[CHAPTER VIII.]
GUS' NEW FRIENDS.
GUS saw much of Lucas and his daughter in the days that followed. He was often invited into their room, and the man showed much interest in him. Sometimes Lucas would pat Gus on the back, and tell him he was a smart fellow, and he would make a man of him. Lucy, too, was kind to him, but she was very sad and quiet. Gus supposed it was being so weak and lame made her sad.
The boy saw and heard many things when he was with them which made him wonder. He noticed that though Lucas had no regular employment, he was never without money. He would speak to the neighbours of the bad times; but their badness seemed in no way to affect his comfort. His food was of the best; he had dainties on his table that were to be seen on no other in Lavender Terrace. He told Gus that he bought them for Lucy's sake, whose appetite required much tempting; but the fact remained that he had the power to spend money as none of his neighbours could. Certainly he had not the fatal weakness which had dragged Gus' father down into the lowest depths of misery. He never drank to excess. Some beer with his meals and an occasional glass of spirits was all he took. But the spirit was of the best quality, as was also the tobacco which he smoked.
"A gentleman could not have better, Gentleman Gus," he said one day to the boy, when he was in a merry mood.
"Gentleman Gus indeed!" snarled Jack, with a contemptuous glance at him.
"You hold your tongue!" cried his father. "I tell you he shall be a gentleman.
"You do as I tell you, my lad," he added, patting Gus on the shoulder, "and I'll make a gentleman of you."
Gus' colour rose with pleasure. He had no doubt Lucas could help him to be a gentleman, for the man was in many respects different from the other men who dwelt at Lavender Terrace.
But Jack scowled more darkly than before, and muttered something the boy could not understand. Gus was no favourite with him.