From these and similar mental meanderings I was brought back by Joe, who, after emptying the ashes from his pipe, said, and with a peculiarly dry voice, "Ye 'r in a service, young man?"
Now, although the words are few, and the speaker did not intend that his manner should have given them any particular significance, yet the tone, the cautious slowness of the enunciation, coupled with the stern, steady stare at my "bravery," made them tingle on my ears, and send the blood rushing to my cheeks with shame. It was like a sharp prick of the spur; and so it turned out.
"In a service!" said I, with a look of offended dignity. "No, I flatter myself not that low yet. What could have made you suppose so? Oh, I see! "--here I burst out into a very well-assumed laugh. "That is excellent, to be sure! ha, ha, ha! so it was these"--and I stretched forth my embroidered shins--"it was these deceived you! And a very natural mistake, too. No, my worthy friend,--not but, indeed, I might envy many in that same ignoble position." I said this with a sudden change of voice, as though overcast by some sad recollection.
"'Twas indeed your dress," said Joe, with a modest deference in his manner, meant to be a full apology for his late blunder. "Maybe 'tis the fashion here."
"No, Cullinane," said I, using a freedom which should open the way to our relative future standing; "no, not even that." Here I heaved a heavy sigh, and became silent. My companion, abashed by his mistake, said nothing; and so we sat, without interchanging a word, for full five minutes.
"I have had a struggle with myself, Cullinane," said I, at last, "and I have conquered. Ay, I have gained the day in a hard-fought battle against my sense of shame. I will be frank with you, therefore. In this dress I appeared to-night on the boards of the Quebec theatre."
"A play actor!" exclaimed Joe, with a face very far from expressing any high sense of the histrionic art.
"Not exactly," said I, "only a would-be one. I am a gentleman by birth, family, and fortune; but taking it into my head, in a foolish hour, that I should like the excitement of an actor's life, I fled from home, quitted friends, relatives, affluence, and ease, to follow a strolling company. At another time I may relate to you all the disguises I assumed to escape detection. Immense sums were offered for my apprehension--why do I say _were?_--ay, Cullinane, are offered. I will not deceive you. It is in your power this instant, by surrendering me to my family, to earn five thousand dollars!"