Chapter 43 of it is never too late to mend. This is a LibreVox recording. All LibreVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibreVox.org. Recording by Mary Maxwell. It is never too late to mend by Charles Reid. Chapter 43 We left Thomas Robinson writing his life. He has written it. It has been printed by prisoners and circulated among prisoners. One copy lay in Robinson's cell till he left the prison, and to this copy were appended Mr. Eden's remarks in MS. This autobiography is a self-drawn portrait of a true Bohemian and his mind from boyhood up to the date when he fell into my hands. Unfortunately, we cannot afford so late in our story to make any retrograde step. The autobiography of a thief must therefore be thrust into my appendix or printed elsewhere. The reader has seen Robinson turned into a fiend by cruelty and turned back to a man by humanity. On this followed many sacred, softening, improving lessons, and as he loved Mr. Eden, his heart was open to them. Most prisoners are very sensible of genuine kindness and docile as wax in the hands of those who show it. They are the easiest class in the world to impress. The difficulty is to make the impression permanent, but the people who pretend to you that kindness does not greatly affect, persuade, and help convince them have never tried anything but brutality and never will, for nothing greater, wiser, or better is in them. I will now indicate the other phases through which his mind passed in jail. Being shown that his crimes were virtually the cause of Mary's hapless life and untimely death and hard-pressed by his father-confessor, he fell into religious despondency, believed his case desperate, and his sins too many for heaven's mercy. Of all states of mind, this was the one that Mr. Eden most read it. He had observed that the notion that they cannot be reconciled to God and man is the cause of prisoner's recklessness and one great means by which jail officers in society—England A.D., 1850-something—confirmed them in ill. He soothed and cheered the poor fellow with many a hopeful message from the Gospel of mercy, and soon drew him out of the sloth of Despond. But he drew him out with so eager an arm that upwent this impressionable personage from Despond to the Fifth Heaven. He was penitent, forgiven, justified, sanctified, all in three weeks. Moreover, he now fell into a certain foul habit. Of course, Scripture formed a portion of his daily reading and discourse with the chaplain. Robinson had a memory that seized and kept everything like a vice, so now a text occurred to him for every occasion, and he interwoven them with all his talk.  Not a hypocrite, O criticaster, but a chameleon who had been months out of the atmosphere of vice and in an atmosphere of religion. His reverence broke him out of this nasty habit of chattering Bible and generally cooled him down. Finally he became sober, penitent, for his past life and firmly resolved to lead a better. With this began to mingle ambition to rise very high in the world and a violent impatience to begin. Through all these phases ran one excellent and saving thing, a genuine attachment to his good friend the chaplain. The attachment was reciprocal, and there was something touching in the friendship of two men so different in mind and worldly station. But they had suffered together, and indeed a much more depraved prisoner than Robinson would have loved such a benefactor and brother as Eden. And many a scoundrel in this place did love him as well as he could love anything, and as to the other, the clue to him is simple. While the vulgar self-deceiving moralist loathes the detected criminal and never, whatever he may think, really rises to abhorrence of crime, the saint makes two steps upward toward the mind of heaven itself, a poor's crime, and loves, pities, and will not despair of the criminal. But besides this Robinson was an engaging fellow, full of thought and full of facts, and the reverent Francis tender conscience often spent an extra five minutes in his cell and then reproached himself for letting the more interesting personage rob other depressed and thirsty souls of those drops of dew. One day Mr. Eden, who had just entered the cell, said to Robinson, Give me your hand. It is as I feared. Your nerves are going. Are they, said Robinson ruefully, do you not observe that you are becoming tremulous? I notice that when my door is open suddenly it makes me shake a little, and twitches come in my thigh. I feared as much. It is not every man that can bear separate confinement for twelve months. You cannot. I shall have to whether I can or not. Will you? Three days after this Mr. Eden came into his cell and said with a sad smile, I have good news for you. You are going to leave me. Oh, your reverence. Is that good news? Those who have the disposal of you are beginning to see that all punishment except hanging is for the welfare of the culprit and must never be allowed to injure him. Strut left the prison for my house a fortnight ago, and you are to cross the water next week. Oh, your reverence. Heaven forgive me for feeling glad. For being human, eh, my poor fellow? In the course of this conversation Mr. Eden frankly regretted that Robinson was going so soon. Four months more prison would have made you safer, and I would have kept you here to the last minute of your sentence for the good of your soul, he said grimly. But your body and nerves might have suffered, added he tenderly. We must do all for the best. A light burst on Robinson. Why, your reverence, cried he, is it for fear? Why, you don't ever think that I shall turn rogue again after I get out of prison? You are going among a thousand temptations. What? Do you really think all your kindness has been wasted on me? Why, sir, if a thousand pounds lay there I would not stretch out my hand to take one that did not belong to me. How ungrateful you must think me, and what a fool into the bargain after all my experience.    You will be miserable, and yet, though miserable, perhaps will never rise again, for remorse is not penitence. Robinson was so hurt at this want of confidence that he said nothing in reply, and then Mr. Eden felt sorry he had said so much. For, after all, thought he, these are mere misgivings. By uttering them I only pain him. I can't make him share them. Let me think what I can do. That very day he wrote to Susan Merton. The letter contained the following. Thomas Robinson goes to Australia next week. He will get a ticket of leave almost immediately on landing. I am in great anxiety. He is full of good resolves, but his nature is unstable. Yet I should not fear to trust him anywhere if I could but choose his associates. In this difficulty I have thought of George Fielding. You know I can read characters, and though you never summed George up to me, his sayings and doings reveal him to me. He is a man in whom honesty is ingrained.  Then, dear friend, will you do a Christian act and come to our aid? I want you to write a note to Mr. Fielding and let this poor fellow take it to him. Armed with this my convert will not be shy of approaching the honest man, and the exile will not hate me for this trick, will he? I send you and close the poor clever fool's life written by himself and printed by my girls. Read it and tell me are we wrong in making every effort to save such a man, etc. By return of post came a reply from Susan Merton, full of pity for Robinson and an affectionate zeal to cooperate in any way with her friend. Enclosed was a letter addressed to George Fielding, the envelope not closed. Mr. Eden slipped in a bank note and a very small envelope enclosed it, placed it in a larger envelope, sealed that and copied the first address on its cover. He now gave Robinson more of his time than ever and seemed to cling to him with almost a motherly apprehension. Robinson noticed it and felt it very, very much, and his joy at getting out of prison oozed away more and more as the day drew near. That day came at last. Robinson was taken by Evans to the chaplain's room to bid him farewell. He found him walking about the room in deep thought. Robinson, when you are thousands of miles from me, bear this in mind, that if you fall again, you will break my heart. I know it, sir, I know it, for you would say if I could not save him, who can I hope to? You would not like to break my heart, to discourage your friend and brother in the good work, the difficult work.   Don't say that.  He paused and walked the room in silence.  You have often said you owed me something. My life and my soul's salvation, was the instant reply. I ask a return. Square the account with me. That I can never do. You can. I will take two favors in return for all you say I have done for you. No idle words, but yes or no upon your honor. Will you grant them or won't you? I will upon my honor. One is that you will pray very often. Not only morning and evening, but at sunset, at that dangerous hour to you when evil association begins. At that hour, honest men retire out of sight and rogues come abroad like vermin and wild beasts. But most of all at any hour of the day or night a temptation comes near you. At that moment, pray. Don't wait to see how strong the temptation is and whether you can conquer it without help from above. At the sight of an enemy put on heavenly armor. Pray. No need to kneel or to go apart. Two words secretly cast heavenward. Lord help me our prayer. Will you so pray? Yes. Then give me your hand. Here is a plain gold ring to recall the sacred promise. Put it on, wear it, and look at it, and never lose it or forget your promise. Then that take it must cut my hand off with it. Enough. It is a promise. My second request is that the moment you are free you will go and stay with an honest man. I ask no better, sir, if he will have me. George Fielding. He has a farm near Bathurst. George Fielding, sir? He confronted me when I was in trouble. It is no more than I deserved. I forgive him, but you don't know the lad, sir. He would not speak to me. He would not look at me. He would turn his back on me if we ran against one another in a wilderness. Here is a talisman that will ensure you are welcome from him. A letter from the woman he loves. Come, yes or no? I will, sir, for your sake, not for theirs. Sir, do pray, give me something harder to do for you than these two things. No, I won't overweight you, nor encumber your memory with pledges. These two and no more. And here we part. See what it is to sin against society. I, whom your conversation has so interested, to whom your company is so agreeable, in one word, I, who love you, can find no kind of word to say to you today than this. Let me never see your face again. Let me never hear your name in this world. His voice trembled as he said these words, and he rung Robinson's hand, and Robinson groaned and turned away. So now I can do no more for you. I must leave the rest to God. And with these words, for the second time in their acquaintance, the good soul kneeled down and prayed aloud for this man. And this time he prayed at length with ardor and tenderness unspeakable. He prayed as for a brother on the brink of a precipice. He wrestled with heaven, and ere he concluded he heard a subdued sound near him. And it was poor Robinson, who touched and penetrated by such angelic love and awestruck to hear a good man pour out his very soul at the mercy seat of heaven, had crept timidly to his side and knelt there, bearing his mute part in this fervent supplication. As Mr. Eden rose from his knees, Evans knocked gently at the door. He had been waiting some minutes, but had heard the voice of prayer and reverently forbore to interrupt it. At his knock the priest and the thief started. The priest suddenly held out both his hands.  