I cant find it, he said at length, addressing himself to the bedroom window.
No. I was coming down to tell you, said Miss Boom, glancing sedately at him from over the geraniums. I remember seeing father take it out with him this morning.
Tarrell affected a clumsy surprise. It doesnt matter, he said. How nice your geraniums are.
Yes, theyre all right, said Miss Boom briefly.
I cant think how you keep em so nice, said Tarrell.
Well, dont try, said Miss Boom kindly. Youd better go back and tell father about the pouch. Perhaps hes waiting for a smoke all this time.
Theres no hurry, said the young man; perhaps hes found it.
Well, I cant stop to talk, said the girl; Im busy reading.
With these heartless words she withdrew into the room, and the discomfited swain, only too conscious of the sorry figure he cut, went slowly back to the harbour, to be met by Mr. Boom with a wink of aggravating and portentous dimensions.
Youve took a long time, he said slyly. Theres nothing like a little scheming in these things.
It didnt lead to much, said the discomfited Tarrell.
Dont be in a hurry, my lad, said the elder man, after listening to his experiences. Ive been thinking over this little affair for some time now, an I think Ive got a plan.
If its anything about baccy pouches began the young man ungratefully.
It aint, interrupted Mr. Boom, its quite diffrent Now, youd best get aboard your craft and do your duty. Theres more young men won girls arts while doing of ther duty thanthanif they wasnt doing their duty. Do you understand me?
It is inadvisable to quarrel with a prospective father-in-law, so that Tarrell said he did, and with a moody nod tumbled into his boat and put off to the smack. Mr. Boom having walked up and down a bit, and exchanged a few greetings, bent his steps in the direction of the Jolly Sailor, and, ordering two mugs of ale, set them down on a small bench opposite his old friend Raggett.
I see young Tarrell go off grumpy-like, said Raggett, drawing a mug towards him and gazing at the fast-receding boats.
Ay, well have to do what we talked about, said Boom slowly. Its opposition what that gal wants. She simply sits and mopes for the want of somebody to contradict her.
Well, why dont you do it? said Raggett. That aint much for a father to do surely.
I hev, said the other slowly, more than once. O course, when I insist upon a thing, its done; but a womans a delikit creeter, Raggett, and the last row we had she got that ill that she couldnt get up to get my breakfast ready, no, nor my dinner either. It made us both ill, that did.
Are you going to tell Tarrell? inquired Raggett.
No, said his friend. Like as not hed tell her just to curry favour with her. Im going to tell him hes not to come to the house no more. Thatll make her want him to come, if anything will. Now theres no use wasting time. You begin to-day.
I dont know what to say, murmured Raggett, nodding to him as he raised the beer to his lips.
Just go now and call inyou might take her a nosegay.
I wont do nothing so damned silly, said Raggett shortly.
Well, go without em, said Boom impatiently; just go and get yourselves talked about, thats allhave everybody making game of both of you, talking about a good-looking young girl being sweet-hearted by an old chap with one foot in the grave and a face like a dried herring. Thats what I want.
Mr. Raggett, who was just about to drink, put his mug down again and regarded his friend fixedly.
Might, I ask who youre alloodin to? he inquired somewhat shortly.
Mr. Boom, brought up in mid-career, shuffled a little and laughed uneasily. Them aint my words, old chap, he said; it was the way she was speaking of you the other day.
Well, I wont have nothin to do with it, said Raggett, rising.
Well, nobody neednt know anything about it, said Boom, pulling him down to his seat again. She wont tell, Im sureshe wouldnt like the disgrace of it.
Look here, said Raggett, getting up again.
I mean from her point of view, said Mr. Boom querulously; youre very asty, Raggett.
Well, I dont care about it, said Raggett slowly; it seemed all right when we was talking about it; but spose I have all my trouble for nothing, and she dont take Dick after all? What then?
Well, then theres no harm done, said his friend, and it ll be a bit o sport for both of us. You go up and start, an Ill have another pint of beer and a clean pipe waiting for you against you come back.
Sorely against his better sense Mr. Raggett rose and went off, grumbling. It was fatiguing work on a hot day, climbing the road up the cliff, but he took it quietly, and having gained the top, moved slowly towards the cottage.
