Tom was a lucky digger. He resolved to quit for good and all, and return to settle in England. He turned all he had into gold-dust, and put it in a box, with which he shipped aboard the Fairy Queen, of which I was one o the crew at the time. The Fairy Queen, you must understand, had changed owners just about that time, havin bin named the Hawk on the voyage out. We sailed together, and got safe to British waters, an wos knocked all to bits on British rocks, cause the compasses wasnt worth a button, as no more wos our charts, bein old ones, an the chain o the best bower anchor had bin got cheap, and wasnt fit to hold a jolly-boat, so that wen we drove on a lee-shore, and let go the anchor to keep off the reefs, it parted like a bit o packthread. I took charge of Emmie, and, by Gods blessin, got safe to land. All the rest went down.
Now, sir, continued Gaff, it came into my head that if I took the little gal to her grandfather, he, bein as hard as nails, an desprit unforgivin, would swear I wos tellin a lie, and refuse to take her in. So I thought Id just go and put her down in the passage an leave her, so that hed be obleeged to take her in, dye see, not bein able to see what else to do wi her. You know he couldnt throw her out, and let her die in the street, could he, sir?
Not exactly, replied Kenneth, with a sad smile, nevertheless he would not find it difficult to dispose of her in some other way; in fact, he has already spoken of sending her to the workhouse.
You dont say so, sir?
Indeed I do, but keep your mind easy, Gaff, for, without telling my father who little Emmie is, I will see to it that she is properly cared for.
Kenneth rode back to town that day with a heart so heavy that the bright eyes of Lizzie Gordon failed to rouse him to even the semblance of cheerfulness, and the effervescing small-talk of the volatile Gildart was almost intolerable.
Chapter Eight.
Dan Horsey does the Agreeable in the Kitchen
Captain Bingley, said Kenneth, entering my study somewhat hastily on the following morning, I am going to carry off Gildart for the day to have a ride with me, and I looked in on you in passing to tell you that Haco has arrived in his schooner, and that he is going to sail this evening for London and will take your Russians to their consul if you wish it.
Thank you, lad; many thanks, said I, some of them may be able to go, but others, I fear, are too much hurt, and may require to be nursed in the Home for some time yet. I will consider it; meanwhile will you carry a note to your father for me?
With pleasure; at least I will send Dan Horsey with it, if that will do as well.
Quite as well, if you can spare him; send him into the kitchen while I write the note. Adieu, lad, and see that you dont break Gildarts neck. Remember that he is not much accustomed to horses.
No fear of him, said Kenneth, looking back with a laugh as he reached the door, he is well used to riding out hard gales, and that is more arduous work than steeple-chasing. When Dan Horsey was told to go to the kitchen and await further orders, he received the command with a cheerful smile, and, attaching the bridle of his horse to a post, proceeded to obey it.
The kitchen of Bingley Hall was the abode of two females who severally owned a distinct and dissimilar character, both mental and physical. The first femalefirst in most senses of the wordwas Bounder the cook, who was fat, as cooks ought to be in order to prove that their productions agree with them; and self-opinionated, as cooks generally are, in order, no doubt, to prove that they know their business.
The second female was Susan Barepoles, a slim, graceful housemaid, apparently modest, (cook did not even pretend to that virtue), and wonderfully sharp-eyed. Both females were good-looking and young, and both were desperately in love with Daniel Horsey. Each knew the fact, and so did Dan. Each was mortally jealous of the other, and Dan was dreadfully perplexed in consequence.
Not that he was uncertain as to which of the two he preferred, for Susans image was engruven, as he expressed it, deeply on his heart, to the exclusion of all other images, but he found that the jealousy of the two interfered somewhat with the course of true love, causing it to run in its proverbially rough channel.
Its a fine mornin, my darlints, said Dan, as he entered the kitchen with a swagger, and laid his hat and riding-whip on the dresser, at the same time seating himself on the edge of a small table that stood near the window. This seat he preferred to a chair, partly because it enabled him to turn his back to the light, and partly because it afforded him an opportunity of swinging his legs gently with an easy motion that was agreeable, and, at the same time, in his opinion, graceful.
None o yer imperance, said cook, stirring the contents of a large pan carefully.
Susan tossed her head slightly, but admitted that the morning was good.
Hes a-writin of a letter to Grumpy, said Dan, pointing with his thumb towards the ceiling, in order to indicate that the he referred to was myself.
Whos Grumpy? inquired cook, with a look of interest.
Arrah, now, dont ye know its old Stuart?
Susan laughed, and cook observed that the name seemed to her an extremely disrespectful one.
Its not bad enough for him, the old pair o tongs, said Dan, taking up his whip with a gentlemanly assumption of ease, and flipping the toe of his boot with it; av it wasnt for the love that my master Kenneth bears me, Id have left em long ago. But, you see, the young master is a first-rater, and couldnt get on without me no how, so Im willin to stop. Besides, continued Dan, with a very small sigh, I have private raisons for not carin to leave just now.
He accompanied the latter remark with a sly glance at Susan, who chanced quite accidentally to cast a sly glance at Dan, so that their eyes met, and the result was that Susan blushed and began to rub the silver tea-pot, which she was cleaning, unmercifully, and Dan laughed. Whereupon cook looked round hastily and asked what he was laughing at, to which Dan responded that his own imagination, which happened to be a brilliant one, had just then suggested a train of comical ideas which had tickled his risible muscles so that he couldnt help it!
I dont believe it, said cook, who observed Susans confusion of face, and became internally red hot with jealousy, I blieve you was larfin at me.
Och, Miss Bounder! exclaimed Dan, looking at her with an expression so awfully reproachful that cook instantly repented and laughed.
Theres bin some strange doins up at the Villa, said Susan, by way of changing the subject, while she polished the tea-pot yet more unmercifully.
Ah, exclaimed cook, thats true; what does it all mean, Mr Horsey?
Thats more nor myself can tell, said Dan; the facts o the case is clear, so far as they comed under our obsarvation. But as to the circumstances o the case, specially those of em as hasnt yet transpired, I dont rightly know myself wot opinions I ought to entertain.
Susan listened to these remarks with profound admiration, chiefly because she did not understand them; but cook, who was more matter-of-fact in her nature, and somewhat demonstrative in her tendencies, advised Dan not to talk gammon, but to explain what he meant.
Explain what I mean, coolinary sunbeam! said Dan; isnt it explainin that I am as plain as the nose on yer face, (an a purty wan it is), though I havent got the powers of a lawyer, nor yit a praist? Didnt a drippin wet sailor come to our door at the dead o night an ring the bell as bowld as brass, an when Mrs Niven, whose intellect was niver much beyond that of a poplypus