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diff --git a/10566.txt b/10566.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dd2c290 --- /dev/null +++ b/10566.txt @@ -0,0 +1,913 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bequest, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Bequest + Ship's Company, Part 6. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 1, 2004 [EBook #10566] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BEQUEST *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +SHIP'S COMPANY + +By W.W. Jacobs + + + +THE BEQUEST + +R. Robert Clarkson sat by his fire, smoking thoughtfully. His lifelong +neighbour and successful rival in love had passed away a few days before, +and Mr. Clarkson, fresh from the obsequies, sat musing on the fragility +of man and the inconvenience that sometimes attended his departure. + +His meditations were disturbed by a low knocking on the front door, which +opened on to the street. In response to his invitation it opened slowly, +and a small middle-aged man of doleful aspect entered softly and closed +it behind him. + +"Evening, Bob," he said, in stricken accents. "I thought I'd just step +round to see how you was bearing up. Fancy pore old Phipps! Why, I'd +a'most as soon it had been me. A'most." + +Mr. Clarkson nodded. + +"Here to-day and gone to-morrow," continued Mr. Smithson, taking a seat. +"Well, well! So you'll have her at last-pore thing." + +"That was his wish," said Mr. Clarkson, in a dull voice. + +"And very generous of him too," said Mr. Smithson. "Everybody is saying +so. Certainly he couldn't take her away with him. How long is it since +you was both of you courting her?" + +"Thirty years come June," replied the other. + +"Shows what waiting does, and patience," commented Mr. Smithson. "If +you'd been like some chaps and gone abroad, where would you have been +now? Where would have been the reward of your faithful heart?" + +Mr. Clarkson, whose pipe had gone out, took a coal from the fire and lit +it again. + +"I can't understand him dying at his age," he said, darkly. "He ought to +have lived to ninety if he'd been taken care of." + +"Well, he's gone, pore chap," said his friend. "What a blessing it must +ha' been to him in his last moments to think that he had made provision +for his wife." + +"Provision!" exclaimed Mr. Clarkson. "Why he's left her nothing but the +furniture and fifty pounds insurance money--nothing in the world." + +Mr. Smithson fidgeted. "I mean you," he said, staring. + +"Oh!" said the other. "Oh, yes--yes, of course." + +"And he doesn't want you to eat your heart out in waiting," said Mr. +Smithson. "'Never mind about me,' he said to her; 'you go and make Bob +happy.' Wonderful pretty girl she used to be, didn't she?" Mr. Clarkson +assented. + +"And I've no doubt she looks the same to you as ever she did," pursued +the sentimental Mr. Smithson. "That's the extraordinary part of it." + +Mr. Clarkson turned and eyed him; removed the pipe from his mouth, and, +after hesitating a moment, replaced it with a jerk. + +"She says she'd rather be faithful to his memory," continued the +persevering Mr. Smithson, "but his wishes are her law. She said so to my +missis only yesterday." + +"Still, she ought to be considered," said Mr. Clarkson, shaking his head. +"I think that somebody ought to put it to her. She has got her feelings, +poor thing, and, if she would rather not marry again, she oughtn't to be +compelled to." + +"Just what my missis did say to her," said the other; "but she didn't pay +much attention. She said it was Henry's wish and she didn't care what +happened to her now he's gone. Besides, if you come to think of it, what +else is she to do? Don't you worry, Bob; you won't lose her again." + +Mr. Clarkson, staring at the fire, mused darkly. For thirty years he had +played the congenial part of the disappointed admirer but faithful +friend. He had intended to play it for at least fifty or sixty. He +wished that he had had the strength of mind to refuse the bequest when +the late Mr. Phipps first mentioned it, or taken a firmer line over the +congratulations of his friends. As it was, Little Molton quite +understood that after thirty years' waiting the faithful heart