Turning from his companions while they conversed, he looked into a shop-window.
Your chums in the blues, said the lively corporal, in a lower voice.
Young fellows are often in that state after joining, aint they? returned Armstrong.
True for yean more shame to them, whin they ought to be as proud as paycocks at wearin her gracious Majestys uniform. But good luck to ee! I must be off, for Im bound for Aigypt mesilf.
I am glad that I shall have the chance of seeing your wife, for Ive been much interested in her since your friend Sergeant Gilroy told me about her, said Miles, as they resumed their walk. Surely it is hard of them to refuse to let her go with the regiment.
Well, it is hard, returned the young soldier; but after all I cannot find fault with the powers that be, for I married with my eyes open. I knew the rule that those who marry without leave must leave their wives at home, for only a certain number of families can go abroad with a regimentand that only in peace-time.
It might have been well, continued Armstrong, slowly, while a sad expression clouded his face for a few moments, if I had waited, and many a time has my conscience smitten me for my haste. But what could I do? Emmy most unaccountably fell in love wi methank God! for I do think that the greatest earthly blessing that can be given to mortal man is the love of a gentle, true-hearted girl. The wealth of the Indies cannot purchase that, and nothing else in life can supply the want of it. Can you wonder that I grasped the treasure when within my reach?
I certainly cannot; and as certainly I do not blame you, returned the sympathetic Miles.
Of course I fell in love with Emmy, continued the soldier, with a slightly confused look. I could no more help that than I could help growing up. Could I?
Certainly not, said Miles.
Well, you see, continued his friend, as the affair was arranged in heaven, according to general belief, what was I that I should resist? You see, Emmys father, whos a well-to-do farmer, was willing, and we never gave a thought to Egypt or the war at the time. She will be well looked after while Im away, and Ill send her every penny of my pay that I can spare, but
He stopped abruptly, and Miles, respecting his feelings, remarked, by way of changing the subject, that the pay of a private soldier being so small very little could be saved out of that.
Not much, assented his comrade; but, little as it is, we can increase it in various ways. For one thing, I have given up smoking. That will save a little; though, to say truth, I have never expended much on baccy. Then I have joined Miss Robinsons Temperance Band
Strange how often that ladys name has been in my ears since I came to Portsmouth! said Miles.
Not so strange after all, returned Armstrong, when one reflects that she has been the means of almost changing the character of the town within the last few yearsas far at least as concerns the condition of soldiers, as well as many of the poorer classes among its inhabitantsso Sergeant Gilroy tells me.
As some of the information given by Sergeant Gilroy to the young soldier may be interesting to many readers, we quote a few of his own words.
Why, some years ago, he said, the soldiers wives, mothers, and sisters who came down here to see the poor fellows set sail for foreign parts found it almost impossible to obtain lodgings, except in drinking-houses which no respectable woman could enter. Some poor women even preferred to spend a winter night under railway arches, or some such shelter, rather than enter these places. And soldiers out of barracks had nowhere else to go to for amusement, while sailors on leave had to spend their nights in them or walk the streets. Now all that is changed. The Soldiers Institute supplies 140 beds, and furnishes board and lodging to our sisters and wives at the lowest possible rates, besides reception-rooms where we can meet our friends; a splendid reading-room, where we find newspapers and magazines, and can write our letters, if we like, in peace and quiet; a bar where tea and coffee, bread and butter, buns, etcetera, can be had at all reasonable hours for a mere trifle; a coffee and smoking room, opening out of which are two billiard-rooms, and beyond these a garden, where we can get on the flat roof of a house and watch the arrival and departure of shipping. There is a small charge to billiard-players, which pays all expenses of the tables, so that not a penny of the Institute funds is spent on the games. Of course no gambling is allowed in any of Miss Robinsons Institutes. Then there are Bible-class rooms, and womens work-rooms, and a lending library, and bathrooms, and a great hall, big enough to hold a thousand people, where there are held temperance meetings, lectures with dissolving views, entertainments, and tea-fights, and Sunday services. No wonder that, with such an agency at work for the glory of God and the good of men, Portsmouth is almost a new place. Indeed, although Miss Robinson met with powerful opposition at first from the powers that be, her Institute is now heartily recognised and encouraged in every way at the Horse Guards. Indeed, it has recently been visited by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, and highly approved of by these and other grandees.
