Poor Mr Blurt looked helplessly at the closed shutters, through a hole in one of which the morning sun was streaming. Turning round he encountered the deeply solemn gaze of an owl which stood on a shelf at his elbow.
No, doctor, I know no more how to open it than that idiot there, he said, pointing to the owl, but Ill make inquiries of Mrs Murridge.
The domestic fortunately knew the mysterious operations relative to the opening of a shop. With her assistance Mr Blurt took off the shutters, stowed them away in their proper niche, and threw open the door to the public with an air of invitation, if not hospitality, which deserved a better return than it received. With this news the doctor went back to the sick man.
Mrs Murridge, said Mr Blurt, when the doctor had gone, would you be so good as mind the shop for a few minutes, while I go up-stairs? If any one should come in, just go to the foot of the stair and give two coughs. I shall hear you.
On entering his brothers room, he found him raised on one elbow, with his eyes fixed wildly on the door.
Dear Fred, he said tenderly, hurrying forward; you must not give way to anxiety, theres a dear fellow. Lie down. The doctor says youll get well if you only keep quiet.
Ay, but I cant keep quiet, replied the poor old man tremulously, while he passed his hand over the few straggling white hairs that lay on but failed to cover his head. How can you expect me to keep quiet, Enoch, when my business is all going to the dogs for want of attention? And that boy of mine is such a stupid fellow; he loses or mislays the letters somehowI cant understand how. Theres confusion too somewhere, because I have written several times of late to people who owe me money, and sometimes have got no answers, at other times been told that they had replied, and enclosed cheques, and
Come now, dear Fred, said Enoch soothingly, while he arranged the pillows, do give up thinking about these things just for a little while till you are better, and in the meantime I will look after
And hes such a lazy boy too, interrupted the invalid,never gets up in time unless I rouse him.Has the shop been opened, Enoch?
Yes, didnt the doctor tell you? I always open it myself; returned Enoch, speaking rapidly to prevent his brother, if possible, from asking after the boy, about whose unfaithfulness he was still ignorant. And now, Fred, I insist on your handing the whole business over to me for a week or two, just as it stands; if you dont Ill go back to Africa. Why, youve no idea what a splendid shopman I shall make. You seem to forget that I have been a successful diamond-merchant.
I dont see the connection, Enoch, returned the other, with a faint smile.
Thats because youve never been out of London, and cant believe in anybody who hasnt been borne or at least bred, within the sound of Bow Bells. Dont you know that diamond-merchants sometimes keep stores, and that stores mean buying and selling, and corresponding, and all that sort of thing? Come, dear Fred, trust me a littleonly a littlefor a day or two, or rather, I should say, trust God, and try to sleep. Theres a dear fellowcome.
The sick man heaved a deep sigh, turned over on his side, and dropped into a quiet slumberwhether under the influence of a more trustful spirit or of exhaustion we cannot sayprobably both.