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diff --git a/11185-0.txt b/11185-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4023d39 --- /dev/null +++ b/11185-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,545 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11185 *** + +CAPTAINS ALL + +By W.W. Jacobs + + + +BOB'S REDEMPTION + +[Illustration: "Bob's Redemption."] + +"GRATITOODE!" said the night-watchman, with a hard laugh. "_Hmf!_ Don't +talk to me about gratitoode; I've seen too much of it. If people wot +I've helped in my time 'ad only done arf their dooty--arf, mind you--I +should be riding in my carriage." + +Forgetful of the limitations of soap-boxes he attempted to illustrate his +remark by lolling, and nearly went over backwards. Recovering himself by +an effort he gazed sternly across the river and smoked fiercely. It was +evident that he was brooding over an ill-used past. + +'Arry Thomson was one of them, he said, at last. For over six months I +wrote all 'is love-letters for him, 'e being an iggernerant sort of man +and only being able to do the kisses at the end, which he always insisted +on doing 'imself: being jealous. Only three weeks arter he was married +'e come up to where I was standing one day and set about me without +saying a word. I was a single man at the time and I didn't understand +it. My idea was that he 'ad gone mad, and, being pretty artful and +always 'aving a horror of mad people, I let 'im chase me into a +police-station. Leastways, I would ha' let 'im, but he didn't come, +and I all but got fourteen days for being drunk and disorderly. + +Then there was Bill Clark. He 'ad been keeping comp'ny with a gal and +got tired of it, and to oblige 'im I went to her and told 'er he was a +married man with five children. Bill was as pleased as Punch at fust, +but as soon as she took up with another chap he came round to see me and +said as I'd ruined his life. We 'ad words about it--naturally--and I did +ruin it then to the extent of a couple o' ribs. I went to see 'im in the +horsepittle--place I've always been fond of--and the langwidge he used to +me was so bad that they sent for the Sister to 'ear it. + +That's on'y two out of dozens I could name. Arf the unpleasantnesses in +my life 'ave come out of doing kindnesses to people, and all the +gratitoode I've 'ad for it I could put in a pint-pot with a pint o' beer +already in it. + +The only case o' real gratitoode I ever heard of 'appened to a shipmate +o' mine--a young chap named Bob Evans. Coming home from Auckland in a +barque called the _Dragon Fly_ he fell overboard, and another chap named +George Crofts, one o' the best swimmers I ever knew, went overboard arter +'im and saved his life. + +We was hardly moving at the time, and the sea was like a duck pond, but +to 'ear Bob Evans talk you'd ha' thought that George Crofts was the +bravest-'arted chap that ever lived. He 'adn't liked him afore, same as +the rest of us, George being a sly, mean sort o' chap; but arter George +'ad saved his life 'e couldn't praise 'im enough. He said that so long +as he 'ad a crust George should share it, and wotever George asked 'im he +should have. + +The unfortnit part of it was that George took 'im at his word, and all +the rest of the v'y'ge he acted as though Bob belonged to 'im, and by the +time we got into the London river Bob couldn't call his soul 'is own. He +used to take a room when he was ashore and live very steady, as 'e was +saving up to get married, and as soon as he found that out George invited +'imself to stay with him. + +"It won't cost you a bit more," he ses, "not if you work it properly." + +Bob didn't work it properly, but George having saved his life, and never +letting 'im forget it, he didn't like to tell him so. He thought he'd +let 'im see gradual that he'd got to be careful because of 'is gal, and +the fust evening they was ashore 'e took 'im along with 'im there to tea. + +Gerty Mitchell--that was the gal's name--'adn't heard of Bob's accident, +and when she did she gave a little scream, and putting 'er arms round his +neck, began to kiss 'im right in front of George and her mother. + +"You ought to give him one too," ses Mrs. Mitchell, pointing to George. + +George wiped 'is mouth on the back of