considerable influence with your father, and would be sure to oppose, if only for the sake of opposition."
"Oh, I understand that! He'd thwart me out of sheer meanness."
Mrs. Guyton did not throw in a mollifying word. It was no part of her mission in the family to harmonize or conciliate.
"I will manage him," she said, in the tone of one who felt her power; "only, as I suggested, keep your own counsel. You shall go as supercargo in the Ariel if you desire it."
"I do desire it above all things," replied John, "and if you will get father's consent, I'll remember you as long as I live."
"There is one thing I would suggest, as your father will have to be managed a little in the beginning," said Mrs. Guyton, lowering her voice in a confidential way, and speaking with an unusual familiarity, "and that is, an assumption of indifference on your part. This indifference, may have to take the form of opposition before all is settled; but, I will give you the right hint at the right time. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly."
"It won't strike him favorably on the first blush; but I'll engage to bring him over to our way of thinking. It will be a splendid chance to see the world and improve yourself, and when he understands this, there will be no more trouble."
Mrs. Guyton lost no time, for the Ariel was already taking in cargo, and would be ready for sea in less than two weeks.
"This idle life that John is leading, troubles me continually," said Mrs. Guyton, thus opening the subject, on the next occasion of being alone with her husband. "It will be his destruction, I fear."
A shade of anxiety passed over Mr. Guyton's face — but he did not respond.
"Is there nothing that we can do with him?"
Mr. Guyton shook his head.
"He'll be ruined if left to his own will — hopelessly ruined."
The voice of Mrs. Guyton was full of concern. Still her husband made no answer.
"How would it do to send him out as supercargo in one of your vessels?"
"It wouldn't do at all," was Mr. Guyton's quick answer.
"I'm not so sure of that," said his wife, who had expected just this answer. "If he could be induced to go, it might be his salvation."
"Do you suppose we'd trust a boy like him with the disposal of a cargo? What does he know of business?"
"Of course," answered Mrs. Guyton, not in the least disconcerted, "you would send him with an experienced captain, who would be the real man. The end is to save the boy; to get him away from the temptations that now beset him on every hand. As to his control of the cargo, that is another thing. He might sail under the idea of full powers, while the captain had orders to supersede him on the ship's arrival out. Don't you see, how safely this might be done? My only fear is, that John may not consent."
"He will not; on that you may rest assured," said Mr. Guyton.
"If he were to consent — what then? How does the thing strike you, on reflection?"
"Anything to get him away from the dangers of this city."
"So I think. Turn it over in your thought, Mr. Guyton. How is regard to the captain of the Ariel? — Is he a discreet man?"
"He is a good captain," was replied.
"Does he need a supercargo?"
"No. The ship will be consigned to a house in Valparaiso."
"So much the better. John's position as supercargo would give no control whatever, and might be so arranged with the captain as not to embarrass him in any respect. Take the captain fully into your counsels, and let him manage John in his own way after he gets him to sea."
"You talk as if the whole matter was settled," said Mr. Guyton, not able to repress a tone of impatience.
"And why not, if right to be done?" was coolly answered. "You can make all fair with the captain, of course. That part is easily arranged. The serious difficulty in the way is to getJohn's consent."
"A thing not to be hoped for, in my belief. John is too fond of ease and self-indulgence, to risk the possible hardships and privations of a trip around the Horn."
"It will require some management." This, Mrs. Guyton admitted. "But, if you can arrange with the captain to let John go as nominal supercargo in the Ariel, I will undertake to bring him over to our wishes."
"I may safely promise my part of the work, then; for I have no faith in the accomplishment of what you propose."
"But, Mr. Guyton," said his wife, with increasing earnestness of manner, "don't you think it would be of great use to John?"
"Perhaps it might be; but, there's no telling."
"It would remove him from temptation."
"Yes."
"And bring him under rigid discipline."
"I don't know about that. A supercargo is not a sailor, nor even subordinate to command like a ship's officer."
"Oh, as to that, you and the captain could understand each other. The object in sending him to sea must not be forgotten. I think, maybe, it will be just as well for you to hint the matter to John yourself, and see how his pulse beats. Perhaps he may be carried away with the idea as a novelty, and so all run smoothly. But, don't urge the matter, if he objects, or seems to consider it of any importance. He will be sure to say something to me about it."
"And go dead against the whole thing, should you favor it in the least. I know him."
"He's not apt to yield in favor of my plans, as I'm aware," said Mrs. Guyton. "But, where there's a will, there's a way, and I'll undertake to manage him."
The more Mr. Guyton thought over his wife's suggestion, the more in favor of sending John to sea, did he become. As he dwelt on the subject, a hope for the boy kindled in his mind — a hope that love of business and gain might be stimulated. A small adventure of his own might be entrusted to him, with direction to invest the proceeds in merchandise for the return voyage. This view was dwelt on, until it looked so promising that Mr. Guyton believed in its power to save his son. If by any means, a love of gain could be stimulated, he felt sure that all would be well. He had an undying faith in money. It was, in his thought the only motive power. No concern about Henry's future haunted his mind; for the boy's love of money was, in his regard, a sure protector.
John played off and on with his father, according to the program of his stepmother, and affected to yield, finally, with a great deal of reluctance, and only after securing sundry privileges and advantages, which, in the beginning, Mr. Guyton never thought of conceding.
There was an unusual lightness in the heart-beat of Mrs. Guyton, on the day John departed in the Ariel. She had an evil faith in the result of his voyage. If he ever came home at all, which might not be, she believed that he would come home so much worse in morals and habits, that no hope for his manhood would remain; and so, he would cease to stand in any formidable manner between her and her ambitions. At any rate, he was out of her way for a year; and she took all beyond that time on trust.
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