Mr. Leslie had come down at the end of the week, as he always did, to spend Sunday with his family, and to see how his little sick boy was getting on. He stood looking at the Rover for a little that Saturday night, and then said before leaving the room,—
“By-the-by, you’ve never got your grand ship sailed yet. What will Uncle
Jack say when he hears of it? But let me see. Couldn’t Watty there sail it? It’s a sort of pity he shouldn’t have some pleasure out of it, isn’t it?”
“O papa!” cried Harry as if in pain.
“Why, what is it?” said his father, alarmed at the crimson colour rising in his son’s face. “Is the knee so painful, my man?”
“No, no, papa,” said Harry, rather abashed; “I was thinking of what you said. You know it is my ship—my very own. How could I let Walter or any one else sail it, when I can’t even look out and see it, you know?”
Mr. Leslie was greatly surprised by this speech, but he was a good-natured, easy-going man, as has been said, never liking to cross or disappoint anybody if he could help it, and the sight of his poor little Harry lying there perhaps weighed against his own better judgment.
“Ah! I see,” he said. “You don’t like it to go out of your own hands. Well, you must just act ‘dog in the manger’ if you will, my boy. It is for yourself to judge. I never meddle with other people’s affairs, whether about toys or big things! You shall do exactly as you like with your boat, my boy; and I daresay it won’t be so very long before you and Walter will be able to go down to the beach together. By-the-by, did I tell you I met Dr. Grierson, and he was asking most kindly for his little scholar—quite sorry to hear of your being laid up, Harry? And the young Melvilles are perhaps coming down to Kingshaven before long. You’ll like to see them again. Jack Lowford had a nasty fall off that bicycle of his. He was coming down Grove Lane, where it is rather steep, you know, and the thing went right over. Jack cut his head badly against the big gray
stone at Mr. Sheffard’s gate, and had to be taken into the house and doctored up a bit before he could go home. Very kind people these Sheffards are, I must say.—But here comes Wat, who will give you news of the beach more interesting than mine. So good-night, my boy, and see that you sleep sound.”
So saying Mr. Leslie left him to repose