Part 54 (1/2)
”No, my dear father, we boarded one.”
”Ah! very true; I recollect--and you killed Surcoeuf.”
”No, father, only beat him off.”
”So it was; I recollect now.--Brother John, isn't it almost dinner-time?”
”Yes, brother Nicholas, it is; and I'm not sorry for it. Mr William Aveleyn, perhaps you'd like to wash your hands? A lad's paws are never the worse for a little clean water.”
William Aveleyn blushed: his dignity was hurt: but he had lately been very intimate at Mr Forster's, and he therefore walked out to comply with the recommendation.
”Well, brother Nicholas, what have you been doing all day?”
”Doing all day, brother? really, I don't exactly know. My dear,” said Nicholas, turning to his wife, ”what have I been doing all day?”
”To the best of my recollection,” replied Mrs Forster, smiling, ”you have been asking when dinner would be ready.”
”Uncle Nicholas,” said Amber, ”you promised to buy me a skein of blue silk.”
”Did I, my dear? Well, so I did, I declare. I'm very sorry--dear me, I forgot, I did buy it. I pa.s.sed by a shop where the windows were full of it, and it brought it to my mind, and I did buy it. It cost--what was it, it cost?”
”Oh! I know what it cost,” replied Amber. ”I gave you three-pence to pay for it. Where is it?”
”If I recollect, it cost seven s.h.i.+llings and six-pence,” replied Nicholas, pulling out, not a skein of blue silk, but a yard of blue sa.r.s.enet.
”Now, papa, do look here! Uncle Nicholas, I never will give you a commission again. Is it not provoking? I have seven s.h.i.+llings and six-pence to pay for a yard of blue sa.r.s.enet, which I do not want.
Uncle Nicholas, you really are very stupid.”
”Well, my dear, I suppose I am. I heard William Aveleyn say the same, when I came into the room this morning, because--let me see--”
”You heard him say nothing, uncle,” interrupted Amber, colouring.
”Yes, I recollect now--how stupid I was to come in when I was not wanted!”
”Humph!” said John Forster; and dinner was announced.
Since the recognition of Mrs Forster by her husband, she had presided at her brother-in-law's table. The dinner provided was excellent, and was done ample justice to by all parties, especially Nicholas, whose appet.i.te appeared to increase from idleness. Since Newton had left England he had remained a pensioner upon his brother; and, by dint of constant exertion on the part of Mrs Forster, had been drilled out of his propensity of interfering with either the watch or the spectacles.
This was all that was required by Mr John Forster; and Nicholas walked up and down the house, like a tame cat, minding n.o.body, and n.o.body paying any attention to him.
After dinner the ladies retired, and shortly afterwards William Aveleyn quitted the room.
Newton thought this to be a good opportunity to acquaint his uncle with his attachment to Miss Revel, and the favourable result. Mr John Forster heard him without interruption.
”Very nice girl, I dare say, nephew, but you are too young to marry.
You can't marry and go to sea. Follow your profession, Newton; speculate in opium--I'll find the means.”
”I trust, sir, that I never should speculate in marrying; but, had I acted on that plan, this would prove the best speculation of the two.
Miss Revel has a very large fortune.”
”So much the worse: a man should never be indebted to his wife for his money--they never forget it. I'd rather you had fallen in love with a girl without a s.h.i.+lling.”