Not to speak to em, Miss, I hope? said Billy, with a look of affected modesty.
No, not to speak, replied Ruth, laughing, only to represent the boys of the fleet. But thats not the main thing I want you for. It is this, and remember, Billy, that I am now taking you into my confidence, so you must not tell what I shall speak to you about to any living soul.
Not even to mother? asked the boy.
No, not evenwell, you may tell it to your mother, for boys ought to have no secrets from their mothers; besides, your mother is a discreet woman, and lives a long way off from London. You must know, then, Billy, that I have two very dear friendstwo ladieswho are in deep poverty, and I want to give them money
Well, why dont you give it em, Miss? said Billy, seeing that Ruth hesitated. You must have lots of it to give away, he added, looking contemplatively round.
Yes, thank God, who gave it to me, I have, as you say, lots of it, but I cannot give it to the dear ladies I speak of becausebecause
Theyre too proud to take it, praps, suggested Billy.
No; they are not proudvery far from it; but they are sensitive.
Whats that, Miss?
Ruth was puzzled for a reply.
Itit means, she said, that they have delicate feelings, which cannot bear the idea of accepting money without working for it, when there are so many millions of poor people without money who cannot work for it. They once said to me, indeed, that if they were to accept money in charity they would feel as if they were robbing the really poor.
Why dont they work, then? asked Billy in some surprise. Why dont they go to sea as stooardesses or somethink o that sort?
Because they have never been trained to such work, or, indeed, to any particular work, returned Ruth; moreover, they are in rather delicate health, and are not young. Their father was rich, and meant to leave them plenty to live on, but he failed, and left them in broken health without a penny. Wasnt it sad?
Indeed it was, Miss, replied the boy, whose ready sympathy was easily enlisted.
Well, now, Billy, I want you to go to see these ladies. Tell them that you are a fisher-boy belonging to the North sea trawling fleet, and that you have called from a house which wants a job undertaken. You will then explain about the fishery, and how the wrists of the men are chafed, and break out into painful sores, and how worsted mitts serve the purpose at once of prevention and cure. Say that the house by which you have been sent has many hands at workand so I have, Billy, for many ladies send the cuffs and things made by them for the fleet to me to be forwarded, only they work gratuitously, and I want the work done by my two friends to be paid for, you understand? Tell them that still more hands are wanted, and ask them if they are open to an engagement. You must be very matter-of-fact, grave, and businesslike, you know. Ask them how many pairs they think they will be able to make in a week, and say that the price to be paid will be fixed on receipt of the first sample. But, remember, on no account are you to mention the name of the house that sent you; you will also leave with them this bag of worsted. Now, do you fully understand?
Billy replied by a decided wink, coupled with an intelligent nod.
After a good deal of further advice and explanation, Ruth gave Billy the name and address of her friends, and sent him forth on his mission.
Chapter Five.
How Billy Conducts the BusinessHow Captain Bream Overcomes the Sisters, and how Jessie Seaward Sees Mystery in Everything
I wonder, said Billy to himself on reaching the street as he looked down at the legs of his trousers, I wonder if theyre any shorter. Yes, they dont seem to be quite so far down on the shoes as when I left Yarmouth. I must have growd an inch or two since I came up to Lunon!
Under this gratifying impression the fisher-boy drew himself up to his full height, his little chest swelling with new sensations, and his whole body rolling along with a nautical swagger that drew on him the admiration of some, the contempt of others, and caused several street boys to ask if his mother knowed e was hout, and other insolent questions.
But Billy cared for none of these things. The provincial boy was quite equal to the occasion, though his return chaff smacked much of salt water.
Arrived at the poverty-stricken street in which the Misses Seaward dwelt, Billy mounted the narrow staircase and knocked at the door. It was opened by Liffie Lee, who had remained on that day to accomplish some extra work.
Is your missis at home, my dear?
There aint no missis here, an I aint your dear, was the prompt reply.
Billy was taken aback. He had not anticipated so ready and caustic a response, in one so small and child-like.
Come nowno offence meant, he said, but youre not a-goin to deny that the Miss Seawards does live here.
I aint a-goin to deny nothink, replied Liffie, a little softened by the boys apologetic tone, only when Im expected to give a civil answer, I expects a civil question.