While the two soldiers were chatting about the past and present of the Institute they arrived at its door.
Here we are. Come into the reception-room, Miles, while I make inquiry about my letters.
They entered the house as he spoke. The reception-room is on the right of the passage. Armstrong opened the door and looked in, but, instead of advancing, he stood transfixed, gazing before him open-mouthed as though he had seen a spectre, for there, in front of the fire, sat a beautiful, refined-looking girl, with golden hair and blue eyes, gazing pensively at the flickering flames.
Miles was not kept long in suspense as to who she was.
Emmy!
Oh, Willie!
These were exclamations which would have revealed all in a moment, even though Emmy had not sprung up and rushed into Willies open arms. How she ever emerged from the embrace of those arms with unbroken bones is a mystery which cannot be solved, but she did emerge in safety, and with some confusion on observing that Miles had witnessed the incident with admiring gaze!
Never mind him, Emmy, said the young soldier, laughing; hes a good friend, a comrade. Shake hands with him.
The action, and the ease of manner with which Emmy obeyed, proved that grace and small hands are not altogether dependent on rank or station.
Excuse me, said Miles, after a few words of salutation; Ill go and have a look at the library.
So saying he quitted the room, leaving the young couple alone; for there chanced to be no other visitors to the reception-room at the time. In the lobby he found several soldiers and a couple of sailors enjoying coffee at the bar, and was about to join them when a man came forward whose dress was that of a civilian, though his bearing proclaimed him a soldier.
Hallo, Brown, exclaimed one of the soldiers, dye know that a troop-ship has just come in!
Know it? of course I do; you may trust the people of this house to be first in hearing such news.
Mr Tufnell told me of it. Im just going down to the jetty to boil the kettle for them.
As he spoke, two ladies of the Institute descended the broad staircase, each with a basket on her arm.
They entered into conversation for a few minutes with the soldiers at the bar, and it was abundantly evident to Miles, from the kindly tone of the former and the respectful air of the latter, that they were familiar acquaintances, and on the best of terms.
Hallo, Brown, exclaimed one of the soldiers, dye know that a troop-ship has just come in!
Know it? of course I do; you may trust the people of this house to be first in hearing such news.
Mr Tufnell told me of it. Im just going down to the jetty to boil the kettle for them.
As he spoke, two ladies of the Institute descended the broad staircase, each with a basket on her arm.
They entered into conversation for a few minutes with the soldiers at the bar, and it was abundantly evident to Miles, from the kindly tone of the former and the respectful air of the latter, that they were familiar acquaintances, and on the best of terms.
Are you all ready, Brown? asked one of the ladies of the soldier-like civilian, whom we have already mentioned.
All ready, Miss; a man has already gone to order the bread and butter and light the fire. I hear the vessel is crowded, so we may expect a full house to-night.
Miles pricked up his ears on hearing this, and when Brown went out, leaving the two ladies to finish their conversation with the soldiers, he followed him.
Pardon me, he said, on overtaking the man. Did I understand correctly that a troop-ship has just arrived?
Right, said Brown. I am just going down to the embarkation jetty to get coffee ready for the men. You seem to have joined but a short time, apparently, for though I am familiar with your uniform I have not seen yourself before.
True, it is not long since I joined, and this is my first visit to the Institute.
I hope it wont be the last, friend, returned Brown heartily. Every soldier is welcome there, and, for the matter of that, so is every sailor and marine.
I have heard as much. May I accompany you to this jetty to see the troops arrive, and this coffee business that you speak of?
You may, and welcome, said Brown, leading his companion through the town in the direction of the docks, and chatting, as they walked along, about the army and navy; about his own experiences in the former; and about the condition of soldiers at the present time as contrasted with that of the days gone by.
Chapter Four.
The Embarkation JettyAnd Nipped in the Bud
Bronzed faces under white helmets crowded the ports and bulwarks of the great white leviathan of the deepthe troop-ship Orontesas she steamed slowly and cautiously up to the embarkation jetty in Portsmouth harbour.
