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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 157
Sister made his lodgers' bills out for him (Mr. R., as well as the
Captain's daughter, strove to increase a small income by the letting
of furnished apartments), or the Captain himself would take these
documents in charge ; he wrote a noble mercantile hand, rendered
now somewhat shaky by time, but still very fine in flourishes and
capitals, and very much at worthy Mr. Ridley's service. Time was,
when his son was a boy, that J. J. himself had prepared these
accounts, which neither his father nor his mother was very competent
to arrange. " We were not, in our young time, Mr. Gann,"
Ridley remarked to his friend, " brought up to much scholarship ;
and very little book-learning was given to persons in my rank of
life. It was necessary and proper for you gentlemen, of course,
sir." " Of course, Mr. Ridley," winks the other veteran over his
pipe. " But I can't go and ask my son John James to keep his
old father's books now as he used to do—which to do so is, on the
part of you and Mrs. Brandon, the part of true friendship, and I
value it, sir, and so do my son John James reckonise and value it,
sir." Mr. Ridley had served gentlemen of the bonne école. No
nobleman could be more courtly and grave than he was. In Mr.
Gann's manner there was more humorous playfulness, which in no
way, however, diminished the Captain's high breeding. As he continued
to be intimate with Mr. Ridley, he became loftier and more
majestic. I think each of these elders acted on the other, and for
good ; and I hope Ridley's opinion was correct, that Mr. Gann was
ever the gentleman. To see these two good fogies together was a
spectacle for edification. Their tumblers kissed each other on the
table. Their elderly friendship brought comfort to themselves and
their families. A little matter of money once created a coolness
between the two old gentlemen. But the Little Sister paid the
outstanding account between her father and Mr. Ridley: there
never was any further talk of pecuniary loans between them ; and
when they went to the " Admiral Byng," each paid for himself.
Phil often heard of that nightly meeting at the "Admiral's
Head," and longed to be of the company. But even when he saw
the old gentlemen in the Little Sister's parlour, they felt dimly
that he was making fun of them. The Captain would not have
been able to brag so at ease had Phil been continually watching
him. " I have 'ad the honour of waiting on your worthy father at
my Lord Todmorden's table. Our little club ain't no place for you,
Mr. Philip, nor for my son, though he's a good son, and proud me
and his mother is of him, which he have never gave us a moment's
pain, except when he was ill, since he have came to man's estate,
most thankful am I, and with my hand on my heart, for to be able
to say so. But what is good for me and Mr. Gann, won't suit you