Too late to mend by Charles Reed. Chapter 44. The ship was to sail in a week, and meantime Robinson was in the hulks at Portsmouth. Now the hulks are a disgrace to Europe, and the most incongruous appendage to assist them the professes to cure by separate confinement. One or two of the worst convicts made the usual overtures of evil companionship to Robinson. These were coldly declined, and it was a good sign that Robinson, being permitted by the regulations to write one letter, did not write 20 of his old pals in London or elsewhere, but to Mr. Eden. He told him that he regretted his quiet cell, where his years were never invaded with blasphemy and indecency, things he never took pleasure in even at his worst, and missed his reverence's talk sadly. He concluded by asking for some good books by way of antidote. He received no answer while at Portsmouth, but the vessel having sailed and lying two days off Plymouth, his name was called just before she weighed again, and the thick letter handed to him. He opened it eagerly and two things fell on deck, a sovereign and a tract. The sovereign rolled off and made for the sea. Robinson darted after it and saved it from the deep and the surrounding rogues. Then he read the letter, which was also in the enclosure. It was short. In it Mr. Eden told him he had sent him the last tract printed in the prison. It is called the wages of sin or death. It is not the same one you made into cards. That being out of print and the author dead, I have been tempted by that good true title to write another. I think you will value it nonetheless for being written by me and printed by our brothers and sisters in this place. I enclose one pound that you may not be tempted for want of a shilling. Robinson looked around for the tract. It was not to be seen. Nobody had seen it. NB, it had been through a dozen light-fingered hands already and was now being laughed at and blasphemed over by two filthy ruffians behind a barrel on the lower deck. Robinson was first in a fury and then, when he found it was really stolen from him, he was very much cut up. I wish I had lifted it and let the money roll. However, thought he, if I keep quiet, I shall hear of it. He did hear of it, but he never saw it. For one of these hardened creatures that had got hold of it had a spite against Robinson for refusing his preferred amity and the malicious dog, after keeping it several hours, hearing Robinson threatened to inform against whoever had taken it made himself safe and gratified his spite by flinging it into the channel. These two came in due course to Robinson's years. He moralized on it. I made a first into the devil's books, said he, and now a child of the devil has robbed me of the second. I shan't get a third chance. I would give my sovereign and more to see what his reverence says about the wages of sin or death. The very title is a sermon. I pray heaven, the dirty hand that robbed me of it may rot off of thee. No, I forgot. Blessing cursed not. And now Robinson was confined for five months in a wooden prison with the scum of our jails. No cell to take refuge in from evil society. And in that wretched five months, this perpetual contact with criminals, many of them all but incurable, took the gloss off him. His good resolutions were unshaken, but his repugnance to evil associates became gradually worn away. At last they landed at Sydney. They were employed for about a fourth night in some government works a mile from the town. And at the end of that time, he was picked out by a gentleman who wanted a servant. Robinson's work was to call him not too early to clean his boots, go on errands into the town, and be always in the way till five o'clock. From that hour until about two in the morning, Mr. Miles devoted to amusement, returning with his latchkey, and often rousing the night out on his servant with a bacchanalian or anacryotic melody. In short, Mr. Miles was a loose fish, a bachelor who had recently inherited a fortune of an old screw his uncle, and was spending thrift in all the traditional modes. Horses, dogs, women, cards, etc. He was a good-natured creature, and one morning as he brought him up his hot water and he sewed the water, Robinson ventured on a friendly remonstrance. Mr. Miles flown canting rogue and half a dozen oaths and one boot at his head, and was preparing to add a tumbler when his mentor whipped into the lobby. Robinson could not have fallen to a worse master than this, whose irregularities were so regular that his servant had always seven hours to spend in the town as he pleased. There he was often solicited to join in depredations on property, for he found half his old acquaintances were collected by the magic of the law on this spot of earth. Robinson took a particular pride in telling this gentleman that he had no objection to taking a friendly glass with him and talking over all times, but that as for taking what did not belong to him, all that was over forever. In short, he improved on Mr. Eden's instructions. Instead of flying from temptation like a coward conscious of weakness, he nobly faced it and walked cool, collected and safe on the edge of danger. One good result of this was that he spent his wages every month faster than he got them and spent the clothes his master gave him and these were worth more than his wages, for Mr. Miles was going the pace, wore nothing after the gloss was off it. But Robinson had never lived out of prison at less than 500 per annum and the evening is a good time in the day for spending money in the town and his evenings were all his own. One evening, a young tradeswoman with whom he was flirting in the character of a merchant's clock, tremendously busy, who could only get out in the evening, this young woman whom he had often solicited to go to the theatre, consented. I could go with you tomorrow, my sister and I, said she. Robinson expressed his delight, but consulting his pockets found he had not the means of paying for their seats and he could not pour any clothes for he had but two sets, one yellowish that government compelled him to wear by daylight and one a present from his master, Black. That, together with a mustache, admitted him into the bosom of society at night. What was to be done? Proposed the ladies to pay, that was quite without precedent. Ask his master for an advance, impossible. His master was gone kangaroo hunting for three days. Borrowed some of his master's clothes and pawned them, that was too, like theft. He would pawn his ring, it would only be for a day or two and he would not spend a far the more till he had got it back. He pawned Mr. Eden's ring, it just paid for their places at the theatre, for the living puppets of the colony Mop and Moe and Rant under the title of acting. This was so interesting that Robinson was thinking of his ring the whole time and how to get it back. The girls agreed between themselves, they had never enjoyed so dull a cavalier. The next day aligned for Mr. Miles to say that he should not be back for a week. No hope of funds from him. So Robinson pawned his black coat and got back his ring and as the trousers and waistcoat were no use now he pawned them for pocket money which soon dissolved. Mr. Robinson now was out of spirits. Service is not the thing for me. I am of an active turn. I want to go into business that will occupy me all day long. Business that requires some head. Even his reverence, the first man in the country, acknowledged my talents. And what is the vent for them here? The blacking bottle. End of Chapter 44. Chapters 45 and 46 of it is never too late to mend. This is a LibriVox recording. Our LibriVox recordings are on the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. According by Sidney Lara. It is never too late to mend by Charles Reed. Chapters 45 and 46. In a low public outside the town, in a back room with their arms on the table and their low foreheads nearly touching, set whispering two men. Types. One had the deep sunk, colorless eyes, the protruding cheekbones, the shapeless mouth and the broad chin, good in itself but bad in the above connection. The other had the vulpension and the fiendish eyebrows descending on the very nose and two sharp arches. Both had the restless eye, both the short cropped hair, society's comment, conquerors and auxiliary, though in itself faint by the side of habit, seal and natures. The small north window dimly lighted the gloomy uncouth cabin and revealed the sole furniture, four chairs, too heavy to lift, too thick to break and a table discolored with the stains of a thousand filthy debauches and dotted here and there with the fresh ashes of pipes and cigars. In this appropriate frame, behold two felons putting their heads together. By each felon's side, smoked in a glass hot with heat and hotter with alcohol, the enemy of man. It would be difficult to give their dialogue for they spoke in thieves' Latin. The substance was this. They had scent of a booty in a house that stood by itself three miles out of the town but the servants were incorruptible and they could not get access to inspected premises which were intricate. Now your professional burglar will be no more venture upon unexplored premises than a good seamen will run into an unknown channel without pilot, soundings, or chart. It appeared from the dialogue that the two men were acquainted with the party who knew these premises, having been more than once inside them with his master. The more rugged one objected to this party. He's no use. He has turned soft. I've heard him refuse a dozen good plants last month. Besides, I don't want a canting son of a gun for my pal. Ten to one if you don't turn tail and perhaps split. And be. All this not in English, but in thieves' camp with an oath or nasty expression at every third word, the sentences measled with them. You don't know how to take him, applied he of the Mephisto Flea's eyebrow. He won't refuse me. Why not? He is an old pal of mine and I never found the thing I could not persuade him to. He does not know how to say méné. You may bully him and queer him till all is blue and he won't budge and upon with him. Now I shall pull along his face, make up a story, take him by a soft bit, tell him I can't get on without him and powder will blame sign to him. Then we'll get a fiddle and lots of whiskey and when we have had a real knee as shaking his foot on the floor and drank a gill or two, you will see him thot and then you leave him to me and don't put in your jaw to spoil it. Forget him it will be all right. He is number one. His little finger has seen more than both four days after this.  But this time the conference wore an air of expectant triumph. Doesn't I tell you? You didn't do it easy. No I had almost to go on my knees to him. He isn't worth so much trouble. He is worth it ten times over. Look at this. And the speaker produced a plan of the premises they were plotting against. Could you have done this? I don't say I could. I have done it. See here is every room and every door and window and passage put down and what sorts of keys and bolts and fastings to each. How came he didn't know so much? He never was in the house but twice. A topsoilier like him looks at everything with the night of business. If he was in a church he twig the candlesticks and the fastenings. Well the rest were mooning in the person's face. He can't help it. Well he may be a topsoilier but I don't like him. See how low he was and when he did drown his pluck before it could come to anything. Wait till you see him work. He will shake all that nonsense to blazes when he finds himself out under the moon with his fog on one side and the gallows on the other. To go back a little Mr. Miles did not return at the appointed day and Robinson who had no work to do and could not amuse himself without money ponded Mr. Eden's reign. He felt ashamed and sorrowful but not so much so as the first time. This evening as he was strolling mootily through the suburbs a voice hailed into the utmost cordiality. He looked up and there was an old pal with whom he had associated and many a merry-about and pleasant felony. He had not seen the man for two years a friendly glass was offered and accepted. Two girls were of the party who obliged Mr. Robinson's old acquaintance said for blind bill the fiddler and Mr. Robinson was dancing and shouting with the girls like Matt high cut, side cut, heel and toe sailor's fling and the double shuffle. He did not leave till three in the morning to dance and drink and drive away dull care. End of Chapters 45 and 46 Recording by Sidney Lara Chapter 47 Of It Is Never Too Late To Mend This is a LibriVox recording A LibriVox recording is around the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Kathleen