On the jetty itself a few anxious wives, mothers, and sisters stood eagerly scanning the sea of faces in the almost hopeless endeavour to distinguish those for which they sought. Yet ever and anon an exclamation on the jetty, and an answering wave of an arm on the troop-ship, told that some at least of the anxious ones had been successful in the search.
Dont they look weather-beaten? remarked Miles to his companion.
Sure its more like sun-dried they are, answered a voice at his side. Brown had gone to the shed to prepare his coffee and bread against the landing of the troops, and a stout Irishwoman had taken his place. Close to her stood the two ladies from the Institute with baskets on their arms.
You are right, returned Miles, with a smile; they look like men who have seen service. Is your husband among them?
Faix, Id be sorprised if he was, returned the woman; for I left him in owld Ireland, in the only landed property he iver held in this worldsix futt by two, an five deep. Hes been in possession six years now, an it wouldnt be aisy to drive him out o that, anyhow. No, its my son Terence Ive come to look afther. Och! there he is! Look, look, thats him close by the funnel! Dont ye see im? Blissins on his good-lookin face! Hooroo! TerenceTerence Flynn, dont ye recognise yer owld mother? Sure an he does, though we havent met for tin year. My! hasnt he got the hair on his lips tooan his cheeks are like shoe-leathermy darlint!
As the enthusiastic mother spoke in the tones of a public orator, there was a general laugh among those who were nearest to her; but she was forgotten immediately, for all were too deeply intent on their own interests to pay much regard to each other just then.
The great vessel was slow in getting alongside and making fast to the jettyslow at least in the estimation of the impatientfor although she might leap and career grandly in wanton playfulness while on her native billows, in port a careless touch from her ponderous sides would have crushed part of the jetty into fragments. Miles therefore had ample time to look about him at the various groups around.
One young woman specially attracted his attention, for she stood apart from every one, and seemed scarcely able to stand because of weakness. She was young and good-looking. Her face, which was deadly pale, contrasted strongly with her glossy raven-black hair, and the character of her dress denoted extreme poverty.
The ladies from the Institute had also observed this poor girl, and one of them, going to her side, quietly addressed her. Miles, from the position in which he stood, could not avoid overhearing what was said.
Yes, Miss, I expect my husband, said the woman in answer to a question. Hes coming home on sick-leave. I had a letter from him a good while ago saying he was coming home in the Orontes.
I hope you will find that the sea air has done him good, said the lady, in that tone of unobtrusive sympathy which is so powerfully attractive,especially to those who are in trouble. A sea voyage frequently has a wonderful effect in restoring invalids. What is his name?
MartinFred Martin. Hes a corporal now.
You have not recognised him yet, I suppose?
Not yet, Miss, answered Mrs Martin, with an anxious look, and shivering slightly as she drew a thin worn shawl of many patches closer round her shoulders. But he wouldnt expect me to meet him, you see, knowing that Im so poor, and live far from Portsmouth. But I was so anxious, you see, Miss, that our kind Vicar gave me enough money to come down.
Where did you spend the night? asked the lady, quickly.
The poor woman hesitated, and at last said she had spent the night walking about the streets.
You see, Miss, she explained apologetically, I didnt know a soul in the town, and I couldnt a-bear to go into any o the public-houses; besides, I had no money, for the journey down took nearly all of it.
Oh, I am so sorry that you didnt know of our Institute, said the lady, with much sympathy in voice and look; for we provide accommodation for soldiers wives who come, like you, to meet their husbands returning from abroad, and we charge little, or even nothing, if they are too poor to pay.
Indeed, Miss! I wish I had known of it. But in the morning I had the luck to meet a policeman who directed me to a coffee-tavern in a place called Nobbs Laneyoull not know it, Miss, for its in a very poor part o the townwhere I got a breakfast of as much hot pea-soup and bread as I could eat for three-hapence, an had a good rest beside the fire too. They told me it was kept by a Miss Robinson. God bless her whoever she is! for I do believe I should have been dead by now if I hadnt got the rest and the breakfast.
The woman shivered again as she spoke, and drew the thin shawl still closer, for a sharp east wind was blowing over the jetty at the time.
Come with me; you are cold. I know Nobbs Lane well. We have a shed and fire here on the jetty to shelter people while waiting. There, you need not fear to miss your husband, for the men wont land for a long time yet.