Patience Wins | Page 3

off his coat.
"In short, boys, we shall have a terribly hard fight; but there is ten
times the opening there, and we may make a great success. That is our
position, in short," said my father. "What do you say?"
My three uncles looked hard at him and then at one another, seemed to
read each other's eyes, and turned back to him.
"You're oldest, Alick, and head of the firm," said Uncle Dick; "settle it."
"No," said my father, "it shall be settled by you three."
"I know what I think," said Uncle Jack; "but I'd rather you'd say."

"My mind's made up," said Uncle Bob, "but I don't want to be speaker.
You settle it, Alick."
"No," said my father; "I have laid the case before you three, who have
equal stakes in the risk, and you shall settle the matter."
There was a dead silence in the room, which was so still that the
sputtering noise made by the big lamp and the tinkle of a few cinders
that fell from the fire sounded painfully loud. They looked at each other,
but no one spoke, till Uncle Dick had fidgeted about in his chair for
some time, and then, giving his big beard a twitch, he bent forward.
I heard my other uncles sigh as if they were relieved, and they sat back
farther in their seats listening for what Uncle Dick, who was the eldest,
might wish to say.
"Look here," he cried at last.
Everybody did look there, but saw nothing but Uncle Dick, who kept
tugging at one lock of his beard, as if that was the string that would let
loose a whole shower-bath of words.
"Well!" he said, and there was another pause.
"Here," he cried, as if seized by a sudden fit of inspiration, "let's hear
what Cob has to say."
"Bravo! Hear, hear, hear!" cried my two uncles in chorus, and Uncle
Dick smiled and nodded and looked as if he felt highly satisfied with
himself; while I, with a face that seemed to be all on fire, jumped up
excitedly and cried:
"Let's all go and begin again."
"That's it--that settles it," cried Uncle Bob.
"Yes, yes," said Uncle Dick and Uncle Jack. "He's quite right. We'll
go."

Then all three beat upon the table with book and pencil and compasses,
and cried, "Hear, hear, hear!" while I shrank back into my chair, and
felt half ashamed of myself as I glanced at my father and wondered
whether he was angry on account of what I had proposed.
"That is settled then," he said quietly. "Jacob has been your spokesman;
and now let me add my opinion that you have taken the right course.
What I propose is this, that one of us stays and carries on the business
here till the others have got the Arrowfield affair in full swing. Who
will stay?"
There was no answer.
"Shall I?" said my father.
"Yes, if you will," they chorused.
"Very good," said my father. "I am glad to do so, for that will give me
plenty of time to make arrangements for Jacob here."
"But he must go with us," said Uncle Dick.
"Yes, of course," said Uncle Jack.
"Couldn't go without him."
"But his education as an engineer?"
"Now, look here, Alick," said Uncle Dick, "don't you think he'll learn as
much with us down at the new works as in any London place?"
My father sat silent and thoughtful, while I watched the play of his
countenance and trembled as I saw how he was on the balance. For it
would have been terrible to me to have gone away now just as a new
life of excitement and adventure was opening out.
"Do you really feel that you would like Jacob to go with you?" said my
father at last.

There was a unanimous "Yes!" at this, and my heart gave a jump.
"Well, then," said my father, "he shall go."
That settled the business, except a general shaking of hands, for we
were all delighted, little thinking, in our innocence, of the troubles, the
perils, and the dangers through which we should have to go.
CHAPTER TWO.
A FIERY PLACE.
No time was lost. The agreements were signed, and Uncle Dick packed
up his traps, as he called them, that is to say, his books, clothes, and
models and contrivances, so as to go down at once, take possession of
the works, and get apartments for us.
I should have liked to go with him, but I had to stay for another week,
and then, after a hearty farewell, we others started, my father, mother,
and sister seeing us off by rail; and until I saw the trees, hedges, and
houses seeming to fly by me I