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diff --git a/12159-0.txt b/12159-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..496bc09 --- /dev/null +++ b/12159-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,503 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12159 *** + +NIGHT WATCHES + +by W.W. Jacobs + + + + +EASY MONEY + +A lad of about twenty stepped ashore from the schooner Jane, and joining +a girl, who had been avoiding for some ten minutes the ardent gaze of +the night-watchman, set off arm-in-arm. The watchman rolled his eyes +and shook his head slowly. + +Nearly all his money on 'is back, he said, and what little bit 'e's got +over he'll spend on 'er. And three months arter they're married he'll +wonder wot 'e ever saw in her. If a man marries he wishes he 'adn't, +and if he doesn't marry he wishes he 'ad. That's life. + +Looking at them two young fools reminds me of a nevy of Sam Small's; a +man I think I've spoke to you of afore. As a rule Sam didn't talk much +about 'is relations, but there was a sister of 'is in the country wot 'e +was rather fond of because 'e 'adn't seen 'er for twenty years. She 'ad +got a boy wot 'ad just got a job in London, and when 'e wrote and told +'er he was keeping company with the handsomest and loveliest and best +'arted gal in the whole wide world, she wrote to Sam about it and asked +'im to give 'is nevy some good advice. + +Sam 'ad just got back from China and was living with Peter Russet and +Ginger Dick as usual, and arter reading the letter about seven times and +asking Ginger how 'e spelt "minx," 'e read the letter out loud to them +and asked 'em what they thought about it. + +Ginger shook his 'ead, and, arter thinking a bit, Peter shook his too. + +"She's caught 'im rather young," ses Ginger. + +"They get it bad at that age too," ses Peter. "When I was twenty, there +was a gal as I was fond of, and a regiment couldn't ha' parted us." + +"Wot did part you then?" ses Sam. + +"Another gal," ses Peter; "a gal I took a fancy to, that's wot did it." + +"I was nearly married when I was twenty," ses Ginger, with a far-away +look in his eyes. "She was the most beautiful gal I ever saw in my +life; she 'ad one 'undred pounds a year of 'er own and she couldn't bear +me out of her sight. If a thump acrost the chest would do that cough of +yours any good, Sam--" + +"Don't take no notice of 'im, Ginger," ses Peter. "Why didn't you marry +'er?" + +"'Cos I was afraid she might think I was arter 'er money," ses Ginger, +getting a little bit closer to Sam. + +Peter 'ad another turn then, and him and Ginger kept on talking about +gals whose 'arts they 'ad broke till Sam didn't know what to do with +'imself. + +"I'll just step round and see my nevy, while you and Peter are amusing +each other," he ses at last. "I'll ask 'im to come round to-morrow and +then you can give 'im good advice." + +The nevy came round next evening. Bright, cheerful young chap 'e was, +and he agreed with everything they said. When Peter said as 'ow all +gals was deceivers, he said he'd known it for years, but they was born +that way and couldn't 'elp it; and when Ginger said that no man ought to +marry afore he was fifty, he corrected 'im and made it fifty-five. + +"I'm glad to 'ear you talk like that," ses Ginger. + +"So am I," ses Peter. + +"He's got his 'ead screwed on right," ses Sam, wot thought his sister +'ad made a mistake. + +"I'm surprised when I look round at the wimmen men 'ave married," ses +the nevy; "wot they could 'ave seen in them I can't think. Me and my +young lady often laugh about it." + +"Your wot?" ses Sam, pretending to be very surprised. + +"My young lady," ses the nevy. + +Sam gives a cough. "I didn't know you'd got a young lady," he ses. + +"Well, I 'ave," ses his nevy, "and we're going to be married at +Christmas." + +"But--but you ain't fifty-five," ses Ginger. + +"I'm twenty-one," ses the nevy, "but my case is different. There isn't +another young lady like mine in the world. She's different to all the +others, and it ain't likely I'm going to let 'er be snapped up by +somebody else. Fifty-five! Why, 'ow I'm to wait till Christmas I don't +know. She's the prettiest and handsomest gal