“Oh, I am glad of that!” cried Thud. “It’s the most stupid place under the sun; it has not so much as a club-room or a museum. When shall we start?”
“It is not a case of we,” replied Mr. Coldstream; “I am compelled to leave you behind in Moulmein.”
“I won’t stay behind when you go,” said Thud bluntly.
“I am afraid that you will hardly have a choice,” replied his brother-in-law; and Oscar explained to Thud the arrangement which he had made for his benefit, and tried to show him how much to his advantage it was to be received at once as a paid assistant, instead of being simply apprenticed.
“I—an assistant to that low fellow Smith, the son of a London tailor!” exclaimed Thud, with intense disgust.
“No matter whose son he may be; he is a good, honest, sensible man, who has worked his own way up in the world. Mr. Smith is the only person whom I know willing to give you such a chance.”
“I’ll go with you. Where are you going?” asked Thud.
“Where we go is not the question; I have told you already that you cannot go with us.”
Thud ground his teeth in anger. “I’ll return to England at once,” growled he.
“Who will pay for your passage? I certainly shall not,” said Oscar. “Listen, my boy,” he continued, laying his hand in a kindly way on the shoulder of Thud. “I believe that the separation will be for your good. Thrown on your own resources, you will show what mettle is in you; you will learn to work so as to be a help to a widowed mother, and not a burden. You have an opportunity of redeeming the time; the ball is at your foot—”