Night Watches

by W. W. Jacobs

  A lad of about twenty stepped ashore from the schooner Jane, and joininga girl, who had been avoiding for some ten minutes the ardent gaze ofthe night-watchman, set off arm-in-arm. The watchman rolled his eyes andshook his head slowly.

  Nearly all his money on 'is back, he said, and what little bit 'e's gotover he'll spend on 'er. And three months arter they're married he'llwonder wot 'e ever saw in her. If a man marries he wishes he 'adn't, andif he doesn't marry he wishes he 'ad. That's life.

  Looking at them two young fools reminds me of a nevy of Sam Small's; aman I think I've spoke to you of afore. As a rule Sam didn't talk muchabout 'is relations, but there was a sister of 'is in the country wot 'ewas rather fond of because 'e 'adn't seen 'er for twenty years. She 'adgot a boy wot 'ad just got a job in London, and when 'e wrote and told'er he was keeping company with the handsomest and loveliest and best'arted gal in the whole wide world, she wrote to Sam about it and asked'im to give 'is nevy some good advice.

  Sam 'ad just got back from China and was living with Peter Russet andGinger Dick as usual, and arter reading the letter about seven times andasking Ginger how 'e spelt "minx," 'e read the letter out loud to themand asked 'em what they thought about it.

  Ginger shook his 'ead, and, arter thinking a bit, Peter shook his too.

  "She's caught 'im rather young," ses Ginger.

  "They get it bad at that age too," ses Peter. "When I was twenty, therewas a gal as I was fond of, and a regiment couldn't ha' parted us."

  "Wot did part you then?" ses Sam.

  "Another gal," ses Peter; "a gal I took a fancy to, that's wot did it."

  "I was nearly married when I was twenty," ses Ginger, with a far-awaylook in his eyes. "She was the most beautiful gal I ever saw in my life;she 'ad one 'undred pounds a year of 'er own and she couldn't bear meout of her sight. If a thump acrost the chest would do that cough ofyours any good, Sam--"

  "Don't take no notice of 'im, Ginger," ses Peter. "Why didn't you marry'er?"

  "'Cos I was afraid she might think I was arter 'er money," ses Ginger,getting a little bit closer to Sam.

  Peter 'ad another turn then, and him and Ginger kept on talking aboutgals whose 'arts they 'ad broke till Sam didn't know what to do with'imself.

  "I'll just step round and see my nevy, while you and Peter are amusingeach other," he ses at last. "I'll ask 'im to come round to-morrow andthen you can give 'im good advice."

  The nevy came round next evening. Bright, cheerful young chap 'e was,and he agreed with everything they said. When Peter said as 'ow all galswas deceivers, he said he'd known it for years, but they was born thatway and couldn't 'elp it; and when Ginger said that no man ought tomarry afore he was fifty, he corrected 'im and made it fifty-five.

  "I'm glad to 'ear you talk like that," ses Ginger.

  "So am I," ses Peter.

  "He's got his 'ead screwed on right," ses Sam, wot thought his sister'ad made a mistake.

  "I'm surprised when I look round at the wimmen men 'ave married," sesthe nevy; "wot they could 'ave seen in them I can't think. Me and myyoung lady often laugh about it."

  "Your wot?" ses Sam, pretending to be very surprised.

  "My young lady," ses the nevy.

  Sam gives a cough. "I didn't know you'd got a young lady," he ses.

  "Well, I 'ave," ses his nevy, "and we're going to be married atChristmas."

  "But--but you ain't fifty-five," ses Ginger.

  "I'm twenty-one," ses the nevy, "but my case is different. There isn'tanother young lady like mine in the world. She's different to all theothers, and it ain't likely I'm going to let 'er be snapped up bysomebody else. Fifty-five! Why, 'ow I'm to wait till Christmas I don'tknow. She's the prettiest and handsomest gal in the world; and she's thecleverest one I ever met. You ought to hear 'er laugh. Like music it is.You'd never forget it."

  "Twenty-one is young," ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead. "'Ave you known 'erlong?"

