CHAPTER IX.

JACK'S BICYCLE.

"WELL, boy, I've got the job," and Jack's father grinned and rubbed his hands with supreme satisfaction, as he looked first at Jack and then at his wife across the supper table that Saturday night.

Jack was eating his bread and cheese in a sleepy fashion, for the long walk and ramble in the woods had tired him, and he and Annie had only just got back; but he was alert enough when he heard his father's news. "What job is it, dad?" he asked, eagerly.

"Oh, not a big contract; I couldn't manage that without I know a bit more of figures, and so you must get on to them, my boy, for me. I could tot up a little job like this—for it's just putting a shop front into a private house—and it's a job you can help me at when you have done at your own place. For the man wants it done quickly now he has made up his mind about it, and I may get another when this is finished, if it suits him. I must be up with the lark on Monday morning, and get that workshop ready."

And then there was another rubbing of the hands, and Bond would not have been sorry if his wife had suggested that he should commence clearing it that very night.

But Mrs. Bond hardly knew what to think of this new departure. So long as they lived in Sadler Street, she had been content to live like her neighbours, in a dirty, untidy, thriftless fashion. And it was only because Jack was always talking about the Winns and their nice house, that she decided that she would have something like it when she moved away from the old neighbourhood.

She had made a beginning with the kitchen, and felt very proud of what she had done; but why her husband and Jack should also want to turn over a new leaf us well as herself, she could not quite understand. Though she strongly suspected that it was because there was an old disused workshop at the bottom of the garden, and a gateway at the side of the house leading to it, that had put the idea into their heads. And she did not half like the notion of risking their little bit of money in taking work, instead of keeping it in the bank, and adding to it when he had the chance from his weekly wages.

[Illustration: Jack's father rubbed his hands with supreme satisfaction.]

But she knew her husband too well to dispute with him over this, and so she sat and listened while the three talked. For Annie's arithmetic was brought into requisition in working out quantities, and it was nearly twelve o'clock before they went to bed. And then Jack dreamed of figures, and timber, and nails, and paint, and varnish, in such a confused jumble, that he woke up the next morning wishing more than ever that he had stuck to his lessons when he was at school, instead of wasting his time, as he often had done, and turning every bit of school work into a source of fun for the others to laugh at.

The other boys had thought it clever at the time, and so did he, but he knew now that if he had had more sense, he would have known better than to waste his time in such folly. For he could do nothing without Annie's help to make sure that the simplest sum was right; and upon the accuracy of working these out correctly, would depend whether his father lost money, or made a profit, upon the work he undertook. But out of this grew the steady resolution that, however distasteful it might be for a big fellow like him to go to school again, after he had begun working at a trade, he would go, and give all his attention to the intricacies of arithmetic, until he had mastered it.

He would have begun working at simple sums at once, if he could, but he was to begin helping his father with the carpentering on Monday as soon as he got home. And so his only chance to do this was in the odd minutes he might snatch during the dinner hour; and he resolved to keep a pencil and paper in his pocket, that he might do this whenever he had the chance.

As soon as day dawned, his father was up and clearing out the old shed, repairing the broken window, and making it ready to begin work as soon as the wood should be brought in for him to begin upon.

Jack came home at tea time with shining eyes and glowing cheeks.

"I say, dad, Jackson, my foreman, wants to sell his bicycle. It's a good strong one, will wear for years he says."

"Then what does he want to sell it for?" asked Bond.

"Because it's a bit old-fashioned, and he's been saving up to buy a new one; and if he can sell this soon, so as to get another, he will let it go cheap."

"What does he call cheap? Because I happen to have a pound or two in the bank I can't afford to waste it. And if—"

"But I don't want you to give me the money, dad!" interrupted Jack. "He says if I can pay him ten shillings in a fortnight, and five shillings a week afterwards until it is paid, and you will agree to see it is paid, he can order his new machine at once, and I can have his old one when I pay the ten shillings."

"Well, that sounds fair enough, my boy. But I tell you what, I should like to see the machine myself, and get somebody else to look at it who understands such things. You tell him what I say, lad, and hear what he thinks to it. Now, make haste over your tea, for that bicycle has got to be earned yet, you know, and I have got a bit of work ready for you."

So as soon as tea was over, Jack went to his new work in the old shed. And although it was not very pleasant to begin again when he had already done a fair day's work, still, he set to it with a will.

Fortunately for the two workmen, Mrs. Bond was determined to have a share in the new departure. And, knowing that a man cannot do extra work without extra food, instead of going out to have a gossip with a neighbour, she and Annie busied themselves with cooking a tasty little supper from the bones of the previous day's joint, a few scraps of meat, and some fresh vegetables, and a little pearl barley. So when Jack and his father came in about nine o'clock, expecting to see the customary bread and cheese set out upon the table, they found Annie toasting some bread, and Mrs. Bond turning out a dish of delicious stew.

Her husband looked rather alarmed at first. "I don't say I don't like it, Mary," he said, rather solemnly, "but hot suppers is an extravagance I can't abide."

"It won't cost above a penny more than the bread and cheese, except the extra trouble, and that's mine and Annie's share towards the new board that you want outside."

Jack had thought he was too tired to eat any supper until he smelt the savoury stew. And probably if there had only been the bread and cheese, he would have gone straight to bed without eating anything, and been less able so do his work the next day. But this light, savoury supper tempted him to eat, and when he went to bed, he slept soundly all night, and was ready to get up in the morning and go to work as usual, which could scarcely have been the case if his mother and sister had not taken their share, by providing a savoury hot supper that was nourishing and digestible.