Thats all fair an aboveboard. Now, will you tell the Miss Seawards I wants to see em, on a matter of businessof importance.
Another minute and Billy stood in the presence of the ladies he wished to see. Prepared beforehand to like them, his affections were at once fixed for ever by the first glimpse of their kindly faces.
With a matter-of-fact gravity, that greatly amused the sistersthough they carefully concealed their feelingslittle Billy stated his business, and, in so doing, threw his auditors into a flutter of hope and gratitude, surprise and perplexity.
But what is the name of the house that sends you? asked Miss Jessie.
That I am not allowed for to tell, said the boy-of-business, firmly.
A mercantile house in the city, I suppose, said Kate.
What sort o house it may be is more than a sea-farin man like me knows, an of course its in the city. You wouldnt expect a business-house to be in the country, would you? all I know is that they want mitts madehundreds of emno end o mittsan they haint got hands enough to make em, so they sent me to ask if youll undertake to help in the work, or if theyre to git some one else to do it. Now, will you, or will you not? thats the pint.
Of course we shall be only too happy, answered Jessie, though the application is strange. How did you come to know that we were in want ofthat is, who sent you to us?
The house sent me, as I said afore, Miss.
Yes, but how did the house come to know of our existence, and how is it that a house of any sort should send a sailor-boy as its messenger?
How the house came to know of you is more than I can say. They dont tell me all the outs-an-ins of their affairs, you know. As to a house sendin a sailor-boy as its messengerdid you ever hear of the great house of Messrs Hewett and Company, what supplies Billinsgate with fish?
Im not surewell, yes, I think I have heard of that house, said Kate, though we are not in the way of hearing much about the commercial houses of London.
Well, continued Billy, that house sends hundreds of fisher-boys as messengers. It sends em to the deep-sea with a message to the fish, an the message iscome out o the water you skulkin critters, an be sent up to Billinsgate to be sold an eaten! The fish dont come willinly, Im bound for to say that, but we make em come all the same, willin or not, for weve wonderful powers o persuasion. So you see, houses do send fisher-boys as messengers sometimes; now, what am I to say to the partikler house as sends me? will you go in for mitts? you may take comforters if you prefer it, or helmets.
Well, continued Billy, that house sends hundreds of fisher-boys as messengers. It sends em to the deep-sea with a message to the fish, an the message iscome out o the water you skulkin critters, an be sent up to Billinsgate to be sold an eaten! The fish dont come willinly, Im bound for to say that, but we make em come all the same, willin or not, for weve wonderful powers o persuasion. So you see, houses do send fisher-boys as messengers sometimes; now, what am I to say to the partikler house as sends me? will you go in for mitts? you may take comforters if you prefer it, or helmets.
What do you mean by helmets, my boy?
Worsted ones, of course. Things made to kiver up a mans head and neck and come down to his shoulders, with a hole in front just big enough to let his eyes, nose, and cheek-bones come through. With a sou-wester on top, and a comforter round the neck, theyre not so bad in a stiff nor-wester in Janoowairy. Nows your chance, ladies, now, or niver!
There was something so ludicrous in the manly tone and decided manner of the smooth-faced little creature before them, that the sisters burst into a hearty fit of laughter.
Forgive us, dear boy, but the idea of our being asked in this sudden way to make innumerable mitts and comforters and worsted helmets seems so odd that we cant help laughing. What is your name? That is not a secret, I hope?
By no means. My name is Billy Bright. If youre very partikler, you may call me Willum.
I prefer Billy, said Kate. Now, Billy, it is near our dinner hour. Will you stay and dine with us? If you do, youll meet such a nice mansuch a big man tooand somewhat in your own line of life; a sea-captain. We expect him every
No, thank ee, Miss, interrupted the boy, rising abruptly. I sees more than enough o big sea-captings when Im afloat. Besides, Ive got more business on hand, so Ill bid ee good-day.
Pulling his forelock he left the room.
The ladies has undertook some work for me, my dear, said Billy to Liffie Lee, as he stood at the door buttoning up his little coat, so praps I may see you again.
It wont break my art if you dont, replied Liffie; no, nor yet yours.
Speak for yourself, young ooman. You dont know nothing about my art.
As he spoke, a heavy foot was heard at the bottom of the stair.