his 'and, but Gerty pretended not +to 'ear. + +"Fancy if you'd been drownded!" she ses, hugging Bob agin. + +"He was pretty near," ses George, shaking his 'ead. "I'm a pore swimmer, +but I made up my mind either to save 'im or else go down to a watery +grave myself." + +He wiped his mouth on the back of his 'and agin, but all the notice Gerty +took of it was to send her young brother Ted out for some beer. Then +they all 'ad supper together, and Mrs. Mitchell drank good luck to George +in a glass o' beer, and said she 'oped that 'er own boy would grow up +like him. "Let 'im grow up a good and brave man, that's all I ask," she +ses. "I don't care about 'is looks." + +"He might have both," ses George, sharp-like. "Why not?" + +Mrs. Mitchell said she supposed he might, and then she cuffed young Ted's +ears for making a noise while 'e was eating, and then cuffed 'im agin for +saying that he'd finished 'is supper five minutes ago. + +George and Bob walked 'ome together, and all the way there George said +wot a pretty gal Gerty was and 'ow lucky it was for Bob that he 'adn't +been drownded. He went round to tea with 'im the next day to Mrs. +Mitchell's, and arter tea, when Bob and Gerty said they was going out to +spend the evening together, got 'imself asked too. + +They took a tram-car and went to a music-hall, and Bob paid for the three +of 'em. George never seemed to think of putting his 'and in his pocket, +and even arter the music-hall, when they all went into a shop and 'ad +stewed eels, he let Bob pay. + +As I said afore, Bob Evans was chock-full of gratefulness, and it seemed +only fair that he shouldn't grumble at spending a little over the man wot +'ad risked 'is life to save his; but wot with keeping George at his room, +and paying for 'im every time they went out, he was spending a lot more +money than 'e could afford. + +"You're on'y young once, Bob," George said to him when 'e made a remark +one arternoon as to the fast way his money was going, "and if it hadn't +ha' been for me you'd never 'ave lived to grow old." + +Wot with spending the money and always 'aving George with them when they +went out, it wasn't long afore Bob and Gerty 'ad a quarrel. "I don't +like a pore-spirited man," she ses. "Two's company and three's none, +and, besides, why can't he pay for 'imself? He's big enough. Why should +you spend your money on 'im? He never pays a farthing." + +Bob explained that he couldn't say anything because 'e owed his life to +George, but 'e might as well 'ave talked to a lamp-post. The more he +argued the more angry Gerty got, and at last she ses, "Two's company and +three's none, and if you and me can't go out without George Crofts, then +me and 'im 'll go out with-out you." + +She was as good as her word, too, and the next night, while Bob 'ad gone +out to get some 'bacca, she went off alone with George. It was ten +o'clock afore they came back agin, and Gerty's eyes were all shining and +'er cheeks as pink as roses. She shut 'er mother up like a concertina +the moment she began to find fault with 'er, and at supper she sat next +to George and laughed at everything 'e said. + +George and Bob walked all the way 'ome arter supper without saying a +word, but arter they got to their room George took a side-look at Bob, +and then he ses, suddenlike, "Look 'ere! I saved your life, didn't I?" + +"You did," ses Bob, "and I thank you for it." + +"I saved your life," ses George agin, very solemn. "If it hadn't ha' +been for me you couldn't ha' married anybody." + +"That's true," ses Bob. + +"Me and Gerty 'ave been having a talk," ses George, bending down to undo +his boots. "We've been getting on very well together; you can't 'elp +your feelings, and the long and the short of it is, the pore gal has +fallen in love with me." + +Bob didn't say a word. + +"If you look at it this way it's fair enough," ses George. "I gave you +your life and you give me your gal. We're quits now. You don't owe me +anything and I don't owe you anything. That's the way Gerty puts it, and +she told me to tell you so." + +"If--if she don't want me I'm agreeable," ses Bob, in a choking voice. +"We'll call it quits, and next time I tumble overboard I 'ope you won't +be handy." + +He took Gerty's photygraph out of 'is box and handed