Part 7 (2/2)

”Yes, aunt, there has,” she replied; ”he made love to me.”

”He did--”

”And first I said as good as yes. But I don't mean to have him--and so I told Madam Beck.”

”So you wouldn't have him?” was the rejoinder, after an astonished pause; ”and the reason, I suppose, was that you would rather have Salve?”

”Yes, aunt,” in a low voice.

”And why in the world didn't you take him, then?”

The tears came into Elizabeth's eyes.

”Well--as people make their beds so they must lie,” said the old woman, severely--and betook herself then, without any further observation, to the preparation of the morning coffee.

As Elizabeth went down to the quay, to get a boat to take her out to the merchantman, she looked in at the post-office, where she found Marie Forstberg already up, and busy in the sitting-room in her morning dress.

She was greatly astonished when Elizabeth told her of her new destination.

It was such an advantageous offer, Elizabeth explained--an almost independent place in the house; and Madam Beck had herself advised her to take it.

But though she used all her wit to keep the other off the scent, Marie Forstberg found a want of connection somewhere, and Elizabeth could see it in her eyes. She asked no further questions, however; and when they took leave of each other they embraced, in tears.

Out at Tromo the surprise was great when it was found that Elizabeth had gone. Carl Beck had found her letter under the door, but had never imagined that she had left, and had gone out with it in violent agitation of mind and did not come home again till late in the afternoon. Madam Beck had in the meantime confided the matter to her daughters, and they would understand, she said, that not a word of it must be mentioned outside the house.

Although his eyes sought for her unceasingly, Carl made no express inquiry after her till the evening, and when he heard that she was gone, and was perhaps by that time already under sail for Holland, he sat for awhile as if petrified. Looking scornfully at them then, one after another, he said--

”If I thought that I had any of you to thank for this, I'd--” here he seized the chair he had been sitting on, dashed it down upon the floor so that it broke, and sprang up-stairs.

But her letter was unfortunately clear enough--she loved another, and he knew, too, who it was.

CHAPTER XII.

It was some months after. The Juno lay ready to sail in the roads of Monte Video, where she had taken in hides as part of her home cargo. The remainder, of coffee, she was to load at Rio, and in the meantime she had filled up with coals for that port. She was lying in tropical costume, with awnings over the fore and after deck as a protection against the fierce rays of the sun; and the crew were going about in correspondingly airy clothing, with open s.h.i.+rts and tucked-up canvas trousers, brown and s.h.i.+ny with perspiration, and gasping after every breath. It was the hottest season of the year. The pitch was melting in the c.h.i.n.ks between the planking of the decks, and the tar running down her sides.

They had lain thus for a couple of days, hoping to receive before starting the post, which they had been disappointed in not finding on their arrival. And what a disappointment this can be, only those who have been in one of these s.h.i.+ps that go on long voyages can understand.

In foreign ports there may be many a wild pleasure to be enjoyed, but the longing to hear from home is the strongest feeling among sailors after all.

The mate had gone ash.o.r.e to make one last inquiry before they sailed; and as the jolly-boat came alongside again, it was seen that he had the precious packet in his hand. He sprang up the accommodation-ladder and disappeared aft without a word to where the captain was sitting by a small table with a carafe and gla.s.s before him, mopping his bald head in the heat.

”You've got them at last, then,” he said, as the mate laid the packet on the table before him, and retired a few paces while he opened it.

Almost the first letter that caught his eye was one to himself from his son, and his face brightened. He ran rapidly over the others, making a comment here and there according as he was acquainted with the circ.u.mstances of the men to whom they were addressed, and gathering them up in a bundle, handed them over then to the mate, with a cheery ”Here you are, Mr. Johnson--letters for every one, from wives and sweethearts, and I don't know whom besides.”

The news that the post had come had spread like wildfire over the s.h.i.+p, and by the time the mate began to call out the addresses by the main hatch, the whole crew were a.s.sembled, with the exception of a straggler or two who had happened to be aloft, and who were now to be seen hurrying down the ratlines.

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