Night Watches

by W. W. Jacobs

  I'm the happiest man in the world," said Mr. Farrer, in accents ofdreamy tenderness.

  Miss Ward sighed. "Wait till father comes in," she said.

  Mr. Farrer peered through the plants which formed a welcome screen tothe window and listened with some uneasiness. He was waiting for thefirm, springy step that should herald the approach of ex-Sergeant-MajorWard. A squeeze of Miss Ward's hand renewed his courage.

  "Perhaps I had better light the lamp," said the girl, after a longpause. "I wonder where mother's got to?"

  "She's on my side, at any rate," said Mr. Farrer.

  "Poor mother!" said the girl. "She daren't call her soul her own. Iexpect she's sitting in her bedroom with the door shut. She hatesunpleasantness. And there's sure to be some."

  "So do I," said the young man, with a slight shiver. "But why shouldthere be any? He doesn't want you to keep single all your life, doeshe?"

  "He'd like me to marry a soldier," said Miss Ward. "He says that theyoung men of the present day are too soft. The only thing he thinksabout is courage and strength."

  She rose and, placing the lamp on the table, removed the chimney, andthen sought round the room for the matches. Mr. Farrer, who had twoboxes in his pocket, helped her.

  They found a box at last on the mantelpiece, and Mr. Farrer steadied herby placing one arm round her waist while she lit the lamp. A suddenexclamation from outside reminded them that the blind was not yet drawn,and they sprang apart in dismay as a grizzled and upright old warriorburst into the room and confronted them.

  "Pull that blind down!" he roared. "Not you," he continued, as Mr.Farrer hastened to help. "What do you mean by touching my blind? What doyou mean by embracing my daughter? Eh? Why don't you answer?"

  "We--we are going to be married," said Mr. Farrer, trying to speakboldly.

  The sergeant-major drew himself up, and the young man gazed in dismay ata chest which seemed as though it would never cease expanding.

  "Married!" exclaimed the sergeant-major, with a grim laugh. "Married toa little tame bunny-rabbit! Not if I know it. Where's your mother?" hedemanded, turning to the girl.

  "Upstairs," was the reply.

  Her father raised his voice, and a nervous reply came from above. Aminute later Mrs. Ward, pale of cheek, entered the room.

  "Here's fine goings-on!" said the sergeant major, sharply. "I go for alittle walk, and when I come back this--this infernal cockroach has gotits arm round my daughter's waist. Why don't you look after her? Do youknow anything about it?"

  His wife shook her head.

  "Five feet four and about thirty round the chest, and wants to marry mydaughter!" said the sergeant-major, with a sneer. "Eh? What's that? Whatdid you say? What?"

  "I said that's a pretty good size for a cockroach," murmured Mr. Farrer,defiantly. "Besides, size isn't everything. If it was, you'd be ageneral instead of only a sergeant-major."

  "You get out of my house," said the other, as soon as he could get hisbreath. "Go on Sharp with it."

  "I'm going," said the mortified Mr. Farrer. "I'm sorry if I was rude. Icame on purpose to see you to-night. Bertha--Miss Ward, I mean--told meyour ideas, but I couldn't believe her. I said you'd got more commonsense than to object to a man just because he wasn't a soldier."

  "I want a man for a son-in-law," said the other. "I don't say he's gotto be a soldier."

  "Just so," said Mr. Farrer. "You're a man, ain't you? Well, I'll doanything that you'll do."

  "Pph!" said the sergeant-major. "I've done my little lot. I've been inaction four times, and wounded in three places. That's my tally."

  "The colonel said once that my husband doesn't know what fear is," saidMrs. Ward, timidly. "He's afraid of nothing."

  "Except ghosts," remarked her daughter, softly.

  "Hold your tongue, miss," said her father, twisting his moustache. "Nosensible man is afraid of what doesn't exist."

  "A lot of people believe they do, though," said Mr. Farrer, breaking in."I heard the other night that old Smith's ghost has been seen againswinging from the apple tree. Three people have seen it."

  "Rubbish!" said the sergeant-major.

  "Maybe," said the young man; "but I'll bet you, Mr. Ward, for all yourcourage, that you won't go up there alone at twelve o'clock one night tosee."