in the world; and she's +the cleverest one I ever met. You ought to hear 'er laugh. Like music +it is. You'd never forget it." + +"Twenty-one is young," ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead. "'Ave you known +'er long?" + +"Three months," ses the nevy. "She lives in the same street as I do. +'Ow it is she ain't been snapped up before, I can't think, but she told +me that she didn't care for men till she saw me." + +"They all say that," ses Ginger. + +"If I've 'ad it said to me once, I've 'ad it said twenty times," ses +Peter, nodding. + +"They do it to flatter," ses old Sam, looking as if 'e knew all about +it. "You wait till you are my age, Joe; then you'll know; why I should +ha' been married dozens o' times if I 'adn't been careful." + +"P'r'aps it was a bit on both sides," ses Joe, looking at 'is uncle. +"P'r'aps they was careful too. If you only saw my young lady, you +wouldn't talk like that. She's got the truthfullest eyes in the world. +Large grey eyes like a child's, leastways sometimes they are grey and +sometimes they are blue. It seems to depend on the light somehow; I +'ave seen them when they was a brown-brownish-gold. And she smiles with +'er eyes." + +"Hasn't she got a mouth?" ses Ginger, wot was getting a bit tired of +it. + +"You've been crossed in love," ses the nevy, staring at 'im. "That's +wot's the matter with you. And looking at you, I don't wonder at it." + +Ginger 'arf got up, but Sam gave him a look and 'e sat down agin, and +then they all sat quiet while the nevy went on telling them about 'is +gal. + +"I should like to see 'er," ses his uncle at last. + +"Call round for me at seven to-morrow night," ses the young 'un, "and +I'll introduce you." + +"We might look in on our way," ses Sam, arter Ginger and Peter 'ad both +made eyes at 'im. "We're going out to spend the evening." + +"The more the merrier," ses his nevy. "Well, so long; I expect she's +waiting for me." + +He got up and said good-bye, and arter he 'ad gorn, Sam and the other +two shook their leads together and said what a pity it was to be twenty- +one. Ginger said it made 'im sad to think of it, and Peter said 'ow any +gal could look at a man under thirty, 'e couldn't think. + +They all went round to the nevy's the next evening. They was a little +bit early owing to Ginger's watch 'aving been set right by guess-work, +and they 'ad to sit in a row on the nevy's bed waiting while 'e cleaned +'imself, and changed his clothes. Although it was only Wednesday 'e +changed his collar, and he was so long making up 'is mind about his +necktie that 'is uncle tried to make it up for him. By the time he 'ad +finished Sam said it made 'im think it was Sunday. + +Miss Gill was at 'ome when they got there, and all three of 'em was very +much surprised that such a good-looking gal should take up with Sam's +nevy. Ginger nearly said so, but Peter gave 'im a dig in the back just +in time and 'e called him something under 'is breath instead. + +"Why shouldn't we all make an evening of it?" ses Ginger, arter they 'ad +been talking for about ten minutes, and the nevy 'ad looked at the clock +three or four times. + +"Because two's company," ses Mrs. Gill. "Why you was young yourself +once. Can't you remember?" + +"He's young now, mother," ses the gal, giving Ginger a nice smile. + +"I tell you wot we might do," ses Mrs. Gill, putting 'er finger to her +forehead and considering. "You and Joe go out and 'ave your evening, +and me and these gentlemen'll go off together somewhere. I shall enjoy +an outing; I ain't 'ad one for a long time." + +Ginger said it would be very nice if she thought it wouldn't make 'er +too tired, and afore Sam or Peter could think of anything to say, she +was upstairs putting 'er bonnet on. They thought o' plenty to say while +they was sitting alone with Ginger waiting for 'er. + +"My idea was for the gal and your nevy to come too," ses pore Ginger. +"Then I thought we might lose 'im and I would 'ave a little chat with +the gal, and show 'er 'ow foolish she was." + +"Well, you've done it now," ses Sam. "Spoilt our evening." + +"P'r'aps good will come out of it," ses Ginger. "If the old lady takes +a fancy to us we shall be able to come