diff options
Diffstat (limited to '12157-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 12157-0.txt | 456 |
1 files changed, 456 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/12157-0.txt b/12157-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2848d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/12157-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,456 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12157 *** + +NIGHT WATCHES + +by W.W. Jacobs + + + + +THE UNKNOWN + +"Handsome is as 'andsome does," said the night-watchman. It's an old +saying, but it's true. Give a chap good looks, and it's precious little +else that is given to 'im. He's lucky when 'is good looks 'ave gorn--or +partly gorn--to get a berth as night-watchman or some other hard and +bad-paid job. + +One drawback to a good-looking man is that he generally marries young; +not because 'e wants to, but because somebody else wants 'im to. And +that ain't the worst of it: the handsomest chap I ever knew married five +times, and got seven years for it. It wasn't his fault, pore chap; he +simply couldn't say No. + +One o' the best-looking men I ever knew was Cap'n Bill Smithers, wot +used to come up here once a week with a schooner called the Wild Rose. +Funny thing about 'im was he didn't seem to know about 'is good looks, +and he was one o' the quietest, best-behaved men that ever came up the +London river. Considering that he was mistook for me more than once, it +was just as well. + +He didn't marry until 'e was close on forty; and then 'e made the +mistake of marrying a widder-woman. She was like all the rest of 'em-- +only worse. Afore she was married butter wouldn't melt in 'er mouth, +but as soon as she 'ad got her "lines" safe she began to make up for it. + +For the fust month or two 'e didn't mind it, 'e rather liked being +fussed arter, but when he found that he couldn't go out for arf an hour +without having 'er with 'im he began to get tired of it. Her idea was +that 'e was too handsome to be trusted out alone; and every trip he made +'e had to write up in a book, day by day, wot 'e did with himself. Even +then she wasn't satisfied, and, arter saying that a wife's place was by +the side of 'er husband, she took to sailing with 'im every v'y'ge. + +Wot he could ha' seen in 'er I don't know. I asked 'im one evening--in +a roundabout way--and he answered in such a long, roundabout way that I +didn't know wot to make of it till I see that she was standing just +behind me, listening. Arter that I heard 'er asking questions about me, +but I didn't 'ave to listen: I could hear 'er twenty yards away, and +singing to myself at the same time. + +Arter that she treated me as if I was the dirt beneath 'er feet. She +never spoke to me, but used to speak against me to other people. She +was always talking to them about the "sleeping-sickness" and things o' +that kind. She said night-watchmen always made 'er think of it somehow, +but she didn't know why, and she couldn't tell you if you was to ask +her. The only thing I was thankful for was that I wasn't 'er husband. +She stuck to 'im like his shadow, and I began to think at last it was a +pity she 'adn't got some thing to be jealous about and something to +occupy her mind with instead o' me. + +"She ought to 'ave a lesson," I ses to the skipper one evening. "Are +you going to be follered about like this all your life? If she was made +to see the foolishness of 'er ways she might get sick of it." + +My idea was to send her on a wild-goose chase, and while the Wild Rose +was away I thought it out. I wrote a love-letter to the skipper signed +with the name of "Dorothy," and asked 'im to meet me at Cleopatra's +Needle on the Embankment at eight o'clock on Wednesday. I told 'im to +look out for a tall girl (Mrs. Smithers was as short as they make 'em) +with mischievous brown eyes, in a blue 'at with red roses on it. + +I read it over careful, and arter marking it "Private," twice in front +and once on the back, I stuck it down so that it could be blown open +a'most, and waited for the schooner to come back. Then I gave a van-boy +twopence to 'and it to Mrs. Smithers, wot was sitting on the deck alone, +and tell 'er it was a letter for Captain Smithers. + +I was busy with a barge wot happened to be handy at the time, but I +'eard her say that she would take it and give it to 'im. When I peeped +round she 'ad got the letter open and was leaning over the side to +wind'ard trying to get 'er breath. Every now and then she'd give +another look at the letter and open 'er mouth and gasp; but by and by +she got calmer, and, arter putting it back in the envelope, she gave it +a lick as though she was going to bite it, and stuck it down agin. Then +she went off the wharf, and I'm blest if, five minutes arterwards, a +young fellow didn't come down to the ship with the same