“Wilks keeps his house in good order,” said Hardy, looking round.
“Yes,” said the girl.
“Wonder why he never married,” said Hardy, musingly; “for my part I can’t understand a man remaining single all his life; can you?”
“I never think of such things,” said Miss Nugent, coldly — and untruthfully.
“If it was only to have somebody to wait on him and keep his house clean,” pursued Hardy, with malice.
Miss Nugent grew restless, and the wrongs of her sex stirred within her. “You have very lofty ideas on the subject,” she said, scornfully, “but I believe they are not uncommon.”
“Still, you have never thought about such things, you know,” he reminded her.
“And no doubt you have devoted a great deal of time to the subject.”
Hardy admitted it frankly. “But only since I returned to Sunwich,” he said.
“Caused by the spectacle of Sam’s forlorn condition, I suppose,” said Miss Nugent.
“No, it wasn’t that,” he replied.
Miss Nugent, indignant at having been drawn into such a discussion, lapsed into silence. It was safer and far more dignified, but at the same time she yearned for an opportunity of teaching this presumptuous young man a lesson. So far he had had it all his own way. A way strewn with ambiguities which a modest maiden had to ignore despite herself.
“Of course, Wilks may have had a disappointment,” said Hardy, with the air of one willing to make allowances.
“I believe he had about fifty,” said the girl, carelessly.
Hardy shook his head in strong disapproval. “No man should have more than one,” he said, firmly; “a man of any strength of will wouldn’t have that.”
“Strength of will?” repeated the astonished Miss Nugent.
Their eyes met; hers sparkling with indignation; his full of cold calculation. If he had had any doubts before, he was quite sure now that he had gone the right way to work to attract her attention; she was almost quivering with excitement.
“Your ideas will probably change with age — and disappointment,” she said, sweetly.
“I shall not be disappointed,” said Hardy, coolly. “I’ll take care of that.”
Miss Nugent eyed him wistfully and racked her brains for an appropriate and crushing rejoinder. In all her experience — and it was considerable considering her years — she had never met with such carefully constructed audacity, and she longed, with a great longing, to lure him into the open and destroy him. She was still considering ways and means of doing this when the door opened and revealed the surprised and angry form of her father and behind it the pallid countenance of Mr. Wilks. For a moment anger deprived the captain of utterance.
“Who — —” he stammered. “What — —”
“What a long time you’ve been, father,” said Miss Nugent, in a reproving voice. “I began to be afraid you were never going.”
“You come home with me,” said the captain, recovering.
The command was given in his most imperious manner, and his daughter dropped her muff in some resentment as she rose, in order to let him have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Hardy pick it up. It rolled, however, in his direction, and he stooped for it just as Hardy darted forward. Their heads met with a crash, and Miss Nugent forgot her own consternation in the joy of beholding the pitiable exhibition which terror made of Mr. Wilks.
“I’m very sorry,” said Hardy, as he reverently dusted the muff on his coat-sleeve before returning it. “I’m afraid it was my fault.”
“It was,” said the infuriated captain, as he held the door open for his daughter. “Now, Kate.”
Miss Nugent passed through, followed by her father, and escorted to the front door by the steward, whose faint “Good-night” was utterly ignored by his injured commander. He stood at the door until they had turned the corner, and, returning to the kitchen, found his remaining guest holding his aching head beneath the tap.
“And now,” said the captain, sternly, to his daughter, “how dare you sit and talk to that young cub? Eh? How dare you?”
“He was there when I went in,” said his daughter. “Why didn’t you come out, then?” demanded her father.
“I was afraid of disturbing you and Sam,” said Miss Nugent. “Besides, why shouldn’t I speak to him?”
“Why?” shouted the captain. “Why? Because I won’t have it.”
“I thought you liked him,” said Miss Nugent, in affected surprise. “You patted him on the head.”
The captain, hardly able to believe his ears, came to an impressive stop in the roadway, but Miss Nugent walked on. She felt instinctively that the joke was thrown away on him, and, in the absence of any other audience, wanted to enjoy it without interruption. Convulsive and half-suppressed sounds, which she ascribed to a slight cold caught while waiting in the kitchen, escaped her at intervals for the remainder of the journey home.
