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diff --git a/12158-0.txt b/12158-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..867896f --- /dev/null +++ b/12158-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,448 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12158 *** + +NIGHT WATCHES + +by W.W. Jacobs + + + + +THE VIGIL + +"I'm the happiest man in the world," said Mr. Farrer, in accents of +dreamy tenderness. + +Miss Ward sighed. "Wait till father comes in," she said. + +Mr. Farrer peered through the plants which formed a welcome screen to +the window and listened with some uneasiness. He was waiting for the +firm, springy step that should herald the approach of ex-Sergeant-Major +Ward. A squeeze of Miss Ward's hand renewed his courage. + +"Perhaps I had better light the lamp," said the girl, after a long +pause. "I wonder where mother's got to?" + +"She's on my side, at any rate," said Mr. Farrer. + +"Poor mother!" said the girl. "She daren't call her soul her own. I +expect she's sitting in her bedroom with the door shut. She hates +unpleasantness. And there's sure to be some." + +"So do I," said the young man, with a slight shiver. "But why should +there be any? He doesn't want you to keep single all your life, does +he?" + +"He'd like me to marry a soldier," said Miss Ward. "He says that the +young men of the present day are too soft. The only thing he thinks +about is courage and strength." + +She rose and, placing the lamp on the table, removed the chimney, and +then sought round the room for the matches. Mr. Farrer, who had two +boxes in his pocket, helped her. + +They found a box at last on the mantelpiece, and Mr. Farrer steadied her +by placing one arm round her waist while she lit the lamp. A sudden +exclamation from outside reminded them that the blind was not yet drawn, +and they sprang apart in dismay as a grizzled and upright old warrior +burst into the room and confronted them. + +"Pull that blind down!" he roared. "Not you," he continued, as Mr. +Farrer hastened to help. "What do you mean by touching my blind? What +do you mean by embracing my daughter? Eh? Why don't you answer?" + +"We--we are going to be married," said Mr. Farrer, trying to speak +boldly. + +The sergeant-major drew himself up, and the young man gazed in dismay at +a chest which seemed as though it would never cease expanding. + +"Married!" exclaimed the sergeant-major, with a grim laugh. "Married to +a little tame bunny-rabbit! Not if I know it. Where's your mother?" +he demanded, turning to the girl. + +"Upstairs," was the reply. + +Her father raised his voice, and a nervous reply came from above. A +minute later Mrs. Ward, pale of cheek, entered the room. + +"Here's fine goings-on!" said the sergeant major, sharply. "I go for a +little walk, and when I come back this--this infernal cockroach has got +its arm round my daughter's waist. Why don't you look after her? Do +you know anything about it?" + +His wife shook her head. + +"Five feet four and about thirty round the chest, and wants to marry my +daughter!" said the sergeant-major, with a sneer. "Eh? What's that? +What did you say? What?" + +"I said that's a pretty good size for a cockroach," murmured Mr. Farrer, +defiantly. "Besides, size isn't everything. If it was, you'd be a +general instead of only a sergeant-major." + +"You get out of my house," said the other, as soon as he could get his +breath. "Go on Sharp with it." + +"I'm going," said the mortified Mr. Farrer. "I'm sorry if I was rude. I +came on purpose to see you to-night. Bertha--Miss Ward, I mean--told me +your ideas, but I couldn't believe her. I said you'd got more common +sense than to object to a man just because he wasn't a soldier." + +"I want a man for a son-in-law," said the other. "I don't say he's got +to be a soldier." + +"Just so," said Mr. Farrer. "You're a man, ain't you? Well, I'll do +anything that you'll do." + +"Pph!" said the sergeant-major. "I've done my little lot. I've been in +action four times, and wounded in three places. That's my tally." + +"The colonel said once that my husband doesn't know what fear is," said +Mrs. Ward, timidly. "He's afraid of nothing." + +"Except ghosts," remarked her daughter, softly. + +"Hold your tongue, miss," said her father, twisting his moustache. "No +sensible man is afraid of what doesn't exist." + +"A lot of people believe they do, though," said Mr. Farrer, breaking in. +"I heard the other night that old Smith's ghost has been seen again +swinging from the apple tree. Three people have seen it." + +"Rubbish!" said the sergeant-major. + +"Maybe," said the young man; "but I'll bet you, Mr. Ward, for all your +courage, that