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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/11477-0.txt b/11477-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dae1085 --- /dev/null +++ b/11477-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,525 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11477 *** + +DEEP WATERS + +By W.W. JACOBS + + + +FAMILY CARES + +Mr. Jernshaw, who was taking the opportunity of a lull in business to +weigh out pound packets of sugar, knocked his hands together and stood +waiting for the order of the tall bronzed man who had just entered the +shop--a well-built man of about forty--who was regarding him with blue +eyes set in quizzical wrinkles. + +"What, Harry!" exclaimed Mr. Jernshaw, in response to the wrinkles. +"Harry Barrett!" + +"That's me," said the other, extending his hand. "The rolling stone come +home covered with moss." + +Mr. Jernshaw, somewhat excited, shook hands, and led the way into the +little parlour behind the shop. + +"Fifteen years," said Mr. Barrett, sinking into a chair, "and the old +place hasn't altered a bit." + +"Smithson told me he had let that house in Webb Street to a Barrett," +said the grocer, regarding him, "but I never thought of you. I suppose +you've done well, then?" + +Mr. Barrett nodded. "Can't grumble," he said modestly. "I've got enough +to live on. Melbourne's all right, but I thought I'd come home for the +evening of my life." + +"Evening!" repeated his friend. "Forty-three," said Mr. Barrett, +gravely. "I'm getting on." + +"You haven't changed much," said the grocer, passing his hand through his +spare grey whiskers. "Wait till you have a wife and seven youngsters. +Why, boots alone----" + +Mr. Barrett uttered a groan intended for sympathy. "Perhaps you could +help me with the furnishing," he said, slowly. "I've never had a place +of my own before, and I don't know much about it." + +"Anything I can do," said his friend. "Better not get much yet; you +might marry, and my taste mightn't be hers." + +Mr. Barrett laughed. "I'm not marrying," he said, with conviction. + +"Seen anything of Miss Prentice yet?" inquired Mr. Jernshaw. + +"No," said the other, with a slight flush. "Why?" + +"She's still single," said the grocer. + +"What of it?" demanded Mr. Barrett, with warmth. "What of it?" + +"Nothing," said Mr. Jernshaw, slowly. "Nothing; only I----" + +"Well?" said the other, as he paused. + +"I--there was an idea that you went to Australia to--to better your +condition," murmured the grocer. "That--that you were not in a position +to marry--that----" + +"Boy and girl nonsense," said Mr. Barrett, sharply. "Why, it's fifteen +years ago. I don't suppose I should know her if I saw her. Is her +mother alive?" + +"Rather!" said Mr. Jernshaw, with emphasis. "Louisa is something like +what her mother was when you went away." + +Mr. Barrett shivered. + +"But you'll see for yourself," continued the other. "You'll have to go +and see them. They'll wonder you haven't been before." + +"Let 'em wonder," said the embarrassed Mr. Barrett. "I shall go and see +all my old friends in their turn; casual-like. You might let 'em hear +that I've been to see you before seeing them, and then, if they're +thinking any nonsense, it'll be a hint. I'm stopping in town while the +house is being decorated; next time I come down I'll call and see +somebody else." + +"That'll be another hint," assented Mr. Jernshaw. "Not that hints are +much good to Mrs. Prentice." + +"We'll see," said Mr. Barrett. + +In accordance with his plan his return to his native town was heralded by +a few short visits at respectable intervals. A sort of human butterfly, +he streaked rapidly across one or two streets, alighted for half an hour +to resume an old friendship, and then disappeared again. Having given at +least half-a-dozen hints of this kind, he made a final return to Ramsbury +and entered into occupation of his new house. + +"It does you credit, Jernshaw," he said, gratefully. "I should have made +a rare mess of it without your help." + +"It looks very nice," admitted his friend. "Too nice." + +"That's all nonsense," said the owner, irritably. + +"All right," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I don't know the sex, then, that's all. +If you think that you're going to keep a nice house like this all to +yourself, you're mistaken. It's a home; and where there's a home a woman +comes in, somehow." + +Mr. Barrett grunted his disbelief. + +"I give you four days," said Mr. Jernshaw. + +As a matter of fact, Mrs. Prentice and her daughter came on the fifth. +Mr. Barrett, who was in an easy-chair, wooing slumber with a handkerchief +over his head, heard their voices at the front door and the cordial +invitation of his housekeeper. They entered the room as he sat hastily +smoothing his rumpled hair. + +"Good afternoon," he said, shaking hands. + +Mrs. Prentice returned the greeting in a level voice, and, accepting a +chair, gazed around the room. + +"Nice weather," said Mr. Barrett. + +"Very," said Mrs. Prentice. + +"It's--it's quite a pleasure to see you again," said Mr. Barrett. + +"We thought we should have seen you before," said Mrs. Prentice, "but +I told Louisa that no doubt you were busy, and wanted to surprise her. +I like the carpet; don't you, Louisa?" + +Miss Prentice said she did. + +"The room is nice and airy," said Mrs. Prentice, "but it's a pity you +didn't come to me before deciding. I could have told you of a better +house for the same money." + +"I'm very well satisfied with this," said Mr. Barrett. "It's all I +want." + +"It's well enough," conceded Mrs. Prentice, amiably. "And how have you +been all these years?" + +Mr. Barrett, with some haste, replied that his health and spirits had +been excellent. + +"You look well," said Mrs. Prentice. "Neither of you seem to have +changed much," she added, looking from him to her daughter. "And I think +you did quite well not to write. I think it was much the best." + +Mr. Barrett sought for a question: a natural, artless question, that +would neutralize the hideous suggestion conveyed by this remark, but it +eluded him. He sat and gazed in growing fear at Mrs. Prentice. + +"I--I couldn't write," he said at last, in desperation; "my wife----" + +"Your what?" exclaimed Mrs. Prentice, loudly. + +"Wife," said Mr. Barrett, suddenly calm now that he had taken the plunge. +"She wouldn't have liked it." + +Mrs. Prentice tried to control her voice. I never heard you were +married!" she gasped. "Why isn't she here?" + +"We couldn't agree," said the veracious Mr. Barrett. "She was very +difficult; so I left the children with her and----" + +"Chil----" said Mrs. Prentice, and paused, unable to complete the word. + +"Five," said Mr. Barrett, in tones of resignation. "It was rather a +wrench, parting with them, especially the baby. He got his first tooth +the day I left." + +The information fell on deaf ears. Mrs. Prentice, for once in her life +thoroughly at a loss, sat trying to collect her scattered faculties. She +had come out prepared for a hard job, but not an impossible one. All +things considered, she took her defeat with admirable composure. + +"I have no doubt it is much the best thing for the children to remain +with their mother," she said, rising. + +"Much the best," agreed Mr. Barrett. "Whatever she is like," continued +the old lady. "Are you ready, Louisa?" + +Mr. Barrett followed them to the door, and then, returning to the room, +watched, with glad eyes, their progress up the street. + +"Wonder whether she'll keep it to herself?" he muttered. + +His doubts were set at rest next day. All Ramsbury knew by then of his +matrimonial complications, and seemed anxious to talk about them; +complications which tended to increase until Mr. Barrett wrote out a list +of his children's names and ages and learnt it off by heart. + +Relieved of the attentions of the Prentice family, he walked the streets +a free man; and it was counted to him for righteousness that he never +said a hard word about his wife. She had her faults, he said, but they +were many thousand miles away, and he preferred to forget them. And he +added, with some truth, that he owed her a good deal. + +For a few months he had no reason to alter his opinion. Thanks to his +presence of mind, the Prentice family had no terrors for him. Heart- +whole and fancy free, he led the easy life of a man of leisure, a +condition of things suddenly upset by the arrival of Miss Grace Lindsay +to take up a post at the elementary school. Mr. Barrett succumbed almost +at once, and, after a few encounters in the street and meetings at mutual +friends', went to unbosom him-self to Mr. Jernshaw. + +"What has she got to do with you?" demanded that gentleman. + +"I--I'm rather struck with her," said Mr. Barrett. + +"Struck with her?" repeated his friend, sharply. "I'm surprised at you. +You've no business to think of such things." + +"Why not?" demanded Mr. Barrett, in tones that were sharper still. + +"Why not?" repeated the other. "Have you forgotten your wife and +children?" + +Mr. Barrett, who, to do him justice, had forgotten, fell back in his +chair and sat gazing at him, open-mouthed. + +"You're in a false position--in a way," said Mr. Jernshaw, sternly. + +"False is no name for it," said Mr. Barrett, huskily. "What am I to do?" + +"Do?" repeated the other, staring at him. "Nothing! Unless, perhaps, +you send for your wife and children. I suppose, in any case, you would +have to have the little ones if anything happened to her?" + +Mr. Barrett grinned ruefully. + +"Think it over," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I will," said the other, heartily. + +He walked home deep in thought. He was a kindly man, and he spent some +time thinking out the easiest death for Mrs. Barrett. He decided at last +upon heart-disease, and a fort-night later all Ramsbury knew of the +letter from Australia conveying the mournful intelligence. It was +generally agreed that the mourning and the general behaviour of the +widower left nothing to be desired. + +"She's at peace at last," he said, solemnly, to Jernshaw. + +"I believe you killed her," said his friend. Mr. Barrett started +violently. + +"I mean your leaving broke her heart," explained the other. + +Mr. Barrett breathed easily again. + +"It's your duty to look after the children," said Jernshaw, firmly. "And +I'm not the only one that thinks so." + +"They are with their grandfather and grand-mother," said Mr. Barrett. + +Mr. Jernshaw sniffed. + +"And four uncles and five aunts," added Mr. Barrett, triumphantly. + +"Think how they would brighten up your house," said Mr. Jernshaw. + +His friend shook his head. "It wouldn't be fair to their grandmother," +he said, decidedly. "Besides, Australia wants population." + +He found to his annoyance that Mr. Jernshaw's statement that he was not +alone in his views was correct. Public opinion seemed to expect the +arrival of the children, and one citizen even went so far as to recommend +a girl he knew, as nurse. + +Ramsbury understood at last that his decision was final, and, observing +his attentions to the new schoolmistress, flattered itself that it had +discovered the reason. It is possible that Miss Lindsay shared their +views, but if so she made no sign, and on the many occasions on which she +met Mr. Barrett on her way to and from school greeted him with frank +cordiality. Even when he referred to his loneliness, which he did +frequently, she made no comment. + +He went into half-mourning at the end of two months, and a month later +bore no outward signs of his loss. Added to that his step was springy +and his manner youthful. Miss Lindsay was twenty-eight, and he persuaded +himself that, sexes considered, there was no disparity worth mentioning. + +He was only restrained from proposing by a question of etiquette. Even a +shilling book on the science failed to state the interval that should +elapse between the death of one wife and the negotiations for another. +It preferred instead to give minute instructions with regard to the +eating of asparagus. In this dilemma he consulted Jernshaw. + +"Don't know, I'm sure," said that gentle-man; "besides, it doesn't +matter." + +"Doesn't matter?" repeated Mr. Barrett. "Why not?" + +"Because I think Tillett is paying her attentions," was the reply. "He's +ten years younger than you are, and a bachelor. A girl would naturally +prefer him to a middle-aged widower with five children." + +"In Australia," the other reminded him. + +"Man for man, bachelor for bachelor," said Mr. Jernshaw, regarding him, +"she might prefer you; as things are--" + +"I shall ask her," said Mr. Barrett, doggedly. "I was going to wait a +bit longer, but if there's any chance of her wrecking her prospects for +life by marrying that tailor's dummy it's my duty to risk it--for her +sake. I've seen him talking to her twice myself, but I never thought +he'd dream of such a thing." + +Apprehension and indignation kept him awake half the night, but when he +arose next morning it was with the firm resolve to put his fortune to the +test that day. At four o'clock he changed his neck-tie for the third +time, and at ten past sallied out in the direction of the school. He met +Miss Lindsay just coming out, and, after a well-deserved compliment to +the weather, turned and walked with her. + +"I was hoping to meet you," he said, slowly. + +"Yes?" said the girl. + +"I--I have been feeling rather lonely to-day," he continued. + +"You often do," said Miss Lindsay, guardedly. + +"It gets worse and worse," said Mr. Barrett, sadly. + +"I think I know what is the matter with you," said the girl, in a soft +voice; "you have got nothing to do all day, and you live alone, except +for your housekeeper." + +Mr. Barrett assented with some eagerness, and stole a hopeful glance at +her. + +"You--you miss something," continued Miss. Lindsay, in a faltering +voice. + +"I do," said Mr. Barrett, with ardour. + +"You miss"--the girl made an effort--"you miss the footsteps and voices +of your little children." + +Mr. Barrett stopped suddenly in the street, and then, with a jerk, went +blindly on. + +"I've never spoken of it before because it's your business, not mine," +continued the girl. I wouldn't have spoken now, but when you referred to +your loneliness I thought perhaps you didn't realize the cause of it." + +Mr. Barrett walked on in silent misery. + +"Poor little motherless things!" said Miss Lindsay, softly. "Motherless +and--fatherless." + +"Better for them," said Mr. Barrett, finding his voice at last. + +"It almost looks like it," said Miss Lindsay, with a sigh. + +Mr. Barrett tried to think clearly, but the circumstances were hardly +favourable. "Suppose," he said, speaking very slowly, "suppose I wanted +to get married?" + +Miss Lindsay started. "What, again?" she said, with an air of surprise. + +"How could I ask a girl to come and take over five children?" + +"No woman that was worth having would let little children be sacrificed +for her sake," said Miss Lindsay, decidedly. + +"Do you think anybody would marry me with five children?" demanded Mr. +Barrett. + +"She might," said the girl, edging away from him a little. "It depends +on the woman." + +"Would--you, for instance?" said Mr. Barrett, desperately. + +Miss Lindsay shrank still farther away. "I don't know; it would depend +upon circumstances," she murmured. + +"I will write and send for them," said Mr. Barrett, significantly. + +Miss Lindsay made no reply. They had arrived at her gate by this time, +and, with a hurried handshake, she disappeared indoors. + +Mr. Barrett, somewhat troubled in mind, went home to tea. + +He resolved, after a little natural hesitation, to drown the children, +and reproached himself bitterly for not having disposed of them at the +same time as their mother. Now he would have to go through another +period of mourning and the consequent delay in pressing his suit. +Moreover, he would have to allow a decent interval between his +conversation with Miss Lindsay and their untimely end. + +The news of the catastrophe arrived two or three days before the return +of the girl from her summer holidays. She learnt it in the first half- +hour from her landlady, and sat in a dazed condition listening to a +description of the grief-stricken father and the sympathy extended to him +by his fellow-citizens. It appeared that nothing had passed his lips for +two days. + +[Illustration: SHE LEARNT THE NEWS IN THE FIRST HALF-HOER FROM HER +LANDLADY.] + +"Shocking!" said Miss Lindsay, briefly. "Shocking !" + +An instinctive feeling that the right and proper thing to do was to nurse +his grief in solitude kept Mr. Barrett out of her way for nearly a week. +When she did meet him she received a limp handshake and a greeting in a +voice from which all hope seemed to have departed. + +"I am very sorry," she said, with a sort of measured gentleness. + +Mr. Barrett, in his hushed voice, thanked her. + +"I am all alone now," he said, pathetically. "There is nobody now to +care whether I live or die." + +Miss Lindsay did not contradict him. + +"How did it happen?" she inquired, after they had gone some distance in +silence. + +"They were out in a sailing-boat," said Mr. Barrett; "the boat capsized +in a puff of wind, and they were all drowned." + +"Who was in charge of them?" inquired the girl, after a decent interval. + +"Boatman," replied the other. + +"How did you hear?" + +"I had a letter from one of my sisters-in-law, Charlotte," said Mr. +Barrett. "A most affecting letter. Poor Charlotte was like a second +mother to them. She'll never be the same woman again. Never!" + +"I should like to see the letter," said Miss Lindsay, musingly. + +Mr. Barrett suppressed a start. "I should like to show it to you," he +said, "but I'm afraid I have destroyed it. It made me shudder every time +I looked at it." + +"It's a pity," said the girl, dryly. "I should have liked to see it. +I've got my own idea about the matter. Are you sure she was very fond of +them?" + +"She lived only for them," said Mr. Barrett, in a rapt voice. + +"Exactly. I don't believe they are drowned at all," said Miss Lindsay, +suddenly. "I believe you have had all this terrible anguish for nothing. +It's too cruel." + +Mr. Barrett stared at her in anxious amazement. + +"I see it all now," continued the girl. "Their Aunt Charlotte was +devoted to them. She always had the fear that some day you would return +and claim them, and to prevent that she invented the story of their +death." + +"Charlotte is the most truthful woman that ever breathed," said the +distressed Mr. Barrett. + +Miss Lindsay shook her head. "You are like all other honourable, +truthful people," she said, looking at him gravely. "You can't imagine +anybody else telling a falsehood. I don't believe you could tell one if +you tried." + +Mr. Barrett gazed about him with the despairing look of a drowning +mariner. + +"I'm certain I'm right," continued the girl. "I can see Charlotte +exulting in her wickedness. Why!" + +"What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Barrett, greatly worried. + +"I've just thought of it," said Miss Lindsay. "She's told you that your +children are drowned, and she has probably told them you are dead. A +woman like that would stick at nothing to gain her ends." + +"You don't know Charlotte," said Mr. Barrett, feebly. + +"I think I do," was the reply. "However, we'll make sure. I suppose +you've got friends in Melbourne?" + +"A few," said Mr. Barrett, guardedly. + +"Come down to the post-office and cable to one of them." + +Mr. Barrett hesitated. "I'll write," he said, slowly. "It's an awkward +thing to cable; and there's no hurry. I'll write to Jack Adams, +I think." + +"It's no good writing," said Miss Lindsay, firmly. "You ought to know +that." + +"Why not?" demanded the other. + +"Because, you foolish man," said the girl, calmly, "before your letter +got there, there would be one from Melbourne saying that he had been +choked by a fish-bone, or died of measles, or something of that sort." + +Mr. Barrett, hardly able to believe his ears, stopped short and looked at +her. The girl's eyes were moist with mirth and her lips trembling. He +put out his hand and took her wrist in a strong grip. + +"That's all right," he said, with a great gasp of relief. "_Phew!_ At +one time I thought I had lost you." + +"By heart-disease, or drowning?" inquired Miss Lindsay, softly. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Family Cares, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11477 *** diff --git a/11477-h.zip b/11477-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..be15094 --- /dev/null +++ b/11477-h.zip diff --git a/11477-h/001.jpg b/11477-h/001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f003e6a --- /dev/null +++ b/11477-h/001.jpg diff --git a/11477-h/004.jpg b/11477-h/004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e4f3b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/11477-h/004.jpg diff --git a/11477-h/11477-h.htm b/11477-h/11477-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b41573 --- /dev/null +++ b/11477-h/11477-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1201 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> +<meta content="pg2html (binary version 0.11)" + name="generator"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + Deep Waters: FAMILY CARES + by W.W. Jacobs. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7} + * { 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; color:#A82C28} + 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 Family Cares, 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: Family Cares + Deep Waters, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: March 6, 2004 [EBook #11477] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMILY CARES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover (95K)" src="cover.jpg" height="787" width="632" /> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h1> + DEEP WATERS +</h1> +<center><h2> + By W.W. JACOBS +</h2></center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title (39K)" src="title.jpg" height="617" width="488" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="001 (37K)" src="001.jpg" height="670" width="480" /> +</center> +<br><br> + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + + + + + +<a name="2H_4_7"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1> + FAMILY CARES +</h1> +<br /><br /> +<p> + Mr. Jernshaw, who was taking the opportunity of a lull in business to + weigh out pound packets of sugar, knocked his hands together and stood + waiting for the order of the tall bronzed man who had just entered the + shop—a well-built man of about forty—who was regarding him with blue + eyes set in quizzical wrinkles. +</p> +<p> + "What, Harry!" exclaimed Mr. Jernshaw, in response to the wrinkles. + "Harry Barrett!" +</p> +<p> + "That's me," said the other, extending his hand. "The rolling stone come + home covered with moss." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Jernshaw, somewhat excited, shook hands, and led the way into the + little parlour behind the shop. +</p> +<p> + "Fifteen years," said Mr. Barrett, sinking into a chair, "and the old + place hasn't altered a bit." +</p> +<p> + "Smithson told me he had let that house in Webb Street to a Barrett," + said the grocer, regarding him, "but I never thought of you. I suppose + you've done well, then?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett nodded. "Can't grumble," he said modestly. "I've got enough + to live on. Melbourne's all right, but I thought I'd come home for the + evening of my life." +</p> +<p> + "Evening!" repeated his friend. "Forty-three," said Mr. Barrett, + gravely. "I'm getting on." +</p> +<p> + "You haven't changed much," said the grocer, passing his hand through his + spare grey whiskers. "Wait till you have a wife and seven youngsters. + Why, boots alone——" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett uttered a groan intended for sympathy. "Perhaps you could + help me with the furnishing," he said, slowly. "I've never had a place + of my own before, and I don't know much about it." +</p> +<p> + "Anything I can do," said his friend. "Better not get much yet; you + might marry, and my taste mightn't be hers." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett laughed. "I'm not marrying," he said, with conviction. +</p> +<p> + "Seen anything of Miss Prentice yet?" inquired Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "No," said the other, with a slight flush. "Why?" +</p> +<p> + "She's still single," said the grocer. +</p> +<p> + "What of it?" demanded Mr. Barrett, with warmth. "What of it?" +</p> +<p> + "Nothing," said Mr. Jernshaw, slowly. "Nothing; only I——" +</p> +<p> + "Well?" said the other, as he paused. +</p> +<p> + "I—there was an idea that you went to Australia to—to better your + condition," murmured the grocer. "That—that you were not in a position + to marry—that——" +</p> +<p> + "Boy and girl nonsense," said Mr. Barrett, sharply. "Why, it's fifteen + years ago. I don't suppose I should know her if I saw her. Is her + mother alive?" +</p> +<p> + "Rather!" said Mr. Jernshaw, with emphasis. "Louisa is something like + what her mother was when you went away." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett shivered. +</p> +<p> + "But you'll see for yourself," continued the other. "You'll have to go + and see them. They'll wonder you haven't been before." +</p> +<p> + "Let 'em wonder," said the embarrassed Mr. Barrett. "I shall go and see + all my old friends in their turn; casual-like. You might let 'em hear + that I've been to see you before seeing them, and then, if they're + thinking any nonsense, it'll be a hint. I'm stopping in town while the + house is being decorated; next time I come down I'll call and see + somebody else." +</p> +<p> + "That'll be another hint," assented Mr. Jernshaw. "Not that hints are + much good to Mrs. Prentice." +</p> +<p> + "We'll see," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + In accordance with his plan his return to his native town was heralded by + a few short visits at respectable intervals. A sort of human butterfly, + he streaked rapidly across one or two streets, alighted for half an hour + to resume an old friendship, and then disappeared again. Having given at + least half-a-dozen hints of this kind, he made a final return to Ramsbury + and entered into occupation of his new house. +</p> +<p> + "It does you credit, Jernshaw," he said, gratefully. "I should have made + a rare mess of it without your help." +</p> +<p> + "It looks very nice," admitted his friend. "Too nice." +</p> +<p> + "That's all nonsense," said the owner, irritably. +</p> +<p> + "All right," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I don't know the sex, then, that's all. + If you think that you're going to keep a nice house like this all to + yourself, you're mistaken. It's a home; and where there's a home a woman + comes in, somehow." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett grunted his disbelief. +</p> +<p> + "I give you four days," said Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + As a matter of fact, Mrs. Prentice and her daughter came on the fifth. + Mr. Barrett, who was in an easy-chair, wooing slumber with a handkerchief + over his head, heard their voices at the front door and the cordial + invitation of his housekeeper. They entered the room as he sat hastily + smoothing his rumpled hair. +</p> +<p> + "Good afternoon," he said, shaking hands. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prentice returned the greeting in a level voice, and, accepting a + chair, gazed around the room. +</p> +<p> + "Nice weather," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "Very," said Mrs. Prentice. +</p> +<p> + "It's—it's quite a pleasure to see you again," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "We thought we should have seen you before," said Mrs. Prentice, "but + I told Louisa that no doubt you were busy, and wanted to surprise her. + I like the carpet; don't you, Louisa?" +</p> +<p> + Miss Prentice said she did. +</p> +<p> + "The room is nice and airy," said Mrs. Prentice, "but it's a pity you + didn't come to me before deciding. I could have told you of a better + house for the same money." +</p> +<p> + "I'm very well satisfied with this," said Mr. Barrett. "It's all I + want." +</p> +<p> + "It's well enough," conceded Mrs. Prentice, amiably. "And how have you + been all these years?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, with some haste, replied that his health and spirits had + been excellent. +</p> +<p> + "You look well," said Mrs. Prentice. "Neither of you seem to have + changed much," she added, looking from him to her daughter. "And I think + you did quite well not to write. I think it was much the best." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett sought for a question: a natural, artless question, that + would neutralize the hideous suggestion conveyed by this remark, but it + eluded him. He sat and gazed in growing fear at Mrs. Prentice. +</p> +<p> + "I—I couldn't write," he said at last, in desperation; "my wife——" +</p> +<p> + "Your what?" exclaimed Mrs. Prentice, loudly. +</p> +<p> + "Wife," said Mr. Barrett, suddenly calm now that he had taken the plunge. + "She wouldn't have liked it." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prentice tried to control her voice. I never heard you were + married!" she gasped. "Why isn't she here?" +</p> +<p> + "We couldn't agree," said the veracious Mr. Barrett. "She was very + difficult; so I left the children with her and——" +</p> +<p> + "Chil——" said Mrs. Prentice, and paused, unable to complete the word. +</p> +<p> + "Five," said Mr. Barrett, in tones of resignation. "It was rather a + wrench, parting with them, especially the baby. He got his first tooth + the day I left." +</p> +<p> + The information fell on deaf ears. Mrs. Prentice, for once in her life + thoroughly at a loss, sat trying to collect her scattered faculties. She + had come out prepared for a hard job, but not an impossible one. All + things considered, she took her defeat with admirable composure. +</p> +<p> + "I have no doubt it is much the best thing for the children to remain + with their mother," she said, rising. +</p> +<p> + "Much the best," agreed Mr. Barrett. "Whatever she is like," continued + the old lady. "Are you ready, Louisa?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett followed them to the door, and then, returning to the room, + watched, with glad eyes, their progress up the street. +</p> +<p> + "Wonder whether she'll keep it to herself?" he muttered. +</p> +<p> + His doubts were set at rest next day. All Ramsbury knew by then of his + matrimonial complications, and seemed anxious to talk about them; + complications which tended to increase until Mr. Barrett wrote out a list + of his children's names and ages and learnt it off by heart. +</p> +<p> + Relieved of the attentions of the Prentice family, he walked the streets + a free man; and it was counted to him for righteousness that he never + said a hard word about his wife. She had her faults, he said, but they + were many thousand miles away, and he preferred to forget them. And he + added, with some truth, that he owed her a good deal. +</p> +<p> + For a few months he had no reason to alter his opinion. Thanks to his + presence of mind, the Prentice family had no terrors for him. Heart- + whole and fancy free, he led the easy life of a man of leisure, a + condition of things suddenly upset by the arrival of Miss Grace Lindsay + to take up a post at the elementary school. Mr. Barrett succumbed almost + at once, and, after a few encounters in the street and meetings at mutual + friends', went to unbosom him-self to Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "What has she got to do with you?" demanded that gentleman. +</p> +<p> + "I—I'm rather struck with her," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "Struck with her?" repeated his friend, sharply. "I'm surprised at you. + You've no business to think of such things." +</p> +<p> + "Why not?" demanded Mr. Barrett, in tones that were sharper still. +</p> +<p> + "Why not?" repeated the other. "Have you forgotten your wife and + children?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, who, to do him justice, had forgotten, fell back in his + chair and sat gazing at him, open-mouthed. +</p> +<p> + "You're in a false position—in a way," said Mr. Jernshaw, sternly. +</p> +<p> + "False is no name for it," said Mr. Barrett, huskily. "What am I to do?" +</p> +<p> + "Do?" repeated the other, staring at him. "Nothing! Unless, perhaps, + you send for your wife and children. I suppose, in any case, you would + have to have the little ones if anything happened to her?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett grinned ruefully. +</p> +<p> + "Think it over," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I will," said the other, heartily. +</p> +<p> + He walked home deep in thought. He was a kindly man, and he spent some + time thinking out the easiest death for Mrs. Barrett. He decided at last + upon heart-disease, and a fort-night later all Ramsbury knew of the + letter from Australia conveying the mournful intelligence. It was + generally agreed that the mourning and the general behaviour of the + widower left nothing to be desired. +</p> +<p> + "She's at peace at last," he said, solemnly, to Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "I believe you killed her," said his friend. Mr. Barrett started + violently. +</p> +<p> + "I mean your leaving broke her heart," explained the other. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett breathed easily again. +</p> +<p> + "It's your duty to look after the children," said Jernshaw, firmly. "And + I'm not the only one that thinks so." +</p> +<p> + "They are with their grandfather and grand-mother," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Jernshaw sniffed. +</p> +<p> + "And four uncles and five aunts," added Mr. Barrett, triumphantly. +</p> +<p> + "Think how they would brighten up your house," said Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + His friend shook his head. "It wouldn't be fair to their grandmother," + he said, decidedly. "Besides, Australia wants population." +</p> +<p> + He found to his annoyance that Mr. Jernshaw's statement that he was not + alone in his views was correct. Public opinion seemed to expect the + arrival of the children, and one citizen even went so far as to recommend + a girl he knew, as nurse. +</p> +<p> + Ramsbury understood at last that his decision was final, and, observing + his attentions to the new schoolmistress, flattered itself that it had + discovered the reason. It is possible that Miss Lindsay shared their + views, but if so she made no sign, and on the many occasions on which she + met Mr. Barrett on her way to and from school greeted him with frank + cordiality. Even when he referred to his loneliness, which he did + frequently, she made no comment. +</p> +<p> + He went into half-mourning at the end of two months, and a month later + bore no outward signs of his loss. Added to that his step was springy + and his manner youthful. Miss Lindsay was twenty-eight, and he persuaded + himself that, sexes considered, there was no disparity worth mentioning. +</p> +<p> + He was only restrained from proposing by a question of etiquette. Even a + shilling book on the science failed to state the interval that should + elapse between the death of one wife and the negotiations for another. + It preferred instead to give minute instructions with regard to the + eating of asparagus. In this dilemma he consulted Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "Don't know, I'm sure," said that gentle-man; "besides, it doesn't + matter." +</p> +<p> + "Doesn't matter?" repeated Mr. Barrett. "Why not?" +</p> +<p> + "Because I think Tillett is paying her attentions," was the reply. "He's + ten years younger than you are, and a bachelor. A girl would naturally + prefer him to a middle-aged widower with five children." +</p> +<p> + "In Australia," the other reminded him. +</p> +<p> + "Man for man, bachelor for bachelor," said Mr. Jernshaw, regarding him, + "she might prefer you; as things are—" +</p> +<p> + "I shall ask her," said Mr. Barrett, doggedly. "I was going to wait a + bit longer, but if there's any chance of her wrecking her prospects for + life by marrying that tailor's dummy it's my duty to risk it—for her + sake. I've seen him talking to her twice myself, but I never thought + he'd dream of such a thing." +</p> +<p> + Apprehension and indignation kept him awake half the night, but when he + arose next morning it was with the firm resolve to put his fortune to the + test that day. At four o'clock he changed his neck-tie for the third + time, and at ten past sallied out in the direction of the school. He met + Miss Lindsay just coming out, and, after a well-deserved compliment to + the weather, turned and walked with her. +</p> +<p> + "I was hoping to meet you," he said, slowly. +</p> +<p> + "Yes?" said the girl. +</p> +<p> + "I—I have been feeling rather lonely to-day," he continued. +</p> +<p> + "You often do," said Miss Lindsay, guardedly. +</p> +<p> + "It gets worse and worse," said Mr. Barrett, sadly. +</p> +<p> + "I think I know what is the matter with you," said the girl, in a soft + voice; "you have got nothing to do all day, and you live alone, except + for your housekeeper." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett assented with some eagerness, and stole a hopeful glance at + her. +</p> +<p> + "You—you miss something," continued Miss. Lindsay, in a faltering + voice. +</p> +<p> + "I do," said Mr. Barrett, with ardour. +</p> +<p> + "You miss"—the girl made an effort—"you miss the footsteps and voices + of your little children." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett stopped suddenly in the street, and then, with a jerk, went + blindly on. +</p> +<p> + "I've never spoken of it before because it's your business, not mine," + continued the girl. I wouldn't have spoken now, but when you referred to + your loneliness I thought perhaps you didn't realize the cause of it." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett walked on in silent misery. +</p> +<p> + "Poor little motherless things!" said Miss Lindsay, softly. "Motherless + and—fatherless." +</p> +<p> + "Better for them," said Mr. Barrett, finding his voice at last. +</p> +<p> + "It almost looks like it," said Miss Lindsay, with a sigh. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett tried to think clearly, but the circumstances were hardly + favourable. "Suppose," he said, speaking very slowly, "suppose I wanted + to get married?" +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay started. "What, again?" she said, with an air of surprise. +</p> +<p> + "How could I ask a girl to come and take over five children?" +</p> +<p> + "No woman that was worth having would let little children be sacrificed + for her sake," said Miss Lindsay, decidedly. +</p> +<p> + "Do you think anybody would marry me with five children?" demanded Mr. + Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "She might," said the girl, edging away from him a little. "It depends + on the woman." +</p> +<p> + "Would—you, for instance?" said Mr. Barrett, desperately. +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay shrank still farther away. "I don't know; it would depend + upon circumstances," she murmured. +</p> +<p> + "I will write and send for them," said Mr. Barrett, significantly. +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay made no reply. They had arrived at her gate by this time, + and, with a hurried handshake, she disappeared indoors. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, somewhat troubled in mind, went home to tea. +</p> +<p> + He resolved, after a little natural hesitation, to drown the children, + and reproached himself bitterly for not having disposed of them at the + same time as their mother. Now he would have to go through another + period of mourning and the consequent delay in pressing his suit. + Moreover, he would have to allow a decent interval between his + conversation with Miss Lindsay and their untimely end. +</p> +<p> + The news of the catastrophe arrived two or three days before the return + of the girl from her summer holidays. She learnt it in the first half- + hour from her landlady, and sat in a dazed condition listening to a + description of the grief-stricken father and the sympathy extended to him + by his fellow-citizens. It appeared that nothing had passed his lips for + two days. +</p> +<a name="image-5"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="004.jpg" height="667" width="484" +alt="She Learnt the News in The First Half-hour from Her +Landlady. +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "Shocking!" said Miss Lindsay, briefly. "Shocking !" +</p> +<p> + An instinctive feeling that the right and proper thing to do was to nurse + his grief in solitude kept Mr. Barrett out of her way for nearly a week. + When she did meet him she received a limp handshake and a greeting in a + voice from which all hope seemed to have departed. +</p> +<p> + "I am very sorry," she said, with a sort of measured gentleness. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, in his hushed voice, thanked her. +</p> +<p> + "I am all alone now," he said, pathetically. "There is nobody now to + care whether I live or die." +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay did not contradict him. +</p> +<p> + "How did it happen?" she inquired, after they had gone some distance in + silence. +</p> +<p> + "They were out in a sailing-boat," said Mr. Barrett; "the boat capsized + in a puff of wind, and they were all drowned." +</p> +<p> + "Who was in charge of them?" inquired the girl, after a decent interval. +</p> +<p> + "Boatman," replied the other. +</p> +<p> + "How did you hear?" +</p> +<p> + "I had a letter from one of my sisters-in-law, Charlotte," said Mr. + Barrett. "A most affecting letter. Poor Charlotte was like a second + mother to them. She'll never be the same woman again. Never!" +</p> +<p> + "I should like to see the letter," said Miss Lindsay, musingly. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett suppressed a start. "I should like to show it to you," he + said, "but I'm afraid I have destroyed it. It made me shudder every time + I looked at it." +</p> +<p> + "It's a pity," said the girl, dryly. "I should have liked to see it. + I've got my own idea about the matter. Are you sure she was very fond of + them?" +</p> +<p> + "She lived only for them," said Mr. Barrett, in a rapt voice. +</p> +<p> + "Exactly. I don't believe they are drowned at all," said Miss Lindsay, + suddenly. "I believe you have had all this terrible anguish for nothing. + It's too cruel." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett stared at her in anxious amazement. +</p> +<p> + "I see it all now," continued the girl. "Their Aunt Charlotte was + devoted to them. She always had the fear that some day you would return + and claim them, and to prevent that she invented the story of their + death." +</p> +<p> + "Charlotte is the most truthful woman that ever breathed," said the + distressed Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay shook her head. "You are like all other honourable, + truthful people," she said, looking at him gravely. "You can't imagine + anybody else telling a falsehood. I don't believe you could tell one if + you tried." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett gazed about him with the despairing look of a drowning + mariner. +</p> +<p> + "I'm certain I'm right," continued the girl. "I can see Charlotte + exulting in her wickedness. Why!" +</p> +<p> + "What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Barrett, greatly worried. +</p> +<p> + "I've just thought of it," said Miss Lindsay. "She's told you that your + children are drowned, and she has probably told them you are dead. A + woman like that would stick at nothing to gain her ends." +</p> +<p> + "You don't know Charlotte," said Mr. Barrett, feebly. +</p> +<p> + "I think I do," was the reply. "However, we'll make sure. I suppose + you've got friends in Melbourne?" +</p> +<p> + "A few," said Mr. Barrett, guardedly. +</p> +<p> + "Come down to the post-office and cable to one of them." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett hesitated. "I'll write," he said, slowly. "It's an awkward + thing to cable; and there's no hurry. I'll write to Jack Adams, + I think." +</p> +<p> + "It's no good writing," said Miss Lindsay, firmly. "You ought to know + that." +</p> +<p> + "Why not?" demanded the other. +</p> +<p> + "Because, you foolish man," said the girl, calmly, "before your letter + got there, there would be one from Melbourne saying that he had been + choked by a fish-bone, or died of measles, or something of that sort." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, hardly able to believe his ears, stopped short and looked at + her. The girl's eyes were moist with mirth and her lips trembling. He + put out his hand and took her wrist in a strong grip. +</p> +<p> + "That's all right," he said, with a great gasp of relief. "<i>Phew!</i> At + one time I thought I had lost you." +</p> +<p> + "By heart-disease, or drowning?" inquired Miss Lindsay, softly. +</p> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Family Cares, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMILY CARES *** + +***** This file should be named 11477-h.htm or 11477-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/7/11477/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Family Cares + Deep Waters, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: March 6, 2004 [EBook #11477] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMILY CARES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + + +DEEP WATERS + +By W.W. JACOBS + + + +FAMILY CARES + +Mr. Jernshaw, who was taking the opportunity of a lull in business to +weigh out pound packets of sugar, knocked his hands together and stood +waiting for the order of the tall bronzed man who had just entered the +shop--a well-built man of about forty--who was regarding him with blue +eyes set in quizzical wrinkles. + +"What, Harry!" exclaimed Mr. Jernshaw, in response to the wrinkles. +"Harry Barrett!" + +"That's me," said the other, extending his hand. "The rolling stone come +home covered with moss." + +Mr. Jernshaw, somewhat excited, shook hands, and led the way into the +little parlour behind the shop. + +"Fifteen years," said Mr. Barrett, sinking into a chair, "and the old +place hasn't altered a bit." + +"Smithson told me he had let that house in Webb Street to a Barrett," +said the grocer, regarding him, "but I never thought of you. I suppose +you've done well, then?" + +Mr. Barrett nodded. "Can't grumble," he said modestly. "I've got enough +to live on. Melbourne's all right, but I thought I'd come home for the +evening of my life." + +"Evening!" repeated his friend. "Forty-three," said Mr. Barrett, +gravely. "I'm getting on." + +"You haven't changed much," said the grocer, passing his hand through his +spare grey whiskers. "Wait till you have a wife and seven youngsters. +Why, boots alone----" + +Mr. Barrett uttered a groan intended for sympathy. "Perhaps you could +help me with the furnishing," he said, slowly. "I've never had a place +of my own before, and I don't know much about it." + +"Anything I can do," said his friend. "Better not get much yet; you +might marry, and my taste mightn't be hers." + +Mr. Barrett laughed. "I'm not marrying," he said, with conviction. + +"Seen anything of Miss Prentice yet?" inquired Mr. Jernshaw. + +"No," said the other, with a slight flush. "Why?" + +"She's still single," said the grocer. + +"What of it?" demanded Mr. Barrett, with warmth. "What of it?" + +"Nothing," said Mr. Jernshaw, slowly. "Nothing; only I----" + +"Well?" said the other, as he paused. + +"I--there was an idea that you went to Australia to--to better your +condition," murmured the grocer. "That--that you were not in a position +to marry--that----" + +"Boy and girl nonsense," said Mr. Barrett, sharply. "Why, it's fifteen +years ago. I don't suppose I should know her if I saw her. Is her +mother alive?" + +"Rather!" said Mr. Jernshaw, with emphasis. "Louisa is something like +what her mother was when you went away." + +Mr. Barrett shivered. + +"But you'll see for yourself," continued the other. "You'll have to go +and see them. They'll wonder you haven't been before." + +"Let 'em wonder," said the embarrassed Mr. Barrett. "I shall go and see +all my old friends in their turn; casual-like. You might let 'em hear +that I've been to see you before seeing them, and then, if they're +thinking any nonsense, it'll be a hint. I'm stopping in town while the +house is being decorated; next time I come down I'll call and see +somebody else." + +"That'll be another hint," assented Mr. Jernshaw. "Not that hints are +much good to Mrs. Prentice." + +"We'll see," said Mr. Barrett. + +In accordance with his plan his return to his native town was heralded by +a few short visits at respectable intervals. A sort of human butterfly, +he streaked rapidly across one or two streets, alighted for half an hour +to resume an old friendship, and then disappeared again. Having given at +least half-a-dozen hints of this kind, he made a final return to Ramsbury +and entered into occupation of his new house. + +"It does you credit, Jernshaw," he said, gratefully. "I should have made +a rare mess of it without your help." + +"It looks very nice," admitted his friend. "Too nice." + +"That's all nonsense," said the owner, irritably. + +"All right," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I don't know the sex, then, that's all. +If you think that you're going to keep a nice house like this all to +yourself, you're mistaken. It's a home; and where there's a home a woman +comes in, somehow." + +Mr. Barrett grunted his disbelief. + +"I give you four days," said Mr. Jernshaw. + +As a matter of fact, Mrs. Prentice and her daughter came on the fifth. +Mr. Barrett, who was in an easy-chair, wooing slumber with a handkerchief +over his head, heard their voices at the front door and the cordial +invitation of his housekeeper. They entered the room as he sat hastily +smoothing his rumpled hair. + +"Good afternoon," he said, shaking hands. + +Mrs. Prentice returned the greeting in a level voice, and, accepting a +chair, gazed around the room. + +"Nice weather," said Mr. Barrett. + +"Very," said Mrs. Prentice. + +"It's--it's quite a pleasure to see you again," said Mr. Barrett. + +"We thought we should have seen you before," said Mrs. Prentice, "but +I told Louisa that no doubt you were busy, and wanted to surprise her. +I like the carpet; don't you, Louisa?" + +Miss Prentice said she did. + +"The room is nice and airy," said Mrs. Prentice, "but it's a pity you +didn't come to me before deciding. I could have told you of a better +house for the same money." + +"I'm very well satisfied with this," said Mr. Barrett. "It's all I +want." + +"It's well enough," conceded Mrs. Prentice, amiably. "And how have you +been all these years?" + +Mr. Barrett, with some haste, replied that his health and spirits had +been excellent. + +"You look well," said Mrs. Prentice. "Neither of you seem to have +changed much," she added, looking from him to her daughter. "And I think +you did quite well not to write. I think it was much the best." + +Mr. Barrett sought for a question: a natural, artless question, that +would neutralize the hideous suggestion conveyed by this remark, but it +eluded him. He sat and gazed in growing fear at Mrs. Prentice. + +"I--I couldn't write," he said at last, in desperation; "my wife----" + +"Your what?" exclaimed Mrs. Prentice, loudly. + +"Wife," said Mr. Barrett, suddenly calm now that he had taken the plunge. +"She wouldn't have liked it." + +Mrs. Prentice tried to control her voice. I never heard you were +married!" she gasped. "Why isn't she here?" + +"We couldn't agree," said the veracious Mr. Barrett. "She was very +difficult; so I left the children with her and----" + +"Chil----" said Mrs. Prentice, and paused, unable to complete the word. + +"Five," said Mr. Barrett, in tones of resignation. "It was rather a +wrench, parting with them, especially the baby. He got his first tooth +the day I left." + +The information fell on deaf ears. Mrs. Prentice, for once in her life +thoroughly at a loss, sat trying to collect her scattered faculties. She +had come out prepared for a hard job, but not an impossible one. All +things considered, she took her defeat with admirable composure. + +"I have no doubt it is much the best thing for the children to remain +with their mother," she said, rising. + +"Much the best," agreed Mr. Barrett. "Whatever she is like," continued +the old lady. "Are you ready, Louisa?" + +Mr. Barrett followed them to the door, and then, returning to the room, +watched, with glad eyes, their progress up the street. + +"Wonder whether she'll keep it to herself?" he muttered. + +His doubts were set at rest next day. All Ramsbury knew by then of his +matrimonial complications, and seemed anxious to talk about them; +complications which tended to increase until Mr. Barrett wrote out a list +of his children's names and ages and learnt it off by heart. + +Relieved of the attentions of the Prentice family, he walked the streets +a free man; and it was counted to him for righteousness that he never +said a hard word about his wife. She had her faults, he said, but they +were many thousand miles away, and he preferred to forget them. And he +added, with some truth, that he owed her a good deal. + +For a few months he had no reason to alter his opinion. Thanks to his +presence of mind, the Prentice family had no terrors for him. Heart- +whole and fancy free, he led the easy life of a man of leisure, a +condition of things suddenly upset by the arrival of Miss Grace Lindsay +to take up a post at the elementary school. Mr. Barrett succumbed almost +at once, and, after a few encounters in the street and meetings at mutual +friends', went to unbosom him-self to Mr. Jernshaw. + +"What has she got to do with you?" demanded that gentleman. + +"I--I'm rather struck with her," said Mr. Barrett. + +"Struck with her?" repeated his friend, sharply. "I'm surprised at you. +You've no business to think of such things." + +"Why not?" demanded Mr. Barrett, in tones that were sharper still. + +"Why not?" repeated the other. "Have you forgotten your wife and +children?" + +Mr. Barrett, who, to do him justice, had forgotten, fell back in his +chair and sat gazing at him, open-mouthed. + +"You're in a false position--in a way," said Mr. Jernshaw, sternly. + +"False is no name for it," said Mr. Barrett, huskily. "What am I to do?" + +"Do?" repeated the other, staring at him. "Nothing! Unless, perhaps, +you send for your wife and children. I suppose, in any case, you would +have to have the little ones if anything happened to her?" + +Mr. Barrett grinned ruefully. + +"Think it over," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I will," said the other, heartily. + +He walked home deep in thought. He was a kindly man, and he spent some +time thinking out the easiest death for Mrs. Barrett. He