agin, and then to please you, +Sam, I'll have a go to cut your nevy out." + +Sam stared at 'im, and Peter stared too, and then they looked at each +other and began to laugh till Ginger forgot where 'e was and offered to +put Sam through the winder. They was still quarrelling under their +breath and saying wot they'd like to do to each other when Mrs. Gill +came downstairs. Dressed up to the nines she was, and they walked down +the street with a feeling that everybody was looking at em. + +One thing that 'elped to spoil the evening was that Mrs. Gill wouldn't +go into public'ouses, but to make up for it she went into sweet-stuff +shops three times and 'ad ices while they stood and watched 'er and +wondered 'ow she could do it. And arter that she stopped at a place +Poplar way, where there was a few swings and roundabouts and things. +She was as skittish as a school-gal, and arter taking pore Sam on the +roundabout till 'e didn't know whether he was on his 'eels or his 'ead, +she got 'im into a boat-swing and swung 'im till he felt like a boy on +'is fust v'y'ge. Arter that she took 'im to the rifle gallery, and +afore he had 'ad three shots the man took the gun away from 'im and +threatened to send for the police. + +It was an expensive evening for all of them, but as Ginger said when +they got 'ome they 'ad broken the ice, and he bet Peter Russet 'arf a +dollar that afore two days 'ad passed he'd take the nevy's gal for a +walk. He stepped round by 'imself the next arternoon and made 'imself +agreeable to Mrs. Gill, and the day arter they was both so nice and kind +that 'e plucked up 'is courage and offered to take Miss Gill to the Zoo. + +She said "No" at fust, of course, but arter Ginger 'ad pointed out that +Joe was at work all day and couldn't take 'er 'imself, and that 'e was +Joe's uncle's best pal, she began to think better of it. + +"Why not?" ses her mother. "Joe wouldn't mind. He wouldn't be so +silly as to be jealous o' Mr. Ginger Dick." + +"Of course not," ses the gal. "There's nothing to be jealous of." + +She let 'er mother and Ginger persuade 'er arter a time, and then she +went upstairs to clean herself, and put on a little silver brooch that +Ginger said he 'ad picked up coming along. + +She took about three-quarters of an hour to get ready, but when she came +down, Ginger felt that it was quite worth it. He couldn't take 'is eyes +off 'er, as the saying goes, and 'e sat by 'er side on the top of the +omnibus like a man in a dream. + +"This is better than being at sea," he ses at last. + +"Don't you like the sea?" ses the gal. "I should like to go to sea +myself." + +"I shouldn't mind the sea if you was there," ses Ginger. + +Miss Gill turned her 'ead away. "You mustn't talk to me like that," she +ses in a soft voice. "Still--" + +"Still wot?" ses Ginger, arter waiting a long time. + +"I mean, if I did go to sea, it would be nice to have a friend on +board," she ses. "I suppose you ain't afraid of storms, are you?" + +"I like 'em," ses Ginger. + +"You look as if you would," ses the gal, giving 'im a little look under +'er eyelashes. "It must be nice to be a man and be brave. I wish I was +a man." + +"I don't," ses Ginger. + +"Why not?" ses the gal, turning her 'ead away agin. + +Ginger didn't answer, he gave 'er elbow a little squeeze instead. She +took it away at once, and Ginger was just wishing he 'adn't been so +foolish, when it came back agin, and they sat for a long time without +speaking a word. + +"The sea is all right for some things," ses Ginger at last, "but suppose +a man married!" + +The gal shook her 'ead. "It would be hard on 'is wife," she ses, with +another little look at 'im, "but--but----" + +Ginger pinched 'er elbow agin. + +"But p'r'aps he could get a job ashore," she ses, "and then he could +take his wife out for a bus-ride every day." + +They 'ad to change buses arter a time, and they got on a wrong bus and +went miles out o' their way, but neither of 'em seemed to mind. Ginger +said he was thinking of something else, and the gal said she was too. +They got to the Zoological Gardens at last, and Ginger said he 'ad never +enjoyed himself so much. When the lions roared she squeezed his arm, +and when they 'ad an