Part 9 (1/2)

The barber cut his beard close with the scissors, and made trivial remarks from time to time, but received no reply.

At last, extortion having put him in a good humor, he said, ”Don't be so down-hearted, my lad. You are not the first that has got into trouble and had to change faces.”

Seaton vouchsafed no reply.

The barber shaved him clean, and was astonished at the change, and congratulated him. ”n.o.body will ever know you,” said he; ”and I'll tell you why; your mouth, it is inclined to turn up a little; now a mustache it bends down, and that alters such a mouth as yours entirely. But, I'll tell you what, taking off this beard shows me something. _You are a gentleman!!_ Make it a sovereign, sir.”

Seaton staggered out of the place without a word.

”Sulky, eh?” muttered the barber. He gathered up some of the long hair he had cut off Seaton's chin with his scissors, admired it, and put it away in paper.

While thus employed, a regular customer looked in for his cup of coffee.

It was the policeman who had taken Seaton for a convivial soul.

CHAPTER VII.

GENERAL ROLLESTON'S servants made several trips to the _Proserpine,_ carrying boxes, etc.

But Helen herself clung to the house till the last moment. ”Oh, papa!”

she cried, ”I need all my resolution, all my good faith, to keep my word with Arthur, and leave you. Why, why did I promise? Why am I such a slave to my word?”

”Because,” said the old general, with a voice not so firm as usual, ”I have always told you that a lady is not to be inferior to a gentleman in any virtue except courage. I've heard my mother say so often; and I've taught it to my Helen. And, my girl, where would be the merit of keeping our word, if we only kept it when it cost us nothing?”

He promised to come after, in three months at furthest, and the brave girl dried her tears as well as she could, not to add to the sadness he fought against as gallantly as he had often fought the enemies of his country.

The _Proserpine_ was to sail at two o'clock. At a little before one, a gentleman boarded her and informed the captain that he was a missionary, the Rev. John Hazel, returning home, after a fever; and wished to take a berth in the _Proserpine._

The mate looked him full in the face; and then told him there was very little accommodation for pa.s.sengers, and it had all been secured by White & Co. for a young lady and her servants.

Mr. Hazel replied that his means were small and moderate accommodation would serve him; but he must go to England without delay.

Captain Hudson put in his gracious word: ”Then jump off the jetty at high tide and swim there; no room for black coats in my s.h.i.+p.”

Mr. Hazel looked from one to the other piteously. ”Show me some mercy, gentlemen; my very life depends on it.”

”Very sorry, sir,” said the mate; ”but it is impossible. There's the _Shannon,_ you can go in her.”

”But she is under repairs; so I am told.”

”Well, there are a hundred and fifty carpenters on to her; and she will come out of port in our wake.”

”Now, sir,” said Hudson roughly, ”bundle down the s.h.i.+p's side again if you please; this is a busy time. Hy!--rig the whip; here's the lady coming off to us.”

The missionary heaved a deep sigh and went down into the boat that had brought him. But he was no sooner seated than he ordered the boatmen, somewhat peremptorily, to pull ash.o.r.e as fast as they could row. His boat met the Rollestons, father and daughter, coming out, and he turned his pale face and eyed them as he pa.s.sed. Helen Rolleston was struck with that sorrowful countenance, and whispered her father, ”That poor clergyman has just left the s.h.i.+p.” She made sure he had been taking leave of some beloved one, bound for England. General Rolleston looked round, but the boats had pa.s.sed each other, and the wan face was no longer visible.

They were soon on board and received with great obsequiousness. Helen was shown her cabin, and, observing the minute and zealous care that had been taken of her comfort, she said, ”Somebody who loves me has been here,”

and turned her br.i.m.m.i.n.g eyes on her father. He looked quite puzzled; but said nothing.