"I feel as fresh as a daisy, dad. Overtime work don't hurt me," said Jack, when his father asked if he felt tired.

"That's all right, my boy. You worked well last night, and I expect mother's supper helped you along. I've been getting on to-day, but I want you to help me a bit each evening this week."

"Why, of course you do. How am I to get my bike if I don't do a bit of overtime work?" asked Jack.

"Ah, about that bicycle. Did you tell your foreman what I said?"

"Yes, and he is going to bring the machine with him to-morrow, and then I can bring it home for you to see, and ask some other opinion about it."

"Well, that looks straightforward, lad. If the thing is all right, you shall have it, on the understanding that you go to the evening class next winter, and work away at the figures, and do what you can to help me with the job I have got, and perhaps another after it."

But Jack shook his head to this proposal. "No, dad, I'll promise about the evening class for the winter, I've made up my mind about that, and I'll stick to it, though you will have to trust me for it. But I'll just take the money I can earn fair and square, and when I've earned half, I'll have the jigger if it's all right. That's the bargain I've made with Jackson to-day, for I'd rather earn it before I get it. He's going to lend it to me sometimes on a Saturday to ride out a little way, and find out about the road to Fairfield. For as soon as ever I can, I want to go and see how Tom Winn is getting on, and—"

"And tell him about the board we are going to have outside," interrupted Annie.

"No, no, we'll wait a bit, and see how we get on first," said Bond, a little anxiously.

"All right, dad, I won't say a word about the board till we find out whether we can put it up, and keep it up," said Jack.

"That's it, my lad; I don't want to make a fool of myself to anybody, and especially to them friends of yours that you think so much of."

"I don't see why you should think them such grand folks. Mrs. Winn was only a dressmaker, I've heard," said Mrs. Bond, a little tartly, for somehow she always did feel a little jealous of her son thinking so much of these strangers.

"You don't know Mrs. Winn, mother, or you would say what everybody else does, that she is every inch a lady."

"What is a lady, Jack?" asked his sister.

Jack scratched his head, for the question was a hard one for him to answer, but at last he said, "Well, I suppose it is to be kind, and say civil things, and always look nice, and have a clean, tidy room."

Jack's father laughed until the tears came into his eyes, and in the midst of it, Jack took up his cap and went back to work. And after he had gone, his father said, "The boy ain't so far wrong neither, for there's many a fine madam with plenty of money, who ain't no lady, and there's many a working lass who would put the fine madam to shame; and so I think our Jack has hit the right nail on the head after all."

Jack brought the big bicycle home in great triumph the next day, and was not a little proud when his mother and sister came to the street door to see him ride it up and down the street.

His father said it looked all right, and seemed to go straight enough, but still he meant to have the opinion of someone who understood the things. And they would push on with the work for an hour, and then knock off a little earlier, so as to take the machine, and have a skilled opinion about it.

Jack was very anxious about this, for he knew some one else had offered to buy the machine; and so if his father was not satisfied with it, the foreman would probably sell it the next day, and all chance of being able to ride over and see Tom Winn sometimes on a Saturday would vanish.

So when after an hour's steady sawing and planing, his father straightened his back, and said, "Now, Jack, we will knock off for to-night, and go and see the bicycle doctor."

Jack was not long throwing off his apron and making himself tidy, ready to go and see the man who seemed to hold his summer happiness in his hands.

To his intense relief, after some close examination, the man pronounced the machine a very good one.

"It's old-fashioned, of course, but it has not been much worn. How much is the owner asking for it; five pounds?"

"No, two," said Jack, quickly.

"Then it's a bargain," said the man; "and as you have good long legs of your own, it will do as well for you as a more fashionable one. Where do you think of riding it?" he asked.

"To Fairfield, as soon as I can ride well enough," said Jack.

"To Fairfield! Well, that's too long a spin for you just at first. Ride it for a month, my lad, before you attempt that journey."

Jack looked disappointed, for he had made up his mind to set out to see Tom the very day the bicycle became his own. But as he walked home with his father, he promised to take the man's advice, and not attempt such a long ride until he had perfect mastery of the machine, which he could not expect to get until he had ridden it a few times.

But he had the satisfaction of asking the owner to call and see his father on his way home from work the next day. And a fortnight later, he had paid the deposit agreed upon, and took the bicycle home, and put it where he could look at it, as he worked beside his father in their own workshop.

Bond's first job was finished, and gave so much satisfaction, that he soon got another from the same man, and it seemed likely that Jack's services would be required every evening for the rest of the summer.

But his father promised that he should go to Fairfield on an early Saturday afternoon; and in the meanwhile Jack was hunting up some information, that he hoped would prove most welcome news to Tom when he did go. It required a little patience and perseverance to make sure that what he had heard was correct; but when he was sure of his facts, he decided that he must go to Fairfield the next Saturday, even if he had to go by train, for the news was too important to be delayed a day longer than was necessary. And when his father knew what it was, and why he was so anxious to see his old friend at once, he would not say a word against him going the very next Saturday afternoon, if it was fine. And if it should prove to be wet, then he had better go by train, although it would be rather an expensive journey, he feared.

But the eagerly anticipated Saturday proved to be almost a perfect summer day, and Jack set off soon after dinner, as proud as a prince, on his bicycle, wondering what Tom and Elsie would say when they heard the news he was taking to them.