elephant ride she was holding on to 'im with both +'ands. + +"I am enjoying myself," she ses, as Ginger 'elped her down and said +"whoa" to the elephant. "I know it's wicked, but I can't 'elp it, and +wot's more, I'm afraid I don't want to 'elp it." + +She let Ginger take 'er arm when she nearly tripped up over a peppermint +ball some kid 'ad dropped; and, arter a little persuasion, she 'ad a +bottle of lemonade and six bath-buns at a refreshment stall for dinner. + +She was as nice as she could be to him, but by the time they started for +'ome, she 'ad turned so quiet that Ginger began to think 'e must 'ave +offended 'er in some way. + +"Are you tired?" he ses. + +"No," ses the gal, shaking her 'ead, "I've enjoyed myself very much." + +"I thought you seemed a bit tired," ses Ginger, arter waiting a long +time. + +"I'm not tired," ses the gal, giving 'im a sad sort o' little smile, +"but I'm a little bit worried, that's all." + +"Worried?" ses Ginger, very tender. "Wot's worrying you?" + +"Oh, I can't tell you," ses Miss Gill. "It doesn't matter; I'll try and +cheer up. Wot a lovely day it is, isn't it? I shall remember it all my +life." + +"Wot is it worrying you?" ses Ginger, in a determined voice. "Can't +you tell me?" + +"No," ses the gal, shaking her 'ead, "I can't tell you because you might +want to 'elp me, and I couldn't allow that." + +"Why shouldn't I 'elp you?" ses Ginger. "It's wot we was put 'ere for: +to 'elp one another." + +"I couldn't tell you," ses the gal, just dabbing at'er eyes--with a lace +pocket-'ankercher about one and a 'arf times the size of 'er nose. + +"Not if I ask you to?" ses Ginger. + +Miss Gill shook 'er 'ead, and then she tried her 'ardest to turn the +conversation. She talked about the weather, and the monkey-'ouse, and a +gal in 'er street whose 'air changed from red to black in a single +night; but it was all no good, Ginger wouldn't be put off, and at last +she ses-- + +"Well," she ses, "if you must know, I'm in a difficulty; I 'ave got to +get three pounds, and where to get it I don't know any more than the man +in the moon. Now let's talk about something else." + +"Do you owe it?" ses Ginger. + +"I can't tell you any more," ses Miss Gill, "and I wouldn't 'ave told +you that only you asked me, and somehow I feel as though I 'ave to tell +you things, when you want me to." + +"Three pounds ain't much," ses pore Ginger, wot 'ad just been paid off +arter a long v'y'ge. "I can let you 'ave it and welcome." + +Miss Gill started away from 'im as though she 'ad been stung, and it +took 'im all his time to talk 'er round agin. When he 'ad she begged +'is pardon and said he was the most generous man she 'ad ever met, but +it couldn't be. + +"I don't know when I could pay it back," she ses, "but I thank you all +the same for offering it." + +"Pay it back when you like," ses Ginger, "and if you never pay it back, +it don't matter." + +He offered 'er the money four or five times, but she wouldn't take it, +but at last just as they got near her 'ouse he forced it in her 'and, +and put his own 'ands in his pockets when she tried to make 'im take it +back. + +"You are good to me," she ses arter they 'ad gone inside and 'er mother +'ad gone upstairs arter giving Ginger a bottle o' beer to amuse 'imself +with; "I shall never forget you. Never." + +"I 'ope not," ses Ginger, starting. "Are you coming out agin to- +morrow?" + +"I'm afraid I can't," ses Miss Gill, shaking her 'ead and looking +sorrowful. + +"Not with me?" ses Ginger, sitting down beside her on the sofa and +putting 'is arm so that she could lean against it if she wanted to. + +"I don't think I can," ses the gal, leaning back very gentle. + +"Think agin," ses Ginger, squeezing 'er waist a little. + +Miss Gill shook her 'ead, and then turned and looked at 'im. Her face +was so close to his, that, thinking that she 'ad put it there a-purpose, +he kissed it, and the next moment 'e got a clout that made his 'ead +ring. + +"'Ow dare you!" she ses, jumping up with a scream. "'Ow dare you! 