""Here it is," I ses, giving it to "im. "Fair masterpiece, that"s wot you are. They may well call you Artful. Shake "ands."
"I patted "im on the shoulder arter we "ad shook "ands, and we stood there smiling at each other and paying each other compliments.
""Fancy "em sitting "ere and waiting for you to come back from that bite," I ses.
""I ought to "ave "ad more off of him," ses "Arry. ""Owever, it can"t be helped. I think I"ll "ave a lay down for a bit; I"m tired."
""Better be off," I ses, shaking my "ead. "Time pa.s.ses, and they might come back afore you think."
""Well, wot of it?" ses "Arry.
""Wot of it?" I ses. "Why, it"ud spoil everything. It "ud be blue ruin."
""Are you sure?" ses "Arry".
""Sartin," I ses.
""Well, make it five quid, and I"ll go, then," he ses, sitting down agin.
"I couldn"t believe my ears at fust, but when I could I drew myself up and told "im wot I thought of "im; and he sat there and laughed at me.
""Why, you called me a masterpiece just now," he ses. "I shouldn"t be much of a masterpiece if I let a chance like this slip. Why, I shouldn"t be able to look myself in the face. Where"s the skipper?"
""Sitting in the "Albion"," I ses, "arf choking.
""Go and tell "im it"s five quid," ses "Arry. "I don"t mean five more, on"y four. Some people would ha" made it five, but I like to deal square and honest."
"I run over for the skipper in a state of mind that don"t bear thinking of, and he came back with me, "arf crazy. When we got to the cabin we found the door was locked, and, arter the skipper "ad told Artful wot he"d do to "im if he didn"t open it, he "ad to go on deck and talk to "im through the skylight.
""If you ain"t off of my ship in two twos," he ses, "I"ll fetch a policeman."
""You go and fetch four pounds," ses "Arry; "that"s wot I"m waiting for, not a policeman. Didn"t the watchman tell you?"
""The bargain was for one pound," ses the skipper, "ardly able to speak.
""Well, you tell that to the policeman," ses Artful "Arry.
"It was no use, he"d got us every way; and at last the skipper turns out "is pockets, and he ses, "Look "ere," he ses, "I"ve got seventeen and tenpence ha" penny. Will you go if I give you that?"
"""Ow much has the watchman got?" ses "Arry. "His lodger lost "is purse the other day."
"I"d got two and ninepence, as it "appened, and then there was more trouble because the skipper wouldn"t give "im the money till he "ad gone, and "e wouldn"t go till he "ad got it. The skipper gave way at last, and as soon as he "ad got it "Arry ses, "Now "op off and borrer the rest, and look slippy about it."
"I put one hand over the skipper"s mouth fust, and then, finding that was no good, I put the other. It was no good wasting bad langwidge on "Arry.
"I pacified the skipper at last, and arter "Arry "ad swore true "e"d go when "e"d got the money, the skipper rushed round to try and raise it.
It"s a difficult job at the best o" times, and I sat there on the skylight shivering and wondering whether the skipper or Mrs. m.u.f.fit would turn up fust.
"Hours seemed to pa.s.s away, and then I see the wicket in the gate open, and the skipper come through. He jumped on deck without a word, and then, going over to the skylight, "anded down the money to "Arry.
""Right-o," ses "Arry. "It on"y shows you wot you can do by trying."
"He unlocked the door and came up on deck, looking at us very careful, and playing with "is stick.
""You"ve got your money," ses the skipper; "now go as quick as you can."
""Arry smiled and nodded at him. Then he stepped on to the wharf and was just moving to the gate, with us follering, when the wicket opened and in came Mrs. m.u.f.fit and Uncle d.i.c.k.
""There he is," ses Uncle d.i.c.k. "That"s the man!"
"Mrs. m.u.f.fit walked up to "im, and my "art a"most stopped beating. Her face was the colour of beetroot with temper, and you could "ave heard her breath fifty yards away.
""Ho!" she says, planting "erself in front of Artful "Arry, "so you"re the man that ses you"re my "usband, are you?"
""That"s all right," ses "Arry, "it"s all a mistake."
""MISTAKE?" ses Mrs. m.u.f.fit.
""Mistake o" Bill"s," ses "Arry, pointing to me. "I told "im I thought "e was wrong, but "e would "ave it. I"ve got a bad memory, so I left it to "im."
""Ho!" ses Mrs. m.u.f.fit, taking a deep breath. "Ho! I thought as much.
Wot "ave you got to say for yourself--eh?"
"She turned on me like a wild cat, with her "ands in front of her. I"ve been scratched once in my life, and I wasn"t going to be agin, so, fixing my eyes on "er, I just stepped back a bit, ready for "er. So long as I kept my eye fixed on "ers she couldn"t do anything. I knew that.
Unfortunately I stepped back just a inch too far, and next moment I went over back"ards in twelve foot of water.
"Arter all, p"r"aps it was the best thing that could have "appened to me; it stopped her talking. It ain"t the fust time I"ve "ad a wet jacket; but as for the skipper, and pore Uncle d.i.c.k--wot married her--they"ve been in hot water ever since."
FOR BETTER OR WORSE
Mr. George Wotton, gently pushing the swing doors of the public bar of the "King"s Head" an inch apart, applied an eye to the aperture, in the hope of discovering a moneyed friend. His gaze fell on the only man in the bar a greybeard of sixty whose weather-beaten face and rough clothing spoke of the sea. With a faint sigh he widened the opening and pa.s.sed through.
"Mornin", Ben," he said, with an attempt at cheerfulness.
"Have a drop with me," said the other, heartily. "Got any money about you?"
Mr. Wotton shook his head and his face fell, clearing somewhat as the other handed him his mug. "Drink it all up, George," he said.
His friend complied. A more tactful man might have taken longer over the job, but Mr. Benjamin Davis, who appeared to be labouring under some strong excitement, took no notice.
"I"ve had a shock, George," he said, regarding the other steadily. "I"ve heard news of my old woman."