was to be +rewarded at last. Public opinion seemed to be that the late Mr. Phipps +had behaved with extraordinary generosity. + +"It's rather late in life for me to begin," said Mr. Clarkson at last. + +"Better late than never," said the cheerful Mr. Smithson. + +"And something seems to tell me that I ain't long for this world," +continued Mr. Clarkson, eyeing him with some disfavour. + +"Stuff and nonsense," said Mr. Smithson. "You'll lose all them ideas as +soon as you're married. You'll have somebody to look after you and help +you spend your money." + +Mr. Clarkson emitted a dismal groan, and clapping his hand over his mouth +strove to make it pass muster as a yawn. It was evident that the +malicious Mr. Smithson was deriving considerable pleasure from his +discomfiture--the pleasure natural to the father of seven over the +troubles of a comfortable bachelor. Mr. Clarkson, anxious to share his +troubles with somebody, came to a sudden and malicious determination to +share them with Mr. Smithson. + +"I don't want anybody to help me spend my money," he said, slowly. +"First and last I've saved a tidy bit. I've got this house, those three +cottages in Turner's Lane, and pretty near six hundred pounds in the +bank." + +Mr. Smithson's eyes glistened. + +"I had thought--it had occurred to me," said Mr. Clarkson, trying to keep +as near the truth as possible, "to leave my property to a friend o' mine +--a hard-working man with a large family. However, it's no use talking +about that now. It's too late." + +"Who--who was it?" inquired his friend, trying to keep his voice steady. + +Mr. Clarkson shook his head. "It's no good talking about that now, +George," he said, eyeing him with sly enjoyment. "I shall have to leave +everything to my wife now. After all, perhaps it does more harm than +good to leave money to people." + +"Rubbish!" said Mr. Smithson, sharply. "Who was it?" + +"You, George," said Mr. Clarkson, softly. + +"Me?" said the other, with a gasp. "Me?" He jumped up from his chair, +and, seizing the other's hand, shook it fervently. + +"I oughtn't to have told you, George," said Mr. Clarkson, with great +satisfaction. "It'll only make you miserable. It's just one o' the +might ha' beens." + +Mr. Smithson, with his back to the fire and his hands twisted behind him, +stood with his eyes fixed in thought. + +"It's rather cool of Phipps," he said, after a long silence; "rather +cool, I think, to go out of the world and just leave his wife to you to +look after. Some men wouldn't stand it. You're too easy-going, Bob, +that's what's the matter with you." + +Mr. Clarkson sighed. + +"And get took advantage of," added his friend. + +"It's all very well to talk," said Mr. Clarkson, "but what can I do? I +ought to have spoke up at the time. It's too late now." + +"If I was you," said his friend very earnestly, "and didn't want to marry +her, I should tell her so. Say what you like it ain't fair to her you +know. It ain't fair to the pore woman. She'd never forgive you if she +found it out." + +"Everybody's taking it for granted," said the other. + +"Let everybody look after their own business," said Mr. Smithson, tartly. +"Now, look here, Bob; suppose I get you out of this business, how am I to +be sure you'll leave your property to me?--not that I want it. Suppose +you altered your will?" + +"If you get me out of it, every penny I leave will go to you," said Mr. +Clarkson, fervently. "I haven't got any relations, and it don't matter +in the slightest to me who has it after I'm gone." + +"As true as you stand there?" demanded the other, eyeing him fixedly. + +"As true as I stand here," said Mr. Clarkson, smiting his chest, and +shook hands again. + +Long after his visitor had gone he sat gazing in a brooding fashion at +the fire. As a single man his wants were few, and he could live on his +savings; as the husband of Mrs. Phipps he would be compelled to resume +the work he thought he had dropped for good three years before. +Moreover, Mrs. Phipps possessed a strength of character that had many +times caused him to congratulate himself upon her choice of a husband. + +Slowly but surely his fetters were made secure. Two days later the widow +departed to spend six weeks with a sister; but any