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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10785-0.txt b/10785-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea27297 --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,513 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10785 *** + +SAILORS' KNOTS + +By W.W. Jacobs + + +1909 + + + +"MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS" + + +Mr. Dowson sat by the kitchen fire smoking and turning a docile and well- +trained ear to the heated words which fell from his wife's lips. + +"She'll go and do the same as her sister Jenny done," said Mrs. Dowson, +with a side glance at her daughter Flora; "marry a man and then 'ave to +work and slave herself to skin and bone to keep him." + +"I see Jenny yesterday," said her husband, nodding. "Getting quite fat, +she is." + +"That's right," said Mrs. Dowson, violently, "that's right! The moment I +say something you go and try and upset it." + +"Un'ealthy fat, p'r'aps," said Mr. Dowson, hurriedly; "don't get enough +exercise, I s'pose." + +"Anybody who didn't know you, Joe Dowson," said his wife, fiercely, +"would think you was doing it a purpose." + +"Doing wot?" inquired Mr. Dowson, removing his pipe and regarding her +open-mouthed. "I only said----" + +"I know what you said," retorted his wife. "Here I do my best from +morning to night to make everybody 'appy and comfortable; and what +happens?" + +"Nothing," said the sympathetic Mr. Dowson, shaking his head. "Nothing." + +"Anyway, Jenny ain't married a fool," said Mrs. Dowson, hotly; "she's got +that consolation." + +"That's right, mother," said the innocent Mr. Dowson, "look on the bright +side o' things a bit. If Jenny 'ad married a better chap I don't suppose +we should see half as much of her as wot we do." + +"I'm talking of Flora," said his wife, restraining herself by an effort. +"One unfortunate marriage in the family is enough; and here, instead o' +walking out with young Ben Lippet, who'll be 'is own master when his +father dies, she's gadding about with that good-for-nothing Charlie +Foss." + +Mr. Dowson shook his head. "He's so good-looking, is Charlie," he said, +slowly; "that's the worst of it. Wot with 'is dark eyes and his curly +'air----" + +"Go on!" said his wife, passionately, "go on!" + +Mr. Dowson, dimly conscious that something was wrong, stopped and puffed +hard at his pipe. Through the cover of the smoke he bestowed a +sympathetic wink upon his daughter. + +"You needn't go on too fast," said the latter, turning to her mother. "I +haven't made up my mind yet. Charlie's looks are all right, but he ain't +over and above steady, and Ben is steady, but he ain't much to look at." + +"What does your 'art say?" inquired the sentimental Mr. Dowson. + +Neither lady took the slightest notice. + +"Charlie Foss is too larky," said Mrs. Dowson, solemnly; "it's easy come +and easy go with 'im. He's just such another as your father's cousin +Bill--and look what 'appened to him!" + +Miss Dowson shrugged her shoulders and subsiding in her chair, went on +with her book, until a loud knock at the door and a cheerful, but +peculiarly shrill, whistle sounded outside. + +[Illustration: "Miss Dowson, subsiding in her chair, went on with her +book."] + +"There is my lord," exclaimed Mrs. Dowson, waspishly; "anybody might +think the 'ouse belonged to him. And now he's dancing on my clean +doorstep." + +"Might be only knocking the mud off afore coming in," said Mr. Dowson, as +he rose to open the door. "I've noticed he's very careful." + +"I just came in to tell you a joke," said Mr. Foss, as he followed his +host into the kitchen and gazed tenderly at Miss Dowson--"best joke I +ever had in my life; I've 'ad my fortune told--guess what it was! I've +been laughing to myself ever since." + +"Who told it?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, after a somewhat awkward silence. + +"Old gypsy woman in Peter Street," replied Mr. Foss. "I gave 'er a wrong +name and address, just in case she might ha' heard about me, and she did +make a mess of it; upon my word she did." + +"Wot did she say?" inquired Mr. Dowson. + +Mr. Foss laughed. "Said I was a wrong 'un," he said, cheerfully, "and +would bring my mother's gray hairs to the grave with sorrow. I'm to 'ave +bad companions and take to drink; I'm to steal money to gamble with, and +after all that I'm to 'ave five years for bigamy. I told her I was +disappointed I wasn't to be hung, and she said it would be a +disappointment to a lot of other people too. Laugh! I thought I should +'ave killed myself." + +"I don't see nothing to laugh at," said Mrs. Dowson, coldly. + +"I shouldn't tell anybody else, Charlie," said her husband. "Keep it a +secret, my boy." + +"But you--you don't believe it?" stammered the crestfallen Mr. Foss. + +Mrs. Dowson cast a stealthy glance at her daughter. "Its wonderful 'ow +some o' those fortune-tellers can see into the future," she said, shaking +her head. + +"Ah!" said her husband, with a confirmatory nod. "Wonderful is no name +for it. I 'ad my fortune told once when I was a boy, and she told me I +should marry the prettiest, and the nicest, and the sweetest-tempered gal +in Poplar." + +Mr. Foss, with a triumphant smile, barely waited for him to finish. +"There you--" he began, and stopped suddenly. + +[Illustration: "I just came in to tell you a joke."] + +"What was you about to remark?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, icily. + +"I was going to say," replied Mr. Foss--"I was going to say--I 'ad just +got it on the tip o' my tongue to say, 'There you--you--you 'ad all the +luck, Mr. Dowson.'" + +He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora; but there was a chilliness +in the atmosphere against which his high spirits strove in vain. Mr. +Dowson remembered other predictions which had come true, notably the case +of one man who, learning that he was to come in for a legacy, gave up a +two-pound-a-week job, and did actually come in for twenty pounds and a +bird-cage seven years afterwards. + +[Illustration: "He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora."] + +"It's all nonsense," protested Mr. Foss; "she only said all that because +I made fun of her. You don't believe it, do you, Flora?" + +"I don't see anything to laugh at," returned Miss Dowson. "Fancy five +years for bigamy! Fancy the disgrace of it!" + +"But you're talking as if I was going to do it," objected Mr. Foss. "I +wish you'd go and 'ave your fortune told. Go and see what she says about +you. P'r'aps you won't believe so much in fortune-telling afterwards." + +Mrs. Dowson looked up quickly, and then, lowering her eyes, took her hand +out of the stocking she had been darning and, placing it beside its +companion, rolled the pair into a ball. + +"You go round to-morrow night, Flora," she said, deliberately. "It +sha'n't be said a daughter of mine was afraid to hear the truth about +herself; father'll find the money." + +"And she can say what she likes about you, but I sha'n't believe it," +said Mr. Foss, reproachfully. + +"I don't suppose it'll be anything to be ashamed of," said Miss Dowson, +sharply. + +Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly, and, finding himself accompanied +to the door by Mr. Dowson, gave way to gloom. He stood for so long with +one foot on the step and the other on the mat that Mr. Dowson, who +disliked draughts, got impatient. + +[Illustration: "Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly."] + +"You'll catch cold, Charlie," he said at last. + +"That's what I'm trying to do," said Mr. Foss; "my death o' cold. Then I +sha'n't get five years for bigamy," he added bitterly. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. Dowson; "five years ain't much out of a lifetime; +and you can't expect to 'ave your fun without--" + +He watched the retreating figure of Mr. Foss as it stamped its way down +the street, and closing the door returned to the kitchen to discuss +palmistry and other sciences until bedtime. + +Mrs. Dowson saw husband and daughter off to work in the morning, and +after washing up the breakfast things drew her chair up to the kitchen +fire and became absorbed in memories of the past. All the leading +incidents in Flora's career passed in review before her. Measles, +whooping-cough, school-prizes, and other things peculiar to the age of +innocence were all there. In her enthusiasm she nearly gave her a +sprained ankle which had belonged to her sister. Still shaking her head +over her mistake, she drew Flora's latest portrait carefully from its +place in the album, and putting on her hat and jacket went round to make +a call in Peter Street. + +By the time Flora returned home Mrs. Dowson appeared to have forgotten +the arrangement made the night before, and, being reminded by her +daughter, questioned whether any good could come of attempts to peer into +the future. Mr. Dowson was still more emphatic, but his objections, +being recognized by both ladies as trouser-pocket ones, carried no +weight. It ended in Flora going off with half a crown in her glove and +an urgent request from her father to make it as difficult as possible for +the sibyl by giving a false name and address. + +No name was asked for, however, as Miss Dowson was shown into the untidy +little back room on the first floor, in which the sorceress ate, slept, +and received visitors. She rose from an old rocking-chair as the visitor +entered, and, regarding her with a pair of beady black eyes, bade her sit +down. + +"Are you the fortune-teller?" inquired the girl. + +"Men call me so," was the reply. + +"Yes, but are you?" persisted Miss Dowson, who inherited her father's +fondness for half crowns. + +"Yes," said the other, in a more natural voice. + +She took the girl's left hand, and pouring a little dark liquid into the +palm gazed at it intently. "Left for the past; right for the future," +she said, in a deep voice. + +She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower over the girl's +hand. + +[Illustration: "She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower +over the girl's hand."] + +"I see a fair-haired infant," she said, slowly; "I see a little girl of +four racked with the whooping-cough; I see her later, eight she appears +to be. She is in bed with measles." + +Miss Dowson stared at her open-mouthed. + +"She goes away to the seaside to get strong," continued the sorceress; +"she is paddling; she falls into the water and spoils her frock; her +mother----" + +"Never mind about that," interrupted the staring Miss Dowson, hastily. +"I was only eight at the time and mother always was ready with her +hands." + +"People on the beach smile," resumed the other. "They + +"It don't take much to make some people laugh," said Miss Dowson, with +bitterness. + +"At fourteen she and a boy next door but seven both have the mumps." + +"And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?" + +"I'm only reading what I see in your hand," said the other. "At fifteen +I see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings her +home." + +"Passing at the time," murmured Miss Dowson. + +"His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to a +dressmaker. I see her----" + +The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment, +listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in her +career. + +"That brings us to the present," said the soothsayer, dropping her hand. +"Now for the future." + +She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it. +Miss Dowson shrank back. + +"If it's anything dreadful," she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it. +It--it ain't natural." + +"I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of," said the other, detaining +her hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do and +what to avoid. Ah!" + +She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations of +surprise and perplexity. + +"I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces," she said, +slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothes +are showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young man +and a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fair +young man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches." + +"What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthy +pause. + +The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy," she +said, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going to +marry one of them, but I can't see clear--I can't see which." + +"Look again," said the trembling Flora. + +"I can't see," was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see. +It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you. +You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man is +beckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and a +yacht." + +"And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson. + +"He's in knickerbockers," said the other, doubtfully. "What does that +mean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he is +pointing to a jail. It's all gone--I can see no more." + +She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sank +back into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped the +half crown into her lap, and, with her head in a whirl, made her way +downstairs. + +After such marvels the streets seemed oddly commonplace as she walked +swiftly home. She decided as she went to keep her knowledge to herself, +but inclination on the one hand and Mrs. Dowson on the other got the +better of her resolution. With the exception of a few things in her +past, already known and therefore not worth dwelling upon, the whole of +the interview was disclosed. + +"It fair takes your breath away," declared the astounded Mr. Dowson. + +"The fair young man is meant for Ben Lippet," said his wife, "and the +dark one is Charlie Foss. It must be. It's no use shutting your eyes to +things." + +"It's as plain as a pikestaff," agreed her husband. "And she told +Charlie five years for bigamy, and when she's telling Flora's Fortune she +sees 'im in convict's clothes. How she does it I can't think." + +"It's a gift," said Mrs. Dowson, briefly, "and I do hope that Flora is +going to act sensible. Anyhow, she can let Ben Lippet come and see her, +without going upstairs with the tooth-ache." + +"He can come if he likes," said Flora; "though why Charlie couldn't have +'ad the motor-car