Captain Barber, smiling at the politeness of his housekeeper, was alarmed and perplexed at the generous colour which suddenly filled the old ladys cheeks.
Mrs. Banks made it herself, he said, shes very clever at that sort of thing.
There, do you know I guessed as much, said Mrs. Church, beaming; directly I saw it, I said to myself: That was never made by a milliner. Theres too much taste in the way the flowers are arranged.
Mrs. Banks looked at her daughter, in a mute appeal for help.
Ill take yours up, too, shall I? said the amiable housekeeper, as Mrs. Banks, with an air of defying criticism, drew a cap from a paper-bag and put it on.
Ill take mine myself, please, said Miss Banks, with coldness.
Oh, well, you may as well take them all then, said Mrs. Church, putting the mothers bonnet and shawl in her arms. Ill go and see that the kettle boils, she said, briskly.
She returned a minute or two later with the teapot, and setting chairs, took the head of the table.
And hows the leg? enquired Captain Barber, misinterpreting Mrs. Banks screwed-up face.
Which one? asked Mrs. Banks, shortly.
The bad un, said the captain.
Theyre both bad, said Mrs. Banks more shortly than before, as she noticed that Mrs. Church had got real lace in her cuffs and was pouring out the tea in full consciousness of the fact.
Dear, dear, said the Captain sympathetically.
Swollen? enquired Mrs. Church, anxiously.
Swelled right out of shape, exclaimed Captain Barber, impressively; like pillars almost they are.
Poor thing, said Mrs. Church, in a voice which made Mrs. Banks itch to slap her. I knew a lady once just the same, but she was a drinking woman.
Again Mrs. Banks at a loss for words, looked at her daughter for assistance.
Dear me, how dreadful it must be to know such people, said Mrs. Banks, shivering.
Yes, sighed the other. It used to make me feel sorry for herthey were utterly shapeless, you know. Horrid!
Thats how Mrs. Banks are, said the Captain, nodding sagely. You look ot, Mrs. Banks. Shall I open the winder a bit?
Ill thank you not to talk about me like that, Captain Barber, said Mrs. Banks, the flowers on her hat trembling.
As you please, maam, said Captain Barber, with a stateliness which deserved a better subject. I was only repeating what Dr. Hodder told me in your presence.
Mrs. Banks made no reply, but created a diversion by passing her cup up for more tea; her feelings, when Mrs. Church took off the lid of the teapot and poured in about a pint of water before helping her, belonging to that kind known as in-describable.
Water bewitched, and tea begrudged, she said, trying to speak jocularly.
Well, the fourth cup never is very good, is it, said Mrs. Church, apologetically. Ill put some more tea in, so that your next cupll be better.
As a matter of fact it was Mrs. Banks third cup, and she said so, Mrs. Church receiving the correction with a polite smile, more than tinged with incredulity.
Its wonderful what a lot of tea is drunk, said Captain Barber, impressively, looking round the table.
Ive heard say its like spirit drinking, said Mrs. Church; they say it gets such a hold of people that they cant give it up. Theyre just slaves to it, and they like it brown and strong like brandy.
Mrs. Banks, who had been making noble efforts, could contain herself no longer. She put down the harmless beverage which had just been handed to her, and pushed her chair back from the table.
Are you speaking of me, young woman? she asked, tremulous with indignation.
Oh, no, certainly not, said Mrs. Church, in great distress. I never thought of such a thing. I was alluding to the people Captain Barber was talking ofregular tea-drinkers, you know.
I know what you mean, maam, said Mrs. Banks fiercely.
There, there, said Captain Barber, ill-advisedly.
Dont you say there, there, to me, Captain Barber, because I wont have it, said the old lady, speaking with great rapidity; if you think that Im going to sit here and be insulted byby that woman, youre mistaken.
Youre quite mistook, Mrs. Banks, said the Captain, slowly. Ive heard everything she said, and, where the insult comes in, Im sure I dont know. I dont think Im wanting in common sense, maam.
He patted the housekeepers hand kindly, and, in full view of the indignant Mrs. Banks, she squeezed his in return and gazed at him affectionately. There is nothing humourous to the ordinary person in a teacup, but Mrs. Banks, looking straight into hers, broke into a short, derisive laugh.
Anything the matter, maam? enquired Captain Barber, regarding her somewhat severely.
