Sailor's Knots (Entire Collection)

“He can go,” said Mr. Evans, with an attempt at dignity; “he can go this time, and I hope that this’ll be a lesson to him not to go about looking like other people. If he does, next time, p’r’aps, he won’t escape so easy.”

“You’re quite right,” said Mr. Carter, blandly. “I’ll get a new face first thing to-morrow morning. I ought to have done it before.”

He crossed to the door and, nodding to the fermenting Mr. Evans, bowed to the profile of Miss Evans and walked slowly out. Envy of Mr. Simmons was mingled with amazement at his deplorable lack of taste and common sense. He would willingly have changed places with him. There was evidently a strong likeness, and–

Busy with his thoughts he came to a standstill in the centre of the footpath, and then, with a sudden air of determination, walked slowly back to the house.

“Yes?” said Mr. Evans, as the door opened and the face of Mr. Carter was thrust in. “What have you come back for?”

The other stepped into the room and closed the door softly behind him. “I have come back,” he said, slowly—“I have come back because I feel ashamed of myself.”

“Ashamed of yourself?” repeated Mr. Evans, rising and confronting him.

Mr. Carter hung his head and gazed nervously in the direction of the girl. “I can’t keep up this deception,” he said, in a low but distinct voice. “I am Bert Simmons. At least, that is the name I told you four years ago.”

“I knew I hadn’t made a mistake,” roared Mr. Evans to his son. “I knew him well enough. Shut the door, Jim. Don’t let him go.”

“I don’t want to go,” said Mr. Carter, with a glance in the direction of Nancy. “I have come back to make amends.”

“Fancy Nancy not knowing him!” said Jim, gazing at the astonished Miss Evans.

“She was afraid of getting me into trouble,” said Mr. Carter, “and I just gave her a wink not to recognize me; but she knew me well enough, bless her.”

“How dare you!” said the girl, starting up. “Why, I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

“All right, Nan,” said the brazen Mr. Carter; “but it’s no good keeping it up now. I’ve come back to act fair and square.”

Miss Evans struggled for breath.

“There he is, my girl,” said her father, patting her on the back. “He’s not much to look at, and he treated you very shabby, but if you want him I suppose you must have him.”

“Want him?” repeated the incensed Miss Evans. “Want him? I tell you it’s not Bert. How dare he come here and call me Nan?”

“You used not to mind it,” said Mr. Carter, plaintively.

“I tell you,” said Miss Evans, turning to her father and brother, “it’s not Bert. Do you think I don’t know?”

“Well, he ought to know who he is,” said her father, reasonably.

“Of course I ought,” said Mr. Carter, smiling at her. “Besides, what reason should I have for saying I am Bert if I am not?”

“That’s a fair question,” said Jim, as the girl bit her lip. “Why should he?”

“Ask him,” said the girl, tartly.

“Look here, my girl,” said Mr. Evans, in ominous accents. “For four years you’ve been grieving over Bert, and me and Jim have been hunting high and low for him. We’ve got him at last, and now you’ve got to have him.”

“If he don’t run away again,” said Jim. “I wouldn’t trust him farther than I could see him.”

Mr. Evans sat and glowered at his prospective son-in-law as the difficulties of the situation developed themselves. Even Mr. Carter’s reminders that he had come back and surrendered of his own free will failed to move him, and he was hesitating between tying him up and locking him in the attic and hiring a man to watch him, when Mr. Carter himself suggested a way out of the difficulty.

“I’ll lodge with you,” he said, “and I’ll give you all my money and things to take care of. I can’t run away without money.”

He turned out his pockets on the table. Seven pounds eighteen shillings and fourpence with his re-turn ticket made one heap; his watch and chain, penknife, and a few other accessories another. A suggestion of Jim’s that he should add his boots was vetoed by the elder man as unnecessary.

“There you are,” said Mr. Evans, sweeping the things into his own pockets; “and the day you are married I hand them back to you.”

His temper improved as the evening wore on. By the time supper was finished and his pipe alight he became almost jocular, and the coldness of Miss Evans was the only drawback to an otherwise enjoyable evening.

“Just showing off a little temper,” said her father, after she had withdrawn; “and wants to show she ain’t going to forgive you too easy. Not but what you behaved badly; however, let bygones be bygones, that’s my idea.”

The behavior of Miss Evans was so much better next day that it really seemed as though her father’s diagnosis was correct. At dinner, when the men came home from work, she piled Mr. Carter’s plate up so generously that her father and brother had ample time at their disposal to watch him eat. And when he put his hand over his glass she poured half a pint of good beer, that other men would have been thankful for, up his sleeve.

She was out all the afternoon, but at tea time she sat next to Mr. Carter, and joined brightly in the conversation concerning her marriage. She addressed him as Bert, and when he furtively pressed her hand beneath the table-cloth she made no attempt to withdraw it.

“I can’t think how it was you didn’t know him at first,” said her father. “You’re usually wide-awake enough.”

“Silly of me,” said Nancy; “but I am silly sometimes.”

Mr. Carter pressed her hand again, and gazing tenderly into her eyes received a glance in return which set him thinking. It was too cold and calculating for real affection; in fact, after another glance, he began to doubt if it indicated affection at all.

“It’s like old times, Bert,” said Miss Evans, with an odd smile. “Do you remember what you said that afternoon when I put the hot spoon on your neck?”

“Yes,” was the reply.

“What was it?” inquired the girl.

“I won’t repeat it,” said Mr. Carter, firmly.

He was reminded of other episodes during the meal, but, by the exercise of tact and the plea of a bad memory, did fairly well. He felt that he had done very well indeed when, having cleared the tea-things away, Nancy came and sat beside him with her hand in his. Her brother grunted, but Mr. Evans, in whom a vein of sentiment still lingered, watched them with much satisfaction.

Mr. Carter had got possession of both hands and was murmuring fulsome flatteries when the sound of somebody pausing at the open door caused them to be hastily withdrawn.

“Evening, Mr. Evans,” said a young man, putting his head in. “Why, halloa! Bert! Well, of all the–”

“Halloa!” said Mr. Carter, with attempted enthusiasm, as he rose from his chair.

“I thought you was lost,” said the other, stepping in and gripping his hand. “I never thought I was going to set eyes on you again. Well, this is a surprise. You ain’t forgot Joe Wilson, have you?”

“Course I haven’t, Joe,” said Mr. Carter. “I’d have known you anywhere.”

He shook hands effusively, and Mr. Wilson, after a little pretended hesitation, accepted a chair and began to talk about old times.

“I lay you ain’t forgot one thing, Bert,” he said at last.

“What’s that?” inquired the other.

“That arf-quid I lent you,” said Mr. Wilson.