Part 39 (1/2)

Miss Thompson sprang up with a face of crimson, but Tom sat coolly still, and said, while a broad grin overspread his handsome countenance, ”No, Ned, not Miss Thompson--Mrs _Collins_, who, I know, is rejoiced to see you.”

”You are jesting, Tom,” said Ned, as he advanced quickly, and took the lady's hand, while Tom rose and heartily welcomed his old companions.

”Not a bit of it, my dear fellow,” he repeated. ”This, I a.s.sure you, is my wife. Pray, dear Lizette, corroborate my statement, else our friends won't believe me. But sit down, sit down, and let's hear all about you.

Go, Lizette, get 'em something to eat. I knew you would make your appearance ere long. Old Thompson's letter--halloo! why what's this?

You're wet! and _who's_ this--a wet little girl?”

”Faix, ye may well be surprised, Mister Tom,” said Larry, ”for we're all wet _beggars_, ivery wan o' us--without a dollar to bless ourselves with.”

Tom Collins looked perplexed, as he turned from one to the other.

”Stay,” he shouted; ”wife, come here. There's a mystery going on. Take this moist little one to your room; and there,” he added, throwing open a door, ”you fellows will all find dry apparel to put on--though I don't say to fit. Come along with me, Ned, and while you change, give an account of yourself.”

Ned did as he was desired; and, in the course of a lengthened conversation, detailed to Tom the present condition of himself and his friends.

”It's unfortunate,” said Tom, after a pause; ”ill-luck seems to follow us wherever we go.”

”You ought to be ashamed of yourself;” cried Ned, ”for saying so, considering the wife you have got.”

”True, my boy,” replied the other, ”I ought indeed to be ashamed, but I spoke in reference to money matters. What say you to the fact, that I am as much a beggar as yourself?”

”Outward appearances would seem to contradict you.”

”Nevertheless, it is true, I a.s.sure you. When you left me, Ned, in the hotel at Sacramento, I became so lonely that I grew desperate; and, feeling much stronger in body, I set off for this town in the new steamer--that in which you arrived. I came straight up here, re-introduced myself to Mr Thompson; and, two days after--for I count it folly to waste time in such matters when one's mind is made up--I proposed to Lizette, and was accepted conditionally. Of course, the condition was that papa should be willing. But papa was _not_ willing.

He said that three thousand dollars, all I possessed, was a capital sum, but not sufficient to marry on, and that he could not risk his daughter's happiness, etcetera, etcetera--you know the rest. Well, the very next day news came that one of Thompson's best s.h.i.+ps had been wrecked off Cape Horn. This was a terrible blow, for the old man's affairs were in a rickety condition at any rate, and this sank him altogether. His creditors were willing enough to wait, but one rascal refused to do so, and swore he would sequestrate him. I found that the sum due him was exactly three thousand dollars, so I paid him the amount in full, and handed Thompson the discharged account. `Now,' said I, `I'm off to the diggings, so good-bye!' for, you see, Ned, I felt that I could not urge my suit at that time, as it would be like putting on the screw--taking an unfair advantage of him.

”`Why, what do you mean, my lad?' said he.

”`That I'm off to-morrow,' replied I.

”`That you must not do,' said he.

”`Why not?' said I.

”`Because,' said he, `now that things are going smooth, I must go to England by the first s.h.i.+p that sails, and get my affairs there put on a better footing, so you must stay here to look after my business, and to--to--take care of Lizette.'

”`Eh! what!' said I, `what do you mean? You know _that_ is impossible.'

”`Not at all, boy, if you marry her!'

”Of course I could not refuse, and so, to cut it short, we were married right off and here we are, the representatives of the great firm of Thompson and Company, of California.”

”Then, do you mean to say that Thompson is gone?” Inquired Ned, with a look of horror.

”Near the Horn, I should think, by this time; but why so anxious?”

”Because,” sighed Ned, sitting down on the edge of the bed, with a look of despair, ”I came here by his invitation; and--”

”Oh! it's all right,” interrupted Tom; ”I know all about it, and am commissioned by him to settle the affair for you.”