Inman hesitated. In conducting these negotiations he gave the impression of a man whose inflexible loyalty was baffled by a strict conscientiousness.
“If I could be absolutely sure that he would allow me to guide him, I would say yes. So far he has done so on most occasions. Once or twice lately—but he wasn’t master of himself then, and I’m hoping he’ll pull himself together.”
“Find somebody to guarantee the account, Mr. Inman, and you shall have the old terms with pleasure. What about your wife?” Everybody knew by this time that Nancy had ample means.
Inman shook his head. “I’ve tried my best, but you know what timid creatures women are; and my wife’s as far in as she cares to be.”
“That’s exactly our position, Mr. Inman.”
This was how it always ended, and Inman would shake hands with a downcast expression on his honest face, and a note of regret in his voice as he assured the principal that he couldn’t blame him.
One man in the village refused to join in the general chorus of condemnation. There is a variation of a familiar proverb that reads: “A friend loveth at all times, and is born as a brother for adversity.” Maniwel Drake was such a friend.
He had been having a hard struggle in his business as we have seen; but so far his shoulders had been broad enough for the burdens they had had to carry, and his heart had always been light. Since Jagger’s “conversion” he had scarcely had a care in the world; for the loss of his little capital had left him unmoved, and it is true to say that the contemplation of Baldwin’s misfortune had given him more sorrow than anything he had experienced since the death of his wife. It afforded him little satisfaction to realise that as Baldwin’s embarrassments increased his own diminished; that the “hurdles” were being removed one by one out of his path; and that a moderate prosperity was opening out before him.
It was not until Baldwin took to drink that Maniwel allowed himself to give way to depression, however, and when he found that his son received the news with an indifference that was not far removed from satisfaction his wrath was aroused.
“If there’s rejoicing in the presence o’ the angels of God over a sinner ’at repenteth,” he said, “there’s like to be rejoicing amongst t’other sort over one ’at sinks deeper into t’ mire; but I should grieve for a son o’ mine to join in such a devil-dance! I’m for lending Baldwin a hand if it can be done at all. He’s both ox and ass, is Baldwin; and if he can be got out o’ t’ pit it’s our duty to do it.”