it to George. +"You've got more right to it now than wot I 'ave," he ses. "I shan't go +round there any more; I shall look out for a ship to-morrow." + +George Crofts said that perhaps it was the best thing he could do, and 'e +asked 'im in a offhand sort o' way 'ow long the room was paid up for. + +Mrs. Mitchell 'ad a few words to say about it next day, but Gerty told +'er to save 'er breath for walking upstairs. The on'y thing that George +didn't like when they went out was that young Ted was with them, but +Gerty said she preferred it till she knew 'im better; and she 'ad so much +to say about his noble behaviour in saving life that George gave way. +They went out looking at the shops, George thinking that that was the +cheapest way of spending an evening, and they were as happy as possible +till Gerty saw a brooch she liked so much in a window that he couldn't +get 'er away. + +"It is a beauty," she ses. "I don't know when I've seen a brooch I liked +better. Look here! Let's all guess the price and then go in and see +who's right." + +They 'ad their guesses, and then they went in and asked, and as soon as +Gerty found that it was only three-and-sixpence she began to feel in her +pocket for 'er purse, just like your wife does when you go out with 'er, +knowing all the time that it's on the mantelpiece with twopence-ha'penny +and a cough lozenge in it. + +"I must ha' left it at 'ome," she ses, looking at George. + +"Just wot I've done," ses George, arter patting 'is pockets. + +Gerty bit 'er lips and, for a minute or two, be civil to George she could +not. Then she gave a little smile and took 'is arm agin, and they walked +on talking and laughing till she turned round of a sudden and asked a big +chap as was passing wot 'e was shoving 'er for. + +"Shoving you?" ses he. "Wot do you think I want to shove you for?" + +"Don't you talk to me," ses Gerty, firing up. "George, make 'im beg my +pardon." + +"You ought to be more careful," ses George, in a gentle sort o' way. + +"Make 'im beg my pardon," ses Gerty, stamping 'er foot; "if he don't, +knock 'im down." + +"Yes, knock 'im down," ses the big man, taking hold o' George's cap and +rumpling his 'air. + +Pore George, who was never much good with his fists, hit 'im in the +chest, and the next moment he was on 'is back in the middle o' the road +wondering wot had 'appened to 'im. By the time 'e got up the other man +was arf a mile away; and young Ted stepped up and wiped 'im down with a +pocket-'andkerchief while Gerty explained to 'im 'ow she saw 'im slip on +a piece o' banana peel. + +"It's 'ard lines," she ses; "but never mind, you frightened 'im away, +and I don't wonder at it. You do look terrible when you're angry, +George; I didn't know you." + +She praised 'im all the way 'ome, and if it 'adn't been for his mouth and +nose George would 'ave enjoyed it more than 'e did. She told 'er mother +how 'e had flown at a big man wot 'ad insulted her, and Mrs. Mitchell +shook her 'ead at 'im and said his bold spirit would lead 'im into +trouble afore he 'ad done. + +They didn't seem to be able to make enough of 'im, and next day when he +went round Gerty was so upset at the sight of 'is bruises that he thought +she was going to cry. When he had 'ad his tea she gave 'im a cigar she +had bought for 'im herself, and when he 'ad finished smoking it she +smiled at him, and said that she was going to take 'im out for a pleasant +evening to try and make up to 'im for wot he 'ad suffered for 'er. + +"We're all going to stand treat to each other," she ses. "Bob always +would insist on paying for everything, but I like to feel a bit +independent. Give and take--that's the way I like to do things." + +"There's nothing like being independent," ses George. "Bob ought to ha' +known that." + +"I'm sure it's the best plan," ses Gerty. "Now, get your 'at on. We're +going to a theayter, and Ted shall pay the 'bus fares." + +George wanted to ask about the theayter, but 'e didn't like to, and arter +Gerty was dressed they went out and Ted paid the 'bus fares like a man. + +"Here you are," ses Gerty, as the 'bus stopped outside the theayter. +"Hurry up and get the tickets, George; ask for three upper circles." + +She bustled George up to the pay place, and as soon as she 'ad picked out +the