you won't go up there alone at twelve o'clock one night to +see." + +"I thought I ordered you out of my house just now," said the sergeant- +major, glaring at him. + +"Going into action," said Mr. Farrer, pausing at the door, "is one thing +--you have to obey orders and you can't help yourself; but going to a +lonely cottage two miles off to see the ghost of a man that hanged +himself is another." + +"Do you mean to say I'm afraid?" blustered the other. + +Mr. Farrer shook his head. "I don't say anything," he remarked; "but +even a cockroach does a bit of thinking sometimes." + +"Perhaps you'd like to go," said the sergeant-major. + +"I don't mind," said the young man; "and perhaps you'll think a little +better of me, Mr. Ward. If I do what you're afraid to do--" + +Mrs. Ward and her daughter flung themselves hastily between the +sergeant-major and his intended sacrifice. Mr. Farrer, pale but +determined, stood his ground. + +"I'll dare you to go up and spend a night there alone," he said. + +"I'll dare you," said the incensed warrior, weakly. + +"All right; I'll spend Wednesday night there," said Mr. Farrer, "and +I'll come round on Thursday and let you know how I got on." + +"I dare say," said the other; "but I don't want you here, and, what's +more, I won't have you. You can go to Smith's cottage on Wednesday at +twelve o'clock if you like, and I'll go up any time between twelve and +three and make sure you're there. D'ye understand? I'll show you +whether I'm afraid or not." + +"There's no reason for you to be afraid," said Mr. Farrer. "I shall be +there to protect you. That's very different to being there alone, as I +shall be. But, of course, you can go up the next night by yourself, and +wait for me, if you like. If you like to prove your courage, I mean." + +"When I want to be ordered about," said the sergeant-major, in a +magnificent voice, "I'll let you know. Now go, before I do anything I +might be sorry for afterwards." + +He stood at the door, erect as a ramrod, and watched the young man up +the road. His conversation at the supper-table that night related +almost entirely to puppy-dogs and the best way of training them. + +He kept a close eye upon his daughter for the next day or two, but human +nature has its limits. He tried to sleep one afternoon in his easy- +chair with one eye open, but the exquisite silence maintained by Miss +Ward was too much for it. A hum of perfect content arose from the +feature below, and five minutes later Miss Ward was speeding in search +of Mr. Farrer. + +"I had to come, Ted," she said, breathlessly, "because to-morrow's +Wednesday. I've got something to tell you, but I don't know whether I +ought to." + +"Tell me and let me decide," said Mr. Farrer, tenderly. + +"I--I'm so afraid you might be frightened," said the girl. "I won't +tell you, but I'll give you a hint. If you see anything awful, don't be +frightened." + +Mr. Farrer stroked her hand. "The only thing I'm afraid of is your +father," he said, softly. + +"Oh!" said the girl, clasping her hands together. "You have guessed +it." + +"Guessed it?" said Mr. Farrer. + +Miss Ward nodded. "I happened to pass his door this morning," she said, +in a low voice. "It was open a little way, and he was standing up and +measuring one of mother's nightgowns against his chest. I couldn't +think what he was doing it for at first." + +Mr. Farrer whistled and his face hardened. + +"That's not fair play," he said at last. "All right; I'll be ready for +him." + +"He doesn't like to be put in the wrong," said Miss Ward. "He wants to +prove that you haven't got any courage. He'd be disappointed if he +found you had." + +"All right," said Mr. Farrer again. "You're an angel for coming to tell +me." + +"Father would call me something else, I expect," said Miss Ward, with a +smile. "Good-bye. I want to get back before he wakes up." + +She was back in her chair, listening to her father's slumbers, half an +hour before he awoke. + +"I'm making up for to-morrow night," he said, opening his eyes suddenly. + +His daughter nodded. + +"Shows strength of will," continued the sergeant-major, amiably. +"Wellington could go to sleep at any time by just willing it. I'm the +same way; I can go to sleep at five minutes' notice." + +"It's a very useful gift," said Miss Ward, piously, "very." + +Mr. Ward had two naps the next day. He awoke from the second at twelve- +thirty a.m., and in a somewhat disagreeable frame of mind rose and +stretched himself. The house was very still. He took a small brown- +paper parcel from behind the sofa and, extinguishing the lamp, put on +his cap and opened the front door. + +If the house was quiet, the little