  "Three months," ses the nevy. "She lives in the same street as I do. 'Owit is she ain't been snapped up before, I can't think, but she told methat she didn't care for men till she saw me."

  "They all say that," ses Ginger.

  "If I've 'ad it said to me once, I've 'ad it said twenty times," sesPeter, nodding.

  "They do it to flatter," ses old Sam, looking as if 'e knew all aboutit. "You wait till you are my age, Joe; then you'll know; why I shouldha' been married dozens o' times if I 'adn't been careful."

  "P'r'aps it was a bit on both sides," ses Joe, looking at 'is uncle."P'r'aps they was careful too. If you only saw my young lady, youwouldn't talk like that. She's got the truthfullest eyes in the world.Large grey eyes like a child's, leastways sometimes they are grey andsometimes they are blue. It seems to depend on the light somehow; I 'aveseen them when they was a brown-brownish-gold. And she smiles with 'ereyes."

  "Hasn't she got a mouth?" ses Ginger, wot was getting a bit tired of it.

  "You've been crossed in love," ses the nevy, staring at 'im. "That'swot's the matter with you. And looking at you, I don't wonder at it."

  Ginger 'arf got up, but Sam gave him a look and 'e sat down agin, andthen they all sat quiet while the nevy went on telling them about 'isgal.

  "I should like to see 'er," ses his uncle at last.

  "Call round for me at seven to-morrow night," ses the young 'un, "andI'll introduce you."

  "We might look in on our way," ses Sam, arter Ginger and Peter 'ad bothmade eyes at 'im. "We're going out to spend the evening."

  "The more the merrier," ses his nevy. "Well, so long; I expect she'swaiting for me."

  He got up and said good-bye, and arter he 'ad gorn, Sam and the othertwo shook their leads together and said what a pity it was to betwenty-one. Ginger said it made 'im sad to think of it, and Peter said'ow any gal could look at a man under thirty, 'e couldn't think.

  They all went round to the nevy's the next evening. They was a littlebit early owing to Ginger's watch 'aving been set right by guess-work,and they 'ad to sit in a row on the nevy's bed waiting while 'e cleaned'imself, and changed his clothes. Although it was only Wednesday 'echanged his collar, and he was so long making up 'is mind about hisnecktie that 'is uncle tried to make it up for him. By the time he 'adfinished Sam said it made 'im think it was Sunday.

  Miss Gill was at 'ome when they got there, and all three of 'em was verymuch surprised that such a good-looking gal should take up with Sam'snevy. Ginger nearly said so, but Peter gave 'im a dig in the back justin time and 'e called him something under 'is breath instead.

  "Why shouldn't we all make an evening of it?" ses Ginger, arter they 'adbeen talking for about ten minutes, and the nevy 'ad looked at the clockthree or four times.

  "Because two's company," ses Mrs. Gill. "Why you was young yourselfonce. Can't you remember?"

  "He's young now, mother," ses the gal, giving Ginger a nice smile.

  "I tell you wot we might do," ses Mrs. Gill, putting 'er finger to herforehead and considering. "You and Joe go out and 'ave your evening, andme and these gentlemen'll go off together somewhere. I shall enjoy anouting; I ain't 'ad one for a long time."

  Ginger said it would be very nice if she thought it wouldn't make 'ertoo tired, and afore Sam or Peter could think of anything to say, shewas upstairs putting 'er bonnet on. They thought o' plenty to say whilethey was sitting alone with Ginger waiting for 'er.

  "My idea was for the gal and your nevy to come too," ses pore Ginger."Then I thought we might lose 'im and I would 'ave a little chat withthe gal, and show 'er 'ow foolish she was."

  "Well, you've done it now," ses Sam. "Spoilt our evening."

  "P'r'aps good will come out of it," ses Ginger. "If the old lady takes afancy to us we shall be able to come agin, and then to please you, Sam,I'll have a go to cut your nevy out."

  Sam stared at 'im, and Peter stared too, and then they looked at eachother and began to laugh till Ginger forgot where 'e was and offered toput Sam through the winder. They was still quarrelling under theirbreath and saying
wot they'd like to do to each other when Mrs. Gillcame downstairs. Dressed up to the nines she was, and they walked downthe street with a feeling that everybody was looking at em.