It Is Never Too Late To Mend by Charles Weed Chapter 47 On a certain evening some days later the two men whose faces were definition set on a bench outside that little public in the suburbs one at the end of a clay pipe the other behind a pewter mug it was dusk he had to be here soon said the one into whose forehead holes seemed dug and little bits of some vitre substance left at the bottom well mate cried he harshly what do you want that you stick to us so tight this was addressed to a peddler who had been standing opposite showing the contents of his box with a silent eloquence now this very asperity made the portable shop man say to himself wants me out of the way perhaps buy me out so he stuck where he was and exhibited his wares we don't want your gim cracks said Mephistopheles quietly the man eyed his customers but chance said he I have got other things besides gim cracks something that will suit you if you can read of course we can read replied sunken eyes hotly and in fact they had been too often in jail to escape this accomplishment the peddler looked furtively in every direction and after this precaution pressed a spring and brought a small drawer out from the bottom of his pack the two rogues winked at one another out of the drawer the peddler whipped a sealed packet what is it? asked Mephistopheles beginning to take an interest just imported from England said the peddler with a certain pomp angling with his furtive and mysterious manner blank England was the other's patriotic reply and translated from the French that is better but what is it? them that buy it they will see something flash? rather I should say is there plenty about the women in it? the trader answered obliquely what are we obliged to keep it dark for? the other put in why of course there is well said sunken eyes affecting carelessness what do you want for it? got six pence bill? I sold the last to a gentleman for three and six pence but as this is the last I've got say half a crown sunken eyes swore at the peddler what? half a crown for a book no thicker than a choir of paper only half a crown for a thing I could be put in prison for selling is it not my risk to be paid as well as my leaves? this logic went home and after a little higgling two shillings was offered and accepted but in the very act of converse the trader seemed to have a misgiving I dare not do it unless you promise faithfully never to tell you had it of me I have got a character to lose and I would not have it known not for the world that James Walker had sold such loose licentious oh what it is very spicy is it? come hand it over there's the tube bob my poverty and not my will consents side the trader there you be off or we shall have all the brats coming round us the peddler complied and moved off and so willing was he to oblige his customers that on turning the corner he shouldered his pack and ran with great agility down the street till he gained a network of small alleys in which he wriggled and left no trace meantime sunken eyes had put his tongue to the envelope and drawn out the contents I'll go into the light and see what it is all about Mephistopheles left alone had hardly even his pipe too sucks Air Brutus returned black with rage and spouting oaths like a whale why what is the matter matter didn't he sell this to me for a flash story why he didn't say so but certainly he dropped a word about loose books of course he did well and ain't they ain't they cried the other with fury here you young shaver bring the candle out here ain't they no they ain't and the blank blank look here Mephisto bend your ways attract Brutus I'll break his head instead Mephisto narrative of Mr. James the missionary Brutus the cheating undermining rip Mephisto and here is another to the same tune Brutus didn't I tell you so the hypocritical humbugging rascal Mephisto stop a bit here is a little one memoirs of a gentleman's housekeeper Brutus oh is there I did not see that Mephisto you are so hasty the case may not be so black as it looks the others might be thrown in to make up the parcel hold the candle nearer Brutus I let us see about the housekeeper the two men read the housekeeper eagerly but as they read the momentary excitement of hope died out of their faces not a sparkle of the oar they sought always dross the housekeeper was one of those who make pickles not eat them and in a linen apron a yard wide save their masters money from the fangs of cook and foot man not help him scatter it in a satin gown there was not even a stray hint or an inelicate expression for the poor fellows two shillings the fraud was complete it was not like the ground coffee pepper and mustard in a London shop in which there is as often as not a pinch of real coffee mustard and pepper to a pound of chicory and bullocks blood of red lead dirt flower and turmeric here the do was pure then Brutus relieved his swelling heart by a string of observations partly rhetorical partly zoological he devoted to horrible plagues every square inch of the peddler enumerating more particularly those interior organs that subserve vitality and concluded by vowing solemnly to put a knife into him the first fair opportunity I'll teach the rogue to sell your medicine for poison, huh? Mephistopheles either because he was a more a philosophic spirit or was not the one out of pocket took the blow more coolly it is a bite and no mistake but what of it our money said he with a touch of sadness goes as it comes this is only to Bob flung in the dirt we should not have invested them in the 3% and tonight's swag will make it up he then got a fresh wafer and sealed the pamphlets up again there said he you keep dark and sell the first flat you come across the same way the varmint sold you Brutus sickened at heart by the peddler's gravity revived at the prospect of selling some fellow creature as he had been sold he put the paper trap in his pocket and cheated of obscenity consoled himself with brandy such as Bacchus would not own but Beelzebub would brew for man if permitted to keep an earthly disilery presently they were joined by the third man and for two hours the three heads might all have been covered by one bushel basket and peddler Walker's heartless fraud was forgotten in business of a higher order at last, Mephistopheles gave Brutus a signal and they rose to interrupt the potations of the newcomer who was pouring down fire and hot water in rather a reckless way we won't all go together said Mephistopheles you two meet me at Jonathan's in an hour as Brutus and the newcomer walked along an idea came to Brutus here is a fellow who guesses for a sharp what if I sell him my pamphlets and get a laugh at his expense mate said he here is a flash book all sealed up what will you give me for it well, I don't much care for that sort of reading old fellow but this is cheap I got it a bargain come, the shilling won't hurt you for it see, there is more than one under the cover now the other had been drinking till he was in that state if decomposed would be found to be all yes, and dine with me tomorrow so he fell into the trap I'll give it to you, my boy, said he let us see it, there are more than one inside you're an honest fellow oh, you a shilling and the sealed parcel went into his pocket then seeing Brutus look rather rueful at this way of doing business he hiccuped out stop your bob out of the swag and chuckled end of chapter 47 chapter 48 of it is never too late to mend this is a LibriVox recording a LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Kathleen it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid chapter 48 a snow white suburban villa with satellites that occupied five times as much space as itself coach house, stable offices, greenhouse clinging to it like due to a lily and hot house, farther in the rear a wall of considerable height enclose the hole it booked as secure and peaceful as innocent in the fleeting light the young moon cast on it every time the passing clouds left her clear a moment yet at this calm, thoughtful hour crime was waiting to invade this pretty little place under the scolary window, Lurt, Brutus and Mistophiles faces blackened, tools in hand ready to whip out a pane of said window and so penetrate the kitchen and from the kitchen the pantry where they made sure of a few spoons and up the back stairs to the plate chest they would be in the house even now but a circumstance delayed them a light burning on the second floor now it was contrary to their creed to enter a house where a light was burning above all, if there was the least chance of that light being in a sitting room now they had been some hours watching the house and that light had been there all the time therefore, argued Mistophiles it is not a farthing glim in a bedroom or we should have seen it lighted it is someone up, we must wait till they roost, they waited and waited still the light burned they cursed the light, no wonder light seems the natural enemy of evil deeds, they began to get bitter and their bodies cold even burglary becomes abhor when you have to wait too long idle out in the cold at last, at about half past two the light went out, then keenly listening, the two sons of darkness heard a movement in the house and more than one door opened and shut and then the sound of feet going rapidly down the road toward Sydney, why? it is a party only just broke up lucky I would not work till the glim was out, but I say Bill, he is at that corner the knobs must have passed close to him, suppose they saw him is not so green as let them see him, the next question was how long they should wait to let the inmates close their peepers all had been still and dark more than half an hour when the pair began to work, Mephisto took out a large piece of putty and dabbed it on the middle of the pain, this putty he worked in the center up to a pyramid this he held with his left hand while with his right, he took out his glazers diamond and cut the pain all around the edges by the hold the putty gave him he prevented the pain from falling inside the house and making a noise and finally whipped it out clean handed it to Brutus, a moment more the two men were in the scullery, thence into the kitchen through a door which they found open, in the kitchen were two doors trying one they found it open into a larder, here casting the light of his dark lantern round Brutus discovered some cold fall and a ham, they took these into the kitchen and somewhat coolly took out their knives and ate a hasty but hearty supper their way of hacking the ham as well as as all the rest they then took off their shoes and dropped them outside the scullery window and now the serious part of the game began, creeping like cats they reached the pantry and sure enough found more than a dozen silver spoons and forks of different sizes that had been recently used these they put into a small bag and Mephisto went back through the scullery into the back garden and hid these spoons in a bush and if we should be interrupted we can come back for them and now the game began more serious and more nervous the pair drew their clasped knives and placed them in their bosoms ready in case of extremity then creeping like cats one foot at a time and then a pause ascended the back stairs at the top of which was a door but this door was not fastened and in another moment they passed through it and were on the first landing the plan in every particular indicated the plate closet to their right a gleam from the lantern showed it the keyhole was old fashioned as also described and in a moment Brutus had it open then Mephisto whipped out a green vase bag with compartments and in a minute these adroit hands had stowed away cups, terrines, baskets soup spoons and so forth to the value of 300 pounds and scarce a chink heard during the whole operation it was done a look past as much as to say this is enough and they crept back silent and cat like as they had come Brutus leading with the bag now just as he had his hand on the door through which they had come up sneak click a door was locked somewhere down below Brutus looked round and put the bag gently down where he whispered near the kitchen was a reply scarce audible sounded to me to come from the