CHAPTER XI
Jack Nugent’s first idea on seeing a letter from his father asking him to meet him at Samson Wilks’s was to send as impolite a refusal as a strong sense of undutifulness and a not inapt pen could arrange, but the united remonstrances of the Kybird family made him waver.
“You go,” said Mr. Kybird, solemnly; “take the advice of a man wot’s seen life, and go. Who knows but wot he’s a thinking of doing something for you?”
“Startin’ of you in business or somethin’,” said Mrs. Kybird. “But if ‘e tries to break it off between you and ‘Melia I hope you know what to say.”
“He won’t do that,” said her husband.
“If he wants to see me,” said Mr. Nugent, “let him come here.”
“I wouldn’t ‘ave ‘im in my house,” retorted Mr. Kybird, quickly. “An Englishman’s ‘ouse is his castle, and I won’t ‘ave him in mine.”
“Why not, Dan’l,” asked his wife, “if the two families is to be connected?”
Mr. Kybird shook his head, and, catching her eye, winked at her with much significance.
“‘Ave it your own way,” said Mrs. Kybird, who was always inclined to make concessions in minor matters. “‘Ave it your own way, but don’t blame me, that’s all I ask.”
Urged on by his friends Mr. Nugent at last consented, and, in a reply to his father, agreed to meet him at the house of Mr. Wilks on Thursday evening. He was not free him-self from a slight curiosity as to the reasons which had made the captain unbend in so unusual a fashion.
Mr. Nathan Smith put in an appearance at six o’clock on the fatal evening. He was a short, slight man, with a clean-shaven face mapped with tiny wrinkles, and a pair of colourless eyes the blankness of whose expression defied research. In conversation, especially conversation of a diplomatic nature, Mr. Smith seemed to be looking through his opponent at something beyond, an uncomfortable habit which was a source of much discomfort to his victims.
“Here we are, then, Mr. Wilks,” he said, putting his head in the door and smiling at the agitated steward.
“Come in,” said Mr. Wilks, shortly.
Mr. Smith obliged. “Nice night outside,” he said, taking a chair; “clear over’ead. Wot a morning it ‘ud be for a sail if we was only young enough. Is that terbacker in that canister there?”
The other pushed it towards him.
“If I was only young enough — and silly enough,” said the boarding-house master, producing a pipe with an unusually large bowl and slowly filling it, “there’s nothing I should enjoy more than a three years’ cruise. Nothing to do and everything of the best.”
“‘Ave you made all the arrangements?” inquired Mr. Wilks, in a tone of cold superiority.
Mr. Smith glanced affectionately at a fish-bag of bulky appearance which stood on the floor between his feet. “All ready,” he said, cheerfully, an’ if you’d like a v’y’ge yourself I can manage it for you in two twos. You’ve on’y got to say the word.”
“I don’t want one,” said the steward, fiercely; “don’t you try none o’ your la
rks on me, Nathan Smith, cos I won’t have it.”
“Lord love your ‘art,” said the boarding-master, “I wouldn’t ‘urt you. I’m on’y acting under your orders now; yours and the captin’s. It ain’t in my reg’lar way o’ business at all, but I’m so good-natured I can’t say ‘no.’”
“Can’t say ‘no’ to five pounds, you mean,” retorted Mr. Wilks, who by no means relished these remarks.
“If I was getting as much out of it as you are I’d be a ‘appy man,” sighed Mr. Smith.
“Me!” cried the other; do you think I’d take money for this — why, I’d sooner starve, I’d sooner. Wot are you a-tapping your nose for?”
“Was I tapping it?” demanded Mr. Smith, in surprise. “Well, I didn’t know it. I’m glad you told me.”
“You’re quite welcome,” said the steward, sharply. “Crimping ain’t in my line; I’d sooner sweep the roads.”
“‘Ear, ‘ear,” exclaimed Mr. Smith, approvingly. “Ah! wot a thing it is to come acrost an honest man. Wot a good thing it is for the eyesight.”
He stared stonily somewhere in the direction of Mr. Wilks, and then blinking rapidly shielded his eyes with his hand as though overcome by the sight of so much goodness. The steward’s wrath rose at the performance, and he glowered back at him until his eyes watered.