'Ow +dare----" + +"Wot's the matter?" ses her mother, coming downstairs like a runaway +barrel of treacle. + +"He--he's insulted me," ses Miss Gill, taking out her little 'ankercher +and sobbing. "He--k-kissed me!" + +"WOT!" ses Mrs. Gill. "Well, I'd never 'ave believed it! Never! Why +'e ought to be taken up. Wot d'ye mean by it?" she ses, turning on +pore Ginger. + +Ginger tried to explain, but it was all no good, and two minutes +arterwards 'e was walking back to 'is lodgings like a dog with its tail +between its legs. His 'ead was going round and round with astonishment, +and 'e was in such a temper that 'e barged into a man twice as big as +himself and then offered to knock his 'ead off when 'e objected. And +when Sam and Peter asked him 'ow he 'ad got on, he was in such a state +of mind it was all 'e could do to answer 'em. + +"And I'll trouble you for my 'arf dollar, Peter," he ses; "I've been out +with 'er all day, and I've won my bet." + +Peter paid it over like a lamb, and then 'e sat thinking 'ard for a bit. + +"Are you going out with 'er agin to-morrow, Ginger?" he ses, arter a +time. + +"I don't know," ses Ginger, careless-like, "I ain't made up my mind +yet." + +Peter looked at 'im and then 'e looked at Sam and winked. "Let me 'ave +a try," he ses; "I'll bet you another 'arf dollar that I take 'er out. +P'r'aps I shall come 'ome in a better temper than wot you 'ave." + +Old Sam said it wasn't right to play with a gal's 'art in that way, but +arter a lot o' talking and telling Sam to shut up, Ginger took the bet. +He was quite certain in his own mind that Miss Gill would slam the door +in Peter's face, and arter he 'ad started off next morning, Ginger and +Sam waited in to 'ave the pleasure of laughing in 'is face. + +They got tired of waiting at last, and went out to enjoy themselves, and +breathe the fresh air in a pub down Poplar way. They got back at seven +o'clock, and ten minutes arterwards Peter came in and sat down on his +bed and began to smoke without a word. + +"Had a good time?" ses Ginger. + +"Rippin'," ses Peter, holding 'is pipe tight between 'is teeth. "You +owe me 'arf a dollar, Ginger." + +"Where'd you go?" ses Ginger, passing it over. + +"Crystal Pallis," ses Peter. + +"Are you going to take 'er out to-morrow?" ses Sam. + +"I don't think so," ses Peter, taking 'is pipe out of 'is mouth and +yawning. "She's rather too young for me; I like talking to gals wot's a +bit older. I won't stand in Ginger's way." + +"I found 'er a bit young too," ses Ginger. "P'r'aps we'd better let +Sam's nevy 'ave 'er. Arter all it's a bit rough on 'im when you come to +think of it." + +"You're quite right," ses Peter, jumping up. "It's Sam's business, and +why we should go out of our way and inconvenience ourselves to do 'im a +good turn, I don't know." + +"It's Sam all over," ses Ginger; "he's always been like that, and the +more you try to oblige 'im, the more you may." + +They went on abusing Sam till he got sick and tired of it, and arter +telling 'em wot he thought of 'em he slammed the door and went out and +spent the evening by 'imself. He would 'ardly speak to them next day, +but arter tea he brightened up a bit and they went off together as if +nothing 'ad happened, and the fust thing they saw as they turned out of +their street was Sam's nevy coming along smiling till it made their +faces ache to look at him. + +"I was just coming to see you," he ses. + +"We're just off on business," ses Ginger. + +"I wasn't going to stop," ses the nevy; "my young lady just told me to +step along and show uncle wot she has bought me. A silver watch and +chain and a gold ring. Look at it!" + +He held his 'and under Ginger's nose, and Ginger stood there looking at +it and opening and shutting 'is mouth like a dying fish. Then he took +Peter by the arm and led'im away while the nevy was opening 'is new +watch and showing Sam the works. + +"'Ow much did she get out of you, Peter?" ses Ginger, looking at 'im +very hard. "I don't want any lies." + +"Three quid," ses Peter, staring at 'im. + +"Same 'ere," ses Ginger, grinding his teeth. "Did she give you a smack +on the side of your face?" + +"Wot--are--you--talking about, Ginger?" ses Peter. + +"Did she smack your face too?" ses Ginger. + +"Yes," ses Peter. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Easy Money, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12159 *** |