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Wouldn't you like him to be our first visitor?" There was a moment's silence before Piers made answer. "To be sure," he said then. "We mustn't forget Crowther. You wrote and told him everything, I suppose?" "Yes, everything. He seems very fond of you, Piers. But you must read his letter. It concerns you quite as much as it does me. There! I am going. Good-bye! Come up soon!"
Here many of them had grown rich, and a considerable proportion had been converted to Christianity. Among them was a man named in their language Adgai, but called in English Crowther. He had been embarked as a slave on board of a slaver at Badagry in 1822. That slaver was captured by one of our cruisers, and taken to Sierra Leone.
In the Harvard game of that year, about the middle of the second half, Haughton sent word over to Robinson, the Brown coach, that he ought to take the little fellow out; that he was too small to play football, and was in danger of being seriously injured. Crowther, however, was like an India-rubber ball and not once during the season had he received any sort of injury.
It's damp, you know; good hunting and so on, but a bit depressing in bad weather. Besides I'd rather have her under a town doctor. The new heir arrives in March," he said, with a slight laugh that struck Crowther as unconsciously pathetic. "I'm very pleased to hear it, sonny," said Crowther. "May he be the first of many! What does Avery think about it? I'll warrant she's pleased?"
"But not probably in the way you expect." Piers' face showed a momentary surprise. "How on earth do you know?" he said. "I do know," Crowther made steadfast reply; but he offered no explanation for his confidence. Piers thrust out an impulsive hand.
"And now and then the truth also," said Crowther. Piers' eyes fenced with his, albeit a faint smile hovered about the corners of his mouth. "I really am not such a humbug as you are pleased to imagine," he said, after a moment with an oddly boyish touch of pride. "I'm feeling lighthearted, and that's a fact." "Then you are about the only man in England today who is," responded Crowther.
And I tried to hearten him up. For he poor lad! was nearly mad with trouble." Avery's hands closed tightly upon each other in her lap. She sat in strained silence, still gazing straight before her. Gently Crowther finished his tale.
But I've often wished to heaven since that I'd stayed and faced it out. It would have been easier in the end, God knows." "My dear fellow," Crowther said, "you will never convince me of that as long as you live. There was nothing to gain by your staying and all to lose. Consequences there were bound to be and always are. But there was no good purpose to be served by wrecking your life.
"I'm happy enough," he said simply. "I've got all I want." "All?" echoed Piers incredulously. Crowther was smiling. He lifted his face to the night sky. "Yes, thank God, all!" he said. As Miss Whalley had predicted, Ina Rose's wedding was a very grand affair indeed. Everyone who was anyone attended it, and a good many besides.
"I cruised them timberlands from Dan to Beersheby, and I'm ready to state facts and figgers." "Go ahead and state," commanded the Cap'n. "I reckon it better be in private," advised the other, his pale-blue eyes resting dubiously on Hiram. "I ain't got no secrets from him," said the Cap'n, smartly. "Break cargo!" "You'll wish you heard it in private," persisted Mr. Crowther, with deep meaning.
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