"Oh!" said Mr Temple. "Now look here, Marion. You showed me what I
hope will prove very valuable to me, and I don't want to be ungrateful
in return. Now what should you say if I spent a hundred pounds in a
boat expressly for you, and after we had called it _The White Spar_, I
presented it to you?"
"I should say it was very generous of you, sir."
"And it would make you very happy, my lad?"
"No, sir," said Will sadly, "I don't think it would."
"Then suppose I spent two hundred and fifty pounds in a boat and nets.
Come, that ought to set you up for life." Will was silent.
"You like that idea?" The lad shook his head.
"Then look here, Marion," said Mr Temple. "Suppose I say to you, I am
going to open out and work that vein at once, will you come and help me,
and I'll give you five shillings a week?"
"Yes, sir, I'll come," cried Will, with his eyes sparkling; "I'll work
so hard for you, I will indeed."
"I know you will, my lad," said Mr Temple, shaking hands with him
warmly.
"And you will take me, sir?" said Will excitedly.
"Certainly I will, but not on such terms as that. My good lad, there is
honesty in the world, though sometimes it is rather hard to find. Look
here. You helped me to the discovery, but it was useless without
capital. I found the capital, and so I consider that I and mine have a
right to the lion's share. I have worked out my plans, and they are
these. We will divide the adventure into four parts, which shall be
divided as follows, one part to you, and one each to me and my sons.
The only difference will be that you will get your part, and I shall
keep Arthur's and Dick's along with mine. Do you think that fair?"
"No!" cried Dick, giving the table a thump with his fist.
"Till my boys come of age and are men," said Mr Temple smiling. "Then
they can draw their shares. I think it is a fair arrangement. Come,
Marion, what do you say?"
"I don't know what to say, sir," cried the lad, whose lip was working
with emotion. "You are not playing with me?"
"Playing, my lad! I never was in more sober earnest in my life," said
Mr Temple. "There, I see you agree, and I congratulate you on your
success, for it will be a most successful venture--of that I am sure."
"So do I, Will," cried Dick, with his eyes sparkling. "I am glad.
Hooray!"
Arthur hesitated. For the last few minutes a feeling of resentment and
jealousy had been rising in his breast at the idea of this fisher lad
winning to such a successful position and being placed on a level with
him and his brother; but he crushed the feeling down, triumphed over it,
came forward holding out his hand, and offered his congratulations too.
"I am glad, Will Marion," he said, and his words were true and earnest;
but in spite of himself the thought would come, "I hope he won't always
dress like that."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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