joy that he might have +felt over the circumstance was marred by the fact that he had to carry +her bags down to the railway station and see her off. The key of her +house was left with him, with strict injunctions to go in and water her +geraniums every day, while two canaries and a bullfinch had to be removed +to his own house in order that they might have constant attention and +company. + +"She's doing it on purpose," said Mr. Smithson, fiercely; "she's binding +you hand and foot." + +Mr. Clarkson assented gloomily. "I'm trusting to you, George," he +remarked. + +"How'd it be to forget to water the geraniums and let the birds die +because they missed her so much?" suggested Mr. Smithson, after +prolonged thought. + +Mr. Clarkson shivered. + +"It would be a hint," said his friend. + +Mr. Clarkson took some letters from the mantelpiece and held them up. +"She writes about them every day," he said, briefly, "and I have to +answer them." + +"She--she don't refer to your getting married, I suppose?" said his +friend, anxiously. + +Mr. Clarkson said "No. But her sister does," he added. "I've had two +letters from her." + +Mr. Smithson got up and paced restlessly up and down the room. "That's +women all over," he said, bitterly. "They never ask for things straight +out; but they always get 'em in roundabout ways. She can't do it +herself, so she gets her sister to do it." + +Mr. Clarkson groaned. "And her sister is hinting that she can't leave +the house where she spent so many happy years," he said, "and says what a +pleasant surprise it would be for Mrs. Phipps if she was to come home and +find it done up." + +"That means you've got to live there when you're married," said his +friend, solemnly. + +Mr. Clarkson glanced round his comfortable room and groaned again. "She +asked me to get an estimate from Digson," he said, dully. "She knows as +well as I do her sister hasn't got any money. I wrote to say that it had +better be left till she comes home, as I might not know what was wanted." + +Mr. Smithson nodded approval. + +"And Mrs. Phipps wrote herself and thanked me for being so considerate," +continued his friend, grimly, "and says that when she comes back we must +go over the house together and see what wants doing." + +Mr. Smithson got up and walked round the room again. + +"You never promised to marry her?" he said, stopping suddenly. + +"No," said the other. "It's all been arranged for me. I never said a +word. I couldn't tell Phipps I wouldn't have her with them all standing +round, and him thinking he was doing me the greatest favour in the +world." + +"Well, she can't name the day unless you ask her," said the other. "All +you've got to do is to keep quiet and not commit yourself. Be as cool as +you can, and, just before she comes home, you go off to London on +business and stay there as long as possible." + +Mr. Clarkson carried out his instructions to the letter, and Mrs. Phipps, +returning home at the end of her visit, learned that he had left for +London three days before, leaving the geraniums and birds to the care of +Mr. Smithson. From the hands of that unjust steward she received two +empty bird-cages, together with a detailed account of the manner in which +the occupants had effected their escape, and a bullfinch that seemed to +be suffering from torpid liver. The condition of the geraniums was +ascribed to worms in the pots, frost, and premature decay. + +"They go like it sometimes," said Mr. Smithson, "and when they do nothing +will save 'em." + +Mrs. Phipps thanked him. "It's very kind of you to take so much +trouble," she said, quietly; "some people would have lost the cages too +while they were about it." + +"I did my best," said Mr. Smithson, in a surly voice. + +"I know you did," said Mrs. Phipps, thoughtfully, "and I am sure I am +much obliged to you. If there is anything of yours I can look after at +any time I shall be only too pleased. When did you say Mr. Clarkson was +coming back?" + +"He don't know," said Mr. Smithson, promptly. "He might be away a month; +and then, again, he might be away six. It all depends. You know what +business is." + +"It's very thoughtful of him," said Mrs. Phipps. "Very." + +"Thoughtful!" repeated Mr. Smithson. + +"He has gone