letter and ask +for the skipper. + +"Who gave it you?" ses the skipper, as soon as 'e could speak. + +"A lady," ses the young fellow. + +The skipper waved 'im away, and then 'e walked up and down the deck like +a man in a dream. + +"Bad news?" I ses, looking up and catching 'is eye. + +"No," he ses, "no. Only a note about a couple o' casks o' soda." + +He stuffed the letter in 'is pocket and sat on the side smoking till his +wife came back in five minutes' time, smiling all over with good temper. + +"It's a nice evening," she ses, "and I think I'll just run over to +Dalston and see my Cousin Joe." + +The skipper got up like a lamb and said he'd go and clean 'imself. + +"You needn't come if you feel tired," she ses, smiling at 'im. + +The skipper could 'ardly believe his ears. + +"I do feel tired," he ses. "I've had a heavy day, and I feel more like +bed than anything else." + +"You turn in, then," she ses. "I'll be all right by myself." + +She went down and tidied herself up--not that it made much difference to +'er--and, arter patting him on the arm and giving me a stare that would +ha' made most men blink, she took herself off. + +I was pretty busy that evening. Wot with shifting lighters from under +the jetty and sweeping up, it was pretty near ha'-past seven afore I 'ad +a minute I could call my own. I put down the broom at last, and was +just thinking of stepping round to the Bull's Head for a 'arf-pint when +I see Cap'n Smithers come off the ship on to the wharf and walk to the +gate. + +"I thought you was going to turn in?" I ses. + +"I did think of it," he ses, "then I thought p'r'aps I'd better stroll +as far as Broad Street and meet my wife." + +It was all I could do to keep a straight face. I'd a pretty good idea +where she 'ad gorn; and it wasn't Dalston. + +"Come in and 'ave 'arf a pint fust," I ses. + +"No; I shall be late," he ses, hurrying off. + +I went in and 'ad a glass by myself, and stood there so long thinking of +Mrs. Smithers walking up and down by Cleopatra's Needle that at last the +landlord fust asked me wot I was laughing at, and then offered to make +me laugh the other side of my face. And then he wonders why people go +to the Albion. + +I locked the gate rather earlier than usual that night. Sometimes if +I'm up that end I leave it a bit late, but I didn't want Mrs. Smithers +to come along and nip in without me seeing her face. + +It was ten o'clock afore I heard the bell go, and when I opened the +wicket and looked out I was surprised to see that she 'ad got the +skipper with 'er. And of all the miserable-looking objects I ever saw +in my life he was the worst. She 'ad him tight by the arm, and there +was a look on 'er face that a'most scared me. + +"Did you go all the way to Dalston for her?" I ses to 'im. + +Mrs. Smithers made a gasping sort o' noise, but the skipper didn't +answer a word. + +She shoved him in in front of 'er and stood ever 'im while he climbed +aboard. When he held out 'is hand to help 'er she struck it away. + +I didn't get word with 'im till five o'clock next morning, when he came +up on deck with his 'air all rough and 'is eyes red for want of sleep. + +"Haven't 'ad a wink all night," he ses, stepping on to the wharf. + +I gave a little cough. "Didn't she 'ave a pleasant time at Dalston?" I +ses. + +He walked a little further off from the ship. "She didn't go there," he +ses, in a whisper. + +"You've got something on your mind," I ses. "Wot is it?" + +He wouldn't tell me at fust, but at last he told me all about the letter +from Dorothy, and 'is wife reading it unbeknown to 'im and going to meet +'er. + +"It was an awful meeting!" he ses. "Awful!" + +I couldn't think wot to make of it. "Was the gal there, then?" I ses, +staring at 'im. + +"No," ses the skipper; "but I was." + +"You?" I ses, starting back. "You! Wot for? I'm surprised at you! I +wouldn't ha' believed it of you!" + +"I felt a bit curious," he ses, with a silly sort o' smile. "But wot I +can't understand is why the gal didn't turn up." + +"I'm ashamed of you, Bill," I ses, very severe. + +"P'r'aps she did," he ses, 'arf to 'imself, "and then saw my missis +standing there waiting. P'r'aps that was it." + +"Or p'r'aps it was somebody 'aving a game with you," I ses. + +"You're getting old, Bill," he ses, very short. "You don't understand. +It's some pore gal that's took a fancy to me, and it's my dooty to meet +'er and tell her 'ow things are." + +He walked off with his 'ead in the air, and if 'e took that letter out +once and looked at it, he did five times. + +"Chuck it away," I ses, going up to him. + +"Certainly not," he ses, folding it up careful and stowing it away in +'is breastpocket. "She's took a fancy to me, and it's my dooty----" + +"You said that afore," I ses. + +He stared at me nasty for a moment, and then 'e ses: "You ain't seen any +young lady hanging about 'ere, I