hall whispered the other both men changed color but retained their presence of mind and their cunning Brutus stepped back to the plate closet put the bag in it and closed it but without locking it stay there whispered he and if I whistle run out the back way empty handed if I'm you out with the bag and come out by the front door nothing but inside bolts to it plan says they listened a moment there was no fresh sound then Brutus slipped down the front stairs in no time he found the front door not bolded he did not quite understand that and drawing a short bludgeon he opened it very cautiously the caution was not superfluous two gentlemen made a dash at him from the outside the moment the door was open one of their heads cracked like a broken bottle under the blow the ready ruffian struck him with his bludgeon and he dropped like a shot but another was flying across the lawn with a drawn cutlass and Brutus finding himself overmatched gave one loud whistle and flew across the hall making for the kitchen flew he never so fast Mephisto was there an instant before him as for the gentleman at the door he was encumbered with his hurt companion who fell across his knees as he rushed at the burglar Brutus got a start of some seconds and dashed furiously into the kitchen and flew to the only door between them and the scullery window the door was locked the burglar's eyes gleamed in their deep caverns back will and cut through them he cried and out flashed his long bright knife end of chapter 48 chapter 49 of it is never too late to mend this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Kathleen it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid chapter 49 while the two burglars were near the scullery window watching the light in the upper story a third man stood sentinel on the opposite side of the house he was but a few yards from the public road yet hundreds would have passed and no man seen him for he had placed himself in a thick shadow flat against the garden wall his office was to signal danger from his side should any come now the light that kept his comrades inactive was not on his side of the house he waited there for expecting every moment their signal that the job was done on this the queue was to slip quietly off and all make by different paths for the low public house described above and there divide the swag the man waited and waited and waited for this signal it never came we know why then he became impatient miserable he was out of his element wanted to be doing something at last all this was an intolerable bore not feeling warm toward the job he had given the active business to his comrades which he now regretted for two reasons first he was kept here stagnant in board and second they must be a pair of bunglers he'd have robbed a parish in less time he would light a cigar tobacco blunts all ills even on we putting his hand in his pocket for a cigar it ran against a hard square substance what is this all the book Mephisto had sold him no he would not smoke he would see what the book was all about he knelt down and took off his hat and put his dark lantern inside it before he ventured to move the slide then undid the paper and putting it into the hat through the concentrated rays on the contents and appeared in to examine them now the various little pamphlets had been displaced by Mephisto and the first words that met the thief's eye in large letters on the back of a track were these the wages of sin are death Thomas Robinson looked at these words with his stupid gaze at first he did not realize all that lay in them he did not open the tract he gazed benumbed at the words and they glared at him like the eyes of green fire when we come in the dark on some tiger cat crouching in his lyre oh that I were a painter and could make you see what cannot be described the features of this strange incident that sound so small and was so great the black knight the hat the renegade peering under it in the walls deep shadows to read something trashy and the half open lantern shooting its little strip of intense fire and the grim words springing out in a moment from the dark face of night and dazzling the renegades eyes and chilling his heart the wages of sin are death to his stupor now succeeded surprise in awe how come this he whispered aloud was this a trick of blanks no he doesn't know this is the devil's own doing no it is not more likely it is the third time I'll read it my handshake so I can hardly hold it it is by him yes signed F E heaven have mercy on me this is more than natural he read it shaking all over as he read the tract was simply written it began with a story of instances some of them drawn from the histories of prisoners and it ended with an earnest exhortation and a terrible warning when the renegade came to this part his heart beat violently for along with the earnest straightforward on mincing words of sacred fire there seemed to rise from the paper the eloquent voice the eye rich with love the face of inexhaustible intelligence and sympathy that had so often shown on Robinson while just words such as these issued from those golden lips he read on but not to the end for as he read he came to one paragraph that made him fancy that Mr. Eden was by his very side you into whose hands these words of truth shall fall and find you intending to do some foolish or wicked thing or the next day or today or this very hour stop do not that sin on your soul do it not fall on your knees and repent the sin you have meditated better repent the base design than suffer for the sin as suffer you shall so surely as the sky is pure so surely as God is holy and sins wages are death at these words as if the priests hand had been stretched across the earth and to see and laid on the thief's head he fell down upon his knees with his back toward the scene of burglary and his face toward England crying out I will your reference I am lord help me cried he then first remembering how he had been told to pray in temptation's hour the next moment he started to his feet he dashed his lantern to the ground and leaped over a gate that stood in his way and a mile before he stopped his mind was in a world another reflection stopped him he was a sentinel and had portrayed his post suppose his pales were to get into trouble through reckoning on him was it fair to desert them without warning what if he were to go back and give the whistle of alarm pretend that he had seen someone watching and so prevent the meditated crime as well as be guiltless of it himself but then thought he and suppose I do go back will become of me while he hesitated the question was decided for him as he looked back irresolute his keen eye noticed a shadow moving along the hedge side to his left why they're coming away was his first thought but looking keenly down the other edge which was darker still he saw another noiseless moving shadow why are they on different sides of the road in both keeping in the shadow thought this shrewd spirit lighted so ill that he turned at once and ran off towards at this out came the two figures with a bound into the middle of the road and with a loud view hello raced after him like the wind Robinson as he started and before he knew the speed of his pursuers venture to run sideways a moment to see who or what they were he caught a glimpse of white waist coats and glittering steds and guessed the rest he had a start of not more than 20 yards but he was a good runner and it was in his favor that his pursuers had come up at a certain speed while he started fresh after a rest he squared his shoulders opened his mouth wide for a long race and ran as men run for their lives in the silent night Robinson's high lows might have been heard half a mile off clattering along the hard road pit pit pit Pat came two pair of dress boots after him Robinson heard the sound with a thrill of fear day in their pumps and iron boots thought he and his pursuers heard the hunted one grown and redoubled their efforts as dogs when this day begins to sob he had scarce run a hundred yards with his ears laid back like a hairs when he could not help thinking the horrible pit pit pit got nearer he listened with agonized as he ran and so fine did his danger make his ear that he could tell the exact position of his pursuers a cold sweat crept over him as he felt they had both gained 10 yards out of the 20 on him then he distinctly felt one pursuer gain upon the other and this one's pit pit pit crept nearer and nearer an inch every three or four yards the other held his own no more no less at last so near crept number one that Robinson felt his hot breath at his ear he clenched his teeth and gave a desperate spurt and put four or five yards between them he could have measured the ground gained by the pit pit pat but the pursuer put on a spurt and reduced the distance by half I may as well give in thought the hunted one but at that moment came a gleam of hope this pursuer began suddenly to pant very loud he had clenched his teeth to gain the 20 yards he had gained them but had lost his wind Robinson heard this and feared him no longer and in fact after one or two more puffs came one despairing snort and number one pulled up dead short thoroughly blown as number two passed him he just panted out won't catch him won't I ejaculated number two expelling the words rather than uttering them clopity clop clopity clopity clopity clopity clop pit pat pit pat pit pat pit pat pit pit pat ten yards apart no more no less nor near might the dog attain nor farther might the query stream they have done me between them thought poor Robinson I could have run from either singly but one blows me and then the other runs me down I can get out of it by fighting perhaps but then there will be another crime Robinson now began to pant audibly and finally he could not take the hunter off he with some reluctance prepared another game he began to exaggerate his symptoms of distress and imperceptibly to relax his pace on this the pursuer came up hand overhead he was scarce four yards behind when Robinson suddenly turned and threw himself on one knee with both hands out like a cat's claw the man ran on full tilt in fact he could not have stopped Robinson caught his nearest ankle with both hands and rose with him and lifted him aided by his own impulse high into the air and sent his heels up perpendicular the man described a parabola in the air and came down on the very top of his head with frightful force and as he lay his head buried in his hat and his heels kicking Robinson without a moment lost jumped over his body and cloppy clop rang fainter and fainter down the road alone the plucky pursuer wrenched head with infinite difficulty out of his hat which sat on his shoulders with his nose pointing through a chasm from crown to brim shook himself and ran wildly a few yards in pursuit but finding he had in his confusion run away from Robinson as well as Robinson from him and hopeless of recovering the ground now lost he gave a rueful sort of laugh made the best of it put his hands in his pockets and strolled back to me number one Robinson fearful of being pursued on horseback relaxed his speed but little and ran the three miles out into Sydney he came home with his flank heating and a glutinous moisture on his lips and a hunted look in his eye he crept into bed but spent the night thinking I and a praying to not sleeping end of chapter 49 Chapter 50 of it is never too late to mend this is a library box recording all library box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit library box.org recording by Mary Maxwell it is never too late to mend by Charles Reed Chapter 50 Part 1 Thomas Robinson rose from his sleepless bed and altered man altered above all in this that his self confidence was clean gone how little self said he and how well his reverence knew me I am the weakest fool on earth he saw that and told me what to do he provided help for me and I like an ungrateful idiot never once thought of obeying him but from this hour I see myself as I am and as he used to call me a clever fool I can't walk straight without some honest man to hold by well I'll have one though I give up everything else in the world then he went to his little box and took out the