away for a time out of consideration for me," said the +widow. "As things are, it is a little bit awkward for us to meet much at +present." + +"I don't think he's gone away for that at all," said the other, bluntly. + +Mrs. Phipps shook her head. "Ah, you don't know him as well as I do," +she said, fondly. "He has gone away on my account, I feel sure." + +Mr. Smithson screwed his lips together and remained silent. + +"When he feels that it is right and proper for him to come back," pursued +Mrs. Phipps, turning her eyes upwards, "he will come. He has left his +comfortable home just for my sake, and I shall not forget it." + +Mr. Smithson coughed-a short, dry cough, meant to convey incredulity. + +"I shall not do anything to this house till he comes back," said Mrs. +Phipps. "I expect he would like to have a voice in it. He always used +to admire it and say how comfortable it was. Well, well, we never know +what is before us." + +Mr. Smithson repeated the substance of the interview to Mr. Clarkson by +letter, and in the lengthy correspondence that followed kept him posted +as to the movements of Mrs. Phipps. By dint of warnings and entreaties +he kept the bridegroom-elect in London for three months. By that time +Little Molton was beginning to talk. + +"They're beginning to see how the land lays," said Mr. Smithson, on the +evening of his friend's return, "and if you keep quiet and do as I tell +you she'll begin to see it too. As I said before, she can't name the day +till you ask her." + +Mr. Clarkson agreed, and the following morning, when he called upon Mrs. +Phipps at her request, his manner was so distant that she attributed it +to ill-health following business worries and the atmosphere of London. +In the front parlour Mr. Digson, a small builder and contractor, was busy +whitewashing. + +"I thought we might as well get on with that," said Mrs. Phipps; "there +is only one way of doing whitewashing, and the room has got to be done. +To-morrow Mr. Digson will bring up some papers, and, if you'll come +round, you can help me choose." + +Mr. Clarkson hesitated. "Why not choose 'em yourself?" he said at last. + +"Just what I told her," said Mr. Digson, stroking his black beard. +"What'll please you will be sure to please him, I says; and if it don't +it ought to." + +Mr. Clarkson started. "Perhaps you could help her choose," he said, +sharply. + +Mr. Digson came down from his perch. "Just what I said," he replied. +"If Mrs. Phipps will let me advise her, I'll make this house so she won't +know it before I've done with it." + +"Mr. Digson has been very kind," said Mrs. Phipps, reproachfully. + +"Not at all, ma'am," said the builder, softly. "Anything I can do to +make you happy or comfortable will be a pleasure to me." + +Mr. Clarkson started again, and an odd idea sent his blood dancing. +Digson was a widower; Mrs. Phipps was a widow. Could anything be more +suitable or desirable? + +"Better let him choose," he said. "After all, he ought to be a good +judge." + +Mrs. Phipps, after a faint protest, gave way, and Mr. Digson, smiling +broadly, mounted his perch again. + +Mr. Clarkson's first idea was to consult Mr. Smithson; then he resolved +to wait upon events. The idea was fantastic to begin with, but, if +things did take such a satisfactory turn, he could not help reflecting +that it would not be due to any efforts on the part of Mr. Smithson, and +he would no longer be under any testamentary obligations to that +enterprising gentleman. + +By the end of a week he was jubilant. A child could have told Mr. +Digson's intentions--and Mrs. Phipps was anything but a child. Mr. +Clarkson admitted cheerfully that Mr. Digson was a younger and better- +looking man than himself--a more suitable match in every way. And, so +far as he could judge, Mrs. Phipps seemed to think so. At any rate, she +had ceased to make the faintest allusion to any tie between them. He +left her one day painting a door, while the attentive Digson guided the +brush, and walked homewards smiling. + +"Morning!" said a voice behind him. + +"Morning, Bignell," said Mr. Clarkson. + +"When--when is it to be?" inquired his friend, walking beside him. + +Mr. Clarkson frowned. "When is what to be?" he demanded, disagreeably. + +Mr. Bignell