Mrs. Banks shook her head. Only thoughts, she said, mysteriously.
It is difficult for a man to object to his visitors finding amusement in their thoughts, or even to enquire too closely into the nature of them. Mrs. Banks, apparently realising this, laughed again with increased acridity, and finally became so very amused that she shook in her chair.
Im glad youre enjoying yourself, maam, said Captain Barber, loftily.
With a view, perhaps, of giving his guest further amusement he patted the housekeepers hand again, whereupon Mrs. Banks laughter ceased, and she sat regarding Mrs. Church with a petrified stare, met by that lady with a glance of haughty disdain.
Spose we go into the garden a bit? suggested Barber, uneasily. The two ladies had eyed each other for three minutes without blinking, and his own eyes were watering in sympathy.
Mrs. Banks, secretly glad of the interruption, made one or two vague remarks about going home, but after much persuasion, allowed him to lead her into the garden, the solemn Elizabeth bringing up in the rear with a hassock and a couple of cushions.
Its a new thing for you having a housekeeper, observed Mrs. Banks, after her daughter had returned to the house to assist in washing up.
Yes, I wonder I never thought of it before, said the artful Barber; you wouldnt believe how comfortable it is.
I daresay, said Mrs. Banks, grimly.
Its nice to have a woman about the house, continued Captain Barber, slowly, it makes it more homelike. A slip of a servant-gal aint no good at all.
How does Fred like it? enquired Mrs. Banks.
My ideas are Freds ideas, said Uncle Barber, somewhat sharply. What I like he has to like, naturally.
I was thinking of my darter, said Mrs. Banks, smoothing down her apron majestically. The arrangement was, I think, that when they were, married they was to live with you?
Captain Barber nodded acquiescence.
Elizabeth would never live in a house with that woman, or any other woman, as housekeeper in it, said the mother.
Well, she wont have to, said the old man; when they marry and Elizabeth comes here, I shant want a housekeeperI shall get rid of her.
Mrs. Banks shifted in her chair, and gazed thoughtfully down the garden. Of course my idea was for them to wait till I was gone, she said at length.
Just so, replied the other, and mores the pity.
But Elizabeths getting on and I dont seem to go, continued the old lady, as though mildly surprised at Providence for its unaccountable delay; and theres Fred, he aint getting younger.
Captain Barber puffed at his pipe. None of us are, he said profoundly.
And Fred might get tired of waiting, said Mrs. Banks, ruminating.
Hed better let me hear him, said the uncle, fiercely; leastways, o course, hes tired o waiting in a sense. Hed like to be married.
Theres young Gibson, said Mrs. Banks in a thrilling whisper.
What about him? enquired Barber, surprised at her manner.
Comes round after Elizabeth, said Mrs. Banks.
No! said Captain Barber, blankly.
Mrs. Banks pursed up her lips and nodded darkly.
Pretends to come and see me, said Mrs. Banks; always coming in bringing something new for my legs. The worst of it is he aint always careful what he brings. He brought some new-fangled stuff in a bottle last week, and the agonies I suffered after rubbing it in wouldnt be believed.
Its like his impudence, said the Captain.
Ive been thinking, said Mrs. Banks, nodding her head with some animation, of giving Fred a little surprise. What do you think hed do if I said they might marry this autumn?
Jump out of his skin with joy, said Captain Barber, with conviction. Mrs. Banks, the pleasure youve given me this day is more than I can say.
And theyll live with you just the same? said Mrs. Banks.
Certainly, said the Captain.
Theyll only be a few doors off then, said Mrs. Banks, and itll be nice for you to have a woman in the house to look after you.
Captain. Barber nodded softly. Its what Ive been wanting for years, he said, heartily.
And that husshusskeeper, said Mrs. Banks, correcting herselfwill go?
O course, said Captain Barber. I shant want no housekeeper with my nevys wife in the house. Youve told Elizabeth, I spose?
Not yet, said Mrs. Banks, who as a matter of fact had been influenced by the proceedings of that afternoon to bring to a head a step she had hitherto only vaguely contemplated.
Elizabeth, who came down the garden again, a little later, accompanied by Mrs. Church, received the news stolidly. A feeling of regret, that the attention of the devoted Gibson must now cease, certainly occurred to her, but she never thought of contesting the arrangements made for her, and accepted the situation with a placidity which the more ardent Barber was utterly unable to understand.
