154
WYLDER'S HAND.
which broke out now and then. But he was in a sort of
way attached to the Lake family; the son of an heredita-
ry tenant on that estate, which had made itself wings, and
flown away like the island of Laputa.
When they had talked together for a while, the Captain
said —
"The fact is, it is not quite on me you would have to
attend; the situation, perhaps is better. You have no
objection to travel. You have been abroad, you know;
and of course wages and all that will be in proportion."
Well, Jim had not any objection to speak of.
"What's wanted is a trustworthy man, perfectly steady,
you see, and a fellow who knows how to hold his tongue."
The last condition, perhaps, struck the man as a little
odd; he looked a little confusedly, and he conveyed that
he would not like to be in anything that was not quite
straight.
"Quite straight, sir !" repeated Stanley Lake, looking
round on him, sternly; "neither should I, I fancy.
You are to suppose the case of a gentleman who is nurs-
ing his estate — you know what that means — and wants
, to travel, and keep quite quiet, and who requires a steady,
trustworthy man to look after him, in such a way as I
shall direct, with very little trouble and capital pay. I
have a regard for you, Dutton; and seeing so good a sit-
uation was to be had, and thinking you the fittest man I
know, I wished to serve you and my friend at the same
time."
Dutton became grateful and docile upon this.
"There are reasons, quite honorable I need not tell
you, which make it necessary, James Dutton, that the
whole of this affair should be kept perfectly to ourselves;
you are not to repeat one syllable I say to you to your
mother, lo you mind, or to any other person living. The