letter to George Fielding he looked at it and reproached himself for forgetting it so long a letter from the poor fellow sweetheart to I ought to have sent it by the post if I did not take it but I will take it I'll ask Mr. Miles lead the moment he comes home and start that very day then he sat down and read the track again and as he read it was filled with shame and contrition by one of those freaks of mind which it is so hard to account for every good feeling rushed upon him with far greater power than when he was in prison and strange to say he now loved his reverence more and took his words deeper to heart than he had done when they were together his flesh crept with horror at the thought that he had been a criminal again at least in intention and that but for heaven's mercy he would have taken and punished with frightful severity and above the rest to the heart in return for more than mortal kindness goodness and love and to do Robinson justice this last thought made his heart sicken and his flesh creep more than all the rest he was like a man who had fallen asleep on the brink of an unseen precipice awoke and looked down the penitent man said his prayers this morning and vowed on his knees humility and a new life henceforth he would know he would not attempt to guide himself he would just obey his reverence and to begin whenever a temptation came in sight he would pray against it then and there and fly from it and the moment his master returned he would leave the town and get away to honest George Fielding with his passport Susan's letter with these prayers and these resolutions a calm complacency stole over him he put his reverences tracked and George's letter in his bosom the first person he met was the housemaid Jenny oh here is my lord crutchie where were you last night Robinson stammered out nowhere in particular why oh because the master was asking for you and you weren't to be found high or low what he has come home came home last night I'll go and take him his hot water why he's not in the house stupid he dressed the moment he came home he went out to a party he swore properly that you're not being in the way to help him dress what did he say asked Robinson a little uneasy the girls eyes twinkled he said however am I to lace myself now that scamp is not in the way come none of your chaff Jenny why you know you do lace him and pretty tight too I do nothing of the kind oh of course you won't tell a man could not be as broad shouldered as that and have a waist like a wasp and his back like a board without a little lacing and a good deal too well have it your own way Jenny won't you give me a morsel of breakfast well Tom I can give you some just for form sake but bless you you won't able to eat it why not gents that are out all night bring a headache home in the morning in place of an appetite but I was not out all night I was at home soon after 12 really really Tom well Jane those that ain't clever enough to hide secrets should trust them to those that are I don't know what you mean my lass oh nothing only I sighed up till half past one in the kitchen and I listened till three in my room you took a deal of trouble on my account oh it was more curiosity than regard was the keen reply so I should say the girl colored and seemed meddled by this answer she said to merely about the work of small vengeance now she said with great cordiality you tell me what you were doing all night and why you broke into the house like a him instead of coming into it like a man and then you'll save me the trouble of finding it out whether you like it or not these words chilled Robinson what had a spy been watching him perhaps for days and above all a female spy a thing with a velvet paw a noiseless step an inscrutable countenance and a microscopic eye he hung his head over his cup in silence Jenny's eye was scanning him he felt that without seeing it he was uneasy under it but his self-reproach was greater than his uneasiness at this juncture the street door was opened with a latch key here comes the head scamp said Jenny with her eye on Robinson the next moment a bell was rung sharply Robinson rose finish your breakfast said Jenny I'll answer the bell and out she went she returned in about ten minutes with a dressing gown over her arm and a pair of curling irons in her hand there she said you are to go in the parlor and get up the young buck curl his knob and whiskers I wish it was me I'd curl his ear the first thing I'd curl did you take the trouble to bring them down for me? they looked like it replied the other tartly as if she repented the good office Robinson went into his master he expected a rebuke for being out of the way but no he found the young gentleman an excellent humor in high spirits help me off with this coat Tom yes sir oh not so rough confound you ah oh coats a little too tight sir no it isn't fits me like a glove but I am stiff and sore there now get me a shirt Robinson came back with a shirt and aired it close to the fire and this being a favorable position for saying what he felt awkward about he began Mr. Miles sir hello I'm going to ask you a favor out with it you've been a kind master to me I should think I have too by Jove you won't find such another in a hurry no sir I am sure I should not but there's an opening for me of a different sort altogether I have a friend a squatter near badhurst and I am to join him if you would be so kind as to let me go what an infernal nuisance cried the young gentleman who is like most boys good natured and selfish the moment I get a servant I like he wants to go to the devil only to badhurst sir said Robinson deprecatingly to put him in a good humor and what am I to do with another at this moment in came Jenny with all the paraphernalia of breakfast here Jenny cried he here's Robinson wants to leave us stupid ass Jenny stood transfixed with the trainer hand since when asked she ever master but looking at Robinson this moment the faithful creature greeted my return with that proposal well sir a servant isn't a slave and suppose he has a reason he is wants to go and squat at badhurst well Tom you are a fool for leaving us but of course we shan't pay you the compliment of keeping you against your will shall we looking at Jane what have I got to do with it replied she opening her gray eyes what is it to me whether he goes or stays come I like that while you are the housemaid and he is the footman and those two we knew are always and the young gentleman eked out his meaning by whistling a tune Mr. Miles said Jenny very greatly like an elder rebuking a younger you must excuse me sir but I advise you not to make so free with your servants servants are encroaching and they will be sure to take liberties with you in turn and turning suddenly red and very angry if you talk like that to me I shall leave the room well if you must you must but bring the tea kettle back with you Jenny could not help laughing and went for the tea kettle on her return Robinson made signals to her over the master's head which he had begun to frizz at first she looked puzzled but following the direction of his eye she saw that her master's right hand was terribly cut and swollen oh cried the girl oh dear oh dear a cried Mr. Miles what is the row look at your poor hand sir oh I isn't it hideous in accident soon get well no it won't not of itself but I've got a capital lotion for bruises and I shall bathe it for you Jenny brought in a large basin of warm water and began to foam in it first touching it so tenderly and his hand that was as white as a lady said Jenny pitifully oh boy this kind expression had no sooner escaped her than she colored and bent her head down over her work hoping it might escape notice young woman said Mr. Miles with paternal gravity servants are advised not to make too free with their masters or the beggars will forget their place and take liberties with you he he he Jenny put his hand quietly down into the water and got up and ran across the room for the door her course was arrested by a howl from the Jaco's youth murder take him off Jenny kick him the beggar is curling and laughing at the same time confound you can't you lay the irons down they say a good thing this strange trio chuckled a space Miles the loudest Tom pour out my tea and you Jenny if you will come to the scratch again I will tell you how I came by this this promise brought the inquisitive Jenny to the basin directly you know Hazel time yes sir a tall gentleman that comes here now and then that is the one you are to run a race with on the public course put in Jenny looking up in a scandalized chair that is the boy but how the deuce did you know gentlemen to run with all the dirty boys looking on like horses remonstrated the grammical one it is a disgrace so it is for the one that is beat well I was to meet Hazel time to supper out of town by the by you don't know Tom Yates oh so Jenny I have heard of him too I doubt that there are a good many of his name the rake I mean lives a mile two out of Sydney so to half a dozen more of them this one is about the biggest gambler and sharper on home alright that is my friend well he gave us a thundering supper lots of lush what is lush tea and coffee and barley watered my dear oh can't you put the thundering irons down when I say a good thing well I mustn't be witty anymore the penalty is too severe I need hardly say it was not Mr. Miles and now on the contrary in the midst of his curiosity and rising agitation these jokes seem ghastly in possibilities well at ten o'clock we went upstairs to a snug little room and all forced out down to a nice little green table to gamble no to whisk but now comes the fun we had been playing about four hours and the room was hot and Yates was gone for a fresh pack and old Hazel time was gone into the drawing room to cool himself presently he comes back and he says in a whisper come here old fellows we went with him to the drawing room and at first sight we saw nothing but presently flash came alight right in our eyes it seemed to come from something glittering in the field and these flashes kept coming and going at last we got the governor and he puzzled over it a little while I know what it is he cried it is my cucumber glass Jenny looked up glass might glitter she said but I don't see how it could flash no more did we and we laughed in the governor's face for all that we were wrong there is somebody under that wall with a dark lantern said Tom Yates and every now and then the glass catches the glare and reflects it this way Solomon cried the rest of us the fact is Jenny when Tom Yates gets half drunk he develops sagacity more than human and gave a little groan aha cried Miles the beggar has burned his finger I'm glad of it why should I be the only sufferer by his thundering irons here is a lark said I will nab this dark lantern won't we hazy rather said hazy wait till I get my pistols and then I'll give you a cutlass George said Tom Yates I forget who George was but he said he was of noble blood and I think myself he was some relation of trumps the whole family came about him so mind my hair now oh bother your artillery said I thrice is he armed that has his quarrel just when I am a little cut you may know it by my quoting Shakespeare when I'm sober I don't remember a word of him and don't want to no the sporting magazine that is your Bible Sir suggested Jenny yes and let me read it without your commentary mind my hair now where was I oh Hazeltine and I open the door softly and whipped out but the beggar was too sharp for us no doubt he heard the door anyway before we could get through the shrubbery he was off and we heard him clattering down the road ever so far off however we followed quietly on the grass by the roadside at a fair traveling pace and by and by what do you think our man had pulled up in the middle of the road and stood stock still that is a green trick I thought I however before we could get up to him he saw us or heard us and off down the road no end of a pace tally hoe cried I out came hazy from the other hedge and away we went pug ahead growler and gay lads scarce 20 yards from his brush and the devil take the hind most well of course we made sure of catching him in about a hundred yards to such