seats she grabbed 'old of the tickets and told George to make haste. + +"Twelve shillings it is," ses the man, as George put down arf a crown. + +"Twelve?" ses George, beginning to stammer. "Twelve? Twelve? Twel--?" + +"Twelve shillings," ses the man; "three upper circles you've 'ad." + +George was going to fetch Gerty back and 'ave cheaper seats, but she 'ad +gone inside with young Ted, and at last, arter making an awful fuss, he +paid the rest o' the money and rushed in arter her, arf crazy at the idea +o' spending so much money. + +"Make 'aste," ses Gerty, afore he could say anything; "the band 'as just +begun." + +She started running upstairs, and she was so excited that, when they got +their seats and George started complaining about the price, she didn't +pay any attention to wot he was saying, but kept pointing out ladies' +dresses to 'im in w'ispers and wondering wot they 'ad paid for them. +George gave it up at last, and then he sat wondering whether he 'ad done +right arter all in taking Bob's gal away from him. + +Gerty enjoyed it very much, but when the curtain came down after the +first act she leaned back in her chair and looked up at George and said +she felt faint and thought she'd like to 'ave an ice-cream. "And you +'ave one too, dear," she ses, when young Ted 'ad got up and beckoned to +the gal, "and Ted 'ud like one too, I'm sure." + +She put her 'ead on George's shoulder and looked up at 'im. Then she put +her 'and on his and stroked it, and George, reckoning that arter all +ice-creams were on'y a ha'penny or at the most a penny each, altered 'is +mind about not spending any more money and ordered three. + +The way he carried on when the gal said they was three shillings was +alarming. At fust 'e thought she was 'aving a joke with 'im, and it took +another gal and the fireman and an old gentleman wot was sitting behind +'im to persuade 'im different. He was so upset that 'e couldn't eat his +arter paying for it, and Ted and Gerty had to finish it for 'im. + +"They're expensive, but they're worth the money," ses Gerty. "You are +good to me, George. I could go on eating 'em all night, but you mustn't +fling your money away like this always." + +"I'll see to that," ses George, very bitter. + +"I thought we was going to stand treat to each other? That was the idea, +I understood." + +"So we are," ses Gerty. "Ted stood the 'bus fares, didn't he?" + +"He did," ses George, "wot there was of 'em; but wot about you?" + +"Me?" ses Gerty, drawing her 'ead back and staring at 'im. "Why, 'ave +you forgot that cigar already, George?" + +George opened 'is mouth, but 'e couldn't speak a word. He sat looking at +'er and making a gasping noise in 'is throat, and fortunately just as 'e +got 'is voice back the curtain went up agin, and everybody said, +"_H'sh!_" + +He couldn't enjoy the play at all, 'e was so upset, and he began to see +more than ever 'ow wrong he 'ad been in taking Bob's gal away from 'im. +He walked downstairs into the street like a man in a dream, with Gerty +sticking to 'is arm and young Ted treading on 'is heels behind. + +"Now, you mustn't waste any more money, George," ses Gerty, when they got +outside. "We'll walk 'ome." + +George 'ad got arf a mind to say something about a 'bus, but he +remembered in time that very likely young Ted hadn't got any more money. +Then Gerty said she knew a short cut, and she took them, walking along +little, dark, narrow streets and places, until at last, just as George +thought they must be pretty near 'ome, she began to dab her eyes with 'er +pocket-'andkerchief and say she'd lost 'er way. + +"You two go 'ome and leave me," she ses, arf crying. "I can't walk +another step." + +"Where are we?" ses George, looking round. + +"I don't know," ses Gerty. "I couldn't tell you if you paid me. I must +'ave taken a wrong turning. Oh, hurrah! Here's a cab!" + +Afore George could stop 'er she held up 'er umbrella, and a 'ansom cab, +with bells on its horse, crossed the road and pulled up in front of 'em. +Ted nipped in first and Gerty followed 'im. + +"Tell 'im the address, dear, and make 'aste and get in," ses Gerty. + +George told the cabman, and then he got in and sat on Ted's knee, partly +on Gerty's umbrella, and mostly on nothing. + +"You are good to