by Bartimeus
*IV.*
Private Phillips, R.M.L.I., in all subsequent narrations of the eventsof the day--and they were many and varied--was wont to preface eachreminiscence with "Me an' the Torpedo Lootenant..." And indeed he didboth indefatigable workers bare justice. Whether it was openingcarriage doors or bottles of champagne, fetching fresh supplies ofglasses or labelling and strapping portmanteaux, Private Phillipslaboured with the same indomitable stertorous energy. He acceptedorders with an omniscient and vehement nod of the head; usurped theduties of enraptured maid-servants with, "You leave me do it, Miss--Ibin married meself. I knows the routine, as you might say...."
And Torps, superintending the distribution of beer to pantingblue-jackets (whose panting, in some cases, was almost alarming in itsrealism); fetching cups of tea for stout dowagers, and ices for gigglingschoolgirls; begging a sprig from the bridesmaids' bouquets; tippingpolicemen; opening telegrams; yet always with an attention ready for theBridegroom's aunt who remembered Guns as such a _little_ boy....Helpful even to the ubiquitous reporter of the local paper....
"A picturesque ceremony--if I may say so. A _most_ picturesqueceremony." The reporter would feel for his notebook. "Might I ask whothat tall Officer is with the medals...? My Paper----" And Torps, withhis gentle manners and quiet smile, would supply the information to thebest of his ability, conscious that at a wedding there are harder lotseven than the Best Man's....
The Indiarubber Man drifted disconsolately about in the crush, finallycoming to a momentary anchorage in a corner beside his Bridesmaid.
"Miss Betty, no one loves me, and I'm going into the garden"--he droppedhis voice to a confidential undertone--"to eat worms."
The girl giggled weakly. "Please don't make me laugh any more! Won'tyou stay here and have an ice instead? I'm sure it would be much betterfor you."
"Would it, d'you think? I've been watching the sailors drinking beer.Have you ever seen a sailor drink beer, Miss Betty? It's a grim sight."
She shook her head, and there was both laughter and reproach in theyoung eyes considering him over the bouquet. "You forsook me--and anice Midshipman had pity on my loneliness and brought me an ice."
The Indiarubber Man eyed her sorrowfully. "I turn my back for a momentto watch sailors drink beer--I am a man of few recreations--and returnto find you sighing over the memory of another and making shocking badpuns. Really, Miss Betty--Ah! _Now_ I can understand...."
A small and pink-faced Midshipman approached with two brimming glassesof champagne. The Indiarubber Man faded discreetly away, leaving hischarge and her new-found knight pledging each other with sparkling eyes.
The Bride touched her husband's sleeve in a lull in the handshaking andcongratulations. "Isn't it rather nice to see people enjoyingthemselves! Don't you feel as if you wanted everybody to be as happy aswe?--_Look_ at Betty and that boy.... Champagne, if you please! Howill the child will be; and she's got to go back to school to-morrow...."
Her husband laughed softly. "Pretty little witch.... Torps has takenit away from her and given her some lemonade instead. Where'sMother?--Oh, I see: hobnobbing with the Colonel over a cup of tea. Whata crush! Dear, can't we escape soon....?"
"Very soon now--poor boy, are you very hot in those things?"
"Not very. The worst part's coming--the rice and slippers andgood-byes. Are you very tired, darling...?"
* * * * *
"Good-bye--Good-bye! Good-bye, Daddie.... Yes, yes.... I will....Good-bye, Betty darling.... Good-bye----"
* * * * *
"Good-bye, Mother mine.... Torps, you've been a brick..... So-long!Good-bye! ... Not down my neck, Betty! ... Yes, I've got the tickets----Good-bye, Good-bye!----"
* * * * *
The lights of Dover were twinkling far astern. Two people, a man and awoman, walked to the stern of the steamer and stood close together,leaning over the rail.
"What a lot of Good-byes we've said to-day," murmured the woman,watching the pin-points of light that vanished and reappeared. She fellsilent, as if following a train of thought, "And after all, we're onlygoing to Paris!"
"We're going further than that----" The man took possession of herslim, ungloved hands, and the star-powdered heavens alone were witnessto the act. "All the way to El Dorado, darling!"
She gave him back the pressure of his fingers, and presently sighed alittle, happily, as a child sighs in its sleep. "And we haven't anyreturn tickets...."
