"I am come to say I will do everything you wish me to do, sir, if I may still hope for your consent," said Tom, and feeling when he had said it as Cæsar may have felt when he crossed the Rubicon.
"I don't often contradict myself or recall my words, and I have no wish to do so now, dear Tom," said the old gentleman, as he took Tom's outstretched hand and shook it. "And I wish you to believe that, according to my notions, I am doing the best I can for you and Kate."
"I hope it may turn out so," said Tom; "and now I am in for it, I'll do my best to fulfil your expectations. But Richard thinks, and I am afraid, that I shall make a poor hand at business of any sort, never having been used to it."
"I am not at all afraid of that," replied the elder. "If a man goes in for doing his best, as you say, he is in a fair way to succeed, whatever he attempts, unless he is an absolute blockhead, which you are not, Tom. Of course it will be strange to you at first, but you will get on by degrees—fast, too, for you will be sure to like it. If I could only be a young man again!" said the senior, with enthusiasm, as he called to remembrance former days of successes and triumphs.
And then, with a sigh, he added more soberly, "It will all come to you in good time, Tom; and you won't stand alone, remember. You will have two partners who know what business is, and how to do it; one of them is Kate's brother, you know, and the other is likely to be a member of Parliament soon, as well as a tradesman. Think of that!"
Well, to be sure, there was something in that idea, Tom thought; and then it occurred to him that he had not been informed of the nature of the business into which he was to be so unceremoniously thrust, and in which he was expected to become so expert. And as it is no particular concern of ours, it is enough to say that, being satisfied on this head, Tom made no further objection to the plans of his future father-in-law, except to say that his brother, on good cause being shown, would furnish half the capital required in carrying them out. This being eventually conceded, all diligence was used in getting through the preliminaries.
And in less than a month, Mr. Thomas Grigson found himself a citizen of London, with a private office in the heart of the city, and in lodgings five or six miles away, looking out for a home for Kate. This was soon found and furnished; and barely six months had passed away before the bells of Mumbleton Church one day rang a merry peal, and all Mumbleton was in an uproar of rejoicing, because Kate Elliston had taken to herself a husband, and changed her name to Kate Grigson.
And so they were married; and our friend Tom, having, as already intimated, spent part of his honeymoon with his old fellow-collegian at Tincroft House, went back to his pretty villa on the banks of the Thames, and liked his home with its surroundings, and loved his young wife none the less for having to spend the greater part of the day away from it and her in the active business of life.
It will, perhaps, be incredible to some of my readers that Tom really began to take an interest in, and to like, the excitement of everyday trade. But it is true, nevertheless; and it is equally true that when any man does "with all his might" whatsoever his "hand findeth to do," provided it is an honest and upright doing, he will hardly fail of liking to do it.
It is true that Tom's love for his old country life and occupations did not diminish as time wore on. His riding and driving he kept up, for he rode to and from the city daily, and found time also to drive his Kate out in her pony-chaise now and then. As to hunting and shooting, a week or two in September, and another week or two after Christmas, spent at the Manor House with brother Richard, satisfied all his longings.