runners is hazy in me and did not you I'll tell you at first we certainly gained on him a few yards but after that I could not near him but hazy put on a tremendous spurt and left me behind for all I could do here is a go thought I and I have backed myself for a hundred yards and a half mile race against this beggar well I was behind but hazy and the fox seem to me to be joined together running when all of a sudden poof hazy's wind and his pluck blew out together he tailed off wasn't I pleased goodbye hazy says I as I shot by him and took up the running well I tried all I knew but this kind of fellow ran me within a half a mile of Sydney northbound within two miles of it my throat and all my inside was like an oven and I was thinking of tailing off too when I heard the beggar puff and blow so then I knew I must come up with him before long and did you sir asked Jenny a great excitement yes said the other I passed him even but did you catch him well why yes I caught him as the Chinese caught the Tartar this was one of your Downey coves that are up to every move when he found he hadn't legs to run for me slips back to meet me Downey goes under my light I go blundering over him 20 miles an hour he lifts me clear over his head and I come flying down from the clouds he'll overtip I'd give 20 pounds I know how it was done and 50 to see it done to a friend all I know is that I should have knocked my own brains out if it had not been for my hat in my hand they bore the brunt between them as you see and what became of the poor man as Jane well when the poor man had flown me over his head he ran on faster than ever and by the time I had shaken my knowledge box and found out north from south I heard the poor man's word to start again a hundred yards behind a poor man who could run like that would have been making a toil of a trouble so I trotted back to meet hazy well I'm glad he got off clear ain't you Tom yes no a scoundrel that hashed the master like this why Jane you must be mad spare your virtuous indignation said the other Cooley remember I had been hunting him like a wild beast till his heart and when I was down he could easily have revenge himself by giving me a kick with his heavy shoes on the head or the loins that would have spoiled my running for a month of Sundays what do you say to that Robinson colored I say you were very good to make excuses for an unfortunate man for a rascal that is to say a burglar how do you know he was all that said Jenny very sharply why did he run if he was not fired Robinson cunningly guilty what of asked Jenny that is more than I can tell you replied Robinson I dare say said Jenny it was some peaceful man that took fright at seeing two wild young gentlemen come out like mad bulls after him when I've told you my story you will be better able to judge what isn't the story ended ended the cream of it is coming oh sir cry Jenny please don't go on till I'm going for the cold lotion now I have fomented it enough well look sharp then here's the other all in a Twitter with excitement me sir no yes I am naturally interested well you haven't been long I don't think I want any lotion the hot water has done it a good deal of good this will do it more but do you know it is rather abortive only one hand to cut bread and butter with I will cut it sir said Robinson laying down for a moment how long shall you be Jenny asked Mr. Miles I shall have done by when your story is done replied she coolie Mr. Miles laughed well Jenny said he I hadn't walked far before I met Hazel time have you got him says he do I look like it said I rather crustily fancy a fool asking me whether I had got him so I told him all about it and we walked back well just as we were going in Tom Yates said I say suppose we look around the premises before we go to bed we went softly around the house and what did we find but a window with the glass taken out we poked about and we found a pair of shoes well there's someone in the house says Tom Yates as I'm a sinner so we held a council of war Tom was to go into the kitchen lock the door leading out and ambush in the Larda with his and we three were to go in by the front door and search the house well Hazel time and I had got within a yard or two of it and the name of trumps in the year with a sword or something when by George sir the door began to open and out slips a fellow quietly long hazy and I went at him hazy first crack he caught hazy on the head with a bludgeon down went daddy long legs and I got entangled in him and the robber cut like the wind come on shouted I to the honorable thing in a bob bother his name there the name of trumps and I pulled up hazy but couldn't wait for him and after the beggar like mad well as I came near the kitchen door I heard a small scrimmage and back comes my man flying bludgeon in one hand and knife in the other both whirling over his head like a windmill I kept cool doubled my right and put in a heavy one from the armpit you know Tom caught him you might have heard his jaw crack a mile off down goes my man on his back flat on the bricks and his bludgeon rattled one way and his knife the other such a lark oh oh oh what are you doing Robinson you hurt me most confoundly I won't tell you anymore so now he was down in pop the name of swords and fell on him and hazy came staggering in after and insulted him a bit and we bagged him and the other sir as Tom affecting in a different tone he didn't get off I hope what bother inquired Jenny the other on the other rascal the burglar why he never said there were two yes he said they found their shoes no he said he found a pair of shoes for all that you are wrong Jenny and he is right there were two and what is more Tom Yates had got the other threatening to blow out his brains if he moved so down he sat on the dresser and took it quite easy and whistled a tune while he trust the other beggar with his own bludgeon and our chokers Tom Yates said the cool one tumbled down from upstairs just as we drove our one in Tom let them try the door before he bounced out then my one flung a chair at Tom's head and cut back Tom nailed the other one and I floored mine hurrah end of chapter 50 part one chapter 50 of it is never too late to mend this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Mary Maxwell it is never too late to mend by Charles Reid chapter 50 part 2 through this whole narrative Robinson had coolly and delicately to curl live hair with a beating heart and to curl the very man who was relating all the time how he had hunted him and caught his comrades being time a shrewd woman there listening with all her ears a woman too who had certain vague suspicions about him and had taken him up rather sharper than natural he thought when being off his guard for a moment he anticipated the narrator and assumed there were two burglars in the house Tom therefore though curious and anxious shut his face and got on his guard and it was with an admirable imitation of mere sociable curiosity that he inquired and what did the rascals say for themselves what could they say said Jenny they were caught in the fact to do them justice they did not speak of themselves but they said three or four words too very much to the point how interesting it is cry Jenny what about well it was about your friend an invisible gentleman the two young ruffians had chased down the road oh he was one of them said Jane that is plain enough now in course what did they say about him sold says my one to Tom's and no mistake says Tom's oh they spoke out took no more notice of us four than if we had no ears then says mine what do you think your pal now and what do you think Tom's answered Jenny it was rather this answer multiple imparvo as we say at school and one that makes me fear there is a storm brewing for our mutual friend the peaceable gentleman Jenny alias the downy runner why what did he say he said I think he won't be alive this day week the wretches no you don't see they thought he had betrayed them but of course you undeceived them said Robinson no I said why you precious green horn was that our game well sir cried Robinson cheerfully anyway it was good night's work the only thing vexed me added he with an intense air of mortification is that the worst scoundrel of the lot got clear off that is a pity a downright pity make your mind easy replied Mr. Miles calmly he won't escape we shall have him before the day is out will you sir that is right but how the honorable thing Bob Tom Yates friends put us up to it he sent the pair down to Sydney in the break and we put Yates his groom he is a ticket of leave in with them and a bottle brandy and he is to condole with them and have a guinea if they let out the third man's name and they will for they are bitter against him Robinson sigh what is the matter said his master trying to twist his head around nothing all I am afraid they won't split fellows of that sort don't split on a comrade where they get no good by it well if they don't still we shall have him one of us saw his face ah it was the honorable the nave of trumps while Yates was getting the arms trumps slipped out by the garden gate and caught a glimpse of our friend he saw him take the lantern up and fling it down and run the light fell full on his face and he could swear to it out of a thousand so the net is round our friend and we shall have him before the day is out drink a dong drink a ring at the bell have you done Tom just one more turn sir then Jenny you see who that is Jenny went and returned with an embossed card it is a young gentleman mustache and lavender gloves oh such a buck who can it be the honorable George LeSales why that is the very man I remember he said he would do himself the honor to call on me that is the nave of trumps go down directly Robinson and tell him I'm at home and bring him up yes sir yes sir well then why don't you go um perhaps Jenny will go while I clear these things away and without waiting for an answer Robinson hastened to encumber himself with the tea tray and flung the loaf and curling irons into it and bustled about and showed a sudden zeal lest this bachelor's room should appear in disorder and as Jenny mounted the front stairs followed by the sprig of nobility he plunged heavily laden down the back stairs into the kitchen and off with his coat and cleaned knives like a mad thing oh if I had but a pound in my pocket thought he I would not stay another hour in Sydney I'd get my ring and run for Bathurst and never look behind me how comfortable and happy I was until I fell back into the old courses and now see what a life mine has been ever since what a 12 hours hunted like a wild beast suspected and watched by my fellow servant and forced to hide my thoughts from this one and my face from that one but I deserve it and I wish it was 10 times as bad oh you fool you idiot you brute it is not the half of what you deserve I asked but one thing of heaven that his reverence may never know don't let me break that good man's heart I'd much rather die before the days out at this moment Jenny came in Robinson cleaned the poor knives harder still and did not speak his cue was to find out what was passing in the girls mind but she washed her cup and saucer and plates in silence presently the bell rang Tom said Jenny quietly would you mind going Jenny me it is not my business no Jenny but once in a way if you will be so kind once why I have been twice to the door for you today you to your place and I to mind shan't go look at me with my coat off and covered with brick dust put your coat on and shake the dust off oh Jenny this is not like you to refuse me such a trifle I would not disablage you so I didn't refuse said Jenny making for the door I only said no once or twice we don't call that refusing but as she went out of the door she turned sharp as if to catch Robinson's face off its guard and her grey eye dwelt on him with one of those demure inexplicable looks her sex can give all ab extra seeing all revealing nothing she returned with her face on fire that is what I get for taking your place what is the matter that impudent young villain wanted to kiss me oh is that all no is not all he said I was the prettiest in Sydney with an appearance of rising indignation well but Jenny that