Morning, Mr. Raggett, said Kate cheerily, as he entered the cottage. Dear, dear, the idea of an old man like you climbing about! Its wonderful.
Im sixty-seven, said Mr. Raggett viciously, and I feel as young as ever I did.
To be sure, said Kate soothingly; and look as young as ever you did. Come in and sit down a bit.
Mr. Raggett with some trepidation complied, and sitting in a very upright position, wondered how he should begin. I am just sixty-seven, he said slowly. Im not old and Im not young, but Im just old enough to begin to want somebody to look after me a bit.
I shouldnt while I could get about if I were you, said the innocent Kate. Why not wait until youre bed-ridden?
I dont mean that at all, said Mr. Raggett snappishly. I mean Im thinking of getting married.
Goodgracious! said Kate, open-mouthed.
I may have one foot in the grave, and resemble a dried herring in the face, pursued Mr. Raggett with bitter sarcasm, but
You cant help that, said Kate gently.
But Im going to get married, said Raggett savagely.
Well, dont get in a way about it, said the girl. Of course, if you want to, andandyou can find somebody else who wants to, theres no reason why you shouldnt! Have you told father about it?
I have, said Mr. Raggett, and he has given his consent.
He put such meaning into this remark, and so much more in the contortion of visage which accompanied it, that the girl stood regarding him in blank astonishment.
His consent? she said in a strange voice.
Mr. Raggett nodded.
I went to him first, he said, trying to speak confidently. Now Ive come to youI want you to marry me!
Dont you be a silly old man, Mr. Raggett, said Kate, recovering her composure. And as for my father, you go back and tell him I want to see him.
She drew aside and pointed to the door, and Mr. Raggett, thinking that he had done quite enough for one day, passed out and retraced his steps to the Jolly Sailor. Mr. Boom met him half-way, and having received his message, spent the rest of the morning in fortifying himself for the reception which awaited him.
It would be difficult to say which of the two young people was the more astonished at this sudden change of affairs. Miss Boom, pretending to think that her parents reason was affected, treated him accordingly, a state of affairs not without its drawbacks, as Mr. Boom found to his cost Tarrell, on the other hand, attributed it to greed, and being forbidden the house, spent all his time ashore on a stile nearly opposite, sullenly watching events.
It would be difficult to say which of the two young people was the more astonished at this sudden change of affairs. Miss Boom, pretending to think that her parents reason was affected, treated him accordingly, a state of affairs not without its drawbacks, as Mr. Boom found to his cost Tarrell, on the other hand, attributed it to greed, and being forbidden the house, spent all his time ashore on a stile nearly opposite, sullenly watching events.
For three weeks Mr. Raggett called daily, and after staying to tea, usually wound up the evening by formally proposing for Kates hand. Both conspirators were surprised and disappointed at the quietness with which Miss Boom received these attacks; Mr. Raggett meeting with a politeness which was a source of much wonder to both of them.
His courting came to an end suddenly. He paused one evening with his hand on the door, and having proposed in the usual manner, was going out, when Miss Boom called him back.
Sit down, Mr. Raggett, she said calmly. Mr. Raggett, wondering inwardly, resumed his seat.
You have asked me a good many times to marry you, said Kate.
I have, said Mr. Raggett, nodding.
And Im sure its very kind of you, continued the girl, and if Ive hurt your feelings by refusing you, it is only because I have thought perhaps I was not good enough for you.
In the silence which followed this unexpected and undeserved tribute to Mr. Raggetts worth, the two old men eyed each other in silent consternation.
Still, if youve made up your mind, continued the girl, I dont know that its for me to object. Youre not much to look at, but youve got the loveliest chest of drawers and the best furniture all round in Mastleigh. And I suppose youve got a little money?
Mr. Raggett shook his head, and in a broken voice was understood to say: A very little.
I dont want any fuss or anything of that kind, said Miss Boom calmly. No bridesmaids or anything of that sort; it wouldnt be suitable at your age.
Mr. Raggett withdrew his pipe and holding it an inch or two from his mouth, listened like one in a dream.
Just a few old friends, and a bit of cake, continued Miss Boom musingly. And instead of spending a lot of money in foolish waste, well have three weeks in London.
Mr. Raggett made a gurgling noise in his throat, and suddenly, remembering himself, pretended to think that it was something wrong with his pipe, and removing it blew noisily through the mouthpiece.