lowered his voice. "You'll lose her if you ain't careful," +he said. "Mark my words. Can't you see Digson's little game?" + +Mr. Clarkson shrugged his shoulders. + +"He's after her money," said the other, with a cautious glance around. + +"Money?" said the other, with an astonished laugh. "Why, she hasn't got +any." + + +[Illustration: "She'll be riding in her carriage and pair in six months"] + + +"Oh, all right," said Mr. Bignell. "You know best of course. I was just +giving you the tip, but if you know better--why, there's nothing more to +be said. She'll be riding in her carriage and pair in six months, +anyhow; the richest woman in Little Molton." + +Mr. Clarkson stopped short and eyed him in perplexity. + +"Digson got a bit sprung one night and told me," said Mr. Bignell. "She +don't know it herself yet--uncle on her mother's side in America. She +might know at any moment." + +"But--but how did Digson know?" inquired the astonished Mr. Clarkson. + +"He wouldn't tell me," was the reply. "But it's good enough for him. +What do you think he's after? Her? And mind, don't let on to a soul +that I told you." + +He walked on, leaving Mr. Clarkson standing in a dazed condition in the +centre of the foot-path. Recovering himself by an effort, he walked +slowly away, and, after prowling about for some time in an aimless +fashion, made his way back to Mrs. Phipps's house. + +He emerged an hour later an engaged man, with the date of the wedding +fixed. With jaunty steps he walked round and put up the banns, and then, +with the air of a man who has completed a successful stroke of business, +walked homewards. + +Little Molton is a small town and news travels fast, but it did not +travel faster than Mr. Smithson as soon as he had heard it. He burst +into Mr. Clarkson's room like the proverbial hurricane, and, gasping for +breath, leaned against the table and pointed at him an incriminating +finger. + +"You you've been running," said Mr. Clarkson, uneasily. + +"What--what--what do you--mean by it?" gasped Mr. Smithson. "After all +my trouble. After our--bargain." + +"I altered my mind," said Mr. Clarkson, with dignity. + +"Pah!" said the other. + +"Just in time," said Mr. Clarkson, speaking rapidly. "Another day and I +believe I should ha' been too late. It took me pretty near an hour to +talk her over. Said I'd been neglecting her, and all that sort of thing; +said that she was beginning to think I didn't want her. As hard a job as +ever I had in my life." + +"But you didn't want her," said the amazed Mr. Smithson. "You told me +so." + +"You misunderstood me," said Mr. Clarkson, coughing. "You jump at +conclusions." + +Mr. Smithson sat staring at him. "I heard," he said at last, with an +effort... "I heard that Digson was paying her attentions." + +Mr. Clarkson spoke without thought. "Ha, he was only after her money," +he said, severely. "Good heavens! What's the matter?" + +Mr. Smithson, who had sprung to his feet, made no reply, but stood for +some time incapable of speech. + +"What--is--the--matter?" repeated Mr. Clarkson. "Ain't you well?" + +Mr. Smithson swayed a little, and sank slowly back into his chair again. + +"Room's too hot," said his astonished host. + +Mr. Smithson, staring straight before him, nodded. + +"As I was saying," resumed Mr. Clarkson, in the low tones of confidence, +"Digson was after her money. Of course her money don't make any +difference to me, although, perhaps, I may be able to do something for +friends like you. It's from an uncle in America on her mother's--" + +Mr. Smithson made a strange moaning noise, and, snatching his hat from +the table, clapped it on his head and made for the door. Mr. Clarkson +flung his arms around him and dragged him back by main force. + +"What are you carrying on like that for?" he demanded. "What do you mean +by it?" + +"Fancy!" returned Mr. Smithson, with intense bitterness. "I thought +Digson was the biggest fool in the place, and I find I've made a +mistake. So have you. Good-night." + +He opened the door and dashed out. Mr. Clarkson, with a strange sinking +at his heart, watched him up the road. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bequest, by W.W. 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