Part 9 (1/2)

While, to make the table thoroughly attractive to us hungry boys, who had been walking all the morning, there was a good-sized cold salmon on a big dish; a great piece of cold ham; a large round loaf that looked as if it had been baked in a basin, and a plate of b.u.t.ter and a dish of thick yellow cream.

These substantial things had a good effect upon Bob Chowne, whose face began to look smooth and pleasant, and who showed his satisfaction farther by kicking me under the table, for he was afraid to make any more remarks, because we could hear Jonas Uggleston, in some place at the back, blowing and splas.h.i.+ng as if he were was.h.i.+ng himself in a bucket; and of this last there was no doubt, for we heard the handle rattle, then a loud splash, as if he had thrown the dirty water out of the window, and the bucket set down and the handle rattling again.

This made Bob kick me again painfully, and he grinned and his eyes seemed to say, ”No jug and basin, and no washstand.”

Just then Bigley came in with a great brown jug of cider, smiling all over his face.

”I say, I am glad father has asked you to stop,” he said. ”We'll get him to let us have the boat after dinner.”

Just then old Jonas came in without his otter-skin cap, combing the thick grisly fringe round his head, the top of which was quite bare; and directly after from another door--for there were doors nearly everywhere, because Jonas Uggleston had built the cottage very small at first and then kept on adding rooms, and kitchens, and wash-house with stores--Mother Bonnet came in, an elderly plump woman, who always put me in mind of a cider apple when it was ripe.

Mother Bonnet was Binnacle Bill's wife, and lived at the cottage on the other side of the stream, but she came and ”did for” Master Uggleston, as she called it; that is to say, she cooked and kept the house clean; and she bore in hand a dish of hot new potatoes, which were very scarce things with us and a deal thought of by some people for a treat.

She nodded to us all in turn, and was going away again, when Jonas shouted ”Winegar,” and Mother Bonnet hurriedly produced a big black bottle from a corner cupboard, and placed it upon the table.

That was about as rough a dinner as Bob Chowne and I had ever sat down to, but how delicious it was!

”'Live last night,” said Jonas, digging great pieces of the salmon off with a silver spoon, and supplying our plates.

”You catch him, father?” said Bigley.

”Yes, Big. Weir.”

”Weir,” I thought to myself. ”Weir? What does he mean by weir?”

”Eat away, my lads,” cried Jonas Uggleston. ”Big: have off some bread.”

”When did you finish the weir, father?” said Bigley, with his mouth full, in spite of all Dr Stacey had said.

”Seccun April, boy. You can work it a bit, now you're down.”

Bigley looked at us with eager eyes, but we were too busy to pay much attention, though I was anxious to see a weir that would catch salmon, and ready to ask questions as soon as the dinner was done.

”Pour out the cider, lad. It's a fresh cask, and it's good. I bought some at Squire Allworth's sale.”

Bigley began to pour out for us, old Jonas having pushed his silver mug to my side, while he took a brown one from a shelf for his and Bob's use; and I was feeling sorry that he should have given me the silver mug, because Bob would not like it, when, just as old Jonas mentioned Squire Allworth's sale, his face changed again, and I saw his scowl as he looked at me.

”He's thinking about my father buying the Gap,” I said to myself; but forgot it all directly, for the fierce look pa.s.sed away as the old man lifted his cup.

”Taste it, boys, and it'll make you think of being in the suns.h.i.+ne in an orchard, with the sun ripening the apples. Now then: salmon getting bony. Who'll have some ham?”

We all would, and we were quite ready afterwards to attack and finish off a pot of raspberry jam which Mother Bonnet brought in with a smile; and the raspberry jam, the beautiful b.u.t.ter and bread, and the cream worked such an effect upon Bob Chowne that he exclaimed suddenly:

”Oh, don't I wish Dr Stacey would give us dinners like this!”

Old Jonas uttered a hoa.r.s.e harsh laugh, which made me feel uncomfortable, for he did not look as if he were laughing, but as if he were in a very severe and angry fit with somebody.

”There,” he said, when we had quite done, ”be off, boys, now. I'm going to be busy.”