and 'im the five years, I don't know." + +Mr. Lippet came in the next evening, and the evening after. In fact, so +easy is it to fall into habits of an agreeable nature that nearly every +evening saw him the happy guest of Mr. Dowson. A spirit of resignation, +fostered by a present or two and a visit to the theatre, descended upon +Miss Dowson. Fate and her mother combined were in a fair way to +overcome her inclinations, when Mr. Foss, who had been out of town on a +job, came in to hear the result of her visit to the fortune-teller, and +found Mr. Lippet installed in the seat that used to be his. + +At first Mrs. Dowson turned a deaf ear to his request for information, +and it was only when his jocularity on the subject passed the bounds of +endurance that she consented to gratify his curiosity. + +"I didn't want to tell you," she said, when she had finished, "but you +asked for it, and now you've got it." + +"It's very amusing," said Mr. Foss. "I wonder who the dark young man in +the fancy knickers is?" + +"Ah, I daresay you'll know some day," said Mrs. Dowson. + +"Was the fair young man a good-looking chap?" inquired the inquisitive +Mr. Foss. + +Mrs. Dowson hesitated. "Yes," she said, defiantly. + +"Wonder who it can be?" muttered Mr. Foss, in perplexity. + +"You'll know that too some day, no doubt," was the reply. + +"I'm glad it's to be a good-looking chap," he said; "not that I think +Flora believes in such rubbish as fortune-telling. She's too sensible." + +"I do," said Flora. "How should she know all the things I did when I was +a little girl? Tell me that." + +"I believe in it, too," said Mrs. Dowson. "P'r'aps you'll tell me I'm +not sensible!" + +Mr. Foss quailed at the challenge and relapsed into moody silence. The +talk turned on an aunt of Mr. Lippet's, rumored to possess money, and an +uncle who was "rolling" in it. He began to feel in the way, and only his +native obstinacy prevented him from going. + +It was a relief to him when the front door opened and the heavy step of +Mr. Dowson was heard in the tiny passage. If anything it seemed heavier +than usual, and Mr. Dowson's manner when he entered the room and greeted +his guests was singularly lacking in its usual cheerfulness. He drew a +chair to the fire, and putting his feet on the fender gazed moodily +between the bars. + +"I've been wondering as I came along," he said at last, with an obvious +attempt to speak carelessly, "whether this 'ere fortune-telling as we've +been hearing so much about lately always comes out true." + +"It depends on the fortune-teller," said his wife. + +"I mean," said Mr. Dowson, slowly, "I mean that gypsy woman that Charlie +and Flora went to." + +"Of course it does," snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says afore +anything." + +"I know five or six that she has told," said Mr. Lippet, plucking up +courage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; they +said so." + +"Still, she might make a mistake sometimes," said Mr. Dowson, faintly. +"Might get mixed up, so to speak." + +"Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly. + +"Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet. + +Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. It +lighted on Mr. Foss. + +"She's an old humbug," said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put the +police on to her." + +Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again. + +"Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so," said Mrs. Dowson; +"naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says. +If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and if +she told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her." + +"Don't say that," shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't say +that. That's what she did say!" + +"What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?" + +"I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens," said her husband, staring at +the table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and, +being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me, +I went in and had eighteenpennorth." + +"Well, you're upset," said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "You +get upstairs to bed." + +"I'd sooner stay 'ere," said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seems +more cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish." + +"What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss. + +Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spoke +desperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel to +foreign parts----" + +"You get to bed," said his wife. "Come along." + +Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich," he continued, +slowly--"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marry +again; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes." + +Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering with +passion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You--you've been drinking." + +"I've 'ad two arf-pints," said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave +'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy with +a young woman." + +Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him. + +"I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson," said Mr. Foss, +kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain't +to be relied on." + +"Eyes like lamps," said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine next +month. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty." + +A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of the +over-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort. + +"If she said it," she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss, +"it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry a +young woman with--with----" + +"Stormy brown eyes," interjected Mr. Foss, softly. + +"It's his fate and it can't be avoided," concluded Mrs. Dowson. + +"But it's so soon," said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die in +three weeks and I'm to be married three months after." + +Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid the +glittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three! +three weeks!" + +"Don't be frightened," said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don't +believe it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die in +three weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhaps +Flora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars." + +"No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully. + +Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave him +so soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and went +up-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair which +Mr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations to +Flora as he considered suitable to the occasion. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10785 *** diff --git a/10785-h.zip b/10785-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d6a937 --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h.zip diff --git a/10785-h/017.jpg b/10785-h/017.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01231e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h/017.jpg diff --git a/10785-h/018.jpg b/10785-h/018.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..37cd6df --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h/018.jpg diff --git a/10785-h/019.jpg b/10785-h/019.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ad6aa7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h/019.jpg diff --git a/10785-h/020.jpg b/10785-h/020.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f70b3b --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h/020.jpg diff --git a/10785-h/021.jpg b/10785-h/021.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a31e951 --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h/021.jpg diff --git a/10785-h/10785-h.htm b/10785-h/10785-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f72346 --- /dev/null +++ b/10785-h/10785-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1218 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<meta content="pg2html (binary version 0.12a)" + name="generator"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + Sailors' Knots: "MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS" + by W.W. Jacobs. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times; + } + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin: 15%; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, 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: Matrimonial Openings + Sailor's Knots, Part 5. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 22, 2004 [EBook #10785] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1> + SAILORS' KNOTS +</h1> +<br /> +<h2> + By W.W. Jacobs +</h2> +<br /><br /> +<h3> + 1909 +</h3> + +<br><br> +<h2>Part 5.</h2> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title (50K)" src="title.jpg" height="718" width="453" /> +</center> +<br><br> +<br /><br /> +<hr> +<br /><br /> + + +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> +<br /> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + + +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-17"> +"Miss Dowson, Subsiding in Her Chair, Went on With Her +Book." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-18"> +"I Just Came in to Tell You a Joke." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-19"> +"He Edged his Chair a Little Nearer to Flora." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-20"> +"Mr. Foss Bade Them Good-night Suddenly." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-21"> +"She Muttered Some Strange Words and Bent Her Head Lower +Over the Girl's Hand." +</a></p> + + + + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + +<a name="2H_4_5"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2> + "MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS" +</h2> +<p> + Mr. Dowson sat by the kitchen fire smoking and turning a docile and well- + trained ear to the heated words which fell from his wife's lips. +</p> +<p> + "She'll go and do the same as her sister Jenny done," said Mrs. Dowson, + with a side glance at her daughter Flora; "marry a man and then 'ave to + work and slave herself to skin and bone to keep him." +</p> +<p> + "I see Jenny yesterday," said her husband, nodding. "Getting quite fat, + she is." +</p> +<p> + "That's right," said Mrs. Dowson, violently, "that's right! The moment I + say something you go and try and upset it." +</p> +<p> + "Un'ealthy fat, p'r'aps," said Mr. Dowson, hurriedly; "don't get enough + exercise, I s'pose." +</p> +<p> + "Anybody who didn't know you, Joe Dowson," said his wife, fiercely, + "would think you was doing it a purpose." +</p> +<p> + "Doing wot?" inquired Mr. Dowson, removing his pipe and regarding her + open-mouthed. "I only said——" +</p> +<p> + "I know what you said," retorted his wife. "Here I do my best from + morning to night to make everybody 'appy and comfortable; and what + happens?" +</p> +<p> + "Nothing," said the sympathetic Mr. Dowson, shaking his head. "Nothing." +</p> +<p> + "Anyway, Jenny ain't married a fool," said Mrs. Dowson, hotly; "she's got + that consolation." +</p> +<p> + "That's right, mother," said the innocent Mr. Dowson, "look on the bright + side o' things a bit. If Jenny 'ad married a better chap I don't suppose + we should see half as much of her as wot we do." +</p> +<p> + "I'm talking of Flora," said his wife, restraining herself by an effort. + "One unfortunate marriage in the family is enough; and here, instead o' + walking out with young Ben Lippet, who'll be 'is own master when his + father dies, she's gadding about with that good-for-nothing Charlie + Foss." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson shook his head. "He's so good-looking, is Charlie," he said, + slowly; "that's the worst of it. Wot with 'is dark eyes and his curly + 'air——" +</p> +<p> + "Go on!" said his wife, passionately, "go on!" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson, dimly conscious that something was wrong, stopped and puffed + hard at his pipe. Through the cover of the smoke he bestowed a + sympathetic wink upon his daughter. +</p> +<p> + "You needn't go on too fast," said the latter, turning to her mother. "I + haven't made up my mind yet. Charlie's looks are all right, but he ain't + over and above steady, and Ben is steady, but he ain't much to look at." +</p> +<p> + "What does your 'art say?" inquired the sentimental Mr. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + Neither lady took the slightest notice. +</p> +<p> + "Charlie Foss is too larky," said Mrs. Dowson, solemnly; "it's easy come + and easy go with 'im. He's just such another as your father's cousin + Bill—and look what 'appened to him!" +</p> +<p> + Miss Dowson shrugged her shoulders and subsiding in her chair, went on + with her book, until a loud knock at the door and a cheerful, but + peculiarly shrill, whistle sounded outside. +</p> +<a name="image-17"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="017.jpg" height="457" width="469" +alt="'Miss Dowson, Subsiding in Her Chair, Went on With Her +Book.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "There is my lord," exclaimed Mrs. Dowson, waspishly; "anybody might + think the 'ouse belonged to him. And now he's dancing on my clean + doorstep." +</p> +<p> + "Might be only knocking the mud off afore coming in," said Mr. Dowson, as + he rose to open the door. "I've noticed he's very careful." +</p> +<p> + "I just came in to tell you a joke," said Mr. Foss, as he followed his + host into the kitchen and gazed tenderly at Miss Dowson—"best joke I + ever had in my life; I've 'ad my fortune told—guess what it was! I've + been laughing to myself ever since." +</p> +<p> + "Who told it?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, after a somewhat awkward silence. +</p> +<p> + "Old gypsy woman in Peter Street," replied Mr. Foss. "I gave 'er a wrong + name and address, just in case she might ha' heard about me, and she did + make a mess of it; upon my word she did." +</p> +<p> + "Wot did she say?" inquired Mr. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss laughed. "Said I was a wrong 'un," he said, cheerfully, "and + would bring my mother's gray hairs to the grave with sorrow. I'm to 'ave + bad companions and take to drink; I'm to steal money to gamble with, and + after all that I'm to 'ave five years for bigamy. I told her I was + disappointed I wasn't to be hung, and she said it would be a + disappointment to a lot of other people too. Laugh! I thought I should + 'ave killed myself." +</p> +<p> + "I don't see nothing to laugh at," said Mrs. Dowson, coldly. +</p> +<p> + "I shouldn't tell anybody else, Charlie," said her husband. "Keep it a + secret, my boy." +</p> +<p> + "But you—you don't believe it?" stammered the crestfallen Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson cast a stealthy glance at her daughter. "Its wonderful 'ow + some o' those fortune-tellers can see into the future," she said, shaking + her head. +</p> +<p> + "Ah!" said her husband, with a confirmatory nod. "Wonderful is no name + for it. I 'ad my fortune told once when I was a boy, and she told me I + should marry the prettiest, and the nicest, and the sweetest-tempered gal + in Poplar." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss, with a triumphant smile, barely waited for him to finish. + "There you—" he began, and stopped suddenly. +</p> +<a name="image-18"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="018.jpg" height="474" width="415" +alt="'I Just Came in to Tell You a Joke.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "What was you about to remark?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, icily. +</p> +<p> + "I was going to say," replied Mr. Foss—"I was going to say—I 'ad just + got it on the tip o' my tongue to say, 'There you—you—you 'ad all the + luck, Mr. Dowson.'" +</p> +<p> + He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora; but there was a chilliness + in the atmosphere against which his high spirits strove in vain. Mr. + Dowson remembered other predictions which had come true, notably the case + of one man who, learning that he was to come in for a legacy, gave up a + two-pound-a-week job, and did actually come in for twenty pounds and a + bird-cage seven years afterwards. +</p> +<a name="image-19"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="019.jpg" height="505" width="440" +alt="'He Edged his Chair a Little Nearer to Flora.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "It's all nonsense," protested Mr. Foss; "she only said all that because + I made fun of her. You don't believe it, do you, Flora?" +</p> +<p> + "I don't see anything to laugh at," returned Miss Dowson. "Fancy five + years for bigamy! Fancy the disgrace of it!" +</p> +<p> + "But you're talking as if I was going to do it," objected Mr. Foss. "I + wish you'd go and 'ave your fortune told. Go and see what she says about + you. P'r'aps you won't believe so much in fortune-telling afterwards." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson looked up quickly, and then, lowering her eyes, took her hand + out of the stocking she had been darning and, placing it beside its + companion, rolled the pair into a ball. +</p> +<p> + "You go round to-morrow night, Flora," she said, deliberately. "It + sha'n't be said a daughter of mine was afraid to hear the truth about + herself; father'll find the money." +</p> +<p> + "And she can say what she likes about you, but I sha'n't believe it," + said Mr. Foss, reproachfully. +</p> +<p> + "I don't suppose it'll be anything to be ashamed of," said Miss Dowson, + sharply. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly, and, finding himself accompanied + to the door by Mr. Dowson, gave way to gloom. He stood for so long with + one foot on the step and the other on the mat that Mr. Dowson, who + disliked draughts, got impatient. +</p> +<a name="image-20"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="020.jpg" height="506" width="407" +alt="'Mr. Foss Bade Them Good-night Suddenly.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "You'll catch cold, Charlie," he said at last. +</p> +<p> + "That's what I'm trying to do," said Mr. Foss; "my death o' cold. Then I + sha'n't get five years for bigamy," he added bitterly. +</p> +<p> + "Cheer up," said Mr. Dowson; "five years ain't much out of a lifetime; + and you can't expect to 'ave your fun without—" +</p> +<p> + He watched the retreating figure of Mr. Foss as it stamped its way down + the street, and closing the door returned to the kitchen to discuss + palmistry and other sciences until bedtime. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson saw husband and daughter off to work in the morning, and + after washing up the breakfast things drew her chair up to the kitchen + fire and became absorbed in memories of the past. All the leading + incidents in Flora's career passed in review before her. Measles, + whooping-cough, school-prizes, and other things peculiar to the age of + innocence were all there. In her enthusiasm she nearly gave her a + sprained ankle which had belonged to her sister. Still shaking her head + over her mistake, she drew Flora's latest portrait carefully from its + place in the album, and putting on her hat and jacket went round to make + a call in Peter Street. +</p> +<p> + By the time Flora returned home Mrs. Dowson appeared to have forgotten + the arrangement made the night before, and, being reminded by her + daughter, questioned whether any good could come of attempts to peer into + the future. Mr. Dowson was still more emphatic, but his objections, + being recognized by both ladies as trouser-pocket ones, carried no + weight. It ended in Flora going off with half a crown in her glove and + an urgent request from her father to make it as difficult as possible for + the sibyl by giving a false name and address. +</p> +<p> + No name was asked for, however, as Miss Dowson was shown into the untidy + little back room on the first floor, in which the sorceress ate, slept, + and received visitors. She rose from an old rocking-chair as the visitor + entered, and, regarding her with a pair of beady black eyes, bade her sit + down. +</p> +<p> + "Are you the fortune-teller?" inquired the girl. +</p> +<p> + "Men call me so," was the reply. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, but are you?" persisted Miss Dowson, who inherited her father's + fondness for half crowns. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said the other, in a more natural voice. +</p> +<p> + She took the girl's left hand, and pouring a little dark liquid into the + palm gazed at it intently. "Left for the past; right for the future," + she said, in a deep voice. +</p> +<p> + She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower over the girl's + hand. +</p> +<a name="image-21"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="021.jpg" height="464" width="418" +alt="'She Muttered Some Strange Words and Bent Her Head Lower +Over the Girl's Hand.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "I see a fair-haired infant," she said, slowly; "I see a little girl of + four racked with the whooping-cough; I see her later, eight she appears + to be. She is in bed with measles." +</p> +<p> + Miss Dowson stared at her open-mouthed. +</p> +<p> + "She goes away to the seaside to get strong," continued the sorceress; + "she is paddling; she falls into the water and spoils her frock; her + mother——" +</p> +<p> + "Never mind about that," interrupted the staring Miss Dowson, hastily. + "I was only eight at the time and mother always was ready with her + hands." +</p> +<p> + "People on the beach smile," resumed the other. "They +</p> +<p> + "It don't take much to make some people laugh," said Miss Dowson, with + bitterness. +</p> +<p> + "At fourteen she and a boy next door but seven both have the mumps." +</p> +<p> + "And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?" +</p> +<p> + "I'm only reading what I see in your hand," said the other. "At fifteen + I see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings her + home." +</p> +<p> + "Passing at the time," murmured Miss Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to a + dressmaker. I see her——" +</p> +<p> + The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment, + listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in her + career. +</p> +<p> + "That brings us to the present," said the soothsayer, dropping her hand. + "Now for the future." +</p> +<p> + She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it. + Miss Dowson shrank back. +</p> +<p> + "If it's anything dreadful," she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it. + It—it ain't natural." +</p> +<p> + "I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of," said the other, detaining + her hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do and + what to avoid. Ah!" +</p> +<p> + She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations of + surprise and perplexity. +</p> +<p> + "I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces," she said, + slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothes + are showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young man + and a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fair + young man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches." +</p> +<p> + "What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthy + pause. +</p> +<p> + The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy," she + said, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going to + marry one of them, but I can't see clear—I can't see which." +</p> +<p> + "Look again," said the trembling Flora. +</p> +<p> + "I can't see," was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see. + It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you. + You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man is + beckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and a + yacht." +</p> +<p> + "And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "He's in knickerbockers," said the other, doubtfully. "What does that + mean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he is + pointing to a jail. It's all gone—I can see no more." +</p> +<p> + She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sank + back into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped the + half crown into her lap, and, with her head in a whirl, made her way + downstairs. +</p> +<p> + After such marvels the streets seemed oddly commonplace as she walked + swiftly home. She decided as she went to keep her knowledge to herself, + but inclination on the one hand and Mrs. Dowson on the other got the + better of her resolution. With the exception of a few things in her + past, already known and therefore not worth dwelling upon, the whole of + the interview was disclosed. +</p> +<p> + "It fair takes your breath away," declared the astounded Mr. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "The fair young man is meant for Ben Lippet," said his wife, "and the + dark one is Charlie Foss. It must be. It's no use shutting your eyes to + things." +</p> +<p> + "It's as plain as a pikestaff," agreed her husband. "And she told + Charlie five years for bigamy, and when she's telling Flora's Fortune she + sees 'im in convict's clothes. How she does it I can't think." +</p> +<p> + "It's a gift," said Mrs. Dowson, briefly, "and I do hope that Flora is + going to act sensible. Anyhow, she can let Ben Lippet come and see her, + without going upstairs with the tooth-ache." +</p> +<p> + "He can come if he likes," said Flora; "though why Charlie couldn't have + 'ad the motor-car and 'im the five years, I don't know." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Lippet came in the next evening, and the evening after. In fact, so + easy is it to fall into habits of an agreeable nature that nearly every + evening saw him the happy guest of Mr. Dowson. A spirit of resignation, + fostered by a present or two and a visit to the theatre, descended upon + Miss Dowson. Fate and her mother combined were in a fair way to + overcome her inclinations, when Mr. Foss, who had been out of town on a + job, came in to hear the result of her visit to the fortune-teller, and + found Mr. Lippet installed in the seat that used to be his. +</p> +<p> + At first Mrs. Dowson turned a deaf ear to his request for information, + and it was only when his jocularity on the subject passed the bounds of + endurance that she consented to gratify his curiosity. +</p> +<p> + "I didn't want to tell you," she said, when she had finished, "but you + asked for it, and now you've got it." +</p> +<p> + "It's very amusing," said Mr. Foss. "I wonder who the dark young man in + the fancy knickers is?" +</p> +<p> + "Ah, I daresay you'll know some day," said Mrs. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "Was the fair young man a good-looking chap?" inquired the inquisitive + Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson hesitated. "Yes," she said, defiantly. +</p> +<p> + "Wonder who it can be?" muttered Mr. Foss, in perplexity. +</p> +<p> + "You'll know that too some day, no doubt," was the reply. +</p> +<p> + "I'm glad it's to be a good-looking chap," he said; "not that I think + Flora believes in such rubbish as fortune-telling. She's too sensible." +</p> +<p> + "I do," said Flora. "How should she know all the things I did when I was + a little girl? Tell me that." +</p> +<p> + "I believe in it, too," said Mrs. Dowson. "P'r'aps you'll tell me I'm + not sensible!" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss quailed at the challenge and relapsed into moody silence. The + talk turned on an aunt of Mr. Lippet's, rumored to possess money, and an + uncle who was "rolling" in it. He began to feel in the way, and only his + native obstinacy prevented him from going. +</p> +<p> + It was a relief to him when the front door opened and the heavy step of + Mr. Dowson was heard in the tiny passage. If anything it seemed heavier + than usual, and Mr. Dowson's manner when he entered the room and greeted + his guests was singularly lacking in its usual cheerfulness. He drew a + chair to the fire, and putting his feet on the fender gazed moodily + between the bars. +</p> +<p> + "I've been wondering as I came along," he said at last, with an obvious + attempt to speak carelessly, "whether this 'ere fortune-telling as we've + been hearing so much about lately always comes out true." +</p> +<p> + "It depends on the fortune-teller," said his wife. +</p> +<p> + "I mean," said Mr. Dowson, slowly, "I mean that gypsy woman that Charlie + and Flora went to." +</p> +<p> + "Of course it does," snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says afore + anything." +</p> +<p> + "I know five or six that she has told," said Mr. Lippet, plucking up + courage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; they + said so." +</p> +<p> + "Still, she might make a mistake sometimes," said Mr. Dowson, faintly. + "Might get mixed up, so to speak." +</p> +<p> + "Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly. +</p> +<p> + "Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. It + lighted on Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + "She's an old humbug," said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put the + police on to her." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again. +</p> +<p> + "Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so," said Mrs. Dowson; + "naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says. + If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and if + she told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her." +</p> +<p> + "Don't say that," shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't say + that. That's what she did say!" +</p> +<p> + "What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?" +</p> +<p> + "I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens," said her husband, staring at + the table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and, + being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me, + I went in and had eighteenpennorth." +</p> +<p> + "Well, you're upset," said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "You + get upstairs to bed." +</p> +<p> + "I'd sooner stay 'ere," said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seems + more cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish." +</p> +<p> + "What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spoke + desperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel to + foreign parts——" +</p> +<p> + "You get to bed," said his wife. "Come along." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich," he continued, + slowly—"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marry + again; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering with + passion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You—you've been drinking." +</p> +<p> + "I've 'ad two arf-pints," said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave + 'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy with + a young woman." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him. +</p> +<p> + "I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson," said Mr. Foss, + kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain't + to be relied on." +</p> +<p> + "Eyes like lamps," said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine next + month. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty." +</p> +<p> + A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of the + over-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort. +</p> +<p> + "If she said it," she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss, + "it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry a + young woman with—with——" +</p> +<p> + "Stormy brown eyes," interjected Mr. Foss, softly. +</p> +<p> + "It's his fate and it can't be avoided," concluded Mrs. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "But it's so soon," said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die in + three weeks and I'm to be married three months after." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid the + glittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three! + three weeks!" +</p> +<p> + "Don't be frightened," said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don't + believe it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die in + three weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhaps + Flora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars." +</p> +<p> + "No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave him + so soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and went + up-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair which + Mr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations to + Flora as he considered suitable to the occasion. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_6"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, by W.W. 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Jacobs + +Release Date: January 22, 2004 [EBook #10785] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +SAILORS' KNOTS + +By W.W. Jacobs + + +1909 + + + +"MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS" + + +Mr. Dowson sat by the kitchen fire smoking and turning a docile and well- +trained ear to the heated words which fell from his wife's lips. + +"She'll go and do the same as her sister Jenny done," said Mrs. Dowson, +with a side glance at her daughter Flora; "marry a man and then 'ave to +work and slave herself to skin and bone to keep him." + +"I see Jenny yesterday," said her husband, nodding. "Getting quite fat, +she is." + +"That's right," said Mrs. Dowson, violently, "that's right! The moment I +say something you go and try and upset it." + +"Un'ealthy fat, p'r'aps," said Mr. Dowson, hurriedly; "don't get enough +exercise, I s'pose." + +"Anybody who didn't know you, Joe Dowson," said his wife, fiercely, +"would think you was doing it a purpose." + +"Doing wot?" inquired Mr. Dowson, removing his pipe and regarding her +open-mouthed. "I only said----" + +"I know what you said," retorted his wife. "Here I do my best from +morning to night to make everybody 'appy and comfortable; and what +happens?" + +"Nothing," said the sympathetic Mr. Dowson, shaking his head. "Nothing." + +"Anyway, Jenny ain't married a fool," said Mrs. Dowson, hotly; "she's got +that consolation." + +"That's right, mother," said the innocent Mr. Dowson, "look on the bright +side o' things a bit. If Jenny 'ad married a better chap I don't suppose +we should see half as much of her as wot we do." + +"I'm talking of Flora," said his wife, restraining herself by an effort. +"One unfortunate marriage in the family is enough; and here, instead o' +walking out with young Ben Lippet, who'll be 'is own master when his +father dies, she's gadding about with that good-for-nothing Charlie +Foss." + +Mr. Dowson shook his head. "He's so good-looking, is Charlie," he said, +slowly; "that's the worst of it. Wot with 'is dark eyes and his curly +'air----" + +"Go on!" said his wife, passionately, "go on!" + +Mr. Dowson, dimly conscious that something was wrong, stopped and puffed +hard at his pipe. Through the cover of the smoke he bestowed a +sympathetic wink upon his daughter. + +"You needn't go on too fast," said the latter, turning to her mother. "I +haven't made up my mind yet. Charlie's looks are all right, but he ain't +over and above steady, and Ben is steady, but he ain't much to look at." + +"What does your 'art say?" inquired the sentimental Mr. Dowson. + +Neither lady took the slightest notice. + +"Charlie Foss is too larky," said Mrs. Dowson, solemnly; "it's easy come +and easy go with 'im. He's just such another as your father's cousin +Bill--and look what 'appened to him!" + +Miss Dowson shrugged her shoulders and subsiding in her chair, went on +with her book, until a loud knock at the door and a cheerful, but +peculiarly shrill, whistle sounded outside. + +[Illustration: "Miss Dowson, subsiding in her chair, went on with her +book."] + +"There is my lord," exclaimed Mrs. Dowson, waspishly; "anybody might +think the 'ouse belonged to him. And now he's dancing on my clean +doorstep." + +"Might be only knocking the mud off afore coming in," said Mr. Dowson, as +he rose to open the door. "I've noticed he's very careful." + +"I just came in to tell you a joke," said Mr. Foss, as he followed his +host into the kitchen and gazed tenderly at Miss Dowson--"best joke I +ever had in my life; I've 'ad my fortune told--guess what it was! I've +been laughing to myself ever since." + +"Who told it?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, after a somewhat awkward silence. + +"Old gypsy woman in Peter Street," replied Mr. Foss. "I gave 'er a wrong +name and address, just in case she might ha' heard about me, and she did +make a mess of it; upon my word she did." + +"Wot did she say?" inquired Mr. Dowson. + +Mr. Foss laughed. "Said I was a wrong 'un," he said, cheerfully, "and +would bring my mother's gray hairs to the grave with sorrow. I'm to 'ave +bad companions and take to drink; I'm to steal money to gamble with, and +after all that I'm to 'ave five years for bigamy. I told her I was +disappointed I wasn't to be hung, and she said it would be a +disappointment to a lot of other people too. Laugh! I thought I should +'ave killed myself." + +"I don't see nothing to laugh at," said Mrs. Dowson, coldly. + +"I shouldn't tell anybody else, Charlie," said her husband. "Keep it a +secret, my boy." + +"But you--you don't believe it?" stammered the crestfallen Mr. Foss. + +Mrs. Dowson cast a stealthy glance at her daughter. "Its wonderful 'ow +some o' those fortune-tellers can see into the future," she said, shaking +her head. + +"Ah!" said her husband, with a confirmatory nod. "Wonderful is no name +for it. I 'ad my fortune told once when I was a boy, and she told me I +should marry the prettiest, and the nicest, and the sweetest-tempered gal +in Poplar." + +Mr. Foss, with a triumphant smile, barely waited for him to finish. +"There you--" he began, and stopped suddenly. + +[Illustration: "I just came in to tell you a joke."] + +"What was you about to remark?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, icily. + +"I was going to say," replied Mr. Foss--"I was going to say--I 'ad just +got it on the tip o' my tongue to say, 'There you--you--you 'ad all the +luck, Mr. Dowson.'" + +He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora; but there was a chilliness +in the atmosphere against which his high spirits strove in vain. Mr. +Dowson remembered other predictions which had come true, notably the case +of one man who, learning that he was to come in for a legacy, gave up a +two-pound-a-week job, and did actually come in for twenty pounds and a +bird-cage seven years afterwards. + +[Illustration: "He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora."] + +"It's all nonsense," protested Mr. Foss; "she only said all that because +I made fun of her. You don't believe it, do you, Flora?" + +"I don't see anything to laugh at," returned Miss Dowson. "Fancy five +years for bigamy! Fancy the disgrace of it!" + +"But you're talking as if I was going to do it," objected Mr. Foss. "I +wish you'd go and 'ave your fortune told. Go and see what she says about +you. P'r'aps you won't believe so much in fortune-telling afterwards." + +Mrs. Dowson looked up quickly, and then, lowering her eyes, took her hand +out of the stocking she had been darning and, placing it beside its +companion, rolled the pair into a ball. + +"You go round to-morrow night, Flora," she said, deliberately. "It +sha'n't be said a daughter of mine was afraid to hear the truth about +herself; father'll find the money." + +"And she can say what she likes about you, but I sha'n't believe it," +said Mr. Foss, reproachfully. + +"I don't suppose it'll be anything to be ashamed of," said Miss Dowson, +sharply. + +Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly, and, finding himself accompanied +to the door by Mr. Dowson, gave way to gloom. He stood for so long with +one foot on the step and the other on the mat that Mr. Dowson, who +disliked draughts, got impatient. + +[Illustration: "Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly."] + +"You'll catch cold, Charlie," he said at last. + +"That's what I'm trying to do," said Mr. Foss; "my death o' cold. Then I +sha'n't get five years for bigamy," he added bitterly. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. Dowson; "five years ain't much out of a lifetime; +and you can't expect to 'ave your fun without--" + +He watched the retreating figure of Mr. Foss as it stamped its way down +the street, and closing the door returned to the kitchen to discuss +palmistry and other sciences until bedtime. + +Mrs. Dowson saw husband and daughter off to work in the morning, and +after washing up the breakfast things drew her chair up to the kitchen +fire and became absorbed in memories of the past. All the leading +incidents in Flora's career passed in review before her. Measles, +whooping-cough, school-prizes, and other things peculiar to the age of +innocence were all there. In her enthusiasm she nearly gave her a +sprained ankle which had belonged to her sister. Still shaking her head +over her mistake, she drew Flora's latest portrait carefully from its +place in the album, and putting on her hat and jacket went round to make +a call in Peter Street. + +By the time Flora returned home Mrs. Dowson appeared to have forgotten +the arrangement made the night before, and, being reminded by her +daughter, questioned whether any good could come of attempts to peer into +the future. Mr. Dowson was still more emphatic, but his objections, +being recognized by both ladies as trouser-pocket ones, carried no +weight. It ended in Flora going off with half a crown in her glove and +an urgent request from her father to make it as difficult as possible for +the sibyl by giving a false name and address. + +No name was asked for, however, as Miss Dowson was shown into the untidy +little back room on the first floor, in which the sorceress ate, slept, +and received visitors. She rose from an old rocking-chair as the visitor +entered, and, regarding her with a pair of beady black eyes, bade her sit +down. + +"Are you the fortune-teller?" inquired the girl. + +"Men call me so," was the reply. + +"Yes, but are you?" persisted Miss Dowson, who inherited her father's +fondness for half crowns. + +"Yes," said the other, in a more natural voice. + +She took the girl's left hand, and pouring a little dark liquid into the +palm gazed at it intently. "Left for the past; right for the future," +she said, in a deep voice. + +She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower over the girl's +hand. + +[Illustration: "She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower +over the girl's hand."] + +"I see a fair-haired infant," she said, slowly; "I see a little girl of +four racked with the whooping-cough; I see her later, eight she appears +to be. She is in bed with measles." + +Miss Dowson stared at her open-mouthed. + +"She goes away to the seaside to get strong," continued the sorceress; +"she is paddling; she falls into the water and spoils her frock; her +mother----" + +"Never mind about that," interrupted the staring Miss Dowson, hastily. +"I was only eight at the time and mother always was ready with her +hands." + +"People on the beach smile," resumed the other. "They + +"It don't take much to make some people laugh," said Miss Dowson, with +bitterness. + +"At fourteen she and a boy next door but seven both have the mumps." + +"And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?" + +"I'm only reading what I see in your hand," said the other. "At fifteen +I see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings her +home." + +"Passing at the time," murmured Miss Dowson. + +"His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to a +dressmaker. I see her----" + +The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment, +listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in her +career. + +"That brings us to the present," said the soothsayer, dropping her hand. +"Now for the future." + +She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it. +Miss Dowson shrank back. + +"If it's anything dreadful," she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it. +It--it ain't natural." + +"I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of," said the other, detaining +her hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do and +what to avoid. Ah!" + +She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations of +surprise and perplexity. + +"I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces," she said, +slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothes +are showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young man +and a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fair +young man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches." + +"What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthy +pause. + +The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy," she +said, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going to +marry one of them, but I can't see clear--I can't see which." + +"Look again," said the trembling Flora. + +"I can't see," was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see. +It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you. +You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man is +beckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and a +yacht." + +"And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson. + +"He's in knickerbockers," said the other, doubtfully. "What does that +mean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he is +pointing to a jail. It's all gone--I can see no more." + +She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sank +back into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped the +half crown into her lap, and, with her head in a whirl, made her way +downstairs. + +After such marvels the streets seemed oddly commonplace as she walked +swiftly home. She decided as she went to keep her knowledge to herself, +but inclination on the one hand and Mrs. Dowson on the other got the +better of her resolution. With the exception of a few things in her +past, already known and therefore not worth dwelling upon, the whole of +the interview was disclosed. + +"It fair takes your breath away," declared the astounded Mr. Dowson. + +"The fair young man is meant for Ben Lippet," said his wife, "and the +dark one is Charlie Foss. It must be. It's no use shutting your eyes to +things." + +"It's as plain as a pikestaff," agreed her husband. "And she told +Charlie five years for bigamy, and when she's telling Flora's Fortune she +sees 'im in convict's clothes. How she does it I can't think." + +"It's a gift," said Mrs. Dowson, briefly, "and I do hope that Flora is +going to act sensible. Anyhow, she can let Ben Lippet come and see her, +without going upstairs with the tooth-ache." + +"He can come if he likes," said Flora; "though why Charlie couldn't have +'ad the motor-car and 'im the five years, I don't know." + +Mr. Lippet came in the next evening, and the evening after. In fact, so +easy is it to fall into habits of an agreeable nature that nearly every +evening saw him the happy guest of Mr. Dowson. A spirit of resignation, +fostered by a present or two and a visit to the theatre, descended upon +Miss Dowson. Fate and her mother combined were in a fair way to +overcome her inclinations, when Mr. Foss, who had been out of town on a +job, came in to hear the result of her visit to the fortune-teller, and +found Mr. Lippet installed in the seat that used to be his. + +At first Mrs. Dowson turned a deaf ear to his request for information, +and it was only when his jocularity on the subject passed the bounds of +endurance that she consented to gratify his curiosity. + +"I didn't want to tell you," she said, when she had finished, "but you +asked for it, and now you've got it." + +"It's very amusing," said Mr. Foss. "I wonder who the dark young man in +the fancy knickers is?" + +"Ah, I daresay you'll know some day," said Mrs. Dowson. + +"Was the fair young man a good-looking chap?" inquired the inquisitive +Mr. Foss. + +Mrs. Dowson hesitated. "Yes," she said, defiantly. + +"Wonder who it can be?" muttered Mr. Foss, in perplexity. + +"You'll know that too some day, no doubt," was the reply. + +"I'm glad it's to be a good-looking chap," he said; "not that I think +Flora believes in such rubbish as fortune-telling. She's too sensible." + +"I do," said Flora. "How should she know all the things I did when I was +a little girl? Tell me that." + +"I believe in it, too," said Mrs. Dowson. "P'r'aps you'll tell me I'm +not sensible!" + +Mr. Foss quailed at the challenge and relapsed into moody silence. The +talk turned on an aunt of Mr. Lippet's, rumored to possess money, and an +uncle who was "rolling" in it. He began to feel in the way, and only his +native obstinacy prevented him from going. + +It was a relief to him when the front door opened and the heavy step of +Mr. Dowson was heard in the tiny passage. If anything it seemed heavier +than usual, and Mr. Dowson's manner when he entered the room and greeted +his guests was singularly lacking in its usual cheerfulness. He drew a +chair to the fire, and putting his feet on the fender gazed moodily +between the bars. + +"I've been wondering as I came along," he said at last, with an obvious +attempt to speak carelessly, "whether this 'ere fortune-telling as we've +been hearing so much about lately always comes out true." + +"It depends on the fortune-teller," said his wife. + +"I mean," said Mr. Dowson, slowly, "I mean that gypsy woman that Charlie +and Flora went to." + +"Of course it does," snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says afore +anything." + +"I know five or six that she has told," said Mr. Lippet, plucking up +courage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; they +said so." + +"Still, she might make a mistake sometimes," said Mr. Dowson, faintly. +"Might get mixed up, so to speak." + +"Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly. + +"Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet. + +Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. It +lighted on Mr. Foss. + +"She's an old humbug," said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put the +police on to her." + +Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again. + +"Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so," said Mrs. Dowson; +"naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says. +If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and if +she told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her." + +"Don't say that," shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't say +that. That's what she did say!" + +"What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?" + +"I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens," said her husband, staring at +the table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and, +being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me, +I went in and had eighteenpennorth." + +"Well, you're upset," said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "You +get upstairs to bed." + +"I'd sooner stay 'ere," said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seems +more cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish." + +"What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss. + +Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spoke +desperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel to +foreign parts----" + +"You get to bed," said his wife. "Come along." + +Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich," he continued, +slowly--"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marry +again; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes." + +Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering with +passion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You--you've been drinking." + +"I've 'ad two arf-pints," said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave +'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy with +a young woman." + +Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him. + +"I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson," said Mr. Foss, +kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain't +to be relied on." + +"Eyes like lamps," said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine next +month. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty." + +A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of the +over-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort. + +"If she said it," she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss, +"it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry a +young woman with--with----" + +"Stormy brown eyes," interjected Mr. Foss, softly. + +"It's his fate and it can't be avoided," concluded Mrs. Dowson. + +"But it's so soon," said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die in +three weeks and I'm to be married three months after." + +Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid the +glittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three! +three weeks!" + +"Don't be frightened," said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don't +believe it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die in +three weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhaps +Flora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars." + +"No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully. + +Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave him +so soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and went +up-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair which +Mr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations to +Flora as he considered suitable to the occasion. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, by W.W. 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Jacobs. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times; + } + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin: 15%; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, 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: Matrimonial Openings + Sailor's Knots, Part 5. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 22, 2004 [EBook #10785] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1> + SAILORS' KNOTS +</h1> +<br /> +<h2> + By W.W. Jacobs +</h2> +<br /><br /> +<h3> + 1909 +</h3> + +<br><br> +<h2>Part 5.</h2> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title (50K)" src="title.jpg" height="718" width="453" /> +</center> +<br><br> +<br /><br /> +<hr> +<br /><br /> + + +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> +<br /> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + + +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-17"> +"Miss Dowson, Subsiding in Her Chair, Went on With Her +Book." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-18"> +"I Just Came in to Tell You a Joke." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-19"> +"He Edged his Chair a Little Nearer to Flora." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-20"> +"Mr. Foss Bade Them Good-night Suddenly." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-21"> +"She Muttered Some Strange Words and Bent Her Head Lower +Over the Girl's Hand." +</a></p> + + + + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + +<a name="2H_4_5"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2> + "MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS" +</h2> +<p> + Mr. Dowson sat by the kitchen fire smoking and turning a docile and well- + trained ear to the heated words which fell from his wife's lips. +</p> +<p> + "She'll go and do the same as her sister Jenny done," said Mrs. Dowson, + with a side glance at her daughter Flora; "marry a man and then 'ave to + work and slave herself to skin and bone to keep him." +</p> +<p> + "I see Jenny yesterday," said her husband, nodding. "Getting quite fat, + she is." +</p> +<p> + "That's right," said Mrs. Dowson, violently, "that's right! The moment I + say something you go and try and upset it." +</p> +<p> + "Un'ealthy fat, p'r'aps," said Mr. Dowson, hurriedly; "don't get enough + exercise, I s'pose." +</p> +<p> + "Anybody who didn't know you, Joe Dowson," said his wife, fiercely, + "would think you was doing it a purpose." +</p> +<p> + "Doing wot?" inquired Mr. Dowson, removing his pipe and regarding her + open-mouthed. "I only said——" +</p> +<p> + "I know what you said," retorted his wife. "Here I do my best from + morning to night to make everybody 'appy and comfortable; and what + happens?" +</p> +<p> + "Nothing," said the sympathetic Mr. Dowson, shaking his head. "Nothing." +</p> +<p> + "Anyway, Jenny ain't married a fool," said Mrs. Dowson, hotly; "she's got + that consolation." +</p> +<p> + "That's right, mother," said the innocent Mr. Dowson, "look on the bright + side o' things a bit. If Jenny 'ad married a better chap I don't suppose + we should see half as much of her as wot we do." +</p> +<p> + "I'm talking of Flora," said his wife, restraining herself by an effort. + "One unfortunate marriage in the family is enough; and here, instead o' + walking out with young Ben Lippet, who'll be 'is own master when his + father dies, she's gadding about with that good-for-nothing Charlie + Foss." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson shook his head. "He's so good-looking, is Charlie," he said, + slowly; "that's the worst of it. Wot with 'is dark eyes and his curly + 'air——" +</p> +<p> + "Go on!" said his wife, passionately, "go on!" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson, dimly conscious that something was wrong, stopped and puffed + hard at his pipe. Through the cover of the smoke he bestowed a + sympathetic wink upon his daughter. +</p> +<p> + "You needn't go on too fast," said the latter, turning to her mother. "I + haven't made up my mind yet. Charlie's looks are all right, but he ain't + over and above steady, and Ben is steady, but he ain't much to look at." +</p> +<p> + "What does your 'art say?" inquired the sentimental Mr. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + Neither lady took the slightest notice. +</p> +<p> + "Charlie Foss is too larky," said Mrs. Dowson, solemnly; "it's easy come + and easy go with 'im. He's just such another as your father's cousin + Bill—and look what 'appened to him!" +</p> +<p> + Miss Dowson shrugged her shoulders and subsiding in her chair, went on + with her book, until a loud knock at the door and a cheerful, but + peculiarly shrill, whistle sounded outside. +</p> +<a name="image-17"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="017.jpg" height="457" width="469" +alt="'Miss Dowson, Subsiding in Her Chair, Went on With Her +Book.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "There is my lord," exclaimed Mrs. Dowson, waspishly; "anybody might + think the 'ouse belonged to him. And now he's dancing on my clean + doorstep." +</p> +<p> + "Might be only knocking the mud off afore coming in," said Mr. Dowson, as + he rose to open the door. "I've noticed he's very careful." +</p> +<p> + "I just came in to tell you a joke," said Mr. Foss, as he followed his + host into the kitchen and gazed tenderly at Miss Dowson—"best joke I + ever had in my life; I've 'ad my fortune told—guess what it was! I've + been laughing to myself ever since." +</p> +<p> + "Who told it?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, after a somewhat awkward silence. +</p> +<p> + "Old gypsy woman in Peter Street," replied Mr. Foss. "I gave 'er a wrong + name and address, just in case she might ha' heard about me, and she did + make a mess of it; upon my word she did." +</p> +<p> + "Wot did she say?" inquired Mr. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss laughed. "Said I was a wrong 'un," he said, cheerfully, "and + would bring my mother's gray hairs to the grave with sorrow. I'm to 'ave + bad companions and take to drink; I'm to steal money to gamble with, and + after all that I'm to 'ave five years for bigamy. I told her I was + disappointed I wasn't to be hung, and she said it would be a + disappointment to a lot of other people too. Laugh! I thought I should + 'ave killed myself." +</p> +<p> + "I don't see nothing to laugh at," said Mrs. Dowson, coldly. +</p> +<p> + "I shouldn't tell anybody else, Charlie," said her husband. "Keep it a + secret, my boy." +</p> +<p> + "But you—you don't believe it?" stammered the crestfallen Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson cast a stealthy glance at her daughter. "Its wonderful 'ow + some o' those fortune-tellers can see into the future," she said, shaking + her head. +</p> +<p> + "Ah!" said her husband, with a confirmatory nod. "Wonderful is no name + for it. I 'ad my fortune told once when I was a boy, and she told me I + should marry the prettiest, and the nicest, and the sweetest-tempered gal + in Poplar." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss, with a triumphant smile, barely waited for him to finish. + "There you—" he began, and stopped suddenly. +</p> +<a name="image-18"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="018.jpg" height="474" width="415" +alt="'I Just Came in to Tell You a Joke.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "What was you about to remark?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, icily. +</p> +<p> + "I was going to say," replied Mr. Foss—"I was going to say—I 'ad just + got it on the tip o' my tongue to say, 'There you—you—you 'ad all the + luck, Mr. Dowson.'" +</p> +<p> + He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora; but there was a chilliness + in the atmosphere against which his high spirits strove in vain. Mr. + Dowson remembered other predictions which had come true, notably the case + of one man who, learning that he was to come in for a legacy, gave up a + two-pound-a-week job, and did actually come in for twenty pounds and a + bird-cage seven years afterwards. +</p> +<a name="image-19"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="019.jpg" height="505" width="440" +alt="'He Edged his Chair a Little Nearer to Flora.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "It's all nonsense," protested Mr. Foss; "she only said all that because + I made fun of her. You don't believe it, do you, Flora?" +</p> +<p> + "I don't see anything to laugh at," returned Miss Dowson. "Fancy five + years for bigamy! Fancy the disgrace of it!" +</p> +<p> + "But you're talking as if I was going to do it," objected Mr. Foss. "I + wish you'd go and 'ave your fortune told. Go and see what she says about + you. P'r'aps you won't believe so much in fortune-telling afterwards." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson looked up quickly, and then, lowering her eyes, took her hand + out of the stocking she had been darning and, placing it beside its + companion, rolled the pair into a ball. +</p> +<p> + "You go round to-morrow night, Flora," she said, deliberately. "It + sha'n't be said a daughter of mine was afraid to hear the truth about + herself; father'll find the money." +</p> +<p> + "And she can say what she likes about you, but I sha'n't believe it," + said Mr. Foss, reproachfully. +</p> +<p> + "I don't suppose it'll be anything to be ashamed of," said Miss Dowson, + sharply. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly, and, finding himself accompanied + to the door by Mr. Dowson, gave way to gloom. He stood for so long with + one foot on the step and the other on the mat that Mr. Dowson, who + disliked draughts, got impatient. +</p> +<a name="image-20"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="020.jpg" height="506" width="407" +alt="'Mr. Foss Bade Them Good-night Suddenly.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "You'll catch cold, Charlie," he said at last. +</p> +<p> + "That's what I'm trying to do," said Mr. Foss; "my death o' cold. Then I + sha'n't get five years for bigamy," he added bitterly. +</p> +<p> + "Cheer up," said Mr. Dowson; "five years ain't much out of a lifetime; + and you can't expect to 'ave your fun without—" +</p> +<p> + He watched the retreating figure of Mr. Foss as it stamped its way down + the street, and closing the door returned to the kitchen to discuss + palmistry and other sciences until bedtime. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson saw husband and daughter off to work in the morning, and + after washing up the breakfast things drew her chair up to the kitchen + fire and became absorbed in memories of the past. All the leading + incidents in Flora's career passed in review before her. Measles, + whooping-cough, school-prizes, and other things peculiar to the age of + innocence were all there. In her enthusiasm she nearly gave her a + sprained ankle which had belonged to her sister. Still shaking her head + over her mistake, she drew Flora's latest portrait carefully from its + place in the album, and putting on her hat and jacket went round to make + a call in Peter Street. +</p> +<p> + By the time Flora returned home Mrs. Dowson appeared to have forgotten + the arrangement made the night before, and, being reminded by her + daughter, questioned whether any good could come of attempts to peer into + the future. Mr. Dowson was still more emphatic, but his objections, + being recognized by both ladies as trouser-pocket ones, carried no + weight. It ended in Flora going off with half a crown in her glove and + an urgent request from her father to make it as difficult as possible for + the sibyl by giving a false name and address. +</p> +<p> + No name was asked for, however, as Miss Dowson was shown into the untidy + little back room on the first floor, in which the sorceress ate, slept, + and received visitors. She rose from an old rocking-chair as the visitor + entered, and, regarding her with a pair of beady black eyes, bade her sit + down. +</p> +<p> + "Are you the fortune-teller?" inquired the girl. +</p> +<p> + "Men call me so," was the reply. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, but are you?" persisted Miss Dowson, who inherited her father's + fondness for half crowns. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said the other, in a more natural voice. +</p> +<p> + She took the girl's left hand, and pouring a little dark liquid into the + palm gazed at it intently. "Left for the past; right for the future," + she said, in a deep voice. +</p> +<p> + She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower over the girl's + hand. +</p> +<a name="image-21"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="021.jpg" height="464" width="418" +alt="'She Muttered Some Strange Words and Bent Her Head Lower +Over the Girl's Hand.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "I see a fair-haired infant," she said, slowly; "I see a little girl of + four racked with the whooping-cough; I see her later, eight she appears + to be. She is in bed with measles." +</p> +<p> + Miss Dowson stared at her open-mouthed. +</p> +<p> + "She goes away to the seaside to get strong," continued the sorceress; + "she is paddling; she falls into the water and spoils her frock; her + mother——" +</p> +<p> + "Never mind about that," interrupted the staring Miss Dowson, hastily. + "I was only eight at the time and mother always was ready with her + hands." +</p> +<p> + "People on the beach smile," resumed the other. "They +</p> +<p> + "It don't take much to make some people laugh," said Miss Dowson, with + bitterness. +</p> +<p> + "At fourteen she and a boy next door but seven both have the mumps." +</p> +<p> + "And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?" +</p> +<p> + "I'm only reading what I see in your hand," said the other. "At fifteen + I see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings her + home." +</p> +<p> + "Passing at the time," murmured Miss Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to a + dressmaker. I see her——" +</p> +<p> + The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment, + listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in her + career. +</p> +<p> + "That brings us to the present," said the soothsayer, dropping her hand. + "Now for the future." +</p> +<p> + She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it. + Miss Dowson shrank back. +</p> +<p> + "If it's anything dreadful," she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it. + It—it ain't natural." +</p> +<p> + "I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of," said the other, detaining + her hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do and + what to avoid. Ah!" +</p> +<p> + She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations of + surprise and perplexity. +</p> +<p> + "I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces," she said, + slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothes + are showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young man + and a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fair + young man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches." +</p> +<p> + "What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthy + pause. +</p> +<p> + The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy," she + said, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going to + marry one of them, but I can't see clear—I can't see which." +</p> +<p> + "Look again," said the trembling Flora. +</p> +<p> + "I can't see," was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see. + It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you. + You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man is + beckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and a + yacht." +</p> +<p> + "And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "He's in knickerbockers," said the other, doubtfully. "What does that + mean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he is + pointing to a jail. It's all gone—I can see no more." +</p> +<p> + She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sank + back into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped the + half crown into her lap, and, with her head in a whirl, made her way + downstairs. +</p> +<p> + After such marvels the streets seemed oddly commonplace as she walked + swiftly home. She decided as she went to keep her knowledge to herself, + but inclination on the one hand and Mrs. Dowson on the other got the + better of her resolution. With the exception of a few things in her + past, already known and therefore not worth dwelling upon, the whole of + the interview was disclosed. +</p> +<p> + "It fair takes your breath away," declared the astounded Mr. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "The fair young man is meant for Ben Lippet," said his wife, "and the + dark one is Charlie Foss. It must be. It's no use shutting your eyes to + things." +</p> +<p> + "It's as plain as a pikestaff," agreed her husband. "And she told + Charlie five years for bigamy, and when she's telling Flora's Fortune she + sees 'im in convict's clothes. How she does it I can't think." +</p> +<p> + "It's a gift," said Mrs. Dowson, briefly, "and I do hope that Flora is + going to act sensible. Anyhow, she can let Ben Lippet come and see her, + without going upstairs with the tooth-ache." +</p> +<p> + "He can come if he likes," said Flora; "though why Charlie couldn't have + 'ad the motor-car and 'im the five years, I don't know." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Lippet came in the next evening, and the evening after. In fact, so + easy is it to fall into habits of an agreeable nature that nearly every + evening saw him the happy guest of Mr. Dowson. A spirit of resignation, + fostered by a present or two and a visit to the theatre, descended upon + Miss Dowson. Fate and her mother combined were in a fair way to + overcome her inclinations, when Mr. Foss, who had been out of town on a + job, came in to hear the result of her visit to the fortune-teller, and + found Mr. Lippet installed in the seat that used to be his. +</p> +<p> + At first Mrs. Dowson turned a deaf ear to his request for information, + and it was only when his jocularity on the subject passed the bounds of + endurance that she consented to gratify his curiosity. +</p> +<p> + "I didn't want to tell you," she said, when she had finished, "but you + asked for it, and now you've got it." +</p> +<p> + "It's very amusing," said Mr. Foss. "I wonder who the dark young man in + the fancy knickers is?" +</p> +<p> + "Ah, I daresay you'll know some day," said Mrs. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "Was the fair young man a good-looking chap?" inquired the inquisitive + Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson hesitated. "Yes," she said, defiantly. +</p> +<p> + "Wonder who it can be?" muttered Mr. Foss, in perplexity. +</p> +<p> + "You'll know that too some day, no doubt," was the reply. +</p> +<p> + "I'm glad it's to be a good-looking chap," he said; "not that I think + Flora believes in such rubbish as fortune-telling. She's too sensible." +</p> +<p> + "I do," said Flora. "How should she know all the things I did when I was + a little girl? Tell me that." +</p> +<p> + "I believe in it, too," said Mrs. Dowson. "P'r'aps you'll tell me I'm + not sensible!" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Foss quailed at the challenge and relapsed into moody silence. The + talk turned on an aunt of Mr. Lippet's, rumored to possess money, and an + uncle who was "rolling" in it. He began to feel in the way, and only his + native obstinacy prevented him from going. +</p> +<p> + It was a relief to him when the front door opened and the heavy step of + Mr. Dowson was heard in the tiny passage. If anything it seemed heavier + than usual, and Mr. Dowson's manner when he entered the room and greeted + his guests was singularly lacking in its usual cheerfulness. He drew a + chair to the fire, and putting his feet on the fender gazed moodily + between the bars. +</p> +<p> + "I've been wondering as I came along," he said at last, with an obvious + attempt to speak carelessly, "whether this 'ere fortune-telling as we've + been hearing so much about lately always comes out true." +</p> +<p> + "It depends on the fortune-teller," said his wife. +</p> +<p> + "I mean," said Mr. Dowson, slowly, "I mean that gypsy woman that Charlie + and Flora went to." +</p> +<p> + "Of course it does," snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says afore + anything." +</p> +<p> + "I know five or six that she has told," said Mr. Lippet, plucking up + courage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; they + said so." +</p> +<p> + "Still, she might make a mistake sometimes," said Mr. Dowson, faintly. + "Might get mixed up, so to speak." +</p> +<p> + "Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly. +</p> +<p> + "Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. It + lighted on Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + "She's an old humbug," said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put the + police on to her." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again. +</p> +<p> + "Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so," said Mrs. Dowson; + "naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says. + If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and if + she told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her." +</p> +<p> + "Don't say that," shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't say + that. That's what she did say!" +</p> +<p> + "What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?" +</p> +<p> + "I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens," said her husband, staring at + the table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and, + being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me, + I went in and had eighteenpennorth." +</p> +<p> + "Well, you're upset," said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "You + get upstairs to bed." +</p> +<p> + "I'd sooner stay 'ere," said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seems + more cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish." +</p> +<p> + "What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spoke + desperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel to + foreign parts——" +</p> +<p> + "You get to bed," said his wife. "Come along." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich," he continued, + slowly—"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marry + again; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering with + passion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You—you've been drinking." +</p> +<p> + "I've 'ad two arf-pints," said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave + 'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy with + a young woman." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him. +</p> +<p> + "I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson," said Mr. Foss, + kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain't + to be relied on." +</p> +<p> + "Eyes like lamps," said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine next + month. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty." +</p> +<p> + A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of the + over-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort. +</p> +<p> + "If she said it," she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss, + "it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry a + young woman with—with——" +</p> +<p> + "Stormy brown eyes," interjected Mr. Foss, softly. +</p> +<p> + "It's his fate and it can't be avoided," concluded Mrs. Dowson. +</p> +<p> + "But it's so soon," said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die in + three weeks and I'm to be married three months after." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid the + glittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three! + three weeks!" +</p> +<p> + "Don't be frightened," said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don't + believe it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die in + three weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhaps + Flora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars." +</p> +<p> + "No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave him + so soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and went + up-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair which + Mr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations to + Flora as he considered suitable to the occasion. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_6"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, by W.W. 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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: Matrimonial Openings + Sailor's Knots, Part 5. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: January 22, 2004 [EBook #10785] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +SAILORS' KNOTS + +By W.W. Jacobs + + +1909 + + + +"MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS" + + +Mr. Dowson sat by the kitchen fire smoking and turning a docile and well- +trained ear to the heated words which fell from his wife's lips. + +"She'll go and do the same as her sister Jenny done," said Mrs. Dowson, +with a side glance at her daughter Flora; "marry a man and then 'ave to +work and slave herself to skin and bone to keep him." + +"I see Jenny yesterday," said her husband, nodding. "Getting quite fat, +she is." + +"That's right," said Mrs. Dowson, violently, "that's right! The moment I +say something you go and try and upset it." + +"Un'ealthy fat, p'r'aps," said Mr. Dowson, hurriedly; "don't get enough +exercise, I s'pose." + +"Anybody who didn't know you, Joe Dowson," said his wife, fiercely, +"would think you was doing it a purpose." + +"Doing wot?" inquired Mr. Dowson, removing his pipe and regarding her +open-mouthed. "I only said----" + +"I know what you said," retorted his wife. "Here I do my best from +morning to night to make everybody 'appy and comfortable; and what +happens?" + +"Nothing," said the sympathetic Mr. Dowson, shaking his head. "Nothing." + +"Anyway, Jenny ain't married a fool," said Mrs. Dowson, hotly; "she's got +that consolation." + +"That's right, mother," said the innocent Mr. Dowson, "look on the bright +side o' things a bit. If Jenny 'ad married a better chap I don't suppose +we should see half as much of her as wot we do." + +"I'm talking of Flora," said his wife, restraining herself by an effort. +"One unfortunate marriage in the family is enough; and here, instead o' +walking out with young Ben Lippet, who'll be 'is own master when his +father dies, she's gadding about with that good-for-nothing Charlie +Foss." + +Mr. Dowson shook his head. "He's so good-looking, is Charlie," he said, +slowly; "that's the worst of it. Wot with 'is dark eyes and his curly +'air----" + +"Go on!" said his wife, passionately, "go on!" + +Mr. Dowson, dimly conscious that something was wrong, stopped and puffed +hard at his pipe. Through the cover of the smoke he bestowed a +sympathetic wink upon his daughter. + +"You needn't go on too fast," said the latter, turning to her mother. "I +haven't made up my mind yet. Charlie's looks are all right, but he ain't +over and above steady, and Ben is steady, but he ain't much to look at." + +"What does your 'art say?" inquired the sentimental Mr. Dowson. + +Neither lady took the slightest notice. + +"Charlie Foss is too larky," said Mrs. Dowson, solemnly; "it's easy come +and easy go with 'im. He's just such another as your father's cousin +Bill--and look what 'appened to him!" + +Miss Dowson shrugged her shoulders and subsiding in her chair, went on +with her book, until a loud knock at the door and a cheerful, but +peculiarly shrill, whistle sounded outside. + +[Illustration: "Miss Dowson, subsiding in her chair, went on with her +book."] + +"There is my lord," exclaimed Mrs. Dowson, waspishly; "anybody might +think the 'ouse belonged to him. And now he's dancing on my clean +doorstep." + +"Might be only knocking the mud off afore coming in," said Mr. Dowson, as +he rose to open the door. "I've noticed he's very careful." + +"I just came in to tell you a joke," said Mr. Foss, as he followed his +host into the kitchen and gazed tenderly at Miss Dowson--"best joke I +ever had in my life; I've 'ad my fortune told--guess what it was! I've +been laughing to myself ever since." + +"Who told it?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, after a somewhat awkward silence. + +"Old gypsy woman in Peter Street," replied Mr. Foss. "I gave 'er a wrong +name and address, just in case she might ha' heard about me, and she did +make a mess of it; upon my word she did." + +"Wot did she say?" inquired Mr. Dowson. + +Mr. Foss laughed. "Said I was a wrong 'un," he said, cheerfully, "and +would bring my mother's gray hairs to the grave with sorrow. I'm to 'ave +bad companions and take to drink; I'm to steal money to gamble with, and +after all that I'm to 'ave five years for bigamy. I told her I was +disappointed I wasn't to be hung, and she said it would be a +disappointment to a lot of other people too. Laugh! I thought I should +'ave killed myself." + +"I don't see nothing to laugh at," said Mrs. Dowson, coldly. + +"I shouldn't tell anybody else, Charlie," said her husband. "Keep it a +secret, my boy." + +"But you--you don't believe it?" stammered the crestfallen Mr. Foss. + +Mrs. Dowson cast a stealthy glance at her daughter. "Its wonderful 'ow +some o' those fortune-tellers can see into the future," she said, shaking +her head. + +"Ah!" said her husband, with a confirmatory nod. "Wonderful is no name +for it. I 'ad my fortune told once when I was a boy, and she told me I +should marry the prettiest, and the nicest, and the sweetest-tempered gal +in Poplar." + +Mr. Foss, with a triumphant smile, barely waited for him to finish. +"There you--" he began, and stopped suddenly. + +[Illustration: "I just came in to tell you a joke."] + +"What was you about to remark?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, icily. + +"I was going to say," replied Mr. Foss--"I was going to say--I 'ad just +got it on the tip o' my tongue to say, 'There you--you--you 'ad all the +luck, Mr. Dowson.'" + +He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora; but there was a chilliness +in the atmosphere against which his high spirits strove in vain. Mr. +Dowson remembered other predictions which had come true, notably the case +of one man who, learning that he was to come in for a legacy, gave up a +two-pound-a-week job, and did actually come in for twenty pounds and a +bird-cage seven years afterwards. + +[Illustration: "He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora."] + +"It's all nonsense," protested Mr. Foss; "she only said all that because +I made fun of her. You don't believe it, do you, Flora?" + +"I don't see anything to laugh at," returned Miss Dowson. "Fancy five +years for bigamy! Fancy the disgrace of it!" + +"But you're talking as if I was going to do it," objected Mr. Foss. "I +wish you'd go and 'ave your fortune told. Go and see what she says about +you. P'r'aps you won't believe so much in fortune-telling afterwards." + +Mrs. Dowson looked up quickly, and then, lowering her eyes, took her hand +out of the stocking she had been darning and, placing it beside its +companion, rolled the pair into a ball. + +"You go round to-morrow night, Flora," she said, deliberately. "It +sha'n't be said a daughter of mine was afraid to hear the truth about +herself; father'll find the money." + +"And she can say what she likes about you, but I sha'n't believe it," +said Mr. Foss, reproachfully. + +"I don't suppose it'll be anything to be ashamed of," said Miss Dowson, +sharply. + +Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly, and, finding himself accompanied +to the door by Mr. Dowson, gave way to gloom. He stood for so long with +one foot on the step and the other on the mat that Mr. Dowson, who +disliked draughts, got impatient. + +[Illustration: "Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly."] + +"You'll catch cold, Charlie," he said at last. + +"That's what I'm trying to do," said Mr. Foss; "my death o' cold. Then I +sha'n't get five years for bigamy," he added bitterly. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. Dowson; "five years ain't much out of a lifetime; +and you can't expect to 'ave your fun without--" + +He watched the retreating figure of Mr. Foss as it stamped its way down +the street, and closing the door returned to the kitchen to discuss +palmistry and other sciences until bedtime. + +Mrs. Dowson saw husband and daughter off to work in the morning, and +after washing up the breakfast things drew her chair up to the kitchen +fire and became absorbed in memories of the past. All the leading +incidents in Flora's career passed in review before her. Measles, +whooping-cough, school-prizes, and other things peculiar to the age of +innocence were all there. In her enthusiasm she nearly gave her a +sprained ankle which had belonged to her sister. Still shaking her head +over her mistake, she drew Flora's latest portrait carefully from its +place in the album, and putting on her hat and jacket went round to make +a call in Peter Street. + +By the time Flora returned home Mrs. Dowson appeared to have forgotten +the arrangement made the night before, and, being reminded by her +daughter, questioned whether any good could come of attempts to peer into +the future. Mr. Dowson was still more emphatic, but his objections, +being recognized by both ladies as trouser-pocket ones, carried no +weight. It ended in Flora going off with half a crown in her glove and +an urgent request from her father to make it as difficult as possible for +the sibyl by giving a false name and address. + +No name was asked for, however, as Miss Dowson was shown into the untidy +little back room on the first floor, in which the sorceress ate, slept, +and received visitors. She rose from an old rocking-chair as the visitor +entered, and, regarding her with a pair of beady black eyes, bade her sit +down. + +"Are you the fortune-teller?" inquired the girl. + +"Men call me so," was the reply. + +"Yes, but are you?" persisted Miss Dowson, who inherited her father's +fondness for half crowns. + +"Yes," said the other, in a more natural voice. + +She took the girl's left hand, and pouring a little dark liquid into the +palm gazed at it intently. "Left for the past; right for the future," +she said, in a deep voice. + +She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower over the girl's +hand. + +[Illustration: "She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower +over the girl's hand."] + +"I see a fair-haired infant," she said, slowly; "I see a little girl of +four racked with the whooping-cough; I see her later, eight she appears +to be. She is in bed with measles." + +Miss Dowson stared at her open-mouthed. + +"She goes away to the seaside to get strong," continued the sorceress; +"she is paddling; she falls into the water and spoils her frock; her +mother----" + +"Never mind about that," interrupted the staring Miss Dowson, hastily. +"I was only eight at the time and mother always was ready with her +hands." + +"People on the beach smile," resumed the other. "They + +"It don't take much to make some people laugh," said Miss Dowson, with +bitterness. + +"At fourteen she and a boy next door but seven both have the mumps." + +"And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?" + +"I'm only reading what I see in your hand," said the other. "At fifteen +I see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings her +home." + +"Passing at the time," murmured Miss Dowson. + +"His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to a +dressmaker. I see her----" + +The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment, +listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in her +career. + +"That brings us to the present," said the soothsayer, dropping her hand. +"Now for the future." + +She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it. +Miss Dowson shrank back. + +"If it's anything dreadful," she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it. +It--it ain't natural." + +"I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of," said the other, detaining +her hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do and +what to avoid. Ah!" + +She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations of +surprise and perplexity. + +"I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces," she said, +slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothes +are showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young man +and a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fair +young man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches." + +"What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthy +pause. + +The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy," she +said, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going to +marry one of them, but I can't see clear--I can't see which." + +"Look again," said the trembling Flora. + +"I can't see," was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see. +It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you. +You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man is +beckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and a +yacht." + +"And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson. + +"He's in knickerbockers," said the other, doubtfully. "What does that +mean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he is +pointing to a jail. It's all gone--I can see no more." + +She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sank +back into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped the +half crown into her lap, and, with her head in a whirl, made her way +downstairs. + +After such marvels the streets seemed oddly commonplace as she walked +swiftly home. She decided as she went to keep her knowledge to herself, +but inclination on the one hand and Mrs. Dowson on the other got the +better of her resolution. With the exception of a few things in her +past, already known and therefore not worth dwelling upon, the whole of +the interview was disclosed. + +"It fair takes your breath away," declared the astounded Mr. Dowson. + +"The fair young man is meant for Ben Lippet," said his wife, "and the +dark one is Charlie Foss. It must be. It's no use shutting your eyes to +things." + +"It's as plain as a pikestaff," agreed her husband. "And she told +Charlie five years for bigamy, and when she's telling Flora's Fortune she +sees 'im in convict's clothes. How she does it I can't think." + +"It's a gift," said Mrs. Dowson, briefly, "and I do hope that Flora is +going to act sensible. Anyhow, she can let Ben Lippet come and see her, +without going upstairs with the tooth-ache." + +"He can come if he likes," said Flora; "though why Charlie couldn't have +'ad the motor-car and 'im the five years, I don't know." + +Mr. Lippet came in the next evening, and the evening after. In fact, so +easy is it to fall into habits of an agreeable nature that nearly every +evening saw him the happy guest of Mr. Dowson. A spirit of resignation, +fostered by a present or two and a visit to the theatre, descended upon +Miss Dowson. Fate and her mother combined were in a fair way to +overcome her inclinations, when Mr. Foss, who had been out of town on a +job, came in to hear the result of her visit to the fortune-teller, and +found Mr. Lippet installed in the seat that used to be his. + +At first Mrs. Dowson turned a deaf ear to his request for information, +and it was only when his jocularity on the subject passed the bounds of +endurance that she consented to gratify his curiosity. + +"I didn't want to tell you," she said, when she had finished, "but you +asked for it, and now you've got it." + +"It's very amusing," said Mr. Foss. "I wonder who the dark young man in +the fancy knickers is?" + +"Ah, I daresay you'll know some day," said Mrs. Dowson. + +"Was the fair young man a good-looking chap?" inquired the inquisitive +Mr. Foss. + +Mrs. Dowson hesitated. "Yes," she said, defiantly. + +"Wonder who it can be?" muttered Mr. Foss, in perplexity. + +"You'll know that too some day, no doubt," was the reply. + +"I'm glad it's to be a good-looking chap," he said; "not that I think +Flora believes in such rubbish as fortune-telling. She's too sensible." + +"I do," said Flora. "How should she know all the things I did when I was +a little girl? Tell me that." + +"I believe in it, too," said Mrs. Dowson. "P'r'aps you'll tell me I'm +not sensible!" + +Mr. Foss quailed at the challenge and relapsed into moody silence. The +talk turned on an aunt of Mr. Lippet's, rumored to possess money, and an +uncle who was "rolling" in it. He began to feel in the way, and only his +native obstinacy prevented him from going. + +It was a relief to him when the front door opened and the heavy step of +Mr. Dowson was heard in the tiny passage. If anything it seemed heavier +than usual, and Mr. Dowson's manner when he entered the room and greeted +his guests was singularly lacking in its usual cheerfulness. He drew a +chair to the fire, and putting his feet on the fender gazed moodily +between the bars. + +"I've been wondering as I came along," he said at last, with an obvious +attempt to speak carelessly, "whether this 'ere fortune-telling as we've +been hearing so much about lately always comes out true." + +"It depends on the fortune-teller," said his wife. + +"I mean," said Mr. Dowson, slowly, "I mean that gypsy woman that Charlie +and Flora went to." + +"Of course it does," snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says afore +anything." + +"I know five or six that she has told," said Mr. Lippet, plucking up +courage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; they +said so." + +"Still, she might make a mistake sometimes," said Mr. Dowson, faintly. +"Might get mixed up, so to speak." + +"Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly. + +"Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet. + +Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. It +lighted on Mr. Foss. + +"She's an old humbug," said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put the +police on to her." + +Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again. + +"Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so," said Mrs. Dowson; +"naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says. +If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and if +she told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her." + +"Don't say that," shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't say +that. That's what she did say!" + +"What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?" + +"I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens," said her husband, staring at +the table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and, +being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me, +I went in and had eighteenpennorth." + +"Well, you're upset," said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "You +get upstairs to bed." + +"I'd sooner stay 'ere," said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seems +more cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish." + +"What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss. + +Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spoke +desperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel to +foreign parts----" + +"You get to bed," said his wife. "Come along." + +Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich," he continued, +slowly--"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marry +again; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes." + +Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering with +passion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You--you've been drinking." + +"I've 'ad two arf-pints," said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave +'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy with +a young woman." + +Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him. + +"I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson," said Mr. Foss, +kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain't +to be relied on." + +"Eyes like lamps," said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine next +month. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty." + +A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of the +over-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort. + +"If she said it," she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss, +"it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry a +young woman with--with----" + +"Stormy brown eyes," interjected Mr. Foss, softly. + +"It's his fate and it can't be avoided," concluded Mrs. Dowson. + +"But it's so soon," said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die in +three weeks and I'm to be married three months after." + +Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid the +glittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three! +three weeks!" + +"Don't be frightened," said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don't +believe it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die in +three weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhaps +Flora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars." + +"No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully. + +Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave him +so soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and went +up-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair which +Mr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations to +Flora as he considered suitable to the occasion. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Matrimonial Openings, by W.W. 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