suppose, Bill? A tall young lady with +a blue hat trimmed with red roses?" + +I shook my 'ead. + +"If you should see 'er" he ses. + +"I'll tell your missis," I ses. "It 'ud be much easier for her to do +her dooty properly than it would you. She'd enjoy doing it, too." + +He went off agin then, and I thought he 'ad done with me, but he 'adn't. +He spoke to me that evening as if I was the greatest friend he 'ad in +the world. I 'ad two 'arfpints with 'im at the Albion--with his missis +walking up and down outside--and arter the second 'arf-pint he said he +wanted to meet Dorothy and tell 'er that 'e was married, and that he +'oped she would meet some good man that was worthy of 'er. + +I had a week's peace while the ship was away, but she was hardly made +fast afore I 'ad it all over agin and agin. + +"Are you sure there's been no more letters?" he ses. + +"Sartain," I ses. + +"That's right," he ses; "that's right. And you 'aven't seen her walking +up and down?" + +"No," I ses. + +"'Ave you been on the look-out?" he ses. "I don't suppose a nice gal +like that would come and shove her 'ead in at the gate. Did you look up +and down the road?" + +"Yes," I ses. "I've fair made my eyes ache watching for her." + +"I can't understand it," he ses. "It's a mystery to me, unless p'r'aps +she's been taken ill. She must 'ave seen me here in the fust place; and +she managed to get hold of my name. Mark my words, I shall 'ear from +her agin." + +"'Ow do you know?" I ses. + +"I feel it 'ere," he ses, very solemn, laying his 'and on his chest. + +I didn't know wot to do. Wot with 'is foolishness and his missis's +temper, I see I 'ad made a mess of it. He told me she had 'ardly spoke +a word to 'im for two days, and when I said--being a married man myself +--that it might ha' been worse, 'e said I didn't know wot I was talking +about. + +I did a bit o' thinking arter he 'ad gorn aboard agin. I dursn't tell +'im that I 'ad wrote the letter, but I thought if he 'ad one or two more +he'd see that some one was 'aving a game with 'im, and that it might do +'im good. Besides which it was a little amusement for me. + +Arter everybody was in their beds asleep I sat on a clerk's stool in the +office and wrote 'im another letter from Dorothy. I called 'im "Dear +Bill," and I said 'ow sorry I was that I 'adn't had even a sight of 'im +lately, having been laid up with a sprained ankle and 'ad only just got +about agin. I asked 'im to meet me at Cleopatra's Needle at eight +o'clock, and said that I should wear the blue 'at with red roses. + +It was a very good letter, but I can see now that I done wrong in +writing it. I was going to post it to 'im, but, as I couldn't find an +envelope without the name of the blessed wharf on it, I put it in my +pocket till I got 'ome. + +I got 'ome at about a quarter to seven, and slept like a child till +pretty near four. Then I went downstairs to 'ave my dinner. + +The moment I opened the door I see there was something wrong. Three +times my missis licked 'er lips afore she could speak. Her face 'ad +gone a dirty white colour, and she was leaning forward with her 'ands on +her 'ips, trembling all over with temper. + +"Is my dinner ready?" I ses, easy-like. "'Cos I'm ready for it." + +"I--I wonder I don't tear you limb from limb," she ses, catching her +breath. + +"Wot's the matter?" I ses. + +"And then boil you," she ses, between her teeth. "You in one pot and +your precious Dorothy in another." + +If anybody 'ad offered me five pounds to speak then, I couldn't ha' done +it. I see wot I'd done in a flash, and I couldn't say a word; but I +kept my presence o' mind, and as she came round one side o' the table I +went round the other. + +"Wot 'ave you got to say for yourself?" she ses, with a scream. + +"Nothing," I ses, at last. "It's all a mistake." + +"Mistake?" she ses. "Yes, you made a mistake leaving it in your pocket; +that's all the mistake you've made. That's wot you do, is it, when +you're supposed to be at the wharf? Go about with a blue 'at with red +roses in it! At your time o' life, and a wife at 'ome working herself +to death to make both ends meet and keep you respectable!" + +"It's all a mistake," I ses. "The letter wasn't for me." + +"Oh, no, o' course not," she ses. "That's why you'd got it in your +pocket, I suppose. And I suppose you'll say your name ain't Bill next." + +"Don't say things you'll be sorry for," I ses. + +"I'll take care o' that," she ses. "I might be sorry for not saying +some things, but I don't think I shall." + +I don't think she was. I don't think she forgot anything, and she raked +up things that I 'ad contradicted years ago and wot I thought was all +forgot. And every now and then, when she stopped for breath, she'd try +and get round to the same side of the table I was. + +She follered me to the street door when I went and called things up the +road arter