“Twenty past six,” said Mr. Smith, suddenly, as he fumbled in his waistcoat-pocket and drew out a small folded paper. “It’s time I made a start. I s’pose you’ve got some salt in the house?”
“Plenty,” said Mr. Wilks.
“And beer?” inquired the other.
“Yes, there is some beer,” said the steward.
“Bring me a quart of it,” said the boarding-master, slowly and impressively. “I want it drawed in a china mug, with a nice foaming ‘ead on it.”
“Wot do you want it for?” inquired Mr. Wilks, eyeing him very closely.
“Bisness purposes,” said Mr. Smith. “If you’re very good you shall see ‘ow I do it.”
Still the steward made no move. “I thought you brought the stuff with you,” he remarked.
Mr. Smith looked at him with mild reproach. “Are you managing this affair or am I?” he inquired.
The steward went out reluctantly, and drawing a quart mug of beer set it down on the table and stood watching his visitor.
“And now I want a spoonful o’ sugar, a spoonful o’ salt, and a spoonful o’ vinegar,” said Mr. Smith. “Make haste afore the ‘ead goes off of it.”
Mr. Wilks withdrew grumbling, and came back in a wonderfully short space of time considering, with the articles required.
“Thankee,” said the other; “you ‘ave been quick. I wish I could move as quick as you do. But you can take ’em back now, I find I can do without ’em.”
“Where’s the beer?” demanded the incensed Mr. Wilks; where’s the beer, you underhanded swab?”
“I altered my mind,” said Mr. Smith, “and not liking waste, and seeing by your manner that you’ve ‘ad more than enough already to-night, I drunk it. There isn’t another man in Sunwich I could ha’ played that trick on, no, nor a boy neither.”
Mr. Wilks was about to speak, but, thinking better of it, threw the three spoons in the kitchen, and resuming his seat by the fire sat with his back half turned to his visitor.
“Bright, cheerful young chap, ‘e is,” said Mr. Smith; “you’ve knowed ‘im ever since he was a baby, haven’t you?”
Mr. Wilks made no reply.
“The Conqueror’s sailing to-morrow morning, too,” continued his tormentor; “his father’s old ship. ‘Ow strange it’ll seem to ‘im following it out aboard a whaler. Life is full o’ surprises, Mr. Wilks, and wot a big surprise it would be to you if you could ‘ear wot he says about you when he comes to ‘is senses.”
“I’m obeying orders,” growled the other.
“Quite right,” said Mr. Smith, approvingly, as he drew a bottle of whisky from his bag and placed it on the table. “Two glasses and there we are. We don’t want any salt and vinegar this time.”
Mr. Wilks turned a deaf ear. “But ‘ow are you going to manage so as to make one silly and not the other?” he inquired.
“It’s a trade secret,” said the other; “but I don’t mind telling you I sent the cap’n something to take afore he comes, and I shall be in your kitchen looking arter things.”
“I s’pose you know wot you’re about?” said Mr. Wilks, doubtfully.
“I s’pose so,” rejoined the other. “Young Nu-gent trusts you, and, of course, he’ll take anything from your ‘ouse. That’s the beauty of ‘aving a character, Mr. Wilks; a good character and a face like a baby with grey whiskers.”
Mr. Wilks bent down and, taking up a small brush, carefully tidied up the hearth.
“Like as not, if my part in it gets to be known,” pursued Mr. Smith, mournfully, “I’ll ‘ave that gal of Kybird’s scratching my eyes out or p’r’aps sticking a hat-pin into me. I had that once; the longest hat-pin that ever was made, I should think.”
He shook his head over the perils of his calling, and then, after another glance at the clock, withdrew to the kitchen with his bag, leaving Mr. Wilks waiting in a state of intense nervousness for the arrival of the others.
Captain Nugent was the first to put in an appearance, and by way of setting a good example poured a little of the whisky in his glass and sat there waiting. Then Jack Nugent came in, fresh and glowing, and Mr. Wilks, after standing about helplessly for a few moments, obeyed the captain’s significant nod and joined Mr. Smith in the kitchen.