  One thing that 'elped to spoil the evening was that Mrs. Gill wouldn'tgo into public'ouses, but to make up for it she went into sweet-stuffshops three times and 'ad ices while they stood and watched 'er andwondered 'ow she could do it. And arter that she stopped at a placePoplar way, where there was a few swings and roundabouts and things. Shewas as skittish as a school-gal, and arter taking pore Sam on theroundabout till 'e didn't know whether he was on his 'eels or his 'ead,she got 'im into a boat-swing and swung 'im till he felt like a boy on'is fust v'y'ge. Arter that she took 'im to the rifle gallery, and aforehe had 'ad three shots the man took the gun away from 'im and threatenedto send for the police.

  It was an expensive evening for all of them, but as Ginger said whenthey got 'ome they 'ad broken the ice, and he bet Peter Russet 'arf adollar that afore two days 'ad passed he'd take the nevy's gal for awalk. He stepped round by 'imself the next arternoon and made 'imselfagreeable to Mrs. Gill, and the day arter they was both so nice and kindthat 'e plucked up 'is courage and offered to take Miss Gill to the Zoo.

  She said "No" at fust, of course, but arter Ginger 'ad pointed out thatJoe was at work all day and couldn't take 'er 'imself, and that 'e wasJoe's uncle's best pal, she began to think better of it.

  "Why not?" ses her mother. "Joe wouldn't mind. He wouldn't be so sillyas to be jealous o' Mr. Ginger Dick."

  "Of course not," ses the gal. "There's nothing to be jealous of."

  She let 'er mother and Ginger persuade 'er arter a time, and then shewent upstairs to clean herself, and put on a little silver brooch thatGinger said he 'ad picked up coming along.

  She took about three-quarters of an hour to get ready, but when she camedown, Ginger felt that it was quite worth it. He couldn't take 'is eyesoff 'er, as the saying goes, and 'e sat by 'er side on the top of theomnibus like a man in a dream.

  "This is better than being at sea," he ses at last.

  "Don't you like the sea?" ses the gal. "I should like to go to seamyself."

  "I shouldn't mind the sea if you was there," ses Ginger.

  Miss Gill turned her 'ead away. "You mustn't talk to me like that," sheses in a soft voice. "Still--"

  "Still wot?" ses Ginger, arter waiting a long time.

  "I mean, if I did go to sea, it would be nice to have a friend onboard," she ses. "I suppose you ain't afraid of storms, are you?"

  "I like 'em," ses Ginger.

  "You look as if you would," ses the gal, giving 'im a little look under'er eyelashes. "It must be nice to be a man and be brave. I wish I was aman."

  "I don't," ses Ginger.

  "Why not?" ses the gal, turning her 'ead away agin.

  Ginger didn't answer, he gave 'er elbow a little squeeze instead. Shetook it away at once, and Ginger was just wishing he 'adn't been sofoolish, when it came back agin, and they sat for a long time withoutspeaking a word.

  "The sea is all right for some things," ses Ginger at last, "but supposea man married!"

  The gal shook her 'ead. "It would be hard on 'is wife," she ses, withanother little look at 'im, "but--but----"

  Ginger pinched 'er elbow agin.

  "But p'r'aps he could get a job ashore," she ses, "and then he couldtake his wife out for a bus-ride every day."

  They 'ad to change buses arter a time, and they got on a wrong bus andwent miles out o' their way, but neither of 'em seemed to mind. Gingersaid he was thinking of something else, and the gal said she was too.They got to the Zoological Gardens at last, and Ginger said he 'ad neverenjoyed himself so much. When the lions roared she squeezed his arm, andwhen they 'ad an elephant ride she was holding on to 'im with both'ands.

  "I am enjoying myself," she ses, as Ginger 'elped her down and said"whoa" to the elephant. "I know it's wicked, but I can't 'elp it, andwot's more, I'm afraid I don't want to 'elp it."