me. I 'ad a snack at a coffee-shop for my dinner, but I +'adn't got much appetite for it; I was too full of trouble and finding +fault with myself, and I went off to my work with a 'art as heavy as +lead. + +I suppose I 'adn't been on the wharf ten minutes afore Cap'n Smithers +came sidling up to me, but I got my spoke in fust. + +"Look 'ere," I ses, "if you're going to talk about that forward hussy +wot's been writing to you, I ain't. I'm sick and tired of 'er." + +"Forward hussy!" he ses. "Forward hussy!" And afore I could drop my +broom he gave me a punch in the jaw that pretty near broke it. "Say +another word against her," he ses, "and I'll knock your ugly 'ead off. +How dare you insult a lady?" + +I thought I should 'ave gone crazy at fust, but I went off into the +office without a word. Some men would ha' knocked 'im down for it, but +I made allowances for 'is state o' mind, and I stayed inside until I see +'im get aboard agin. + +He was sitting on deck when I went out, and his missis too, but neither +of 'em spoke a word. I picked up my broom and went on sweeping, when +suddenly I 'eard a voice at the gate I thought I knew, and in came my +wife. + +"Ho!" she ses, calling out. "Ain't you gone to meet that gal at +Cleopatra's Needle yet? You ain't going to keep 'er waiting, are you?" + +"H'sh!" I ses. + +"H'sh! yourself," she ses, shouting. "I've done nothing to be ashamed +of. I don't go to meet other people's husbands in a blue 'at with red +roses. I don't write 'em love-letters, and say 'H'sh!' to my wife when +she ventures to make a remark about it. I may work myself to skin and +bone for a man wot's old enough to know better, but I'm not going to be +trod on. Dorothy, indeed! I'll Dorothy 'er if I get the chance." + +Mrs. Smithers, wot 'ad been listening with all her ears, jumped up, and +so did the skipper, and Mrs. Smithers came to the side in two steps. + +"Did you say 'Dorothy,' ma'am?" she ses to my missis. + +"I did," ses my wife. "She's been writing to my husband." + +"It must be the same one," ses Mrs. Smithers. "She's been writing to +mine too." + +The two of 'em stood there looking at each other for a minute, and then +my wife, holding the letter between 'er finger and thumb as if it was +pison, passed it to Mrs. Smithers. + +"It's the same," ses Mrs. Smithers. "Was the envelope marked +'Private'?" + +"I didn't see no envelope," ses my missis. "This is all I found." + +Mrs. Smithers stepped on to the wharf and, taking 'old of my missis by +the arm, led her away whispering. At the same moment the skipper walked +across the deck and whispered to me. + +"Wot d'ye mean by it?" he ses. "Wot d'ye mean by 'aving letters from +Dorothy and not telling me about it?" + +"I can't help 'aving letters any more than you can," I ses. "Now +p'r'aps you'll understand wot I meant by calling 'er a forward hussy." + +"Fancy 'er writing to you!" he ses, wrinkling 'is forehead. "Pph! She +must be crazy." + +"P'r'aps it ain't a gal at all," I ses. "My belief is somebody is +'aving a game with us." + +"Don't be a fool," he ses. "I'd like to see the party as would make a +fool of me like that. Just see 'im and get my 'ands on him. He +wouldn't want to play any more games." + +It was no good talking to 'im. He was 'arf crazy with temper. If I'd +said the letter was meant for 'im he'd 'ave asked me wot I meant by +opening it and getting 'im into more trouble with 'is missis, instead of +giving it to 'im on the quiet. I just stood and suffered in silence, +and thought wot a lot of 'arm eddication did for people. + +"I want some money," ses my missis, coming back at last with Mrs. +Smithers. + +That was the way she always talked when she'd got me in 'er power. She +took two-and-tenpence--all I'd got--and then she ordered me to go and +get a cab. + +"Me and this lady are going to meet her," she ses, sniffing at me. + +"And tell her wot we think of 'er," ses Mrs. Smithers, sniffing too. + +"And wot we'll do to 'er," ses my missis. + +I left 'em standing side by side, looking at the skipper as if 'e was a +waxworks, while I went to find a cab. When I came back they was in the +same persition, and 'e was smoking with 'is eyes shut. + +They went off side by side in the cab, both of 'em sitting bolt-upright, +and only turning their 'eads at the last moment to give us looks we +didn't want. + +"I don't wish her no 'arm," ses the skipper, arter thinking for a long +time. "Was that the fust letter you 'ad from 'er, Bill?" + +"Fust and last," I ses, grinding my teeth. + +"I hope they won't meet 'er, pore thing," he ses. + +"I've been married longer than wot you have," I ses, "and I tell you one +thing. It won't make no difference to us whether they do or they +don't," I ses. + +And it didn't. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Unknown, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12157 *** |