This last argument had more weight with Kate than the others, so, with a little sigh, she proceeded to open Ruths letter, while Jessie poured out a cup of cold tea, gazing pathetically the while at the pile of money which still lay glittering on the table.
Ruths letter contained two 5 pounds Bank of England notes, and ran as follows:
Dearest Jessie and Kate,I sent your screen to the institution for the sale of needlework, where it was greatly admired. One gentleman said it was quite a work of genius! a lady, who seemed to estimate genius more highly than the gentleman, bought it for 10 pounds, which I now enclose. In my opinion it was worth far more. However, it is gratifying that your first attempt in this way has been successful.
Your loving Ruth.
Loving indeed! exclaimed Kate in a tremulous voice.
Jessie appeared to have choked on the cold tea, for, after some ineffectual attempts at speech, she retired to the window and coughed.
The first act of the sisters, on recovering, was to double the amount on Ruths list of poor people, and to work out another sum in short division on the back of an old letter.
Why did you deceive me, dear? said Mrs Dotropy, on reaching the street after her visit. You said you were going with me to see poor people, in place of which you have taken me to hear a consultation about poor people with two ladies, and now you propose to return home.
The two ladies are themselves very poor.
No doubt they are, child, but you cannot for a moment class them with those whom we usually style the poor.
No, mother, I cannot, for they are far worse off than these. Having been reared in affluence, with tenderer feelings and weaker muscles, as well as more delicate health, they are much less able to fight the battle of adversity than the lower poor, and I happen to know that the dear Misses Seaward are reduced just now to the very last extreme of poverty. But you have relieved them, mother.
I, child! How?
The nursery screen that you bought yesterday by my advice was decorated by Jessie and Kate Seaward, so I thought it would be nice to let you see for yourself how sweet and deserving are the poor people whom you have befriended!
Chapter Three.
Introduces Consternation to A Delicate Household
The day following that on which Mrs Dotropy and Ruth had gone out to visit the poor, Jessie and Kate Seaward received a visit from a man who caused them no little anxietywe might almost say alarm. He was a sea-captain of the name of Bream.
As this gentleman was rather eccentric, it may interest the reader to follow him from the commencement of the day on which we introduce him.
But first let it be stated that Captain Bream was a fine-looking man, though large and rugged. His upper lip and chin were bare, for he was in the habit of mowing those regions every morning with a blunt razor. To see Captain Bream go through this operation of mowing when at sea in a gale of wind was a sight that might have charmed the humorous, and horrified the nervous. The captains shoulders were broad, and his bones big; his waistcoat, also, was large, his height six feet two, his voice a profound bass, and his manner boisterous but hearty. He was apt to roar in conversation, but it was in a gale of wind that you should have heard him! In such circumstances, the celebrated bull of Bashan would have been constrained to retire from his presence with its tail between its legs. When we say that Captain Breams eyes were kind eyes, and that the smile of his large mouth was a winning smile, we have sketched a full-length portrait of him,or, as painters might put it, an extra-full-length.
Well, when Captain Bream, having mown his chin, presented himself in public, on the morning of the particular day of which we write, he appeared to be in a meditative mood, and sauntered slowly, with the professional gait of a sailor, through several narrow streets near London Bridge. His hands were thrust into his coat-pockets, and a half humorous, half perplexed expression rested on his face. Evidently something troubled him, and he gave vent to a little of that something in deep tones, being apt to think aloud as he went along in disjointed sentences.
Very odd, he murmured, but that girl is always after some queerwell, no matter. Its my business tobut it does puzzle me to guess why she should want me to live in such an out-o-the-wayhowever, I suppose she knows, and thats enough for me.
Shine yer boots, sir? said a small voice cutting short these broken remarks.
What?
Shine yer boots, sir, an praps I can elp yer to clear up yer mind wen Im a doin of it.
It was the voice of a small shoeblack, whose eyes looked wistful.
The captain glanced at his boots; they wanted shining sadly, for the nautical valet who should have attended to such matters had neglected his duty that morning.
