Gervase laughed, and shrugged his shoulders.
“Have it your own way! I deny nothing. I am considerably the loser both in time and money by the new arrangement, but perhaps that is wholesome discipline. I don’t know that I have experienced much of the ‘glow’ as yet; which is, I suppose, because I have not your affection for my fellow-creatures; but I hope it is yet to come, for it sounds an attractive sensation.”
“Don’t laugh at me,” said Nan severely. “I said glowey, and I mean glowey! No other word expresses the sensation. You’ll understand some day when you have it yourself, and be sorry that you made fun of me. As for liking your people, the more you help them, the more interested you will feel, until in the end you will positively love them as if they were your own relatives.”
Gervase looked dubious.
“If only they would refrain from exhibiting their deformities! I do so strongly object to looking at disagreeable objects,” he sighed plaintively; then suddenly his face grew grave, and he added in a different voice, “It will be a long time, I fear, before I can reach your standard of loving help. So far it is a duty only, and a distasteful one in to the bargain; but I will persevere, in hope of better things. There is one person in the parish who has been set in the right way through your instrumentality. If the other efforts have failed, this, at least, has been a success, and it was time that some one took him in hand. An idle, loafing rascal who thought of nothing but his own comfort, and was the biggest waster in the village. He has set to work now, and he shall stick to it, or I’ll know the reason why! I’ll keep a stern hand on him, Nan, for your sake; for it was you, not I, who set this ball a-rolling, and I am only the executor of your orders. It is you who have played the good angel in his life, and he shall have no chance of slipping back.”
“But you mustn’t be too stern with the poor young man. You must make allowances, and be patient and forbearing. I shall be so interested to know how he goes on. It is nice to have a protegé, and feel that one has had some part in his reformation. Tell me his name, so that I may know what to call him.”
Gervase looked at her curiously. The eager face was without a suspicion of embarrassment, but it coloured over with a quick flush of surprise as she listened to his reply.
“His name,” Gervase said slowly, “you have heard before. His name is Vanburgh!”