me, George," ses Gerty, touching the back of 'is neck +with the brim of her hat. "It ain't often I get a ride in a cab. All +the time I was keeping company with Bob we never 'ad one once. I only +wish I'd got the money to pay for it." + +George, who was going to ask a question, stopped 'imself, and then he +kept striking matches and trying to read all about cab fares on a bill in +front of 'im. + +"'Ow are we to know 'ow many miles it is?" he ses, at last. + +"I don't know," ses Gerty; "leave it to the cabman. It's his bisness, +ain't it? And if 'e don't know he must suffer for it." + +There was hardly a soul in Gerty's road when they got there, but afore +George 'ad settled with the cabman there was a policeman moving the crowd +on and arf the winders in the road up. By the time George had paid 'im +and the cabman 'ad told him wot 'e looked like, Gerty and Ted 'ad +disappeared indoors, all the lights was out, and, in a state o' mind that +won't bear thinking of, George walked 'ome to his lodging. + +[Illustration: "Afore George had settled with the cabman, there was a +policeman moving the crowd on."] + +Bob was asleep when he got there, but 'e woke 'im up and told 'im about +it, and then arter a time he said that he thought Bob ought to pay arf +because he 'ad saved 'is life. + +"Cert'nly not," ses Bob. "We're quits now; that was the arrangement. +I only wish it was me spending the money on her; I shouldn't grumble." + +George didn't get a wink o' sleep all night for thinking of the money he +'ad spent, and next day when he went round he 'ad almost made up 'is mind +to tell Bob that if 'e liked to pay up the money he could 'ave Gerty +back; but she looked so pretty, and praised 'im up so much for 'is +generosity, that he began to think better of it. One thing 'e was +determined on, and that was never to spend money like that agin for fifty +Gertys. + +There was a very sensible man there that evening that George liked very +much. His name was Uncle Joe, and when Gerty was praising George to 'is +face for the money he 'ad been spending, Uncle Joe, instead o' looking +pleased, shook his 'ead over it. + +"Young people will be young people, I know," he ses, "but still I don't +approve of extravagance. Bob Evans would never 'ave spent all that money +over you." + +"Bob Evans ain't everybody," ses Mrs. Mitchell, standing up for Gerty. + +"He was steady, anyway," ses Uncle Joe. "Besides, Gerty ought not to ha' +let Mr. Crofts spend his money like that. She could ha' prevented it if +she'd ha' put 'er foot down and insisted on it." + +He was so solemn about it that everybody began to feel a bit upset, and +Gerty borrowed Ted's pocket-'andkerchief, and then wiped 'er eyes on the +cuff of her dress instead. + +"Well, well," ses Uncle Joe; "I didn't mean to be 'ard, but don't do it +no more. You are young people, and can't afford it." + +"We must 'ave a little pleasure sometimes," ses Gerty. + +"Yes, I know," ses Uncle Joe; "but there's moderation in everything. +Look 'ere, it's time somebody paid for Mr. Crofts. To-morrow's Saturday, +and, if you like, I'll take you all to the Crystal Palace." + +Gerty jumped up off of 'er chair and kissed 'im, while Mrs. Mitchell said +she knew 'is bark was worse than 'is bite, and asked 'im who was wasting +his money now? + +"You meet me at London Bridge Station at two o'clock," ses Uncle Joe, +getting up to go. "It ain't extravagance for a man as can afford it." + +He shook 'ands with George Crofts and went, and, arter George 'ad stayed +long enough to hear a lot o' things about Uncle Joe which made 'im think +they'd get on very well together, he went off too. + +They all turned up very early the next arternoon, and Gerty was dressed +so nice that George couldn't take his eyes off of her. Besides her there +was Mrs. Mitchell and Ted and a friend of 'is named Charlie Smith. + +They waited some time, but Uncle Joe didn't turn up, and they all got +looking at the clock and talking about it, and 'oping he wouldn't make +'em miss the train. + +"Here he comes!" ses Ted, at last. + +Uncle Joe came rushing in, puffing and blowing as though he'd bust. +"Take 'em on by this train, will you?" he ses, catching 'old o' George by +the arm. "I've just been stopped by a bit o' business I must do, and +I'll