is no news I could have told him that then why did you never tell me I thought by your manner you knew it having tried to propitiate the foe thus Robinson lost no more time but went upstairs and asked Mr. Miles for the trifle do him his wages Mr. Miles was very sorry but he had been cleaned out at his friend Yates had not a shilling left and no hopes of any for a fortnight to come then sir said Robinson doggedly I hope you will allow me to go into the town and try to make a little for myself just enough to pay my travelling expenses by all means was the reply tell me if you succeed and I'll borrow a sovereign of you out went Robinson into the town of Sydney he got into a respectable street and knocked at a good house with a green door he introduced himself to the owner as a first-rate painter and engrainer and offered to turn this door into a mahogany, walnut, oak or what not door the house is beautiful all but the door said Slyton it is blistered I am quite content with it as it is was the reply in a rude supercilious tone Robinson went away just confident he went doggedly down the street begging them all to have their doors beautified and wincing at every refusal at last he found a shopkeeper who had no objection but doubted Robinson's capacity show me what you can do he said Slyly and then I'll talk to you send for the materials replied the artist and give me a board and I'll put a half a dozen woods on the face of it and pray said the man why should I lay out my money in advertising you no you bring me a specimen and if it is all right I'll give you the job that is a bargain replied Robinson went off how hard they make honesty to a poor fellow he bitterly but I'll beat them and he clinched his teeth he went to a pawn broker and pawned the hat off his head it was a new one then for a half penny he bought a sheet of brown paper and twisted it into a workman's cap he bought the brushes and a little paint and a little varnish and then he was without a penny again he went to a wheelwrights and begged to learn it was small valueless wormy and bored he saw kicking about telling him what it was for the wealthy wheelwright eyed him with a horn should I ever see you again asked he ironically keep it for your coffin said Robinson fiercely and passed on how hard they make honesty to a poor fellow I was a fool for asking for it when I might have taken it what was there to hinder me honesty my lass you are bitter presently he came to the suburbs and there was a small wooden cottage the owner a commoner was repairing it as well he could Robinson asked him very timidly he could spare a couple of square feet off a board he was sawing what for? Robinson showed his paint pot and brushes and told him how he was at a standstill for one of a board it is only a loan of it I asked said he the man measured the plank carefully and after some hesitation cut off a good piece I can spare that much said he poor folks should feel for one another I'll bring it back you may depend said Robinson as much as to say gammon when Robinson returned to the skeptical shopkeeper with a board on which oak satin wood walnut etc were imitated to the life in squares take worthy gave a start and betrayed his admiration and Robinson asked him five shillings more than he would if the other had been more considerate in short before evening the door was painted a splendid imitation of walnut wood the shopkeeper was enchanted with his shillings handed over to him he ran and got Mr. Eden's ring out of pawn and kissed it and put it on next he liberated his hat he slept better this night than the last one more such day and I shall have enough to pay my expenses to batters he turned out early and went into the town he went into the street where he had worked last evening and when he came near the store there was a knot of persons around it Robinson joined them presently the boys cried out why here he is this is the painter instantly three or four hands were laid on Robinson come and paint my door no come and paint mine no mine Tom had never been in such request since he was an itinerant quack his sly eye twinkled and this artist put himself up to auction then and there he was knocked down to a tradesman in the same street 21 shillings the price of this store and Robinson's price rose the demand for him being greater than the supply the mahogany door was really a chef to orb he came home triumphant with 30 shillings in his pocket he spread them out on the kitchen table and looked at them with a pride and a thrill of joy money never gave him before he had often closed the shutters and furtively spread out twice as many sovereigns but they were only his these shillings were his own and they were not only his own each sacred shilling represented so much virtue for industry is a virtue he looked at them with a father's pride how sweet the butter our own hands have churned he blessed his reverend friend for having taught him an art in a dung hole where idiots and savages teach crank he blessed his reverence his four bones his favorite implication of the benevolent kind I conclude the four bones meant the arms and legs if so it would have been more to the point had he blessed the skull Jenny came in and found him gloating over his virtuous shillings she stared he told her what he had been about these two days past his difficulties his success the admiration his work excited throughout the capital he must exaggerate a little or it not be Tom Robinson and the wealth he was amassing Jenny was glad to hear this very glad but she scolded him well upon his hat why didn't you ask me said she I would give you a pound or even two or given them you for any honest purpose and Jenny pouted and got up a little quarrel the next day a gentleman caught Robinson and made him paint two doors in his fancy villa sat in wood this time and he received three pounds three shillings a good dinner and what bohemians all adore praise now as he returned in the evening a sudden misgiving came to him I have not thought once a bad hearse today all this money making is a contrivance to keep me in Sydney it is absurd my corning paint at this rate I see your game my lad either I am to fall into bad company again or to be split upon and nabbed for that last job tomorrow I will be on the road to badhurst I can paint there just as well as here besides I've got my orders from his reverence to go and I'll go he told Jane his resolution she made no answer while these sitting causally by the fireside for since Robinson took to working hard all day he began to relish the hearse at night suddenly cheerful boisterous voices and Mr. Miles and two friends burst in and would have an extemper supper and nothing else would serve these libertines but mutton chops off the gridiron so they invaded the kitchen out ran Jenny to avoid them would have put on a smarter cap and Robinson was to cut the chops and lay a cloth on the dresser while his master went off to the cellar the two rakes who remained chattered and laughed both pretty loud they had dined together and the bottle had not stood still I have heard that voice before I thought Robinson is a very peculiar voice whose voice is that he looked the gentleman fall in the face and could hardly suppress a movement of surprise the gentleman by the instinct of the eye caught his and his attention was suddenly attracted to Robinson and from that moment they were off Robinson following him everywhere Robinson affected not to notice this the chops were grilling Jenny came in and bustled about and pretended not to hear the side compliments of the libertines presently the young gentleman with a peculiar voice took out his pocketbook and said I have a bet to propose I'll bet you 50 pounds I find the man you two hunted down the road on Monday night no takers replied Mr. Hazeltime with his mouth full stop a bit I don't care if I bet said miles how soon will you bet you catch him in half an hour was the cool reply and the honorable George while making it managed at the same time and sauntering sort of way to put himself between Robinson door that let out into the garden Robinson eyed him in silence and never moved in half an hour that is a fair bet so Mr. Miles shall I take him better not he's a knowing one he has seen him to earth somewhere he would not offer you such a bet well I'll bet you five to three proposed the honorable George done done Robinson put in a hasty word and what is to become of thimble rig gem sir these words addressed to Mr. LaSalle's produced a singular effect that gentleman gave an immediate shiver as if a bullet had passed clean through him and out again then opened his eyes and looked first at one door then at the other as if hesitating which he should go by Robinson continued addressing him what I mean sir is that there is a government reward of two hundred pounds for thimble rig gem and the police wouldn't like to be drawn away from two hundred pounds after a poor fellow like him you saw on Monday night one that is only suspected and no reward offered now jam is a notorious culprit who is this gem my man what is he asked Mr. LaSalle's with a composure that contrasted remarkably with his late emotion a convict escaped from Norfolk island sir an old offender I fell in with him once he has forgotten me I daresay but I never forget a man they say he has grown a mustache and whiskers and he passes himself off for a knob but I could swear to him how by what cried Mr. Miles if he should ever be fool enough to get in my way hang thimble rig gem cried Hazelton is it a bet LaSalle's what that you nab our one in half an hour Mr. LaSalle's affected an aristocratic drawl no I was joking I couldn't afford to leave the fire for 30 pounds why should I run after the poor devil find him yourselves he never annoyed me got a cigar miles after their chops etc the rakes went off to finish the night elsewhere there they are gone at last why Jenny how pale you look said Robinson not seeing the color of his own cheek what is wrong Jenny answered by sitting down and bursting out crying Tom sat opposite her with his eyes on the ground oh what I have gone through this day cried Jenny oh oh oh sobbing convulsively what could Tom do but console her and she found it so agreeable to be consoled that she prolonged her distress an impressionable bohemian on one side a fireplace and a sweet pretty girl crying on the other what wonder that two o'clock in the morning found this pair sitting on the same side of the fire aforesaid her hand in his the next morning at six o'clock Jenny was down to make his breakfast for him before starting if she had said don't go it is to be feared the temptation would have been too strong but she did not she said sorrowfully you are right to leave this town she never explained Tom never heard from her own lips how far her suspicions went he was a coward and seeing how shrewd she was was afraid to ask her and she was one of your natural ladies who can leave a thing unsaid out of delicacy Tom Robinson was what Jenny called capital company he had won her admiration by his conversation his stories of life and now and then a song and by his good looks and good nature she disguised her affection admirably until he was in danger and about to leave her and then she betrayed herself and he was tow at last it came to this don't you cry so dear girl I've got a question to put to you if I come back a better man than I go will you be Mrs. Robinson yes end of chapter 50 chapter 51 of it is never too late to mend this is a library box recording all library box recordings are in the public domain information or to volunteer please visit librarybox.org recording by Mary Maxwell it is never too late to mend by Charles Reed chapter 51 Robinson started for Bathurst just before he got clear of the town he passed the poor man's cottage who had lent him the board bless me how came I forget him said he at that moment the man came out to go to work here I am said Robinson meeting him full and here is your board showing it to him painted in squares can't afford to give it you back it is my advertisement but here is half a crown for it and for you trusting me well to be sure cried the man now who'd have thought this why if the world is not turning honest but half a