OF AGE.
There were no rejoicings upon Gibbie's attainment of his twenty-first year. His guardian, believing he alone had acquainted himself with the date, and desiring in his wisdom to avoid giving him a feeling of importance, made no allusion to the fact, as would have been most natural, when they met at breakfast on the morning of the day. But, urged thereto by Donal, Gibbie had learned the date for himself, and finding nothing was said, fingered to Mrs. Sclater, "This is my birthday.""I wish you many happy returns," she answered, with kind empressement. "How old are you to-day?""Twenty-one," he answered--by holding up all his fingers twice and then a forefinger.
She looked struck, and glanced at her husband, who thereupon, in his turn, gave utterance to the usual formula of goodwill, and said no more. Seeing he was about to leave the table, Gibbie, claiming his attention, spelled on his fingers, very slowly, for Mr. Sclater was slow at following this mode of communication:
"If you please, sir, I want to be put in possession of my property as soon as possible.""All in good time, Sir Gilbert," answered the minister, with a superior smile, for he clung with hard reluctance to the last vestige of his power.
"But what is good time?" spelled Gibbie with a smile, which, none the less that it was of genuine friendliness, indicated there might be difference of opinion on the point.
"Oh! we shall see," returned the minister coolly. "These are not things to be done in a hurry," he added, as if he had been guardian to twenty wards in chancery before, "We'll see in a few days what Mr. Torrie proposes.""But I want my money at once," insisted Gibbie. "I have been waiting for it, and now it is time, and why should I wait still?""To learn patience, if for no other reason, Sir Gilbert," answered the minister, with a hard laugh, meant to be jocular. "But indeed such affairs cannot be managed in a moment. You will have plenty of time to make a good use of your money, if you should have to wait another year or two."So saying he pushed back his plate and cup, a trick he had, and rose from the table.
"When will you see Mr. Torrie?" asked Gibbie, rising too, and working his telegraph with greater rapidity than before.
"By and by," answered Mr. Sclater, and walked towards the door. But Gibbie got between him and it.
"Will you go with me to Mr. Torrie to-day?" he asked.
The minister shook his head. Gibbie withdrew, seeming a little disappointed. Mr. Sclater left the room.
"You don't understand business, Gilbert," said Mrs. Sclater.
Gibbie smiled, got his writing-case, and sitting down at the table, wrote as follows:--"Dear Mr. Sclater,--As you have never failed in your part, how can you wish me to fail in mine? I am now the one accountable for this money, which surely has been idle long enough, and if I leave it still unused, I shall be doing wrong, and there are things I have to do with it which ought to be set about immediately. I am sorry to seem importunate, but if by twelve o'clock you have not gone with me to Mr. Torrie, I will go to Messrs. Hope & Waver, who will tell me what I ought to do next, in order to be put in possession. It makes me unhappy to write like this, but I am not a child any longer, and having a man's work to do, I cannot consent to be treated as a child. I will do as I say. I am, dear Mr. Sclater, your affectionate ward, Gilbert Galbraith."He took the letter to the study, and having given it to Mr. Sclater, withdrew. The minister might have known by this time with what sort of a youth he had to deal! He came down instantly, put the best face on it he could, said that if Sir Gilbert was so eager to take up the burden, he was ready enough to cast it off, and they would go at once to Mr. Torrie.
With the lawyer, Gibbie insisted on understanding everything, and that all should be legally arranged as speedily as possible. Mr.
Torrie saw that, if he did not make things plain, or gave the least cause for doubt, the youth would most likely apply elsewhere for advice, and therefore took trouble to set the various points, both as to the property and the proceedings necessary, before him in the clearest manner.
"Thank you," said Gibbie, through Mr. Sclater. "Please remember I am more accountable for this money than you, and am compelled to understand."--Janet's repeated exhortations on the necessity of sending for the serpent to take care of the dove, had not been lost upon him.
The lawyer being then quite ready to make him an advance of money, they went with him to the bank, where he wrote his name, and received a cheque book. As they left the bank, he asked the minister whether he would allow him to keep his place in his house till the next session, and was almost startled at finding how his manner to him was changed. He assured Sir Gilbert, with a deference and respect both painful and amusing, that he hoped he would always regard his house as one home, however many besides he might now choose to have.
So now at last Gibbie was free to set about realizing a long-cherished scheme.