come on by the next, or as soon arter as I can." + +He rushed off again, puffing and blowing his 'ardest, in such a hurry +that he forgot to give George the money for the tickets. However, George +borrowed a pencil of Mrs. Mitchell in the train, and put down on paper +'ow much they cost, and Mrs. Mitchell said if George didn't like to +remind 'im she would. + +They left young Ted and Charlie to stay near the station when they got to +the Palace, Uncle Joe 'aving forgotten to say where he'd meet 'em, but +train arter train came in without 'im, and at last the two boys gave it +up. + +"We're sure to run across 'im sooner or later," ses Gerty. "Let's 'ave +something to eat; I'm so hungry." + +George said something about buns and milk, but Gerty took 'im up sharp. +"Buns and milk?" she ses. "Why, uncle would never forgive us if we +spoilt his treat like that." + +She walked into a refreshment place and they 'ad cold meat and bread and +pickles and beer and tarts and cheese, till even young Ted said he'd 'ad +enough, but still they couldn't see any signs of Uncle Joe. They went on +to the roundabouts to look for 'im, and then into all sorts o' shows at +sixpence a head, but still there was no signs of 'im, and George had 'ad +to start on a fresh bit o' paper to put down wot he'd spent. + +"I suppose he must ha' been detained on important business," ses Gerty, +at last. + +"Unless it's one of 'is jokes," ses Mrs. Mitchell, shaking her 'ead. +"You know wot your uncle is, Gerty." + +"There now, I never thought o' that," ses Gerty, with a start; "p'r'aps +it is." + +"Joke?" ses George, choking and staring from one to the other. + +"I was wondering where he'd get the money from," ses Mrs. Mitchell to +Gerty. "I see it all now; I never see such a man for a bit o' fun in all +my born days. And the solemn way he went on last night, too. Why, he +must ha' been laughing in 'is sleeve all the time. It's as good as a +play." + +"Look here!" ses George, 'ardly able to speak; "do you mean to tell me he +never meant to come?" + +"I'm afraid not," ses Mrs. Mitchell, "knowing wot he is. But don't you +worry; I'll give him a bit o' my mind when I see 'im." + +George Crofts felt as though he'd burst, and then 'e got his breath, and +the things 'e said about Uncle Joe was so awful that Mrs. Mitchell told +the boys to go away. + +"How dare you talk of my uncle like that?" ses Gerty, firing up. + +"You forget yourself, George," ses Mrs. Mitchell. "You'll like 'im when +you get to know 'im better." + +"Don't you call me George," ses George Crofts, turning on 'er. "I've +been done, that's wot I've been. I 'ad fourteen pounds when I was paid +off, and it's melting like butter." + +"Well, we've enjoyed ourselves," ses Gerty, "and that's what money was +given us for. I'm sure those two boys 'ave had a splendid time, thanks +to you. Don't go and spoil all by a little bit o' temper." + +"Temper!" ses George, turning on her. "I've done with you, I wouldn't +marry you if you was the on'y gal in the world. I wouldn't marry you if +you paid me." + +"Oh, indeed!" ses Gerty; "but if you think you can get out of it like +that you're mistaken. I've lost my young man through you, and I'm not +going to lose you too. I'll send my two big cousins round to see you +to-morrow." + +"They won't put up with no nonsense, I can tell you," ses Mrs. Mitchell. + +She called the boys to her, and then she and Gerty, arter holding their +'eads very high and staring at George, went off and left 'im alone. He +went straight off 'ome, counting 'is money all the way and trying to make +it more, and, arter telling Bob 'ow he'd been treated, and trying hard to +get 'im to go shares in his losses, packed up his things and cleared out, +all boiling over with temper. + +Bob was so dazed he couldn't make head or tail out of it, but 'e went +round to see Gerty the first thing next morning, and she explained things +to him. + +"I don't know when I've enjoyed myself so much," she ses, wiping her +eyes, "but I've had enough gadding about for once, and if you come round +this evening we'll have a nice quiet time together looking at the +furniture shops." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bob's Redemption, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11185 *** |