Part 44 (1/2)
His heart almost failed him when he encountered the radiant Jane at breakfast in the morning, but he concealed his feelings by a strong effort; and after the meal was finished, and the pa.s.sengers had gone on deck, he laid hold of the mate, who was following, and drew him into the cabin.
”You haven't washed yourself this morning,” he said, eyeing him closely.
”How do you s'pose you are going to make an impression if you don't look smart?”
”Well, I look tidier than you do,” growled the mate.
”Of course you do,” said the wily Evans. ”I'm going to give you all the chances I can. Now you go and shave yourself, and here-take it.”
He pa.s.sed the surprised mate a brilliant red silk tie, embellished with green spots.
”No, no,” said the mate deprecatingly.
”Take it,” repeated Evans; ”if anything'll fetch her it'll be that tie; and here's a couple of collars for you; they're a new shape, quite the rage down Poplar way just now.”
”It's robbing you,” said the mate, ”and it's no good either. I ain't got a decent suit of clothes to my back.”
Evans looked up, and their eyes met; then, with a catch in his breath, he turned away, and after some hesitation went to his locker, and bringing out a new suit, bought for the edification of Miss Jones, handed it silently to the mate.
”I can't take all these things without giving you something for 'em,”
said the mate. ”Here, wait a bit.”
He dived into his cabin, and, after a hasty search, brought out some garments which he placed on the table before his commander.
”I wouldn't wear 'em, no, not to drown myself in,” declared Evans after a brief glance; ”they ain't even decent.”
”So much the better,” said the mate; ”it'll be more of a contrast with me.”
After a slight contest the skipper gave way, and the mate, after an elaborate toilette, went on deck and began to make himself agreeable, while his chief skulked below trying to muster up courage to put in an appearance.
”Where's the captain?” inquired Miss Cooper, after his absence had been so prolonged as to become noticeable.
”He's below, dressin', I b'leeve,” replied the mate simply.
Miss Cooper, glancing at his attire, smiled softly to herself, and prepared for something startling, and she got it; for a more forlorn, sulky-looking object than the skipper, when he did appear, had never been seen on the deck of the Falcon, and his London betrothed glanced at him hot with shame and indignation.
”Whatever have you got those things on for?” she whispered.
”Work, my dear-work,” replied the skipper.
”Well, mind you don't lose any of the pieces,” said the dear suavely; ”you mightn't be able to match that cloth.”
”I'll look after that,” said the skipper, reddening. ”You must excuse me talkin' to you now. I'm busy.”
Miss Cooper looked at him indignantly, and, biting her lip, turned away, and started a desperate flirtation with the mate, to punish him. Evans watched them with mingled feelings as he busied himself with various small jobs on the deck, his wrath being raised to boiling point by the behaviour of the cook, who, being a poor hand at disguising his feelings, came out of the galley several times to look at him.
From this incident a coolness sprang up between the skipper and the girl, which increased hourly. At times the skipper weakened, but the watchful mate was always on hand to prevent mischief. Owing to his fostering care Evans was generally busy, and always gruff; and Miss Cooper, who was used to the most a.s.siduous attentions from him, knew not whether to be most bewildered or most indignant. Four times in one day did he remark in her hearing that a sailor's s.h.i.+p was his sweetheart, while his treatment of his small prospective brother in-law, when he expostulated with him on the state of his wardrobe, filled that hitherto pampered youth with amazement. At last, on the fourth night out, as the little schooner was pa.s.sing the coast of Cornwall, the mate came up to him as he was steering, and patted him heavily on the back.
”It's all right, cap'n,” said he. ”You've lost the prettiest little girl in England.”