  "I thought I ordered you out of my house just now," said thesergeant-major, glaring at him.

  "Going into action," said Mr. Farrer, pausing at the door, "is one thing--you have to obey orders and you can't help yourself; but going to alonely cottage two miles off to see the ghost of a man that hangedhimself is another."

  "Do you mean to say I'm afraid?" blustered the other.

  Mr. Farrer shook his head. "I don't say anything," he remarked; "buteven a cockroach does a bit of thinking sometimes."

  "Perhaps you'd like to go," said the sergeant-major.

  "I don't mind," said the young man; "and perhaps you'll think a littlebetter of me, Mr. Ward. If I do what you're afraid to do--"

  Mrs. Ward and her daughter flung themselves hastily between thesergeant-major and his intended sacrifice. Mr. Farrer, pale butdetermined, stood his ground.

  "I'll dare you to go up and spend a night there alone," he said.

  "I'll dare you," said the incensed warrior, weakly.

  "All right; I'll spend Wednesday night there," said Mr. Farrer, "andI'll come round on Thursday and let you know how I got on."

  "I dare say," said the other; "but I don't want you here, and, what'smore, I won't have you. You can go to Smith's cottage on Wednesday attwelve o'clock if you like, and I'll go up any time between twelve andthree and make sure you're there. D'ye understand? I'll show you whetherI'm afraid or not."

  "There's no reason for you to be afraid," said Mr. Farrer. "I shall bethere to protect you. That's very different to being there alone, as Ishall be. But, of course, you can go up the next night by yourself, andwait for me, if you like. If you like to prove your courage, I mean."

  "When I want to be ordered about," said the sergeant-major, in amagnificent voice, "I'll let you know. Now go, before I do anything Imight be sorry for afterwards."

  He stood at the door, erect as a ramrod, and watched the young man upthe road. His conversation at the supper-table that night related almostentirely to puppy-dogs and the best way of training them.

  He kept a close eye upon his daughter for the next day or two, but humannature has its limits. He tried to sleep one afternoon in his easy-chairwith one eye open, but the exquisite silence maintained by Miss Ward wastoo much for it. A hum of perfect content arose from the feature below,and five minutes later Miss Ward was speeding in search of Mr. Farrer.

  "I had to come, Ted," she said, breathlessly, "because to-morrow'sWednesday. I've got something to tell you, but I don't know whether Iought to."

  "Tell me and let me decide," said Mr. Farrer, tenderly.

  "I--I'm so afraid you might be frightened," said the girl. "I won't tellyou, but I'll give you a hint. If you see anything awful, don't befrightened."

  Mr. Farrer stroked her hand. "The only thing I'm afraid of is yourfather," he said, softly.

  "Oh!" said the girl, clasping her hands together. "You have guessed it."

  "Guessed it?" said Mr. Farrer.

  Miss Ward nodded. "I happened to pass his door this morning," she said,in a low voice. "It was open a little way, and he was standing up andmeasuring one of mother's nightgowns against his chest. I couldn't thinkwhat he was doing it for at first."

  Mr. Farrer whistled and his face hardened.

  "That's not fair play," he said at last. "All right; I'll be ready forhim."

  "He doesn't like to be put in the wrong," said Miss Ward. "He wants toprove that you haven't got any courage. He'd be disappointed if he foundyou had."

  "All right," said Mr. Farrer again. "You're an angel for coming to tellme."

  "Father would call me something else, I expect," said Miss Ward, with asmile. "Good-bye. I want to get back before he wakes up."

>   She was back in her chair, listening to her father's slumbers, half anhour before he awoke.

  "I'm making up for to-morrow night," he said, opening his eyes suddenly.

  His daughter nodded.

  "Shows strength of will," continued the sergeant-major, amiably."Wellington could go to sleep at any time by just willing it. I'm thesame way; I can go to sleep at five minutes' notice."

  "It's a very useful gift," said Miss Ward, piously, "very."

  Mr. Ward had two naps the next day. He awoke from the second attwelve-thirty a.m., and in a somewhat disagreeable frame of mind roseand stretched himself. The house was very still. He took a smallbrown-paper parcel from behind the sofa and, extinguishing the lamp, puton his cap and opened the front door.