street seemed dead. He closed the +door softly and stepped into the darkness. In terms which would have +been understood by "our army in Flanders" he execrated the forefathers, +the name, and the upbringing of Mr. Edward Farrer. + +Not a soul in the streets; not a light in a window. He left the little +town behind, passed the last isolated house on the road, and walked into +the greater blackness of a road between tall hedges. He had put on +canvas shoes with rubber soles, for the better surprise of Mr. Farrer, +and his own progress seemed to partake of a ghostly nature. Every ghost +story he had ever heard or read crowded into his memory. For the first +time in his experience even the idea of the company of Mr. Farrer seemed +better than no company at all. + +The night was so dark that he nearly missed the turning that led to the +cottage. For the first few yards he had almost to feel his way; then, +with a greater yearning than ever for the society of Mr. Farrer, he +straightened his back and marched swiftly and noiselessly towards the +cottage. + +It was a small, tumble-down place, set well back in an overgrown garden. +The sergeant-major came to a halt just before reaching the gate, and, +hidden by the hedge, unfastened his parcel and shook out his wife's best +nightgown. + +He got it over his head with some difficulty, and, with his arms in the +sleeves, tried in vain to get his big hands through the small, lace- +trimmed wristbands. Despite his utmost efforts he could only get two or +three fingers through, and after a vain search for his cap, which had +fallen off in the struggle, he made his way to the gate and stood there +waiting. It was at this moment that the thought occurred to him that +Mr. Farrer might have failed to keep the appointment. + +His knees trembled slightly and he listened anxiously for any sound from +the house. He rattled the gate and, standing with white arms +outstretched, waited. Nothing happened. He shook it again, and then, +pulling himself together, opened it and slipped into the garden. As he +did so a large bough which lay in the centre of the footpath +thoughtfully drew on one side to let him pass. + +Mr. Ward stopped suddenly and, with his gaze fixed on the bough, watched +it glide over the grass until it was swallowed up in the darkness. His +own ideas of frightening Mr. Farrer were forgotten, and in a dry, +choking voice he called loudly upon the name of that gentleman. + +He called two or three times, with no response, and then, in a state of +panic, backed slowly towards the gate with his eyes fixed on the house. +A loud crash sounded from somewhere inside, the door was flung violently +open, and a gruesome figure in white hopped out and squatted on the +step. + +It was evident to Sergeant-Major Ward that Mr. Farrer was not there, and +that no useful purpose could be served by remaining. It was clear that +the young man's courage had failed him, and, with grey head erect, +elbows working like the sails of a windmill, and the ends of the +nightgown streaming behind him, the sergeant-major bent his steps +towards home. + +He dropped into a walk after a time and looked carefully over his +shoulder. So far as he could see he was alone, but the silence and +loneliness were oppressive. He looked again, and, without stopping to +inquire whether his eyes had deceived him, broke into a run again. +Alternately walking and running, he got back to the town, and walked +swiftly along the streets to his house. Police-Constable Burgess, who +was approaching from the other direction, reached it at almost the same +moment, and, turning on his lantern, stood gaping with astonishment. +"Anything wrong?" he demanded. + +"Wrong?" panted the sergeant-major, trying to put a little surprise and +dignity into his voice. "No." + +"I thought it was a lady walking in her sleep at first," said the +constable. "A tall lady." + +The sergeant-major suddenly became conscious of the nightgown. "I've +been--for a little walk," he said, still breathing hard. "I felt a bit +chilly--so I--put this on." + +"Suits you, too," said the constable, stiffly. "But you Army men always +was a bit dressy. Now if I put that on I should look ridikerlous." + +The door opened before Mr. Ward could reply, and revealed, in the light +of a bedroom candle, the astonished countenances of his wife and +daughter. + +"George!" exclaimed Mrs. Ward. + +"Father!" said Miss Ward. + +The sergeant-major tottered in and, gaining the front room, flung +himself into his arm-chair. A stiff glass of whisky and water, handed +him by his daughter, was swallowed at a gulp. + +"Did you go?" inquired Mrs. Ward, clasping her hands. + +The