  She let Ginger take 'er arm when she nearly tripped up over a peppermintball some kid 'ad dropped; and, arter a little persuasion, she 'ad abottle of lemonade and six bath-buns at a refreshment stall for dinner.

  She was as nice as she could be to him, but by the time they started for'ome, she 'ad turned so quiet that Ginger began to think 'e must 'aveoffended 'er in some way.

  "Are you tired?" he ses.

  "No," ses the gal, shaking her 'ead, "I've enjoyed myself very much."

  "I thought you seemed a bit tired," ses Ginger, arter waiting a longtime.

  "I'm not tired," ses the gal, giving 'im a sad sort o' little smile,"but I'm a little bit worried, that's all."

  "Worried?" ses Ginger, very tender. "Wot's worrying you?"

  "Oh, I can't tell you," ses Miss Gill. "It doesn't matter; I'll try andcheer up. Wot a lovely day it is, isn't it? I shall remember it all mylife."

  "Wot is it worrying you?" ses Ginger, in a determined voice. "Can't youtell me?"

  "No," ses the gal, shaking her 'ead, "I can't tell you because you mightwant to 'elp me, and I couldn't allow that."

  "Why shouldn't I 'elp you?" ses Ginger. "It's wot we was put 'ere for:to 'elp one another."

  "I couldn't tell you," ses the gal, just dabbing at'er eyes--with a lacepocket-'ankercher about one and a 'arf times the size of 'er nose.

  "Not if I ask you to?" ses Ginger.

  Miss Gill shook 'er 'ead, and then she tried her 'ardest to turn theconversation. She talked about the weather, and the monkey-'ouse, and agal in 'er street whose 'air changed from red to black in a singlenight; but it was all no good, Ginger wouldn't be put off, and at lastshe ses--

  "Well," she ses, "if you must know, I'm in a difficulty; I 'ave got toget three pounds, and where to get it I don't know any more than the manin the moon. Now let's talk about something else."

  "Do you owe it?" ses Ginger.

  "I can't tell you any more," ses Miss Gill, "and I wouldn't 'ave toldyou that only you asked me, and somehow I feel as though I 'ave to tellyou things, when you want me to."

  "Three pounds ain't much," ses pore Ginger, wot 'ad just been paid offarter a long v'y'ge. "I can let you 'ave it and welcome."

  Miss Gill started away from 'im as though she 'ad been stung, and ittook 'im all his time to talk 'er round agin. When he 'ad she begged 'ispardon and said he was the most generous man she 'ad ever met, but itcouldn't be.

  "I don't know when I could pay it back," she ses, "but I thank you allthe same for offering it."

  "Pay it back when you like," ses Ginger, "and if you never pay it back,it don't matter."

  He offered 'er the money four or five times, but she wouldn't take it,but at last just as they got near her 'ouse he forced it in her 'and,and put his own 'ands in his pockets when she tried to make 'im take itback.

  "You are good to me," she ses arter they 'ad gone inside and 'er mother'ad gone upstairs arter giving Ginger a bottle o' beer to amuse 'imselfwith; "I shall never forget you. Never."

  "I 'ope not," ses Ginger, starting. "Are you coming out agin to-morrow?"

  "I'm afraid I can't," ses Miss Gill, shaking her 'ead and lookingsorrowful.

  "Not with me?" ses Ginger, sitting down beside her on the sofa andputting 'is arm so that she could lean against it if she wanted to.

  "I don't think I can," ses the gal, leaning back very gentle.

  "Think agin," ses Ginger, squeezing 'er waist a little.

  Miss Gill shook her 'ead, and then turned and looked at 'im. Her facewas so close to his, that, thinking that she 'ad put it there a-purpose,he kissed it, and the next moment 'e got a clout that made his 'eadring.

  "'Ow dare you!" she ses, jumping up with a scream. "'Ow dare you! 'Owdare----"

  "Wot's the matter?" ses her mother, coming downstairs like a runawaybarrel of treacle.

  "He--he's insulted me," ses Miss Gill, taking out her little 'ankercherand sobbing. "He--k-kissed me!"