crown is too much taint worth the half of it it was worth five pounds to me I got employment through it look here and he showed him several pounds in silver all this came from your board so take your half crown and my thanks on the head of it the half crown laying the man's palm he looked in Robinson's face well cried he with astonishment you are the honestest man I ever fell in with I am the honestest man you will go to heaven for saying those words to me cried Robinson warmly and with agitation goodbye my good charitable soul you deserve ten times what you have got and Robinson made off the other as soon as he recovered the shock shouted after him goodbye honest man and good luck wherever you go and Robinson heard him scuttle about and hastily convened small boys and dispatched them down the road to look at an honest man but the young would did not kindle at his enthusiasm had the rarity been a bear with a monkey on him well and good I'm pretty well paid for a little honesty thought Robinson he stepped gallantly out in high spirits and thought of Jenny and fell in love with her and saw in her affection yet another inducement to be honest and industrious nothing of note happened on his way to Badhurst except that one day as he was tramping along very hot and thirsty a luscious prickly pear hung over a wall and many a respectable man would have taken it without scruple but Tom was so afraid of beginning again he turned his back on it and ran on instead of walking to make sure when he reached Badhurst his purse was very low and he had a good many more miles to go and not feeling quite sure of his welcome he did not care to be penniless so he went round the town with his advertising board and very soon was painting doors in Badhurst he found the natives stingier here than in Sydney and they had a profession a traveler like him ought to work much cheaper than an established man but still he put by something every day he had been three days in the town when a man stepped up to him as he finished a job and asked him to go home with him the man took him to a small but rather neat shop plumbers glaciers and painters why you don't want me said Robinson we're in the same line of business step in said the man in a few words he let Robinson know that he had a great bargain to offer him I'm going to sell the shop said he it is a business I never much fancied and I had rather sell it to a stranger than to a badhurst man for the trade have offended me there is not a man in the colony can work like you and you may make a little fortune here Robinson's eyes sparkle a moment then he replied I am too poor to buy business what do you want for it only 60 pounds for the articles in the shop goodwill and all well I dare say it is moderate but how am I to find 60 pounds I'll make it as light as a feather five pounds down five pounds in a month after that 10 pounds a month till we're clear take possession and sell the goods and work the goodwill on payment of the first five that is very liberal said Robinson well give me till next Thursday and I'll bring you the first five oh I can't do that I give you the first offer but into the market it goes this evening and no later I'll call this evening and see if I can do it Robinson tried to make up the money but it was not to be done then fell a terrible temptation upon him handling George Fielding's letter with his delicate fingers he had satisfied himself there was a bank note in it why not borrow this bank note the shop would soon repay it the idea rushed over him like a flood at the same moment he took freight at it Lord help me he ejaculated he rushed to a shop bought two or three sheets of brown paper and a lot of wafers with nimble fingers he put the letter in one parcel that parcel in another that in another and so on till there were a dozen envelopes between him and the irregular loan this done he confided the grand parcel to his landlord give it me when I start he went no more near the little shop till he had made seven pounds then he went the shop and business had been sold just 24 hours Robinson groaned if I had not been so very honest never mind I must take the bitter with the sweet for all that the town became distasteful to him he bought a cheap revolver for there was a talk of bush rangers in the neighborhood and started to walk to George Fielding's farm he reached in the evening there is no George Fielding here was the news he left this more than six months ago do you know where he is not I Robinson had to ask everybody he met where George Fielding was gone to at last by good luck he fell in with George's friend McLaughlin who told him it was 25 miles off 25 miles that must be for tomorrow then McLaughlin told him he knew George Fielding very well he is a fine lad then he asked Robinson what was his business Robinson took down a very thin light board with ornamented words painted on it that is my business said he at the sight of a real business the worthy Scott offered to take care of him for the night and put him on the road to Fielding's next morning next morning Robinson painted his front door as a return for bed and breakfast McLaughlin gave him somewhat intricate instructions for tomorrow's route Robinson followed them and soon lost his way he was set right again but lost it again and after a tremendous day's walk made up his mind he should have to camp in the open air and without a supper when he heard a dog banging in the distance there is a house of some kind anyway thought Robinson but where I see none better make for the dog he made straight for the sound but still he could not see any house at last however coming over a hill he found a house beneath him and on the other side of this house the dog was howling incessantly Robinson came down the hill walked around the house and there sat the dog on the steps well it is you for the howling anyway said Robinson anybody at home he shouted no one answered and the dog howled on why the place is deserted I think haven't I seen that dog before why it is Carlo here Carlo poor fellow Carlo what is the matter the dog gave a little whimper as Robinson stooped and padded him but no sign of positive recognition but he padded into the house Robinson followed him and there he found the man he had come to see stretched on his bed pale and hollow eyed and grisly and looking like a corpse in the fading light Robinson was awestruck oh what is this said he have I come all this way to bury him he leaned over and felt his heart it beat feebly but equibly and he muttered something unintelligible when Robinson touched him then Robinson struck a light and right glad he was to find a cauldron full of gelatinized beer soup he warmed some and ate a great supper and Carlo sat and whimpered and then wagged his tail and plucked up more and more spirit and finally recognized Tom all in a moment somehow and announced the fact by one great disconnected bark and a saltatory emotion this done he turned to and also ate a voracious supper Robinson rolled himself up in George's great coat and slept like a top on the floor next morning he was waked by a tapping and there was Carlo seated bolt upright with his tail beating the floor because George was sitting up in bed looking about him in a puzzled way Jackie said he is that you? Robinson got up rubbed his eyes and came toward the bed George stared in his face and rubbed his eyes too for he thought he must be under an ocular delusion who are you? a friend well I didn't think to see you under a roof of mine again just the welcome I expected thought Robinson bitterly he answered coldly well as soon as you are well you can turn me out of your house you are not strong enough to do it just now no I am weak enough but I am better I could eat something oh you could do that what even if I cooked it here goes then Tom let the fire and warm some beef soup George ate some but very little however he drank a great jug full of water then dosed and fell into a fine perspiration it was a favorable crisis and from that moment youth and a sound constitution began to pull him through moreover no assassin had been there with his lancet behold the thief turned nurse the next day as he potted about clearing the room opening or shutting the windows cooking and serving he noticed George's eye following him everywhere with a placid wonder which at last broke into words you take a great deal of trouble about me I do was the dry answer it is very good of you but you would as leave it was anybody else but your other friends have left you to die like a dog said Robinson sarcastically well they left you when you were sick I'll leave you when you are well what for seems to me that you've earned a right to stay as long as you're reminded the man that stands by me in trouble I won't bet him go when the sun shines again at this precise moment in his sentence without the least warning Mr. Fielding ignited himself and inquired with fury whether it came within Robinson's individual experience that George Fielding was of an ungrateful turn or whether such was the general voice of fame now don't you get in a rage and boast you boilers said Robinson well George without joking though I have been kind to you not for nursing you what Christian would not do that for his countrymen and his old landlords sick in a desert but what would you think of me if I told you I had come 160 miles to bring you a letter I wouldn't show it you before for they say exciting them is bad for fever but I think I may venture now here it is and Robinson tore off one by one the twelve envelopes to George's astonishment and curiosity there I don't know the hand said George but opening the enclosure he caught a glance of a hand he did know and let everything else drop on the bed while he held this and gazed at it and the color flushed into his white cheek oh cried he and worshipped it in silence again then opened it and devoured it first came some precious words of affection and encouragement he kissed the letter you are a good fellow to bring me such a treasure I'll never forget it as long as I live then he went back to the letter there is something about you Tom about me she tells me you never had a father not to say a father she says true Susan says that is a great disadvantage to any man and so it is and poor fellow what she says they came between your sweetheart and you oh poor Tom what you lost your sweetheart no wonder you went astray after that what would become of me if I lost my Susan and you were always better than me Susan she says she and I have never been sore tempted like you bless her little heart for making excuses for a poor fellow but she was always a charitable kind-hearted young lady wasn't she Tom and with sweet eyes ain't they Tom brimful of heaven I call them and when she used to smile on you Master George now you take my hand this minute I can't see now you shall read it on to me because you brought it and you George that are as honest a man as ever lived do keep him by you a while and keep him in the right way he is well-disposed but weak do it to oblige me will you stay with me Tom inquire George cheerful and business like I am not a lucky man but while I have a shilling there's a sixpence for the man that brought me this do in the desert I call it and to think you have seen her since I have how was she looking had she her beautiful color what did she say to you with her own mouth and Robinson had to recall every word Susan had said to him this done George took the enclosure stop here is something for you George Fielding is requested to give this to Robinson for the use of Thomas and Claire there you are Tom well what is matter nothing it is a name I have not heard a while I did not know any creature but me knew it is it glamor or what why Tom what is the matter don't look like that open it and let us see what there is inside Robinson opened it and there was the five pound note for him with this line if you have regained the name of Sinclair keep it Robinson ran out of the house and walked to and fro in a state of exaltation I am well paid for my journey I am well paid for not fingering that note who would not be honest if they knew the sweets how could he know my name is he really more than man keep it will I not End of chapter 51