Chapter Two.
Blind as Bats.
That same evening Don Lavington did not walk home with his uncle, but hung back to see Jem Wimble lock-up, and then sauntered slowly with him toward the little low house by the entrance gates, where the yard-man, as he was called, lived in charge.
Jem had been in the West India merchant’s service from a boy, and no one was more surprised than he when on the death of old Topley, Josiah Christmas said to him one morning,—
“Wimble, you had better take poor old Topley’s place.”
“And—and take charge of the yard, sir?”
“Yes. I can trust you, can’t I?”
“Oh, yes, sir; but—”
“Ah! Yes. You have no wife to put in the cottage.”
Jem began to look foolish, and examine the lining of his hat.