decided at last +upon heart-disease, and a fort-night later all Ramsbury knew of the +letter from Australia conveying the mournful intelligence. It was +generally agreed that the mourning and the general behaviour of the +widower left nothing to be desired. + +"She's at peace at last," he said, solemnly, to Jernshaw. + +"I believe you killed her," said his friend. Mr. Barrett started +violently. + +"I mean your leaving broke her heart," explained the other. + +Mr. Barrett breathed easily again. + +"It's your duty to look after the children," said Jernshaw, firmly. "And +I'm not the only one that thinks so." + +"They are with their grandfather and grand-mother," said Mr. Barrett. + +Mr. Jernshaw sniffed. + +"And four uncles and five aunts," added Mr. Barrett, triumphantly. + +"Think how they would brighten up your house," said Mr. Jernshaw. + +His friend shook his head. "It wouldn't be fair to their grandmother," +he said, decidedly. "Besides, Australia wants population." + +He found to his annoyance that Mr. Jernshaw's statement that he was not +alone in his views was correct. Public opinion seemed to expect the +arrival of the children, and one citizen even went so far as to recommend +a girl he knew, as nurse. + +Ramsbury understood at last that his decision was final, and, observing +his attentions to the new schoolmistress, flattered itself that it had +discovered the reason. It is possible that Miss Lindsay shared their +views, but if so she made no sign, and on the many occasions on which she +met Mr. Barrett on her way to and from school greeted him with frank +cordiality. Even when he referred to his loneliness, which he did +frequently, she made no comment. + +He went into half-mourning at the end of two months, and a month later +bore no outward signs of his loss. Added to that his step was springy +and his manner youthful. Miss Lindsay was twenty-eight, and he persuaded +himself that, sexes considered, there was no disparity worth mentioning. + +He was only restrained from proposing by a question of etiquette. Even a +shilling book on the science failed to state the interval that should +elapse between the death of one wife and the negotiations for another. +It preferred instead to give minute instructions with regard to the +eating of asparagus. In this dilemma he consulted Jernshaw. + +"Don't know, I'm sure," said that gentle-man; "besides, it doesn't +matter." + +"Doesn't matter?" repeated Mr. Barrett. "Why not?" + +"Because I think Tillett is paying her attentions," was the reply. "He's +ten years younger than you are, and a bachelor. A girl would naturally +prefer him to a middle-aged widower with five children." + +"In Australia," the other reminded him. + +"Man for man, bachelor for bachelor," said Mr. Jernshaw, regarding him, +"she might prefer you; as things are--" + +"I shall ask her," said Mr. Barrett, doggedly. "I was going to wait a +bit longer, but if there's any chance of her wrecking her prospects for +life by marrying that tailor's dummy it's my duty to risk it--for her +sake. I've seen him talking to her twice myself, but I never thought +he'd dream of such a thing." + +Apprehension and indignation kept him awake half the night, but when he +arose next morning it was with the firm resolve to put his fortune to the +test that day. At four o'clock he changed his neck-tie for the third +time, and at ten past sallied out in the direction of the school. He met +Miss Lindsay just coming out, and, after a well-deserved compliment to +the weather, turned and walked with her. + +"I was hoping to meet you," he said, slowly. + +"Yes?" said the girl. + +"I--I have been feeling rather lonely to-day," he continued. + +"You often do," said Miss Lindsay, guardedly. + +"It gets worse and worse," said Mr. Barrett, sadly. + +"I think I know what is the matter with you," said the girl, in a soft +voice; "you have got nothing to do all day, and you live alone, except +for your housekeeper." + +Mr. Barrett assented with some eagerness, and stole a hopeful glance at +her. + +"You--you miss something," continued Miss. Lindsay, in a faltering +voice. + +"I do," said Mr. Barrett, with ardour. + +"You miss"--the girl made an effort--"you miss the footsteps and voices +of your little children." + +Mr. Barrett stopped suddenly in the street, and then, with a jerk, went +blindly on. + +"I've never spoken of it before because it's your business, not mine," +continued the girl. I wouldn't have spoken now, but when you referred to +your loneliness I thought perhaps you didn't realize the cause of it." + +Mr. Barrett walked on in silent misery. + +"Poor little motherless things!" said Miss Lindsay, softly. "Motherless +and--fatherless." + +"Better for them," said Mr. Barrett, finding his voice at last. + +"It almost looks like it," said Miss Lindsay, with a sigh. + +Mr. Barrett tried to think clearly, but the circumstances were hardly +favourable. "Suppose," he said, speaking very slowly, "suppose I wanted +to get married?" + +Miss Lindsay started. "What, again?" she said, with an air of surprise. + +"How could I ask a girl to come and take over five children?" + +"No woman that was worth having would let little children be sacrificed +for her sake," said Miss Lindsay, decidedly. + +"Do you think anybody would marry me with five children?" demanded Mr. +Barrett. + +"She might," said the girl, edging away from him a little. "It depends +on the woman." + +"Would--you, for instance?" said Mr. Barrett, desperately. + +Miss Lindsay shrank still farther away. "I don't know; it would depend +upon circumstances," she murmured. + +"I will write and send for them," said Mr. Barrett, significantly. + +Miss Lindsay made no reply. They had arrived at her gate by this time, +and, with a hurried handshake, she disappeared indoors. + +Mr. Barrett, somewhat troubled in mind, went home to tea. + +He resolved, after a little natural hesitation, to drown the children, +and reproached himself bitterly for not having disposed of them at the +same time as their mother. Now he would have to go through another +period of mourning and the consequent delay in pressing his suit. +Moreover, he would have to allow a decent interval between his +conversation with Miss Lindsay and their untimely end. + +The news of the catastrophe arrived two or three days before the return +of the girl from her summer holidays. She learnt it in the first half- +hour from her landlady, and sat in a dazed condition listening to a +description of the grief-stricken father and the sympathy extended to him +by his fellow-citizens. It appeared that nothing had passed his lips for +two days. + +[Illustration: SHE LEARNT THE NEWS IN THE FIRST HALF-HOER FROM HER +LANDLADY.] + +"Shocking!" said Miss Lindsay, briefly. "Shocking !" + +An instinctive feeling that the right and proper thing to do was to nurse +his grief in solitude kept Mr. Barrett out of her way for nearly a week. +When she did meet him she received a limp handshake and a greeting in a +voice from which all hope seemed to have departed. + +"I am very sorry," she said, with a sort of measured gentleness. + +Mr. Barrett, in his hushed voice, thanked her. + +"I am all alone now," he said, pathetically. "There is nobody now to +care whether I live or die." + +Miss Lindsay did not contradict him. + +"How did it happen?" she inquired, after they had gone some distance in +silence. + +"They were out in a sailing-boat," said Mr. Barrett; "the boat capsized +in a puff of wind, and they were all drowned." + +"Who was in charge of them?" inquired the girl, after a decent interval. + +"Boatman," replied the other. + +"How did you hear?" + +"I had a letter from one of my sisters-in-law, Charlotte," said Mr. +Barrett. "A most affecting letter. Poor Charlotte was like a second +mother to them. She'll never be the same woman again. Never!" + +"I should like to see the letter," said Miss Lindsay, musingly. + +Mr. Barrett suppressed a start. "I should like to show it to you," he +said, "but I'm afraid I have destroyed it. It made me shudder every time +I looked at it." + +"It's a pity," said the girl, dryly. "I should have liked to see it. +I've got my own idea about the matter. Are you sure she was very fond of +them?" + +"She lived only for them," said Mr. Barrett, in a rapt voice. + +"Exactly. I don't believe they are drowned at all," said Miss Lindsay, +suddenly. "I believe you have had all this terrible anguish for nothing. +It's too cruel." + +Mr. Barrett stared at her in anxious amazement. + +"I see it all now," continued the girl. "Their Aunt Charlotte was +devoted to them. She always had the fear that some day you would return +and claim them, and to prevent that she invented the story of their +death." + +"Charlotte is the most truthful woman that ever breathed," said the +distressed Mr. Barrett. + +Miss Lindsay shook her head. "You are like all other honourable, +truthful people," she said, looking at him gravely. "You can't imagine +anybody else telling a falsehood. I don't believe you could tell one if +you tried." + +Mr. Barrett gazed about him with the despairing look of a drowning +mariner. + +"I'm certain I'm right," continued the girl. "I can see Charlotte +exulting in her wickedness. Why!" + +"What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Barrett, greatly worried. + +"I've just thought of it," said Miss Lindsay. "She's told you that your +children are drowned, and she has probably told them you are dead. A +woman like that would stick at nothing to gain her ends." + +"You don't know Charlotte," said Mr. Barrett, feebly. + +"I think I do," was the reply. "However, we'll make sure. I suppose +you've got friends in Melbourne?" + +"A few," said Mr. Barrett, guardedly. + +"Come down to the post-office and cable to one of them." + +Mr. Barrett hesitated. "I'll write," he said, slowly. "It's an awkward +thing to cable; and there's no hurry. I'll write to Jack Adams, +I think." + +"It's no good writing," said Miss Lindsay, firmly. "You ought to know +that." + +"Why not?" demanded the other. + +"Because, you foolish man," said the girl, calmly, "before your letter +got there, there would be one from Melbourne saying that he had been +choked by a fish-bone, or died of measles, or something of that sort." + +Mr. Barrett, hardly able to believe his ears, stopped short and looked at +her. The girl's eyes were moist with mirth and her lips trembling. He +put out his hand and took her wrist in a strong grip. + +"That's all right," he said, with a great gasp of relief. "_Phew!_ At +one time I thought I had lost you." + +"By heart-disease, or drowning?" inquired Miss Lindsay, softly. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Family Cares, by W.W. 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Jacobs. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7} + * { 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; color:#A82C28} + 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 Family Cares, 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: Family Cares + Deep Waters, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: March 6, 2004 [EBook #11477] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMILY CARES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover (95K)" src="cover.jpg" height="787" width="632" /> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h1> + DEEP WATERS +</h1> +<center><h2> + By W.W. JACOBS +</h2></center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title (39K)" src="title.jpg" height="617" width="488" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="001 (37K)" src="001.jpg" height="670" width="480" /> +</center> +<br><br> + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + + + + + +<a name="2H_4_7"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1> + FAMILY CARES +</h1> +<br /><br /> +<p> + Mr. Jernshaw, who was taking the opportunity of a lull in business to + weigh out pound packets of sugar, knocked his hands together and stood + waiting for the order of the tall bronzed man who had just entered the + shop—a well-built man of about forty—who was regarding him with blue + eyes set in quizzical wrinkles. +</p> +<p> + "What, Harry!" exclaimed Mr. Jernshaw, in response to the wrinkles. + "Harry Barrett!" +</p> +<p> + "That's me," said the other, extending his hand. "The rolling stone come + home covered with moss." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Jernshaw, somewhat excited, shook hands, and led the way into the + little parlour behind the shop. +</p> +<p> + "Fifteen years," said Mr. Barrett, sinking into a chair, "and the old + place hasn't altered a bit." +</p> +<p> + "Smithson told me he had let that house in Webb Street to a Barrett," + said the grocer, regarding him, "but I never thought of you. I suppose + you've done well, then?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett nodded. "Can't grumble," he said modestly. "I've got enough + to live on. Melbourne's all right, but I thought I'd come home for the + evening of my life." +</p> +<p> + "Evening!" repeated his friend. "Forty-three," said Mr. Barrett, + gravely. "I'm getting on." +</p> +<p> + "You haven't changed much," said the grocer, passing his hand through his + spare grey whiskers. "Wait till you have a wife and seven youngsters. + Why, boots alone——" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett uttered a groan intended for sympathy. "Perhaps you could + help me with the furnishing," he said, slowly. "I've never had a place + of my own before, and I don't know much about it." +</p> +<p> + "Anything I can do," said his friend. "Better not get much yet; you + might marry, and my taste mightn't be hers." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett laughed. "I'm not marrying," he said, with conviction. +</p> +<p> + "Seen anything of Miss Prentice yet?" inquired Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "No," said the other, with a slight flush. "Why?" +</p> +<p> + "She's still single," said the grocer. +</p> +<p> + "What of it?" demanded Mr. Barrett, with warmth. "What of it?" +</p> +<p> + "Nothing," said Mr. Jernshaw, slowly. "Nothing; only I——" +</p> +<p> + "Well?" said the other, as he paused. +</p> +<p> + "I—there was an idea that you went to Australia to—to better your + condition," murmured the grocer. "That—that you were not in a position + to marry—that——" +</p> +<p> + "Boy and girl nonsense," said Mr. Barrett, sharply. "Why, it's fifteen + years ago. I don't suppose I should know her if I saw her. Is her + mother alive?" +</p> +<p> + "Rather!" said Mr. Jernshaw, with emphasis. "Louisa is something like + what her mother was when you went away." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett shivered. +</p> +<p> + "But you'll see for yourself," continued the other. "You'll have to go + and see them. They'll wonder you haven't been before." +</p> +<p> + "Let 'em wonder," said the embarrassed Mr. Barrett. "I shall go and see + all my old friends in their turn; casual-like. You might let 'em hear + that I've been to see you before seeing them, and then, if they're + thinking any nonsense, it'll be a hint. I'm stopping in town while the + house is being decorated; next time I come down I'll call and see + somebody else." +</p> +<p> + "That'll be another hint," assented Mr. Jernshaw. "Not that hints are + much good to Mrs. Prentice." +</p> +<p> + "We'll see," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + In accordance with his plan his return to his native town was heralded by + a few short visits at respectable intervals. A sort of human butterfly, + he streaked rapidly across one or two streets, alighted for half an hour + to resume an old friendship, and then disappeared again. Having given at + least half-a-dozen hints of this kind, he made a final return to Ramsbury + and entered into occupation of his new house. +</p> +<p> + "It does you credit, Jernshaw," he said, gratefully. "I should have made + a rare mess of it without your help." +</p> +<p> + "It looks very nice," admitted his friend. "Too nice." +</p> +<p> + "That's all nonsense," said the owner, irritably. +</p> +<p> + "All right," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I don't know the sex, then, that's all. + If you think that you're going to keep a nice house like this all to + yourself, you're mistaken. It's a home; and where there's a home a woman + comes in, somehow." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett grunted his disbelief. +</p> +<p> + "I give you four days," said Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + As a matter of fact, Mrs. Prentice and her daughter came on the fifth. + Mr. Barrett, who was in an easy-chair, wooing slumber with a handkerchief + over his head, heard their voices at the front door and the cordial + invitation of his housekeeper. They entered the room as he sat hastily + smoothing his rumpled hair. +</p> +<p> + "Good afternoon," he said, shaking hands. +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prentice returned the greeting in a level voice, and, accepting a + chair, gazed around the room. +</p> +<p> + "Nice weather," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "Very," said Mrs. Prentice. +</p> +<p> + "It's—it's quite a pleasure to see you again," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "We thought we should have seen you before," said Mrs. Prentice, "but + I told Louisa that no doubt you were busy, and wanted to surprise her. + I like the carpet; don't you, Louisa?" +</p> +<p> + Miss Prentice said she did. +</p> +<p> + "The room is nice and airy," said Mrs. Prentice, "but it's a pity you + didn't come to me before deciding. I could have told you of a better + house for the same money." +</p> +<p> + "I'm very well satisfied with this," said Mr. Barrett. "It's all I + want." +</p> +<p> + "It's well enough," conceded Mrs. Prentice, amiably. "And how have you + been all these years?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, with some haste, replied that his health and spirits had + been excellent. +</p> +<p> + "You look well," said Mrs. Prentice. "Neither of you seem to have + changed much," she added, looking from him to her daughter. "And I think + you did quite well not to write. I think it was much the best." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett sought for a question: a natural, artless question, that + would neutralize the hideous suggestion conveyed by this remark, but it + eluded him. He sat and gazed in growing fear at Mrs. Prentice. +</p> +<p> + "I—I couldn't write," he said at last, in desperation; "my wife——" +</p> +<p> + "Your what?" exclaimed Mrs. Prentice, loudly. +</p> +<p> + "Wife," said Mr. Barrett, suddenly calm now that he had taken the plunge. + "She wouldn't have liked it." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prentice tried to control her voice. I never heard you were + married!" she gasped. "Why isn't she here?" +</p> +<p> + "We couldn't agree," said the veracious Mr. Barrett. "She was very + difficult; so I left the children with her and——" +</p> +<p> + "Chil——" said Mrs. Prentice, and paused, unable to complete the word. +</p> +<p> + "Five," said Mr. Barrett, in tones of resignation. "It was rather a + wrench, parting with them, especially the baby. He got his first tooth + the day I left." +</p> +<p> + The information fell on deaf ears. Mrs. Prentice, for once in her life + thoroughly at a loss, sat trying to collect her scattered faculties. She + had come out prepared for a hard job, but not an impossible one. All + things considered, she took her defeat with admirable composure. +</p> +<p> + "I have no doubt it is much the best thing for the children to remain + with their mother," she said, rising. +</p> +<p> + "Much the best," agreed Mr. Barrett. "Whatever she is like," continued + the old lady. "Are you ready, Louisa?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett followed them to the door, and then, returning to the room, + watched, with glad eyes, their progress up the street. +</p> +<p> + "Wonder whether she'll keep it to herself?" he muttered. +</p> +<p> + His doubts were set at rest next day. All Ramsbury knew by then of his + matrimonial complications, and seemed anxious to talk about them; + complications which tended to increase until Mr. Barrett wrote out a list + of his children's names and ages and learnt it off by heart. +</p> +<p> + Relieved of the attentions of the Prentice family, he walked the streets + a free man; and it was counted to him for righteousness that he never + said a hard word about his wife. She had her faults, he said, but they + were many thousand miles away, and he preferred to forget them. And he + added, with some truth, that he owed her a good deal. +</p> +<p> + For a few months he had no reason to alter his opinion. Thanks to his + presence of mind, the Prentice family had no terrors for him. Heart- + whole and fancy free, he led the easy life of a man of leisure, a + condition of things suddenly upset by the arrival of Miss Grace Lindsay + to take up a post at the elementary school. Mr. Barrett succumbed almost + at once, and, after a few encounters in the street and meetings at mutual + friends', went to unbosom him-self to Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "What has she got to do with you?" demanded that gentleman. +</p> +<p> + "I—I'm rather struck with her," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "Struck with her?" repeated his friend, sharply. "I'm surprised at you. + You've no business to think of such things." +</p> +<p> + "Why not?" demanded Mr. Barrett, in tones that were sharper still. +</p> +<p> + "Why not?" repeated the other. "Have you forgotten your wife and + children?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, who, to do him justice, had forgotten, fell back in his + chair and sat gazing at him, open-mouthed. +</p> +<p> + "You're in a false position—in a way," said Mr. Jernshaw, sternly. +</p> +<p> + "False is no name for it," said Mr. Barrett, huskily. "What am I to do?" +</p> +<p> + "Do?" repeated the other, staring at him. "Nothing! Unless, perhaps, + you send for your wife and children. I suppose, in any case, you would + have to have the little ones if anything happened to her?" +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett grinned ruefully. +</p> +<p> + "Think it over," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I will," said the other, heartily. +</p> +<p> + He walked home deep in thought. He was a kindly man, and he spent some + time thinking out the easiest death for Mrs. Barrett. He decided at last + upon heart-disease, and a fort-night later all Ramsbury knew of the + letter from Australia conveying the mournful intelligence. It was + generally agreed that the mourning and the general behaviour of the + widower left nothing to be desired. +</p> +<p> + "She's at peace at last," he said, solemnly, to Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "I believe you killed her," said his friend. Mr. Barrett started + violently. +</p> +<p> + "I mean your leaving broke her heart," explained the other. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett breathed easily again. +</p> +<p> + "It's your duty to look after the children," said Jernshaw, firmly. "And + I'm not the only one that thinks so." +</p> +<p> + "They are with their grandfather and grand-mother," said Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Jernshaw sniffed. +</p> +<p> + "And four uncles and five aunts," added Mr. Barrett, triumphantly. +</p> +<p> + "Think how they would brighten up your house," said Mr. Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + His friend shook his head. "It wouldn't be fair to their grandmother," + he said, decidedly. "Besides, Australia wants population." +</p> +<p> + He found to his annoyance that Mr. Jernshaw's statement that he was not + alone in his views was correct. Public opinion seemed to expect the + arrival of the children, and one citizen even went so far as to recommend + a girl he knew, as nurse. +</p> +<p> + Ramsbury understood at last that his decision was final, and, observing + his attentions to the new schoolmistress, flattered itself that it had + discovered the reason. It is possible that Miss Lindsay shared their + views, but if so she made no sign, and on the many occasions on which she + met Mr. Barrett on her way to and from school greeted him with frank + cordiality. Even when he referred to his loneliness, which he did + frequently, she made no comment. +</p> +<p> + He went into half-mourning at the end of two months, and a month later + bore no outward signs of his loss. Added to that his step was springy + and his manner youthful. Miss Lindsay was twenty-eight, and he persuaded + himself that, sexes considered, there was no disparity worth mentioning. +</p> +<p> + He was only restrained from proposing by a question of etiquette. Even a + shilling book on the science failed to state the interval that should + elapse between the death of one wife and the negotiations for another. + It preferred instead to give minute instructions with regard to the + eating of asparagus. In this dilemma he consulted Jernshaw. +</p> +<p> + "Don't know, I'm sure," said that gentle-man; "besides, it doesn't + matter." +</p> +<p> + "Doesn't matter?" repeated Mr. Barrett. "Why not?" +</p> +<p> + "Because I think Tillett is paying her attentions," was the reply. "He's + ten years younger than you are, and a bachelor. A girl would naturally + prefer him to a middle-aged widower with five children." +</p> +<p> + "In Australia," the other reminded him. +</p> +<p> + "Man for man, bachelor for bachelor," said Mr. Jernshaw, regarding him, + "she might prefer you; as things are—" +</p> +<p> + "I shall ask her," said Mr. Barrett, doggedly. "I was going to wait a + bit longer, but if there's any chance of her wrecking her prospects for + life by marrying that tailor's dummy it's my duty to risk it—for her + sake. I've seen him talking to her twice myself, but I never thought + he'd dream of such a thing." +</p> +<p> + Apprehension and indignation kept him awake half the night, but when he + arose next morning it was with the firm resolve to put his fortune to the + test that day. At four o'clock he changed his neck-tie for the third + time, and at ten past sallied out in the direction of the school. He met + Miss Lindsay just coming out, and, after a well-deserved compliment to + the weather, turned and walked with her. +</p> +<p> + "I was hoping to meet you," he said, slowly. +</p> +<p> + "Yes?" said the girl. +</p> +<p> + "I—I have been feeling rather lonely to-day," he continued. +</p> +<p> + "You often do," said Miss Lindsay, guardedly. +</p> +<p> + "It gets worse and worse," said Mr. Barrett, sadly. +</p> +<p> + "I think I know what is the matter with you," said the girl, in a soft + voice; "you have got nothing to do all day, and you live alone, except + for your housekeeper." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett assented with some eagerness, and stole a hopeful glance at + her. +</p> +<p> + "You—you miss something," continued Miss. Lindsay, in a faltering + voice. +</p> +<p> + "I do," said Mr. Barrett, with ardour. +</p> +<p> + "You miss"—the girl made an effort—"you miss the footsteps and voices + of your little children." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett stopped suddenly in the street, and then, with a jerk, went + blindly on. +</p> +<p> + "I've never spoken of it before because it's your business, not mine," + continued the girl. I wouldn't have spoken now, but when you referred to + your loneliness I thought perhaps you didn't realize the cause of it." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett walked on in silent misery. +</p> +<p> + "Poor little motherless things!" said Miss Lindsay, softly. "Motherless + and—fatherless." +</p> +<p> + "Better for them," said Mr. Barrett, finding his voice at last. +</p> +<p> + "It almost looks like it," said Miss Lindsay, with a sigh. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett tried to think clearly, but the circumstances were hardly + favourable. "Suppose," he said, speaking very slowly, "suppose I wanted + to get married?" +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay started. "What, again?" she said, with an air of surprise. +</p> +<p> + "How could I ask a girl to come and take over five children?" +</p> +<p> + "No woman that was worth having would let little children be sacrificed + for her sake," said Miss Lindsay, decidedly. +</p> +<p> + "Do you think anybody would marry me with five children?" demanded Mr. + Barrett. +</p> +<p> + "She might," said the girl, edging away from him a little. "It depends + on the woman." +</p> +<p> + "Would—you, for instance?" said Mr. Barrett, desperately. +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay shrank still farther away. "I don't know; it would depend + upon circumstances," she murmured. +</p> +<p> + "I will write and send for them," said Mr. Barrett, significantly. +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay made no reply. They had arrived at her gate by this time, + and, with a hurried handshake, she disappeared indoors. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, somewhat troubled in mind, went home to tea. +</p> +<p> + He resolved, after a little natural hesitation, to drown the children, + and reproached himself bitterly for not having disposed of them at the + same time as their mother. Now he would have to go through another + period of mourning and the consequent delay in pressing his suit. + Moreover, he would have to allow a decent interval between his + conversation with Miss Lindsay and their untimely end. +</p> +<p> + The news of the catastrophe arrived two or three days before the return + of the girl from her summer holidays. She learnt it in the first half- + hour from her landlady, and sat in a dazed condition listening to a + description of the grief-stricken father and the sympathy extended to him + by his fellow-citizens. It appeared that nothing had passed his lips for + two days. +</p> +<a name="image-5"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="004.jpg" height="667" width="484" +alt="She Learnt the News in The First Half-hour from Her +Landlady. +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "Shocking!" said Miss Lindsay, briefly. "Shocking !" +</p> +<p> + An instinctive feeling that the right and proper thing to do was to nurse + his grief in solitude kept Mr. Barrett out of her way for nearly a week. + When she did meet him she received a limp handshake and a greeting in a + voice from which all hope seemed to have departed. +</p> +<p> + "I am very sorry," she said, with a sort of measured gentleness. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, in his hushed voice, thanked her. +</p> +<p> + "I am all alone now," he said, pathetically. "There is nobody now to + care whether I live or die." +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay did not contradict him. +</p> +<p> + "How did it happen?" she inquired, after they had gone some distance in + silence. +</p> +<p> + "They were out in a sailing-boat," said Mr. Barrett; "the boat capsized + in a puff of wind, and they were all drowned." +</p> +<p> + "Who was in charge of them?" inquired the girl, after a decent interval. +</p> +<p> + "Boatman," replied the other. +</p> +<p> + "How did you hear?" +</p> +<p> + "I had a letter from one of my sisters-in-law, Charlotte," said Mr. + Barrett. "A most affecting letter. Poor Charlotte was like a second + mother to them. She'll never be the same woman again. Never!" +</p> +<p> + "I should like to see the letter," said Miss Lindsay, musingly. +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett suppressed a start. "I should like to show it to you," he + said, "but I'm afraid I have destroyed it. It made me shudder every time + I looked at it." +</p> +<p> + "It's a pity," said the girl, dryly. "I should have liked to see it. + I've got my own idea about the matter. Are you sure she was very fond of + them?" +</p> +<p> + "She lived only for them," said Mr. Barrett, in a rapt voice. +</p> +<p> + "Exactly. I don't believe they are drowned at all," said Miss Lindsay, + suddenly. "I believe you have had all this terrible anguish for nothing. + It's too cruel." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett stared at her in anxious amazement. +</p> +<p> + "I see it all now," continued the girl. "Their Aunt Charlotte was + devoted to them. She always had the fear that some day you would return + and claim them, and to prevent that she invented the story of their + death." +</p> +<p> + "Charlotte is the most truthful woman that ever breathed," said the + distressed Mr. Barrett. +</p> +<p> + Miss Lindsay shook her head. "You are like all other honourable, + truthful people," she said, looking at him gravely. "You can't imagine + anybody else telling a falsehood. I don't believe you could tell one if + you tried." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett gazed about him with the despairing look of a drowning + mariner. +</p> +<p> + "I'm certain I'm right," continued the girl. "I can see Charlotte + exulting in her wickedness. Why!" +</p> +<p> + "What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Barrett, greatly worried. +</p> +<p> + "I've just thought of it," said Miss Lindsay. "She's told you that your + children are drowned, and she has probably told them you are dead. A + woman like that would stick at nothing to gain her ends." +</p> +<p> + "You don't know Charlotte," said Mr. Barrett, feebly. +</p> +<p> + "I think I do," was the reply. "However, we'll make sure. I suppose + you've got friends in Melbourne?" +</p> +<p> + "A few," said Mr. Barrett, guardedly. +</p> +<p> + "Come down to the post-office and cable to one of them." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett hesitated. "I'll write," he said, slowly. "It's an awkward + thing to cable; and there's no hurry. I'll write to Jack Adams, + I think." +</p> +<p> + "It's no good writing," said Miss Lindsay, firmly. "You ought to know + that." +</p> +<p> + "Why not?" demanded the other. +</p> +<p> + "Because, you foolish man," said the girl, calmly, "before your letter + got there, there would be one from Melbourne saying that he had been + choked by a fish-bone, or died of measles, or something of that sort." +</p> +<p> + Mr. Barrett, hardly able to believe his ears, stopped short and looked at + her. The girl's eyes were moist with mirth and her lips trembling. He + put out his hand and took her wrist in a strong grip. +</p> +<p> + "That's all right," he said, with a great gasp of relief. "<i>Phew!</i> At + one time I thought I had lost you." +</p> +<p> + "By heart-disease, or drowning?" inquired Miss Lindsay, softly. +</p> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Family Cares, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMILY CARES *** + +***** This file should be named 11477-h.htm or 11477-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/4/7/11477/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Family Cares + Deep Waters, Part 7. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: March 6, 2004 [EBook #11477] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAMILY CARES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + + +DEEP WATERS + +By W.W. JACOBS + + + +FAMILY CARES + +Mr. Jernshaw, who was taking the opportunity of a lull in business to +weigh out pound packets of sugar, knocked his hands together and stood +waiting for the order of the tall bronzed man who had just entered the +shop--a well-built man of about forty--who was regarding him with blue +eyes set in quizzical wrinkles. + +"What, Harry!" exclaimed Mr. Jernshaw, in response to the wrinkles. +"Harry Barrett!" + +"That's me," said the other, extending his hand. "The rolling stone come +home covered with moss." + +Mr. Jernshaw, somewhat excited, shook hands, and led the way into the +little parlour behind the shop. + +"Fifteen years," said Mr. Barrett, sinking into a chair, "and the old +place hasn't altered a bit." + +"Smithson told me he had let that house in Webb Street to a Barrett," +said the grocer, regarding him, "but I never thought of you. I suppose +you've done well, then?" + +Mr. Barrett nodded. "Can't grumble," he said modestly. "I've got enough +to live on. Melbourne's all right, but I thought I'd come home for the +evening of my life." + +"Evening!" repeated his friend. "Forty-three," said Mr. Barrett, +gravely. "I'm getting on." + +"You haven't changed much," said the grocer, passing his hand through his +spare grey whiskers. "Wait till you have a wife and seven youngsters. +Why, boots alone----" + +Mr. Barrett uttered a groan intended for sympathy. "Perhaps you could +help me with the furnishing," he said, slowly. "I've never had a place +of my own before, and I don't know much about it." + +"Anything I can do," said his friend. "Better not get much yet; you +might marry, and my taste mightn't be hers." + +Mr. Barrett laughed. "I'm not marrying," he said, with conviction. + +"Seen anything of Miss Prentice yet?" inquired Mr. Jernshaw. + +"No," said the other, with a slight flush. "Why?" + +"She's still single," said the grocer. + +"What of it?" demanded Mr. Barrett, with warmth. "What of it?" + +"Nothing," said Mr. Jernshaw, slowly. "Nothing; only I----" + +"Well?" said the other, as he paused. + +"I--there was an idea that you went to Australia to--to better your +condition," murmured the grocer. "That--that you were not in a position +to marry--that----" + +"Boy and girl nonsense," said Mr. Barrett, sharply. "Why, it's fifteen +years ago. I don't suppose I should know her if I saw her. Is her +mother alive?" + +"Rather!" said Mr. Jernshaw, with emphasis. "Louisa is something like +what her mother was when you went away." + +Mr. Barrett shivered. + +"But you'll see for yourself," continued the other. "You'll have to go +and see them. They'll wonder you haven't been before." + +"Let 'em wonder," said the embarrassed Mr. Barrett. "I shall go and see +all my old friends in their turn; casual-like. You might let 'em hear +that I've been to see you before seeing them, and then, if they're +thinking any nonsense, it'll be a hint. I'm stopping in town while the +house is being decorated; next time I come down I'll call and see +somebody else." + +"That'll be another hint," assented Mr. Jernshaw. "Not that hints are +much good to Mrs. Prentice." + +"We'll see," said Mr. Barrett. + +In accordance with his plan his return to his native town was heralded by +a few short visits at respectable intervals. A sort of human butterfly, +he streaked rapidly across one or two streets, alighted for half an hour +to resume an old friendship, and then disappeared again. Having given at +least half-a-dozen hints of this kind, he made a final return to Ramsbury +and entered into occupation of his new house. + +"It does you credit, Jernshaw," he said, gratefully. "I should have made +a rare mess of it without your help." + +"It looks very nice," admitted his friend. "Too nice." + +"That's all nonsense," said the owner, irritably. + +"All right," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I don't know the sex, then, that's all. +If you think that you're going to keep a nice house like this all to +yourself, you're mistaken. It's a home; and where there's a home a woman +comes in, somehow." + +Mr. Barrett grunted his disbelief. + +"I give you four days," said Mr. Jernshaw. + +As a matter of fact, Mrs. Prentice and her daughter came on the fifth. +Mr. Barrett, who was in an easy-chair, wooing slumber with a handkerchief +over his head, heard their voices at the front door and the cordial +invitation of his housekeeper. They entered the room as he sat hastily +smoothing his rumpled hair. + +"Good afternoon," he said, shaking hands. + +Mrs. Prentice returned the greeting in a level voice, and, accepting a +chair, gazed around the room. + +"Nice weather," said Mr. Barrett. + +"Very," said Mrs. Prentice. + +"It's--it's quite a pleasure to see you again," said Mr. Barrett. + +"We thought we should have seen you before," said Mrs. Prentice, "but +I told Louisa that no doubt you were busy, and wanted to surprise her. +I like the carpet; don't you, Louisa?" + +Miss Prentice said she did. + +"The room is nice and airy," said Mrs. Prentice, "but it's a pity you +didn't come to me before deciding. I could have told you of a better +house for the same money." + +"I'm very well satisfied with this," said Mr. Barrett. "It's all I +want." + +"It's well enough," conceded Mrs. Prentice, amiably. "And how have you +been all these years?" + +Mr. Barrett, with some haste, replied that his health and spirits had +been excellent. + +"You look well," said Mrs. Prentice. "Neither of you seem to have +changed much," she added, looking from him to her daughter. "And I think +you did quite well not to write. I think it was much the best." + +Mr. Barrett sought for a question: a natural, artless question, that +would neutralize the hideous suggestion conveyed by this remark, but it +eluded him. He sat and gazed in growing fear at Mrs. Prentice. + +"I--I couldn't write," he said at last, in desperation; "my wife----" + +"Your what?" exclaimed Mrs. Prentice, loudly. + +"Wife," said Mr. Barrett, suddenly calm now that he had taken the plunge. +"She wouldn't have liked it." + +Mrs. Prentice tried to control her voice. I never heard you were +married!" she gasped. "Why isn't she here?" + +"We couldn't agree," said the veracious Mr. Barrett. "She was very +difficult; so I left the children with