Where dee live, my lad? asked the captain, who, being large-hearted and having spent most of his life at sea, felt unusual interest in all things terrestrial when he chanced to be on shore.
I live nowheres in par-tickler, answered the boy.
But where dee sleep of a night?
Vell, that depends. Mostly anywheres.
Got any father?
No, sir, I haint; nor yet no mothernever had no fathers nor mothers, as I knows on, an wots more, I dont want any. Theyre a chancey lot, is fathers an mothersmost of em. Better without em altogether, to my mind. Tother foot, sir.
Looking down with a benignant smile at this independent specimen of humanity, the captain obeyed orders.
Dee make much at this work now, my lad? asked the captain.
Not wery much, sir. Just about enough to keep soul an body together, an not always that. It was ony last veek as I was starvin to that extent that my soul very nigh broke out an made his escape, but the doctor he got old of it by the tail an eld on till e indooced it to stay on a bit longer. There you are, sir; might shave in em!
How much to pay?
Vell, genlemen usually gives me a penny, but thats in ornary cases. Ven I has to shine boots like a pair o ships boats I looks for suthin hextrathough I dont always get it!
There you are, my lad, said the captain, giving the boy something hextra, which appeared to satisfy him. Thereafter he proceeded to the Bridge, and, embarking on one of the river steamers, was soon deposited at Pimlico. Thence, traversing St. Georges Square, he soon found himself in the little street in which dwelt the Misses Seaward. He looked about him for some minutes and then entered a green-grocers shop, crushing his hat against the top of the door-way.
Wishing the green-grocer good-morning he asked if lodgings were to be had in that neighbourhood.
Well, yes, sir, he replied, but I fear that youd find most of em rather small for a man of your size.
No fear o that, replied the captain with a loud guffaw, which roused the grocers cat a little, Im used to small cabins, an smaller bunks, dee see, an can stow myself away easy in any sort of hole. Why, Ive managed to snooze in a bunk only five foot four, by clewin up my legsthough it wasnt comfortable. But its not the size I care about so much as the character o the landlady. I like tidy respectable people, you seehavin bin always used to a well-kept ship.
Ah! I know one wholl just suit you. Up at the other end o the street. Two rooms kept by a young widow who
Hold hard there, interrupted the captain; none o your young widows for me. Theyre dangerous. Besides, big as I am, I dont want two rooms to sleep in. If you know of any old maid, now, with one roomthats what would suit me to a tee; an easy-going sort o woman, who
I know of two elderly ladies, interrupted the green-grocer, thoughtfully; theyre sisters, and have got a small room to let; butbuttheyre delicate sort o creeters, you know; have seen better days, an are raither timid, an might want a female lodger, or a man whowho
Out with it, interrupted the captain, a man who is soft-spoken and well-mannerednot a big noisy old sea-horse like me! Is that what you would say?
Just so, answered the green-grocer with an amiable nod.
Whats the name of the sisters?
Seaward.
Seaward! eh! exclaimed the captain in surprise. Thats odd, now, that a seafarin man should be sent to seaward for his lodgins, even when he gets on shore. Ha! ha! Ive always had a leanin to seaward. Ill try the sisters. They can only tell me to bout ship, you know, and be off on the other tack.
And again the captain gave such boisterous vent to his mirth that the green-grocers cat got up and walked indignantly away, for, albeit well used to the assaults of small boys, it apparently could not stand the noise of this new and bass disturber of the peace.
Having ascertained that the Misses Seaward dwelt above the shop in which he stood, Captain Bream went straight up-stairs and rapped heavily at their door.
Now, although the sisters had been gradually reduced to the extreme of poverty, they had hitherto struggled successfully against the necessity of performing what is known as the dirty work of a house. By stinting themselves in food, working hard at anything they succeeded in getting to do, and mending and re-mending their garments until it became miraculous, even to themselves, how these managed to hang together, they had, up to that period in their history, managed to pay to a slender little girl, out of their slender means, a still more slender salary for coming night and morning to clean their grate, light their fire, carry out their ashes, brush their boots, wash their door-steps, and otherwise perform work for which the sisters were peculiarly unfitted by age, training, and taste. This girls name was Liffie Lee. She was good as far as she went but she did not go far. Her goodness was not the result of principle. She had no principle; did not know what the word meant, but she had a nature, and that nature was soft, unselfish, self-oblivious,the last a blessing of incalculable price!
