Because, said the founder, laying his hand upon the young mans arm, you are growing now less like brother and sister, and it is time it was stopped.
Why? said Gil, gravely.
Because, Gil Carr, the intimacy of two people like you might lead to feelings that end in marriage, and that could never be.
I do not see why not, said Gil, quietly.
No, said the founder, but I do! And now listen. I like you, Gil, and Im going to give you a bit of advice, both about this matter and your ship, for we are old friends, and I should not like you and yours to come to harm.
Friends in home matters, but in business you always drove the hardest bargains with me that you could; and now you talk of locking Mace away.
Friends enough, all the same, my lad; and as to locking up my daughter from you, as you term it, if I in the future bid her always keep her room when you are home from sea and come up here, shall I not do right? Would you have me bring her out to listen to the gallant words of every buccaneering captain who comes to my place, swaggering and swearing and drinking, till he wants a man on each side to see him safe away, lest he get into the mill-race or the dam. Nay, Captain Gil Carr Culverin Carr, if you like! times are altered now, for Mace is a woman grown, and a girl no longer. So in the future Ill trade with you and be the best of friends, but there well stop.
Now, Master Cobbe, said Gil, with a quiet, grave smile, when did you see me overcome by strong waters, or swaggering, or using oaths? Fie! you make me worse than I am.
Jeremiah Cobbe chuckled, and laid his finger good-humouredly upon the young mans breast.
It will not do, Gil lad, so we need not argue. You are as good as most men; but see here, I have Maces future welfare to provide for, and, above all, her happiness. Ive been weak and neglectful, perhaps, so far, but now Im going to be hard as the iron in those guns. Theres no harm done as yet, so let us stop in time, for we both wish the poor girl to be happy.
No harm? said Gil.
No: so well stop at once. Think you Im going to let a man like you fool the girl with fine words? You journey here, and you journey there, and you see saucy Frenchwomen, bright-eyed Spaniards, and dark-haired Portingallo dames, and those of Italy, and no one knows where beside. Court them, my lad, and marry as many of them as you like. May be you have now a wife in every port, but you must een leave my little white moth alone. Let her flitter and flutter about and be satisfied with the soft
light of the moon and stars; I dont want her pretty wings singed in the fierce light of a thoughtless mans love.
Amen! said Gil, softly.
Amen, eh? Why, Gil, you are a fine fellow to give forth such a churchmans word as that so glibly and so pat. Master Peasegood would look fierce enough if he heard such an ungodly follower of Belial as you beginning to preach.
In the name of all thats strange, Master Cobbe, what does this mean? exclaimed Gil. I have been free of your house all these years, and now this sudden change has come over you, and you treat me thus scurvily. In the name of all the saints, speak out. What have I done?
Been hooked by Father Bonchurch, seemingly, and gone over to see the Scarlet Lady on the Seven Hills, to hear you swearing by the saints.
It is enough to make a man swear by anything, Master Cobbe, to meet with such treatment. Come, speak out; how have I affronted you?
Well, if you will know, Master Gil, I looked out across the Pool some little time back, and I saw a certain young man out there in my boat fishing. All at once he thrust his hand into a bucket of water, and seized a feckless gudgeon, which he deftly hooked, and then threw overboard for the pike to seize. And, as I looked, I saw a little hand taken and kissed, and I knew then that one Captain Culverin had hooked a second gudgeon as well, and that he might play with her for a time, as he watched her helpless struggles in his hot hands, and then he might throw her overboard too. Then the scales fell from my eyes, and I saw that I had been a fool one who had been so wrapped-up in his cannon-making that he had forgotten to watch what went on in his own house. Gilbert Carr, you have ceased to be a brother to my child, and have made hot love to her. Come, confess.
Confess! cried Gil, with his face lighting up; I have nothing, sir, to confess. If you wish me to avow that I dearly love our little Mace, I do with all my soul; and, God giving me strength, I will never do aught that shall make her shame that I love her. Yes, Master Cobbe, love has grown stronger year by year; mans love hot love if you will, and she has been to me my one hope the hope that has kept me a better man than I should have been. Come, be not hard upon me, Master Cobbe. You cannot mean that you disapprove of our love?
I do disapprove of your love! cried the founder angrily; and Ill have no more of such childish babble.
But Master Cobbe
Ill hear no more, I say.
Nay, Master Cobbe, this is unreasonable.