“Well, you see, he’s let his son Guy go off on a wildgoose chase to the other end of the world. Instead of keeping him at home to complete his education, or go into a store, he’s let him sail to India with Captain Grover.”
“That reminds me,” said Enoch Slade, the village carpenter. “Captain Grover arrived home yesterday.”
“Then where is Guy Fenwick? Nothing has been seen of him in the village.”
“He didn’t come home with the captain.”
“Didn’t come home?” repeated Deacon Crane, in amazement. “Where is he?”
“He stayed in Bombay. I believe he got something to do there.”
“Well, that beats all I ever heard,” said the deacon, severely. “It shows just what sort of a bringing up the boy has had. The minister ought to have known better than to have let him leave home. Guy was always self-willed. My son Noah never liked him.”
This didn’t impress the deacon’s visitors as much as he anticipated, for Noah Crane was by no means an object of admiration in the village. He was generally considered sly and mean, while Guy was a universal favorite.
“I always liked Guy, myself,” said Mr. Ainsworth. “He is a good scholar and a good boy. I do hope he will come out all right.”
“It ain’t hardly to be expected, Brother Ainsworth. The boy has always had his own way. You wouldn’t catch me letting my Noah go off to the other end of the world.”