He might
rise in time to be cashier, manager, even partner; who knew? Who knew
indeed? And Clerk Gum congratulated himself, and was more respectable
than ever.
Better that Willy Gum had remained at Calne! And yet, and again--who
knew? When the propensity for ill-doing exists it is sure to come out, no
matter where. There were some people in Calne who could have told Clerk
Gum, even then, that Willy, for his age, was tolerably fast and forward.
Mrs. Gum had heard of one or two things that had caused her hair to rise
on end with horror; ay, and with apprehension; but, foolish mother that
she was, not a syllable did she breathe to the clerk; and no one else
ventured to tell him.
She talked to Willy with many sighs and tears; implored him to be a good
boy and enter on good courses, not on bad ones that would break her
heart. Willy, the little scapegrace, was willing to promise anything. He
laughed and made light of it; it wasn't his fault if folks told stories
about him; she couldn't be so foolish as to give ear to them. London? Oh,
he should be all right in London! One or two fellows here were rather
fast, there was no denying it; and they drew him with them; they were
older than he, and ought to have known better. Once away from Calne, they
could have no more influence over him, and he should be all right.
She believed him; putting faith in the plausible words.
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