It was Liffie Lee who responded to Captain Breams knock. She was at the time about to leave the house in undisturbed possession of its ownersor rather, occupiers.
Does a Miss Seaward live here?
It was a dark passage, and Liffie Lee almost quaked at the depth and metallic solemnity of the voice, as she glanced up at the spot where it appeared to come from.
Yes, sir.
May I see her?
IIll see, sir, if youll wait outside, sir.
She gently yet quickly shut the door in the captains face, and next moment appeared in the little parlour with a flushed face and widely open eyes.
The biggest man she had ever seen, or heard, she said, wanted to see Miss Seaward.
Why did he want to see her and what was his name?
She didnt know, and had omitted to ask his name, having been so frightened that she had left him at the door, which she had shut against him.
An, please, Miss, continued Liffie, in a tone of suppressed eagerness, if I was you Id lock the parlour door in case he busts in the outer one. You might open the winder an screech for the pleece.
Oh! Liffie, what a frightened thing you are, remonstrated Jessie, go and show the man in at once.
Oh! no, Miss, pleaded Liffie, youd better ave im took up at once. Youve no notion what dreadful men that sort are. I know em well. Weve got some of em where we live, andand theyre awful!
Another knock at this point cut the conversation short, and Kate herself went to open the door.
May I have a word with Miss Seaward? asked the captain respectfully.
Yees, certainly, answered Kate, with some hesitation, for, although reassured by the visitors manner, his appearance and voice alarmed her too. She ushered him into the parlour, however, which was suddenly reduced to a mere bandbox by contrast with him.
Being politely asked to take a chair, he bowed and took hold of one, but on regarding its very slender proportionsit was a cane chairhe smiled and shook his head. The smile did much for him.
Pray take this one, said Jessie, pointing to the old arm-chair, which was strong enough even for him, our visitors are not usually suchsuch
Thumping walruses! out with it, Miss Seaward, said the captain, seating himselfgently, for he had suffered in this matter more than once during his lifeIm used to being found fault with for my size.
Pray do not imagine, said Jessie, hastening to exculpate herself, that I could be so very impolite asas to
Yes, yes, I know that, interrupted the captain, blowing his noseand the familiar operation was in itself something awful in such a small roomand I am too big, theres no doubt about that however, it cant be helped. I must just grin and bear it. But I came here on business, so well have business first, and pleasure, if you like, afterwards.
You may go now, said Kate at this point to Liffie Lee, who was still standing transfixed in open-mouthed amazement gazing at the visitor.
With native obedience and humility the child left the room, though anxious to see and hear more.
You have a furnished room to let I believe, ladies, said the captain, coming at once to the point.
Jessie and Kate glanced at each other. The latter felt a strong tendency to laugh, and the former replied:
We have, indeed, one small rooma very small room, in fact a mere closet with a window in the roof,which we are very anxious to let if possible to a ladyafemale. It is very poorly furnished, but it is comfortable, and we would make it very cheap. Is it about the hiring of such a room that you come?
Yes, madam, it is, said the captain, decisively.
But is the lady for whom you act, said Jessie, prepared for a particularly small room, and very poorly furnished?
Yes, she is, replied the captain with a loud guffaw that made the very windows vibrate; in fact I am the lady who wants the room. Its true Im not very lady-like, but I can say for myself that Ill give you less trouble than many a lady would, an I dont mind the cost.
Impossible! exclaimed Miss Seaward with a mingled look of amusement and perplexity which she did not attempt to conceal, while Kate laughed outright; why, sir, the room is not much, if at all, longer than yourself.
No matter, returned the captain, Im nowise particular, an Ive been recommended to come to you; so here I am, ready to strike a bargain if youre agreeable.
Pray, may I ask who recommended you? said Jessie.