Perhaps, he said, in a trembling voiceperhaps youd better take a little longer to consider, my dear.
Kate shook her head. Ive quite made up my mind, she said, quite. And now I want to marry you just as much as you want to marry me. Good-night, father; good-nightGeorge.
Mr. Raggett started violently, and collapsed in his chair.
Raggett, said Mr. Boom huskily.
Dont talk to me, said the other, I cant bear it.
Mr. Boom, respecting his friends trouble, relapsed into silence again, and for a long time not a word was spoken.
My eds in a whirl, said Mr. Raggett at length.
It ud be a wonder if it wasnt, said Mr. Boom sympathetically.
To think, continued the other miserably, how Ive been let in for this. The plots an the plans and the artfulness whats been goin on round me, an Ive never seen it.
What dye mean? demanded Mr. Boom, with sudden violence.
I know what I mean, said Mr. Raggett darkly.
Praps youll tell me then, said the other.
Who thought of it first? demanded Mr. Raggett ferociously. Who came to me and asked me to court his slip of a girl?
Dont you be a old fool, said Mr. Boom heatedly. Its done now, and whats done cant be undone. I never thought to have a son-in-law seven or eight years older than what I am, and whats more, I dont want it.
Said I wasnt much to look at, but she liked my chest o drawers, repeated Raggett mechanically.
Dont ask me where she gets her natur from, cos I couldnt tell you, said the unhappy parent; she dont get it from me.
Mr. Raggett allowed this reflection upon the late Mrs. Boom to pass unnoticed, and taking his hat from the table fixed it firmly upon his head, and gazing with scornful indignation upon his host, stepped slowly out of the door without going through the formality of bidding him good-night.
George, said a voice from above him.
Mr. Raggett started, and glanced up at somebody leaning from the window.
Come in to tea to-morrow early, said the voice pressingly; good-night, dear.
Mr. Raggett turned and fled into the night, dimly conscious that a dark figure had detached itself from the stile opposite, and was walking beside him.
That you, Dick? he inquired nervously, after an oppressive silence.
Thats me, said Dick. I heard her call you dear. Mr. Raggett, his face suffused with blushes, hung his head.
Called you dear, repeated Dick; I heard her say it. Im going to pitch you in the harbour. Ill learn you to go courting a young girl. What are you stopping for?
Mr. Raggett delicately intimated that he was stopping because he preferred, all things considered, to be alone. Finding the young man, however, bent upon accompanying him, he divulged the plot of which he had been the victim, and bitterly lamented his share in it.
You dont want to marry her then? said the astonished Dick.
Course I dont, snarled Mr. Raggett; I cant afford it. Im too old; besides which, shell turn my little place topsy-turvy. Look here, Dick, I done this all for you. Now, its evident she only wants my furniture: if I give all the best of it to you, shell take you instead.
No, she wont, said Dick grimly; I wouldnt have her now, not if she asked me on her bended knee.
Why not? said Raggett.
I dont want to marry that sort o girl, said the other scornfully; its cured me.
What about me then? said the unfortunate Raggett.
Well, so far as I can see it serves you right for mixing in other peoples business, said Dick shortly. Well, good-night, and good luck to you.
To Mr. Raggetts sore disappointment he kept to his resolution, and being approached by Mr. Boom on his elderly friends behalf, was rudely frank to him.
Im a free man again, he said blithely, and I feel better than Ive felt for ever so long. More manly.
You ought to think of other people, said Mr. Boom severely; think of poor old Raggett.
Well, hes got a young wife out of it, said Dick. I daresay hell be happy enough. He wants somebody to help him spend his money.
In this happy frame of mind he resumed his ordinary life, and when he encountered his former idol, met her with a heartiness and unconcern which the lady regarded with secret disapproval. He was now so sure of himself that, despite a suspicion of ulterior design on the part of Mr. Boom, he even accepted an invitation to tea.
The presence of Mr. Raggett made it a slow and solemn function, Nobody with any feelings could eat with an appetite with that afflicted man at the table, and the meal passed almost in silence. Kate cleared the meal away, and the men sat at the open door with their pipes while she washed up in the kitchen.
Me an Raggett thought o stepping down to the Sailor, said Mr. Boom, after a third application of his friends elbow.