Thats our lodger, said Liffie; no foot but his can bang the stair or make it creak like that.
Well, Im off, cried Billy, descending two steps at a time.
Half-way down he encountered what seemed to him a giant with a chest on his shoulder. It was the darkest part of the stair where they met.
Look out ahead! Hard a starboard! growled Captain Bream, who seemed to be heavily weighted.
Ay, ay, sir! cried Billy, as he brushed past, bounded into the street, and swaggered away.
What boy was that, Liffie? asked the captain, letting down the chest he carried with a shock that caused the frail tenement to quiver from cellar to roof-tree.
I dont know, sir.
He must be a sailor-boy, from his answer, rejoined the captain. Open the door o my cabin, lass, and Ill carry it right in. Its somewhat heavy.
He lifted the chest, which was within an eighth of an inch of being too large to pass through the little door-way, and put it in a corner, after which he entered the parlour, and sat down in a solid wooden chair which he had supplied to the establishment for his own special use.
You see, he had said, on the day when he introduced it, Ive come to grief so often in the matter of chairs that Ive become chary as to how I use em. If all the chairs that Ive had go crash under me was put together theyd furnish a good-sized house. Look before you leap is a well-known proverb, but look before you sit down has become a more familiar experience to me through life. Its an awkward thing bein so heavy, and I hope youll never know what it is, ladies.
Judging from their appearance just then there did not seem much prospect of that!
Now, continued the captain, rubbing his hands and looking benignantly at Jessie, I have settled the matter at last; fairly said good-bye to old Ocean, an fixed to cast anchor for good on the land.
Have you indeed, captain? said Jessie, I should fancy that you must feel rather sorry to bid farewell to so old a friend.
Thats true, Miss Seaward. An old and good friend the sea has been to me, thank God. But Im gettin too old myself to be much of a friend to it, so Ive fixed to say good-bye. And the question is, Am I to stop on here, or am I to look out for another lodgin? You see Ive been a good many weeks with you now, an youve had a fair taste of me, so to speak. I know Im a rough sort o fish for the like o you to have to do with, and, like some o the hermit crabs, rather too big for my shell, so if you find me awkward or uncomfortable dont hesitate to say so. I wont be surprised, though I confess I should be sorry to leave you.
Well, Captain Bream, said Kate, who was generally the speaker when delicate, difficult or unpleasant subjects had to be dealt with, since you have been so candid with us we will be equally candid with you. When you first came to us, I confess that we were much alarmed; you seemedso very big, (the captain tried to shrink a littlewithout successand smiled in a deprecating manner), and our rooms and furniture seemed so very small and delicate, so to speak; and then your voice was so fearfully deep and gruff, (the captain cleared his throat softlyin B natural of the bass clefand smiled again), that we were almost frightened to receive you; but, now that we have had experience of you, we are quite willing that you should continue with uson one condition, however.
And that is? asked the captain anxiously.
That you pay us a lower rent.
Aa higher rent you mean, I suppose?
No; I mean a lower.
Captain Breams benign visage became grave and elongated.
You see, captain, continued Kate, flushing a little, when you first came, we triedexcuse meto get rid of you, to shake you off, and we almost doubled the rent of our little room, hoping that
Quite right, quite right, interrupted the captain, and according to strict justice, for aint I almost double the size of ornary men, an dont I give more than double the trouble?
Not so, returned Kate, firmly, you dont give half the trouble that other men do.
Excuse me, Miss Kate, said the captain with a twinkle in his grey eye, you told me I was your first lodger, so how can you know how much trouble other men would give?
No matter, persisted Kate, a little confused, you dont give half the trouble that other lodgers would have given if we had had them.
Ah! hmwell, returned the captain softly, in the profoundest possible bass, looking at the matter in that light, perhaps you are not far wrong. But, go on.
Well, I have only to add, continued Kate, that you have been so kind to us, and so considerate, and have given us so littleso very little trouble, that it will give us both great pleasure to have you continue to lodge with us if you agree to the reduction of the rent.
Very well, said Captain Bream, pulling out an immense gold chronometerthe gift, in days gone by, of a band of highly grateful and appreciative passengers. Ive got business in the city an hour hence. We shall have dinner first. Two hours afterwards I will return with a cab and take away my boxes. That will give you plenty of time to make out your little bill and