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treated him harshly more than once； and driven him； I may say；
out of doors； he has that regard for you that I believe even if you
disappointed him now； he would consent to take charge of your
son； and to make a man of him。’
He laid a great stress on these latter words； and paused as if to
find out what effect they had produced。 She only answered by her
tears。
‘He is a likely lad；’ said the blind man； thoughtfully； ‘for many
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purposes； and not ill…disposed to try his fortune in a little change
and bustle； if I may judge from what I heard of his talk with you to…
night。—Come。 In a word； my friend has pressing necessity for
twenty pounds。 You； who can give up an annuity； can get that sum
for him。 It’s a pity you should be troubled。 You seem very
comfortable here； and it’s worth that much to remain so。 Twenty
pounds； widow； is a moderate demand。 You know where to apply
for it； a post will bring it you。—Twenty pounds！’
She was about to answer him again； but again he stopped her。
‘Don’t say anything hastily； you might be sorry for it。 Think of it
a little while。 Twenty pounds—of other people’s money—how
easy！ Turn it over in your mind。 I’m in no hurry。 Night’s coming
on； and if I don’t sleep here； I shall not go far。 Twenty pounds！
Consider of it； ma’am； for twenty minutes； give each pound a
minute； that’s a fair allowance。 I’ll enjoy the air the while； which is
very mild and pleasant in these parts。’
With these words he groped his way to the door； carrying his
chair with him。 Then seating himself； under a spreading
honeysuckle； and stretching his legs across the threshold so that
no person could pass in or out without his knowledge； he took
from his pocket a pipe； flint； steel and tinder…box； and began to
smoke。 It was a lovely evening； of that gentle kind； and at that time
of year； when the twilight is most beautiful。 Pausing now and then
to let his smoke curl slowly off； and to sniff the grateful fragrance
of the flowers； he sat there at his ease—as though the cottage were
his proper dwelling； and he had held undisputed possession of it
all his life—waiting for the widow’s answer and for Barnaby’s
return。
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Chapter 46
hen Barnaby returned with the bread； the sight of the
Wpious old pilgrim smoking his pipe and making himself
so thoroughly at home； appeared to surprise even him；
the more so； as that worthy person； instead of putting up the loaf
in his wallet as a scarce and precious article； tossed it carelessly on
the table； and producing his bottle； bade him sit down and drink。
‘For I carry some comfort； you see；’ he said。 ‘Taste that。 Is it
good？’
The water stood in Barnaby’s eyes as he coughed from the
strength of the draught； and answered in the affirmative。
‘Drink some more；’ said the blind man； ‘don’t be afraid of it。
You don’t taste anything like that； often； eh？’
‘Often！’ cried Barnaby。 ‘Never！’
‘Too poor？’ returned the blind man with a sigh。 ‘Ay。 That’s bad。
Your mother； poor soul； would be happier if she was richer；
Barnaby。’
‘Why； so I tell her—the very thing I told her just before you
came to…night； when all that gold was in the sky；’ said Barnaby；
drawing his chair nearer to him； and looking eagerly in his face。
‘Tell me。 Is there any way of being rich； that I could find out？’
‘Any way！ A hundred ways。’
‘Ay； ay？’ he returned。 ‘Do you say so？ What are they？—Nay；
mother； it’s for your sake I ask； not mine；—for yours； indeed。 What
are they？’
The blind man turned his face； on which there was a smile of
triumph； to where the widow stood in great distress； and
answered；
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‘Why； they are not to be found out by stay…at…homes； my good
friend。’
‘By stay…at…homes！’ cried Barnaby； plucking at his sleeve。 ‘But I
am not one。 Now； there you mistake。 I am often out before the sun；
and travel home when he has gone to rest。 I am away in the woods
before the day has reached the shady places； and am often there
when the bright moon is peeping through the boughs； and looking
down upon the other moon that lives in the water。 As I walk along；
I try to find； among the grass and moss； some of that small money
for which she works so hard and used to shed so many tears。 As I
lie asleep in the shade； I dream of it—dream of digging it up in
heaps； and spying it out； hidden under bushes； and seeing it
sparkle； as the dew…drops do； among the leaves。 But I never find it。
Tell me where it is。 I’d go there； if the journey were a whole year
long； because I know she would be happier when I came home and
brought some with me。 Speak again。 I’ll listen to you if you talk all
night。’
The blind man passed his hand lightly over the poor fellow’s
face； and finding that his elbows were planted on the table； that
his chin rested on his two hands； that he leaned eagerly forward；
and that his whole manner expressed the utmost interest and
anxiety； paused for a minute as though he desired the widow to
observe this fully； and then made answer：
‘It’s in the world； bold Barnaby； the merry world； not in solitary
places like those you pass your time in； but in crowds； and where
there’s noise and rattle。’
‘Good！ good！’ cried Barnaby； rubbing his hands。 ‘Yes！ I love
that。 Grip loves it too。 It suits us both。 That’s brave！’
‘—The kind of places；’ said the blind man； ‘that a young fellow
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likes； and in which a good son may do more for his mother； and
himself to boot； in a month； than he could here in all his life—that
is； if he had a friend； you know； and some one to advise with。’
‘You hear this； mother？’ cried Barnaby； turning to her with
delight。 ‘Never tell me we shouldn’t heed it； if it lay shining at out
feet。 Why do we heed it so much now？ Why do you toil from
morning until night？’
‘Surely；’ said the blind man； ‘surely。 Have you no answer；
widow？ Is your mind；’ he slowly added； ‘not made up yet？’
‘Let me speak with you；’ she answered； ‘apart。’
‘Lay your hand upon my sleeve；’ said Stagg； arising from the
table； ‘and lead me where you will。 Courage； bold Barnaby。 We’ll
talk more of this： I’ve a fancy for you。 Wait there till I come back。
Now； widow。’
She led him out at the door； and into the little garden； where
they stopped。
‘You are a fit agent；’ she said； in a half breathless manner； ‘and
well represent the man who sent you here。’
‘I’ll tell him that you said so；’ Stagg retorted。 ‘He has a regard
for you； and will respect me the more （if possible） for your praise。
We must have our rights； widow。’
‘Rights！ Do you know；’ she said； ‘that a word from me—’
‘Why do you stop？’ returned the blind man calmly； after a long
pause。 ‘Do I know that a word from you would place my friend in
the last position of the dance of life？ Yes； I do。 What of that？ It will
never be spoken； widow。’
‘You are sure of that？’
‘Quite—so sure； that I don’t come here to discuss the question。 I
say we must have our rights； or we must be bought off。 Keep to
Charles Dickens