her and----" + +"Chil----" said Mrs. Prentice, and paused, unable to complete the word. + +"Five," said Mr. Barrett, in tones of resignation. "It was rather a +wrench, parting with them, especially the baby. He got his first tooth +the day I left." + +The information fell on deaf ears. Mrs. Prentice, for once in her life +thoroughly at a loss, sat trying to collect her scattered faculties. She +had come out prepared for a hard job, but not an impossible one. All +things considered, she took her defeat with admirable composure. + +"I have no doubt it is much the best thing for the children to remain +with their mother," she said, rising. + +"Much the best," agreed Mr. Barrett. "Whatever she is like," continued +the old lady. "Are you ready, Louisa?" + +Mr. Barrett followed them to the door, and then, returning to the room, +watched, with glad eyes, their progress up the street. + +"Wonder whether she'll keep it to herself?" he muttered. + +His doubts were set at rest next day. All Ramsbury knew by then of his +matrimonial complications, and seemed anxious to talk about them; +complications which tended to increase until Mr. Barrett wrote out a list +of his children's names and ages and learnt it off by heart. + +Relieved of the attentions of the Prentice family, he walked the streets +a free man; and it was counted to him for righteousness that he never +said a hard word about his wife. She had her faults, he said, but they +were many thousand miles away, and he preferred to forget them. And he +added, with some truth, that he owed her a good deal. + +For a few months he had no reason to alter his opinion. Thanks to his +presence of mind, the Prentice family had no terrors for him. Heart- +whole and fancy free, he led the easy life of a man of leisure, a +condition of things suddenly upset by the arrival of Miss Grace Lindsay +to take up a post at the elementary school. Mr. Barrett succumbed almost +at once, and, after a few encounters in the street and meetings at mutual +friends', went to unbosom him-self to Mr. Jernshaw. + +"What has she got to do with you?" demanded that gentleman. + +"I--I'm rather struck with her," said Mr. Barrett. + +"Struck with her?" repeated his friend, sharply. "I'm surprised at you. +You've no business to think of such things." + +"Why not?" demanded Mr. Barrett, in tones that were sharper still. + +"Why not?" repeated the other. "Have you forgotten your wife and +children?" + +Mr. Barrett, who, to do him justice, had forgotten, fell back in his +chair and sat gazing at him, open-mouthed. + +"You're in a false position--in a way," said Mr. Jernshaw, sternly. + +"False is no name for it," said Mr. Barrett, huskily. "What am I to do?" + +"Do?" repeated the other, staring at him. "Nothing! Unless, perhaps, +you send for your wife and children. I suppose, in any case, you would +have to have the little ones if anything happened to her?" + +Mr. Barrett grinned ruefully. + +"Think it over," said Mr. Jernshaw. "I will," said the other, heartily. + +He walked home deep in thought. He was a kindly man, and he spent some +time thinking out the easiest death for Mrs. Barrett. He decided at last +upon heart-disease, and a fort-night later all Ramsbury knew of the +letter from Australia conveying the mournful intelligence. It was +generally agreed that the mourning and the general behaviour of the +widower left nothing to be desired. + +"She's at peace at last," he said, solemnly, to Jernshaw. + +"I believe you killed her," said his friend. Mr. Barrett started +violently. + +"I mean your leaving broke her heart," explained the other. + +Mr. Barrett breathed easily again. + +"It's your duty to look after the children," said Jernshaw, firmly. "And +I'm not the only one that thinks so." + +"They are with their grandfather and grand-mother," said Mr. Barrett. + +Mr. Jernshaw sniffed. + +"And four uncles and five aunts," added Mr. Barrett, triumphantly. + +"Think how they would brighten up your house," said Mr. Jernshaw. + +His friend shook his head. "It wouldn't be fair to their grandmother," +he said, decidedly. "Besides, Australia wants population." + +He found to his annoyance that Mr. Jernshaw's statement that he was not +alone in his views was correct. Public opinion seemed to expect the +arrival of the children, and one citizen even went so far as to recommend +a girl he knew, as nurse. + +Ramsbury understood at last that his decision was final, and, observing +his attentions to the new schoolmistress, flattered itself that it had +discovered the reason. It is possible that Miss Lindsay shared their +views, but if so she made no sign, and on the many occasions on which she +met Mr. Barrett on her way to and from school greeted him with frank +cordiality. Even when he referred to his loneliness, which he did +frequently, she made no comment. + +He went into half-mourning at the end of two months, and a month later +bore no outward signs of his loss. Added to that his step was springy +and his manner youthful. Miss Lindsay was twenty-eight, and he persuaded +himself that, sexes considered, there was no disparity worth mentioning. + +He was only restrained from proposing by a question of etiquette. Even a +shilling book on the science failed to state the interval that should +elapse between the death of one wife and the negotiations for another. +It preferred instead to give minute instructions with regard to the +eating of asparagus. In this dilemma he consulted Jernshaw. + +"Don't know, I'm sure," said that gentle-man; "besides, it doesn't +matter." + +"Doesn't matter?" repeated Mr. Barrett. "Why not?" + +"Because I think Tillett is paying her attentions," was the reply. "He's +ten years younger than you are, and a bachelor. A girl would naturally +prefer him to a middle-aged widower with five children." + +"In Australia," the other reminded him. + +"Man for man, bachelor for bachelor," said Mr. Jernshaw, regarding him, +"she might prefer you; as things are--" + +"I shall ask her," said Mr. Barrett, doggedly. "I was going to wait a +bit longer, but if there's any chance of her wrecking her prospects for +life by marrying that tailor's dummy it's my duty to risk it--for her +sake. I've seen him talking to her twice myself, but I never thought +he'd dream of such a thing." + +Apprehension and indignation kept him awake half the night, but when he +arose next morning it was with the firm resolve to put his fortune to the +test that day. At four o'clock he changed his neck-tie for the third +time, and at ten past sallied out in the direction of the school. He met +Miss Lindsay just coming out, and, after a well-deserved compliment to +the weather, turned and walked with her. + +"I was hoping to meet you," he said, slowly. + +"Yes?" said the girl. + +"I--I have been feeling rather lonely to-day," he continued. + +"You often do," said Miss Lindsay, guardedly. + +"It gets worse and worse," said Mr. Barrett, sadly. + +"I think I know what is the matter with you," said the girl, in a soft +voice; "you have got nothing to do all day, and you live alone, except +for your housekeeper." + +Mr. Barrett assented with some eagerness, and stole a hopeful glance at +her. + +"You--you miss something," continued Miss. Lindsay, in a faltering +voice. + +"I do," said Mr. Barrett, with ardour. + +"You miss"--the girl made an effort--"you miss the footsteps and voices +of your little children." + +Mr. Barrett stopped suddenly in the street, and then, with a jerk, went +blindly on. + +"I've never spoken of it before because it's your business, not mine," +continued the girl. I wouldn't have spoken now, but when you referred to +your loneliness I thought perhaps you didn't realize the cause of it." + +Mr. Barrett walked on in silent misery. + +"Poor little motherless things!" said Miss Lindsay, softly. "Motherless +and--fatherless." + +"Better for them," said Mr. Barrett, finding his voice at last. + +"It almost looks like it," said Miss Lindsay, with a sigh. + +Mr. Barrett tried to think clearly, but the circumstances were hardly +favourable. "Suppose," he said, speaking very slowly, "suppose I wanted +to get married?" + +Miss Lindsay started. "What, again?" she said, with an air of surprise. + +"How could I ask a girl to come and take over five children?" + +"No woman that was worth having would let little children be sacrificed +for her sake," said Miss Lindsay, decidedly. + +"Do you think anybody would marry me with five children?" demanded Mr. +Barrett. + +"She might," said the girl, edging away from him a little. "It depends +on the woman." + +"Would--you, for instance?" said Mr. Barrett, desperately. + +Miss Lindsay shrank still farther away. "I don't know; it would depend +upon circumstances," she murmured. + +"I will write and send for them," said Mr. Barrett, significantly. + +Miss Lindsay made no reply. They had arrived at her gate by this time, +and, with a hurried handshake, she disappeared indoors. + +Mr. Barrett, somewhat troubled in mind, went home to tea. + +He resolved, after a little natural hesitation, to drown the children, +and reproached himself bitterly for not having disposed of them at the +same time as their mother. Now he would have to go through another +period of mourning and the consequent delay in pressing his suit. +Moreover, he would have to allow a decent interval between his +conversation with Miss Lindsay and their untimely end. + +The news of the catastrophe arrived two or three days before the return +of the girl from her summer holidays. She learnt it in the first half- +hour from her landlady, and sat in a dazed condition listening to a +description of the grief-stricken father and the sympathy extended to him +by his fellow-citizens. It appeared that nothing had passed his lips for +two days. + +[Illustration: SHE LEARNT THE NEWS IN THE FIRST HALF-HOER FROM HER +LANDLADY.] + +"Shocking!" said Miss Lindsay, briefly. "Shocking !" + +An instinctive feeling that the right and proper thing to do was to nurse +his grief in solitude kept Mr. Barrett out of her way for nearly a week. +When she did meet him she received a limp handshake and a greeting in a +voice from which all hope seemed to have departed. + +"I am very sorry," she said, with a sort of measured gentleness. + +Mr. Barrett, in his hushed voice, thanked her. + +"I am all alone now," he said, pathetically. "There is nobody now to +care whether I live or die." + +Miss Lindsay did not contradict him. + +"How did it happen?" she inquired, after they had gone some distance in +silence. + +"They were out in a sailing-boat," said Mr. Barrett; "the boat capsized +in a puff of wind, and they were all drowned." + +"Who was in charge of them?" inquired the girl, after a decent interval. + +"Boatman," replied the other. + +"How did you hear?" + +"I had a letter from one of my sisters-in-law, Charlotte," said Mr. +Barrett. "A most affecting letter. Poor Charlotte was like a second +mother to them. She'll never be the same woman again. Never!" + +"I should like to see the letter," said Miss Lindsay, musingly. + +Mr. Barrett suppressed a start. "I should like to show it to you," he +said, "but I'm afraid I have destroyed it. It made me shudder every time +I looked at it." + +"It's a pity," said the girl, dryly. "I should have liked to see it. +I've got my own idea about the matter. Are you sure she was very fond of +them?" + +"She lived only for them," said Mr. Barrett, in a rapt voice. + +"Exactly. I don't believe they are drowned at all," said Miss Lindsay, +suddenly. "I believe you have had all this terrible anguish for nothing. +It's too cruel." + +Mr. Barrett stared at her in anxious amazement. + +"I see it all now," continued the girl. "Their Aunt Charlotte was +devoted to them. She always had the fear that some day you would return +and claim them, and to prevent that she invented the story of their +death." + +"Charlotte is the most truthful woman that ever breathed," said the +distressed Mr. Barrett. + +Miss Lindsay shook her head. "You are like all other honourable, +truthful people," she said, looking at him gravely. "You can't imagine +anybody else telling a falsehood. I don't believe you could tell one if +you tried." + +Mr. Barrett gazed about him with the despairing look of a drowning +mariner. + +"I'm certain I'm right," continued the girl. "I can see Charlotte +exulting in her wickedness. Why!" + +"What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Barrett, greatly worried. + +"I've just thought of it," said Miss Lindsay. "She's told you that your +children are drowned, and she has probably told them you are dead. A +woman like that would stick at nothing to gain her ends." + +"You don't know Charlotte," said Mr. Barrett, feebly. + +"I think I do," was the reply. "However, we'll make sure. I suppose +you've got friends in Melbourne?" + +"A few," said Mr. Barrett, guardedly. + +"Come down to the post-office and cable to one of them." + +Mr. Barrett hesitated. "I'll write," he said, slowly. "It's an awkward +thing to cable; and there's no hurry. I'll write to Jack Adams, +I think." + +"It's no good writing," said Miss Lindsay, firmly. "You ought to know +that." + +"Why not?" demanded the other. + +"Because, you foolish man," said the girl, calmly, "before your letter +got there, there would be one from Melbourne saying that he had been +choked by a fish-bone, or died of measles, or something of that sort." + +Mr. Barrett, hardly able to believe his ears, stopped short and looked at +her. The girl's eyes were moist with mirth and her lips trembling. He +put out his hand and took her wrist in a strong grip. + +"That's all right," he said, with a great gasp of relief. "_Phew!_ At +one time I thought I had lost you." + +"By heart-disease, or drowning?" inquired Miss Lindsay, softly. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Family Cares, by W.W. 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