But not all the way to Canada; in fact, not further than Liverpool
After making the voyage to that port from London, he found himself
so strongly impelled to cut the vessel, that he resolved to walk back
again. Carrying out which intention, he presented himself before her at
the expiration of a month, in rags, without shoes, and much more tired
than ever. At length, after another interval of successorship to Mrs
Bangham, he found a pursuit for himself, and announced it. 'Amy, I have got a situation.' 'Have you really and truly, Tip?' 'All right. I shall do now. You needn't look anxious about me any more,
old girl.' 'What is it, Tip?' 'Why, you know Slingo by sight?'
'Not the man they call the dealer?'
'That's the chap. He'll be out on Monday, and he's going to give me a
berth.' 'What is he a dealer in, Tip?' 'Horses. All right! I shall do now, Amy.'
She lost sight of him for months afterwards, and only heard from him
once. A whisper passed among the elder collegians that he had been seen
at a mock auction in Moorfields, pretending to buy plated articles for
massive silver, and paying for them with the greatest liberality in
bank notes; but it never reached her ears. One evening she was alone at
work--standing up at the window, to save the twilight lingering above
the wall--when he opened the door and walked in.
She kissed and welcomed him; but was afraid to ask him any questions. He
saw how anxious and timid she was, and appeared sorry. 'I am afraid, Amy, you'll be vexed this time. Upon my life I am!' 'I am very sorry to hear you say so, Tip. Have you come back?' 'Why--yes.' 'Not expecting this time that what you had found would answer very well,
I am less surprised and sorry than I might have been, Tip.' 'Ah! But that's not the worst of it.' 'Not the worst of it?' 'Don't look so startled. No, Amy, not the worst of it. I have come back,
you see; but--DON'T look so startled--I have come back in what I may
call a new way. I am off the volunteer list altogether. I am in now, as
one of the regulars.' 'Oh! Don't say you are a prisoner, Tip! Don't, don't!'
'Well, I don't want to say it,' he returned in a reluctant tone; 'but if
you can't understand me without my saying it, what am I to do? I am in
for forty pound odd.' For the first time in all those years, she sunk under her cares. She
cried, with her clasped hands lifted above her head, that it would kill
their father if he ever knew it; and fell down at Tip's graceless feet.