Geordie despised the 'hale
hypothick' as a 'daft ploy,' and the spending of five dollars upon a
ticket he considered a 'sinfu' waste o' guid siller'; and he warned
Billy against 'coontenancin' ony sic redeeklus nonsense.'
But no one expected Billy to go; although the last two months he had
done wonders for his personal appearance, and for his position in the
social scale as well. They all knew what a fight he was making, and
esteemed him accordingly. How well I remember the pleased pride in his
face when he told me in the afternoon of the committee's urgent request
that he should join the orchestra with his 'cello! It was not
simply that his 'cello was his joy and pride, but he felt it to be a
recognition of his return to respectability.
I have often wondered how things combine at times to a man's
destruction.
Had Mr. Craig not been away at the Landing that week, had Geordie not
been on the night-shift, had Mrs. Mavor not been so occupied with the
care of her sick child, it may be Billy might have been saved his fall.
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