第135章

TheybothappearedtoderivealargeramountofsatisfactionfromthecautiouscharacterofMrPancks，thanwasquiteintelligible，judgedbythesurfaceoftheirconversation。

’Andnow，’saidDaniel，lookingathiswatch，’astimeandtidewaitfornoman，mytrustypartner，andasIamreadyforstarting，bagandbaggage，atthegatebelow，letmesayalastword。Iwantyoutograntarequestofmine。’

’Anyrequestyoucanmake——Except，’Clennamwasquickwithhisexception，forhispartner’sfacewasquickinsuggestingit，’exceptthatIwillabandonyourinvention。’

’That’stherequest，andyouknowitis，’saidDoyce。

’Isay，No，then。Isaypositively，No。NowthatIhavebegun，I

willhavesomedefinitereason，someresponsiblestatement，somethinginthenatureofarealanswer，fromthosepeople。’

’Youwillnot，’returnedDoyce，shakinghishead。’Takemywordforit，youneverwill。’

’Atleast，I’lltry，’saidClennam。’Itwilldomenoharmtotry。’

’Iamnotcertainofthat，’rejoinedDoyce，layinghishandpersuasivelyonhisshoulder。’Ithasdonemeharm，myfriend。Ithasagedme，tiredme，vexedme，disappointedme。Itdoesnomananygoodtohavehispatiencewornout，andtothinkhimselfill-

used。Ifancy，evenalready，thatunavailingattendanceondelaysandevasionshasmadeyousomethinglesselasticthanyouusedtobe。’

’Privateanxietiesmayhavedonethatforthemoment，’saidClennam，’butnotofficialharrying。Notyet。Iamnothurtyet。’

’Thenyouwon’tgrantmyrequest？’

’Decidedly，No，’saidClennam。’IshouldbeashamedifIsubmittedtobesosoondrivenoutofthefield，whereamucholderandamuchmoresensitivelyinterestedmancontendedwithfortitudesolong。’

Astherewasnomovinghim，DanielDoycereturnedthegraspofhishand，and，castingafarewelllookroundthecounting-house，wentdown-stairswithhim。DoycewastogotoSouthamptontojointhesmallstaffofhisfellow-travellers；andacoachwasatthegate，wellfurnishedandpacked，andreadytotakehimthere。Theworkmenwereatthegatetoseehimoff，andweremightilyproudofhim。’Goodlucktoyou，MrDoyce!’saidoneofthenumber。

’Whereveryougo，they’llfindasthey’vegotamanamong’em)amanasknowshistoolsandashistoolsknows，amanasiswillingandamanasisable，andifthat’snotaman，whereisaman!’

Thisorationfromagruffvolunteerintheback-ground，notpreviouslysuspectedofanypowersinthatway，wasreceivedwiththreeloudcheers；andthespeakerbecameadistinguishedcharacterforeverafterwards。Inthemidstofthethreeloudcheers，Danielgavethemallahearty’GoodBye，Men!’andthecoachdisappearedfromsight，asiftheconcussionoftheairhadblownitoutofBleedingHeartYard。

MrBaptist，asagratefullittlefellowinapositionoftrust，wasamongtheworkmen，andhaddoneasmuchtowardsthecheeringasamereforeignercould。Intruth，nomenonearthcancheerlikeEnglishmen，whodosorallyoneanother’sbloodandspiritwhentheycheerinearnest，thatthestirisliketherushoftheirwholehistory，withallitsstandardswavingatonce，fromSaxonAlfred’sdownwards。MrBaptisthadbeeninamannerwhirledawaybeforetheonset，andwastakinghisbreathinquiteascaredconditionwhenClennambeckonedhimtofollowup-stairs，andreturnthebooksandpaperstotheirplaces。

Inthelullconsequentonthedeparture——inthatfirstvacuitywhiche