Fredll stand on his.ed with joy, the unsophisticated mariner declared, with enthusiasm.
Hell go singing about the house, declared Mrs. Church.
Mrs. Banks regarded her unfavourably.
Hes never said much, continued Uncle Barber, in an exalted strain; that aint Freds way. He takes arter me; hes one o the quiet ones, one o the still deep waters what always feels the most. When I tell im his facell just light up with joy.
Itll be nice for you, too, said Mrs. Banks, with a side glance at the housekeeper; youll have somebody to look after you and take an interest in you, and strangers cant be expected to do that even if theyre nice.
We shall have him standing on his head, too, said Mrs. Church, with a bright smile; youre turning everything upside down, Mrs. Banks.
Theres things as wants altering, said the old lady, with emphasis. Theres few things as I dont see, maam.
I hope youll live to see a lot more, said Mrs. Church, piously.
Shell live to be ninety, said Captain Barber, heartily.
Oh, easily, said Mrs. Church.
Captain Barber regarding his old friend saw her face suffused with a wrath for which he was utterly unable to account. With a hazy idea that something had passed which he had not heard, he caused a diversion by sending Mrs. Church indoors for a pack of cards, and solemnly celebrated the occasion with a game of whist, at which Mrs. Church, in partnership with Mrs. Banks, either through sheer wilfulness or absence of mind, contrived to lose every game.
CHAPTER VI
As a result of the mates ill-behaviour at the theatre, Captain Fred Flower treated him with an air of chilly disdain, ignoring, as far as circumstances would permit, the fact that such a person existed. So far as the social side went the mate made no demur, but it was a different matter when the skipper acted as though he were not present at the breakfast table, and being chary of interfering with the others self-imposed vow of silence, he rescued a couple of rashers from his plate and put them on his own. Also, in order to put matters on a more equal footing, he drank three cups of coffee in rapid succession, leaving the skipper to his own reflections and an empty coffee-pot. In this sociable fashion they got through most of the day, the skipper refraining from speech until late in the afternoon, when, both being at work in the hold, the mate let a heavy case fall on his foot.
I thought youd get it, he said, calmly, as Flower paused to take breath; it wasnt my fault.
Whose was it, then? roared Flower, who had got his boot off and was trying various tender experiments with his toe to see whether it was broken or not.
If you hadnt been holding your head in the air and pretending that I wasnt here, it wouldnt have happened, said Fraser, with some heat.
The skipper turned his back on him, and meeting a look of enquiring solicitude from Joe, applied to him for advice.
What had I better do with it? he asked.
Well, if it was my toe, sir, said Joe regarding it respectfully, I should stick it in a basin o boiling water and keep it there as long as I could bear it.
Youre a fool, said the skipper, briefly. What do you think of it, Ben? I dont think its broken.
The old seaman scratched his head. Well, if it belonged to me, he said, slowly, theres some ointment down the focsle which the cook ad for sore eyes. I should just put some o that on. It looks good stuff.
The skipper, summarising the chief points in Bens character, which, owing principally to the poverty of the English language, bore a remarkable likeness to Joes and the mates, took his sock and boot in his hand, and gaining the deck limped painfully to the cabin.
The foot was so painful after tea that he could hardly bear his slipper on, and he went ashore in his working clothes to the chemists, preparatory to fitting himself out for Liston Street. The chemist, leaning over the counter, was inclined to take a serious view of it, and shaking his head with much solemnity, prepared a bottle of medicine, a bottle of lotion and a box of ointment.
Let me see it again as soon as youve finished the medicine, he said, as he handed the articles over the counter.
Flower promised, and hobbling towards the door turned into the street. Then the amiable air which he had worn in the shop gave way to one of unseemly hauteur as he saw Fraser hurrying towards him.
Look out, cried the latter, warningly.
The skipper favoured him with a baleful stare.
All right, said the mate, angrily, go your own way, then. Dont come to me when you get into trouble, thats all.
Flower passed on his way in silence. Then a thought struck him and he stopped suddenly.
You wish to speak to me? he asked, stiffly.
No, Im damned if I do, said the mate, sticking his hands into his pockets.
If you wish to speak to me, said the other, trying in vain to conceal a trace of anxiety in his voice, its my duty to listen. What were you going to say just now?