  If the house was quiet, the little street seemed dead. He closed thedoor softly and stepped into the darkness. In terms which would havebeen understood by "our army in Flanders" he execrated the forefathers,the name, and the upbringing of Mr. Edward Farrer.

  Not a soul in the streets; not a light in a window. He left the littletown behind, passed the last isolated house on the road, and walked intothe greater blackness of a road between tall hedges. He had put oncanvas shoes with rubber soles, for the better surprise of Mr. Farrer,and his own progress seemed to partake of a ghostly nature. Every ghoststory he had ever heard or read crowded into his memory. For the firsttime in his experience even the idea of the company of Mr. Farrer seemedbetter than no company at all.

  The night was so dark that he nearly missed the turning that led to thecottage. For the first few yards he had almost to feel his way; then,with a greater yearning than ever for the society of Mr. Farrer, hestraightened his back and marched swiftly and noiselessly towards thecottage.

  It was a small, tumble-down place, set well back in an overgrown garden.The sergeant-major came to a halt just before reaching the gate, and,hidden by the hedge, unfastened his parcel and shook out his wife's bestnightgown.

  He got it over his head with some difficulty, and, with his arms in thesleeves, tried in vain to get his big hands through the small,lace-trimmed wristbands. Despite his utmost efforts he could only gettwo or three fingers through, and after a vain search for his cap, whichhad fallen off in the struggle, he made his way to the gate and stoodthere waiting. It was at this moment that the thought occurred to himthat Mr. Farrer might have failed to keep the appointment.

  His knees trembled slightly and he listened anxiously for any sound fromthe house. He rattled the gate and, standing with white armsoutstretched, waited. Nothing happened. He shook it again, and then,pulling himself together, opened it and slipped into the garden. As hedid so a large bough which lay in the centre of the footpaththoughtfully drew on one side to let him pass.

  Mr. Ward stopped suddenly and, with his gaze fixed on the bough, watchedit glide over the grass until it was swallowed up in the darkness. Hisown ideas of frightening Mr. Farrer were forgotten, and in a dry,choking voice he called loudly upon the name of that gentleman.

  He called two or three times, with no response, and then, in a state ofpanic, backed slowly towards the gate with his eyes fixed on the house.A loud crash sounded from somewhere inside, the door was flung violentlyopen, and a gruesome figure in white hopped out and squatted on thestep.

  It was evident to Sergeant-Major Ward that Mr. Farrer was not there, andthat no useful purpose could be served by remaining. It was clear thatthe young man's courage had failed him, and, with grey head erect,elbows working like the sails of a windmill, and the ends of thenightgown streaming behind him, the sergeant-major bent his stepstowards home.

  He dropped into a walk after a time and looked carefully over hisshoulder. So far as he could see he was alone, but the silence andloneliness were oppressive. He looked again, and, without stopping toinquire whether his eyes had deceived him, broke into a run again.Alternately walking and running, he got back to the town, and walkedswiftly along the streets to his house. Police-Constable Burgess, whowas approaching from the other direction, reached it at almost the samemoment, and, turning on his lantern, stood gaping with astonishment."Anything wrong?" he demanded.

  "Wrong?" panted the sergeant-major, trying to put a little surprise anddignity into his voice. "No."

  "I thought it was a lady walking in her sleep at first," said theconstable. "A tall lady."

  The sergeant-major suddenly became conscious of the nightgown. "I'vebeen--for a little walk," he said, still breathing hard. "I felt a bitchilly--so I--put this on."

  "Suits you, too," said the constable, stiffly. "But you Army men alwayswas a bit dressy. Now if I put that on I should look ridikerlous."

  The door opened before Mr. Ward could reply, and revealed, in the lightof a bedroom candle, the astonished countenances of his wife anddaughter.

  "George!" exclaimed Mrs. Ward.

  "Father!" said Miss Ward.

  The sergeant-major tottered in and, gaining the front room, flunghimself into his arm-chair. A stiff glass of whisky and water, handedhim by his daughter, was swallowed at a gulp.

  "Did you go?" inquired Mrs. Ward, clasping her hands.