“You’d better go for a walk,” said that gentle-man, regarding him kindly; “that’s wot the cap’n thought.”
Mr. Wilks acquiesced eagerly, and tapping at the door passed through the room again into the street. A glance as he went through showed him that Jack Nugent was drinking, and he set off in a panic to get away from the scene which he had contrived.
He slackened after a time and began to pace the streets at a rate which was less noticeable. As he passed the Kybirds’ he shivered, and it was not until he had consumed a pint or two of the strongest brew procurable at the Two Schooners that he began to regain some of his old self-esteem. He felt almost maudlin at the sacrifice of character he was enduring for the sake of his old master, and the fact that he could not narrate it to sympathetic friends was not the least of his troubles.
The shops had closed by the time he got into the street again, and he walked down and watched with much solemnity the reflection of the quay lamps in the dark water of the harbour. The air was keen and the various craft distinct in the starlight. Perfect quiet reigned aboard the Seabird, and after a vain attempt to screw up his courage to see the victim taken aboard he gave it up and walked back along the beach.
By the time he turned his steps homewards it was nearly eleven o’clock. Fullalove Alley was quiet, and after listening for some time at his window he turned the handle of the door and passed in. The nearly empty bottle stood on the table, and an over-turned tumbler accounted for a large, dark patch on the table-cloth. As he entered the room the kitchen door opened and Mr. Nathan Smith, with a broad smile on his face, stepped briskly in.
“All over,” he said, rubbing his hands; “he went off like a lamb, no trouble nor fighting. He was a example to all of us.”
“Did the cap’n see ‘im aboard?” inquired Mr. Wilks.
“Certainly not,” said the other. “As a matter o’ fact the cap’n took a little more than I told ‘im to take, and I ‘ad to help ‘im up to your bed. Accidents will ‘appen, but he’ll be all right in the morning if nobody goes near ‘im. Leave ‘im perfectly quiet, and when ‘e comes downstairs give ‘im a strong cup o’ tea.”
“In my bed?” repeated the staring Mr. Wilks.
“He’s as right as rain,” said the boarding master. “I brought down a pillow and blankets for you and put ’em in the kitchen. And now I’ll take the other two pound ten and be getting off ‘ome. It ought to be ten pounds
really with the trouble I’ve ‘ad.”
Mr. Wilks laid the desired amount on the table, and Mr. Nathan Smith placing it in his pocket rose to go.
“Don’t disturb ‘im till he’s ‘ad ‘is sleep out, mind,” he said, pausing at the door, “else I can’t answer for the consequences. If ‘e should get up in the night and come down raving mad, try and soothe ‘im. Good-night and pleasant dreams.”
He closed the door after him quietly, and the horrified steward, after fetching the bed-clothes on tiptoe from the kitchen, locked the door which led to the staircase, and after making up a bed on the floor lay down in his clothes and tried to get to sleep.
He dozed off at last, but woke up several times during the night with the cold. The lamp burnt itself out, and in the dark he listened intently for any sounds of life in the room above. Then he fell asleep again, until at about half-past seven in the morning a loud crash overhead awoke him with a start.
In a moment he was sitting up with every faculty on the alert. Footsteps blundered about in the room above, and a large and rapidly widening patch of damp showed on the ceiling. It was evident that the sleeper, in his haste to quench an abnormal thirst, had broken the water jug.
Mr. Wilks, shivering with dread, sprang to his feet and stood irresolute. Judging by the noise, the captain was evidently in a fine temper, and Mr. Smith’s remarks about insanity occurred to him with redoubled interest. Then he heard a hoarse shout, the latch of the bedroom door clicked, and the prisoner stumbled heavily downstairs and began to fumble at the handle of the door at the bottom. Trembling with excitement Mr. Wilks dashed forward and turned the key, and then retreating to the street door prepared for instant flight.
He opened the door so suddenly that the man on the other side, with a sudden cry, fell on all fours into the room, and raising his face stared stupidly at the steward. Mr. Wilks’s hands dropped to his sides and his tongue refused its office, for in some strange fashion, quite in keeping with the lawless proceedings of the previous night, Captain Nugent had changed into a most excellent likeness of his own son.
Works of W. W. Jacobs Page 30