sergeant-major, fully conscious of the suspicions aroused by his +disordered appearance, rallied his faculties. "Not likely," he said, +with a short laugh. "After I got outside I knew it was no good going +there to look for that young snippet. He'd no more think of going there +than he would of flying. I walked a little way down the road--for +exercise--and then strolled back." + +"But--my nightgown?" said the wondering Mrs. Ward. + +"Put it on to frighten the constable," said her husband. + +He stood up and allowed her to help him pull it off. His face was +flushed and his hair tousled, but the bright fierceness of his eye was +unquenched. In submissive silence she followed him to bed. + +He was up late next morning, and made but a poor breakfast. His after- +dinner nap was disturbed, and tea was over before he had regained his +wonted calm. An hour later the arrival of a dignified and reproachful +Mr. Farrer set him blazing again. + +"I have come to see you about last night," said Mr. Farrer, before the +other could speak. "A joke's a joke, but when you said you would come I +naturally expected you would keep your word." + +"Keep my word?" repeated the sergeant-major, almost choking with wrath. + +"I stayed there in that lonely cottage from twelve to three, as per +agreement, waiting for you," said Mr. Farrer. + +"You were not there," shouted the sergeant-major. + +"How do you know?" inquired the other. + +The sergeant-major looked round helplessly at his wife and daughter. + +"Prove it," said Mr. Farrer, pushing his advantage. "You questioned my +courage, and I stayed there three hours. Where were you?" + +"You were not there," said the sergeant-major. "I know. You can't +bluff me. You were afraid." + +"I was there, and I'll swear it," said Mr. Farrer. "Still, there's no +harm done. I'll go there again to-night, and I'll dare you to come for +me?" + +"Dare?" said the sergeant-major, choking. "Dare?" + +"Dare," repeated the other; "and if you don't come this time I'll spread +it all over Marcham. To-morrow night you can go there and wait for me. +If you see what I saw--" + +"Oh, Ted!" said Miss Ward, with a shiver. "Saw?" said the sergeant- +major, starting. "Nothing harmful," said Mr. Farrer, calmly. + +"As a matter of fact, it was very interesting." + +"What was?" demanded the sergeant-major. + +"It sounds rather silly, as a matter of fact," said Mr. Farrer, slowly. +"Still, I did see a broken bough moving about the garden." + +Mr. Ward regarded him open-mouthed. + +"Anything else?" he inquired, in a husky voice. + +"A figure in white," said Mr. Farrer, "with long waving arms, hopping +about like a frog. I don't suppose you believe me, but if you come to- +night perhaps you'll see it yourself. It's very interesting. + +"Wer--weren't you frightened?" inquired the staring Mrs. Ward. + +Mr. Farrer shook his head. "It would take more than that to frighten +me," he said, simply. "I should be ashamed of myself to be afraid of a +poor thing like that. It couldn't do me any harm." + +"Did you see its face?" inquired Mrs. Ward, nervously. + +Mr. Farrer shook his head. + +"What sort of a body had it got?" said her daughter. + +"So far as I could see, very good," said Mr. Farrer. "Very good figure +--not tall, but well made." + +An incredible suspicion that had been forming in the sergeant-major's +mind began to take shape. "Did you see anything else?" he asked, +sharply. + +"One more," said Mr. Farrer, regarding him pleasantly. "One I call the +Running Ghost." + +"Run--" began the sergeant-major, and stopped suddenly. + +"It came in at the front gate," pursued Mr. Farrer. "A tall, well-knit +figure of martial bearing--much about your height, Mr. Ward--with a +beautiful filmy white robe down to its knees--" + +He broke off in mild surprise, and stood gazing at Miss Ward, who, with +her handkerchief to her mouth, was rocking helplessly in her chair. + +"Knees," he repeated, quietly. "It came slowly down the path, and half +way to the house it stopped, and in a frightened sort of voice called +out my name. I was surprised, naturally, but before I could get to it-- +to reassure it--" + +"That'll do," said the sergeant-major, rising hastily and drawing +himself up to his full height. + +"You asked me," said Mr. Farrer, in an aggrieved voice. + +"I know I did," said the sergeant-major, breathing heavily. "I know I +did; but if I sit here listening to any more of your lies I shall be +ill. The best thing you can do is to take that giggling girl out and +give her a breath of fresh air. I have done with her." + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Vigil, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12158 *** |