A thought struck me."John,hand me the stick and I'll give you your first writing lesson."So there,on the smooth gravel,and with the rose-stem for a pen,Itaught him how to form the letters of the alphabet and join them together.He learned them very quickly--so quickly,that in a little while the simple copy-book that Mother Earth obliged us with was covered in all directions with "J O H N--John.""Bravo!"he cried,as we turned homeward,he flourishing his gigantic pen,which had done such good service;"bravo!I have gained something to-day!"Crossing the bridge over the Avon,we stood once more to look at the waters that were "out."They had risen considerably,even in that short time,and were now pouring in several new channels,one of which was alongside of the high road;we stopped a good while watching it.The current was harmless enough,merely flooding a part of the Ham;but it awed us to see the fierce power of waters let loose.An old willow-tree,about whose roots I had often watched the king-cups growing,was now in the centre of a stream as broad as the Avon by our tan-yard,and thrice as rapid.The torrent rushed round it--impatient of the divisions its great roots caused--eager to undermine and tear it up.Inevitably,if the flood did not abate,within a few hours more there would be nothing left of the fine old tree.
"I don't quite like this,"said John,meditatively,as his quick eye swept down the course of the river,with the houses and wharves that abutted on it,all along one bank."Did you ever see the waters thus high before?""Yes,I believe I have;nobody minds it at Norton Bury;it is only the sudden thaw,my father says,and he ought to know,for he has had plenty of experience,the tan-yard being so close to the river.""I was thinking of that;but come,it's getting cold."He took me safe home,and we parted cordially--nay,affectionately--at my own door.
"When will you come again,David?"
"When your father sends me."
And I felt that HE felt that our intercourse was always to be limited to this.Nothing clandestine,nothing obtrusive,was possible,even for friendship's sake,to John Halifax.
My father came in late that evening;he looked tired and uneasy,and instead of going to bed,though it was after nine o'clock,sat down to his pipe in the chimney-corner.
"Is the river rising still,father?Will it do any harm to the tan-yard?""What dost thee know about the tan-yard!"
"Only John Halifax was saying--"
"John Halifax had better hold his tongue."
I held mine.
My father puffed away in silence till I came to bid him good-night.
I think the sound of my crutches on the floor stirred him out of a long meditation,in which his ill-humour had ebbed away.
"Where didst thee go out to-day,Phineas?--thee and the lad I sent.""To the Mythe:"and I told him the incident that had happened there.
He listened without reply.
"Wasn't it a brave thing to do,father?"
"Um!"--and a few meditative puffs."Phineas,the lad thee hast such a hankering after is a good lad--a very decent lad--if thee doesn't make too much of him.Remember;he is but my servant;thee'rt my son--my only son."Alas!my poor father,it was hard enough for him to have such an "only son"as I.
In the middle of the night--or else to me,lying awake,it seemed so--there was a knocking at our hall door.I slept on the ground flat,in a little room opposite the parlour.Ere I could well collect my thoughts,I saw my father pass,fully dressed,with a light in his hand.And,man of peace though he was,I was very sure I saw in the other--something which always lay near his strong box,at his bed's head at night.Because ten years ago a large sum had been stolen from him,and the burglar had gone free of punishment.The law refused to receive Abel Fletcher's testimony--he was "only a Quaker."The knocking grew louder,as if the person had no time to hesitate at making a noise."Who's there?"called out my father;and at the answer he opened the front door,first shutting mine.
A minute afterwards I heard some one in my room."Phineas,are you here?--don't be frightened."I was not--as soon as his voice reached me,John's own familiar voice."It's something about the tan-yard?""Yes;the waters are rising,and I have come to fetch your father;he may save a good deal yet.I am ready,sir"--in answer to a loud call."Now,Phineas,lie you down again,the night's bitter cold.
Don't stir--you'll promise?--I'll see after your father."They went out of the house together,and did not return the whole night.
That night,February 5,1795,was one long remembered at Norton Bury.
Bridges were destroyed--boats carried away--houses inundated,or sapped at their foundations.The loss of life was small,but that of property was very great.Six hours did the work of ruin,and then the flood began to turn.
It was a long waiting until they came home--my father and John.At daybreak I saw them standing on the doorstep.A blessed sight!
"O father!my dear father!"and I drew him in,holding fast his hands--faster and closer than I had done since I was a child.He did not repel me.
"Thee'rt up early,and it's a cold morning for thee,my son.Go back to the fire."His voice was gentle;his ruddy countenance pale;two strange things in Abel Fletcher.
"Father,tell me what has befallen thee?"