  "WOT!" ses Mrs. Gill. "Well, I'd never 'ave believed it! Never! Why 'eought
to be taken up. Wot d'ye mean by it?" she ses, turning on poreGinger.

  Ginger tried to explain, but it was all no good, and two minutesarterwards 'e was walking back to 'is lodgings like a dog with its tailbetween its legs. His 'ead was going round and round with astonishment,and 'e was in such a temper that 'e barged into a man twice as big ashimself and then offered to knock his 'ead off when 'e objected. Andwhen Sam and Peter asked him 'ow he 'ad got on, he was in such a stateof mind it was all 'e could do to answer 'em.

  "And I'll trouble you for my 'arf dollar, Peter," he ses; "I've been outwith 'er all day, and I've won my bet."

  Peter paid it over like a lamb, and then 'e sat thinking 'ard for a bit.

  "Are you going out with 'er agin to-morrow, Ginger?" he ses, arter atime.

  "I don't know," ses Ginger, careless-like, "I ain't made up my mindyet."

  Peter looked at 'im and then 'e looked at Sam and winked. "Let me 'ave atry," he ses; "I'll bet you another 'arf dollar that I take 'er out.P'r'aps I shall come 'ome in a better temper than wot you 'ave."

  Old Sam said it wasn't right to play with a gal's 'art in that way, butarter a lot o' talking and telling Sam to shut up, Ginger took the bet.He was quite certain in his own mind that Miss Gill would slam the doorin Peter's face, and arter he 'ad started off next morning, Ginger andSam waited in to 'ave the pleasure of laughing in 'is face.

  They got tired of waiting at last, and went out to enjoy themselves, andbreathe the fresh air in a pub down Poplar way. They got back at seveno'clock, and ten minutes arterwards Peter came in and sat down on hisbed and began to smoke without a word.

  "Had a good time?" ses Ginger.

  "Rippin'," ses Peter, holding 'is pipe tight between 'is teeth. "You oweme 'arf a dollar, Ginger."

  "Where'd you go?" ses Ginger, passing it over.

  "Crystal Pallis," ses Peter.

  "Are you going to take 'er out to-morrow?" ses Sam.

  "I don't think so," ses Peter, taking 'is pipe out of 'is mouth andyawning. "She's rather too young for me; I like talking to gals wot's abit older. I won't stand in Ginger's way."

  "I found 'er a bit young too," ses Ginger. "P'r'aps we'd better letSam's nevy 'ave 'er. Arter all it's a bit rough on 'im when you come tothink of it."

  "You're quite right," ses Peter, jumping up. "It's Sam's business, andwhy we should go out of our way and inconvenience ourselves to do 'im agood turn, I don't know."

  "It's Sam all over," ses Ginger; "he's always been like that, and themore you try to oblige 'im, the more you may."

  They went on abusing Sam till he got sick and tired of it, and artertelling 'em wot he thought of 'em he slammed the door and went out andspent the evening by 'imself. He would 'ardly speak to them next day,but arter tea he brightened up a bit and they went off together as ifnothing 'ad happened, and the fust thing they saw as they turned out oftheir street was Sam's nevy coming along smiling till it made theirfaces ache to look at him.

  "I was just coming to see you," he ses.

  "We're just off on business," ses Ginger.

  "I wasn't going to stop," ses the nevy; "my young lady just told me tostep along and show uncle wot she has bought me. A silver watch andchain and a gold ring. Look at it!"

  He held his 'and under Ginger's nose, and Ginger stood there looking atit and opening and shutting 'is mouth like a dying fish. Then he tookPeter by the arm and led'im away while the nevy was opening 'is newwatch and showing Sam the works.

  "'Ow much did she get out of you, Peter?" ses Ginger, looking at 'imvery hard. "I don't want any lies."

  "Three quid," ses Peter, staring at 'im.

  "Same 'ere," ses Ginger, grinding his teeth. "Did she give you a smackon the side of your face?"

  "Wot--are--you--talking about, Ginger?" ses Peter.

  "Did she smack your face too?" ses Ginger.

  "Yes," ses Peter.

  HIS OTHER SELF