Catharine Furze Part 20

"Why do you not try Jim? He is rough, it is true, but he knows the shop.

He can write well enough for that work, and all you want is somebody to be there when you are out."

Mr. Furze shuddered. That was not all he wanted, but he had hardly allowed himself, as we have already seen, to confess his weakness.

"It might be as well, perhaps," added Mrs. Furze, "to have Tom up to-morrow and talk to him here."

"That will be much better."

It was now tea-time, and immediately afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Furze went to church.

Soon after nine on the following morning, and before Mr. Furze had left, Jim appeared with another request "to see the missus."

"I'll go downstairs," she said. "He wants to see me about the boiler."

There was n.o.body but Jim in the kitchen.

"Well, Jim?"

"Well, marm."

"What have you got to say?"

"No, marm, it's wot 'ave you got to say?"

"It is very shocking about Mr. Catchpole, is it not? But, then, we are not surprised, you know; we have partly suspected something for a long time, as I have told you."

"'Ave you really? Well, then, it's a good thing as he's found out."

"I am very sorry. He has been with us so long, and we thought him such a faithful servant."

"You're sorry, are you? Yes, of course you are. Wot are yer goin' to do with him?"

"We shall not prosecute."

"No, marm, you take my advice, don't yer do that; it wouldn't do n.o.body no good."

"We shall discharge him at once."

"Yes, that's all right; but don't you prosecute 'im on no account, mind that. _Mis-sis_ Furze," said Jim, deliberately, turning his head, and with his eyes full upon her in a way she did not like, "wot am I a-goin'

to get out of this?"

"Why, you will be repaid, I am sure, by Mr. Furze for all the time and trouble you have taken."

"Now, marm, I ain't a-goin' to say nothin' as needn't be said, but I know that Tom's been makin' up to Miss Catharine, and yer know that as soon as yer found that out yer come and spoke to me. Mind that, marm; it was yer as come and spoke to me; it wasn't me as spoke first, was it?" Jim was unusually excited. "And arter yer spoke to me, yer spoke to me agin--agin I say it--arter I told you as I seed Joe pay the money, and then I brought yer that ere sovereign."

Mrs. Furze sat down. In one short minute she lived a lifetime, and the decision was taken which determined her destiny. She resolved that she would _not_ tread one single step in one particular direction, nor even look that way. She did not resolve to tell a lie, or, in fact, to do anything which was not strictly defensible and virtuous. She simply refused to reflect on the possibility of perjury on Jim's part. Refusing to reflect on it, she naturally had no proof of it; and, having no proof of it, she had no ground for believing that she was not perfectly innocent and upright--a very pretty process, much commoner than perhaps might be suspected. After the lapse of two or three hours there was in fact no test by which to distinguish the validity of this belief from that of her other beliefs, nor indeed, it may be said, from that of the beliefs in which many people live, and for the sake of which they die.

"It is true, Jim," said Mrs. Furze, after a pause, "that we thought Tom had so far forgotten himself as to make proposals to Miss Catharine, but this was a mere coincidence. It is extremely fortunate that we have discovered just at this moment what he really is; most fortunate. I have not the least doubt that he is a very bad character; your evidence is most decisive, and, as we owe so much to you, we think of putting you in Tom's place."

Jim had advanced with wariness, and occupied such a position that he could claim Mrs. Furze as an accomplice, or save appearances, if it was more prudent to do so. The reward was brilliant, and he saw what course he ought to take.

"Thank yer, marm; it was very lucky; now I may speak freely I may say as I've 'ad my eyes on Mr. Catchpole ever so long. I told yer as much afore, and this ain't the fust time as he's robbed yer, but I couldn't prove it, and it worn't no good my sayin' wot I worn't sure of."

This, then, is the way in which Destiny rewards those who refuse to listen to the Divine Voice. Destiny supplies them with reasons for discrediting it. Mrs. Furze was more than ever thankful to Jim; not so much because of these additional revelations, but because she was still further released from the obligation to turn her eyes. Had not Jim said it once, twice, and now thrice? Who could condemn her? She boldly faced herself, and asked herself what authority this other self possessed which, just for a moment, whispered something in her ear. What right had it thus to interrogate her? What right had it to hint at some horrid villainy? "None, none," it timidly answered, and was silent. The business of this other self is suggestion only, and, if it be resisted, it is either dumb or will reply just as it is bidden.

"You can tell Mr. Catchpole his master wishes to see him here."

"Thankee, marm; good mornin'."

Tom came up to the Terrace much wondering, and was shown into the dining- room by Phoebe not a little suspicious. Mr. Furze sat back in the easy- chair with his elbows on the arms and his hands held up and partly interlaced. It was an att.i.tude he generally a.s.sumed when he was grave or wished to appear so. He had placed himself with his back to the light.

Mrs. Furze sat in the window. Mr. Furze began with much hesitation.

"Sit down, Mr. Catchpole. I am sorry to be obliged to impart to you a piece--a something--which is very distressing. For some time, I must say, I have not been quite satisfied with the--the affairs--business at the shop, and the case of Humphries' account made me more anxious. I could not tell who the--delinquent--might be, and, under advice, under advice, I resorted to the usual means of detection, and the result is that a marked coin placed in the till on Sat.u.r.day was changed by you on Sat.u.r.day night."

A tremendous blow steadies some men, at least for a time. Tom quietly replied--

"Well, Mr. Furze, what then?"

"What then?" said Mrs. Furze, with a little t.i.tter; "the evidence seems complete."

"A marked coin," continued Mr. Furze. "I may say at once that I do not propose to prosecute, although if I were to take proceedings and to produce the evidence of Jim and his brother with regard to Humphries, I should obtain a conviction. But I cannot bring myself to--to--the--forget your past services, and I wish to show no unchristian malice, even for such a crime as yours. You are discharged, and there are a week's wages."

"I am not sure," said Mrs. Furze, "that we are not doing wrong in the eye of the law, and that we might not ourselves be prosecuted for conniving at a felony."

Tom was silent for a moment, but it never entered into his head to ask for corroboration or any details.

"I will ask you both"--he spoke with deliberation and emphasis--"do you, both of you, believe I am a thief?"

"Really," said Mrs. Furze, "what a question to put! Two men declare money was paid to you for which you never accounted, and a marked sovereign, to which you had no right, was in your possession last Sat.u.r.day evening. You seem rather absurd, Mr. Catchpole."

"Mrs. Furze, I repeat my question: do you believe I am a thief?"

"We are not going to prosecute you: let that be enough for you; I decline to say any more than it suits me to say: you have had the reasons for dismissal; ask yourself whether they are conclusive or not, and what the verdict of a jury would be."

"Then I tell you, Mrs. Furze, and I tell you, Mr. Furze, before the all- knowing G.o.d, who is in this room at this moment, that I am utterly innocent, and that somebody has wickedly lied."

"Mr. Catchpole," replied Mrs. Furze, "the introduction of the sacred name in such a conjunction is, I may say, rather shocking, and even blasphemous. Here is your money: you had better go."

Tom left the money and walked out of the room.

"Good-bye, Phoebe."

"Are you going to leave, Tom?"

"Discharged!"

"I knew there was some villainy going on," said Phoebe, greatly excited, as she took Tom's hand and wrung it, "but you aren't really going for good?"

"Yes;" and he was out in the street.