The Adventures of Tom Leigh Read Online Free PDF Page A

Gledhill. The other two gentlemen seated themselves at the side of the room.
    â€œWell, come, Gledhill, begin. Make your application,” said Sir Henry testily.
    Mr. Gledhill stood up and gave my name and age and the tale of my coming to Yorkshire. It seemed to me they had all heard it before and listened impatiently. While he droned on I had leisure to look at them. Sir Henry was the first man I had seen in Yorkshire wearing a full-bottomed wig—the others all wore short cut wigs—so he appeared very dignified and handsome; his face was lean and serious and his dark eyes keen. I gazed at the other two men in trepidation, wondering which was to be my master. Their appearance was very different: one a stocky, sturdy man with a round florid face, big hands and a rather quick-tempered look about him; the other pale and tight-lipped and dry.
    â€œAre you willing to take Thomas Leigh as your bound apprentice, Firth?” said Sir Henry.
    To my great relief, the stocky florid man stood up; the tight-lipped man must be the other Overseer of the Poor for Barseland, Mr. Gledhill’s colleague.
    â€œWell—I’m a bit put out by his fighting, and that’s a fact, Sir Henry,” said Mr. Firth. “He won’t have to do no fighting at my place, I warrant you.”
    â€œThe lad is right enough; my son struck him first; any boy with spirit would hit back. Come—yes or no?”
    â€œWell,” said Mr. Firth, fidgeting from one foot to the other. “It’s my wife, you see. An apprentice means more cooking, like. And if she thinks he’s a fighting cock, well!”
    â€œOf course if you’d rather pay the ten-pound fine for refusing,” snapped the tight-lipped Overseer.
    â€œI could do that without any help from you, John Swain!” cried Mr. Firth, the hot colour rushing into his face.
    â€œThere’s a two-pound bounty,” began the tight-lipped man, but Sir Henry spoke over him, drowning his words.
    â€œNow, Firth,” he said, “I shall not talk about fines and bounties. To a warm man like you they make little matter.”
    â€œThat’s right,” muttered Mr. Firth, glancing angrily at the Overseer.
    â€œI shall ask you to think of the lad himself. Here he is, apauper through no fault of his own; no mother, his father dying strangely in our own township. He is friendless and alone. Suppose it was your Grade in such a case.”
    â€œMy Gracie will be well provided for.”
    â€œLet us hope so,” said Sir Henry gravely.
    â€œI’ll take him if you don’t want him,” said the tight-lipped man.
    For the life of me I could not help a start of anguish, and I gazed imploringly at Mr. Firth. I met his eyes, and it seemed to me he wavered.
    â€œWell” he began.
    â€œHe’s a healthy lad and not ill-looking,” put in Sir Henry.
    â€œHe can read and write and card—his father was a weaver, think on,” said Mr. Gledhill.
    â€œIn that case I’ll take him,” said Mr. Firth.
    It seemed to me, however, that my accomplishments were only an excuse, a reason for him to give his wife, which he was relieved to have; he took me really from mere warmth of heart, and perhaps a little to spite the tight-lipped Overseer.
    â€œThank you, sir,” I said.
    Mr. Firth snorted. “But no fighting,” he said. “And no mention of fighting, lad. My wife wouldn’t sleep in her bed if she thought you were a fighter.”
    I thought I saw a gleam of amusement pass between Sir Henry and Mr. Gledhill, and I wondered what Mrs. Firth could be like; but I kept my face very solemn and said: “No, sir,” very respectfully.
    â€œHave you prepared the indentures, Gledhill?” said Sir Henry. “Come, come, get them read; I can’t be about this business all day. I’ve something else to think of.”
    A frown crossed his face as he spoke, and Mr. Swain burst out