  The sergeant-major, fully conscious of the suspicions aroused by hisdisordered appearance, rallied his faculties. "Not likely," he said,with a short laugh. "After I got outside I knew it was no good goingthere to look for that young snippet. He'd no more think of going therethan he would of flying. I walked a little way down the road--forexercise--and then strolled back."

  "But--my nightgown?" said the wondering Mrs. Ward.

  "Put it on to frighten the constable," said her husband.

  He stood up and allowed her to help him pull it off. His face wasflushed and his hair tousled, but the bright fierceness of his eye wasunquenched. In submissive silence she followed him to bed.

  He was up late next morning, and made but a poor breakfast. Hisafter-dinner nap was disturbed, and tea was over before he had regainedhis wonted calm. An hour later the arrival of a dignified andreproachful Mr. Farrer set him blazing again.

  "I have come to see you about last night," said Mr. Farrer, before theother could speak. "A joke's a joke, but when you said you would come Inaturally expected you would keep your word."

  "Keep my word?" repeated the sergeant-major, almost choking with wrath.

  "I stayed there in that lonely cottage from twelve to three, as peragreement, waiting for you," said Mr. Farrer.

  "You were not there," shouted the sergeant-major.

  "How do you know?" inquired the other.

  The sergeant-major looked round helplessly at his wife and daughter.

  "Prove it," said Mr. Farrer, pushing his advantage. "You questioned mycourage, and I stayed there three hours. Where were you?"

  "You were not there," said the sergeant-major. "I know. You can't bluffme. You were afraid."

  "I was there, and I'll swear it," said Mr. Farrer. "Still, there's noharm done. I'll go there again to-night, and I'll dare you to come forme?"

  "Dare?" said the sergeant-major, choking. "Dare?"

  "Dare," repeated the other; "and if you don't come this time I'll spreadit all over Marcham. To-morrow night you can go there and wait for me.If you see what I saw--"

  "Oh, Ted!" said Miss Ward, with a shiver. "Saw?" said thesergeant-major, starting. "Nothing harmful," said Mr. Farrer, calmly.

  "As a matter of fact, it was very interesting."

  "What was?" demanded the sergeant-major.

  "It sounds rather silly, as a matter of fact," said Mr. Farrer, slowly."Still, I did see a broken bough moving about the garden."

  Mr. Ward regarded him open-mouthed.

  "Anything else?" he inquired, in a husky voice.

  "A figure in white," said Mr. Farrer, "with long waving arms, hoppingabout like a frog. I don't suppose you believe me, but if you cometo-night perhaps you'll see it yourself. It's very interesting.

  "Wer--weren't you frightened?" inquired the staring Mrs. Ward.

  Mr. Farrer shook his head. "It would take more t
han that to frightenme," he said, simply. "I should be ashamed of myself to be afraid of apoor thing like that. It couldn't do me any harm."

  "Did you see its face?" inquired Mrs. Ward, nervously.

  Mr. Farrer shook his head.

  "What sort of a body had it got?" said her daughter.

  "So far as I could see, very good," said Mr. Farrer. "Very good figure--not tall, but well made."

  An incredible suspicion that had been forming in the sergeant-major'smind began to take shape. "Did you see anything else?" he asked,sharply.

  "One more," said Mr. Farrer, regarding him pleasantly. "One I call theRunning Ghost."

  "Run--" began the sergeant-major, and stopped suddenly.

  "It came in at the front gate," pursued Mr. Farrer. "A tall, well-knitfigure of martial bearing--much about your height, Mr. Ward--with abeautiful filmy white robe down to its knees--"

  He broke off in mild surprise, and stood gazing at Miss Ward, who, withher handkerchief to her mouth, was rocking helplessly in her chair.

  "Knees," he repeated, quietly. "It came slowly down the path, and halfway to the house it stopped, and in a frightened sort of voice calledout my name. I was surprised, naturally, but before I could get toit--to reassure it--"

  "That'll do," said the sergeant-major, rising hastily and drawinghimself up to his full height.

  "You asked me," said Mr. Farrer, in an aggrieved voice.

  "I know I did," said the sergeant-major, breathing heavily. "I know Idid; but if I sit here listening to any more of your lies I shall beill. The best thing you can do is to take that giggling girl out andgive her a breath of fresh air. I have done with her."

  EASY MONEY