When the Night Club was formed it was definitely agreed that it should be for men only, like the best stories and the most delightful1 women; yet at the third sitting Sallie Carruthers became the one and only woman member. The circumstance was so unexpected that it can be understood only as a result of a thorough description of Sallie, and the difficulty is to know where to begin—the end is always the same, a precipitate2 falling-in-love with her.
It is all very tedious for Sallie, who does not seem to like being fallen-in-love-with. To use her own expression, "It spoils it." What it is that it spoils she does not seem able to explain, and if pressed she replies despairingly, "Oh! everything."
To a man Sallie is an enigma3. She seems desirous of rebuking4 Nature. She claims from a man comradeship and equality, and he who is not prepared to concede this had better keep out of her way. If some poor wretch5, not knowing Sallie's views, happen to be with her in the country and pause to help her over a stile, he never does so more than once. Sallie's eyes will smile her thanks and convey a reproach at the same time. On the other hand, in a drawing-room or at a theatre, Sallie would not be likely to overlook the slightest omission6.
There is about her a quality that is as personal as it is irresistible7. I have never known her fail to get what she wanted, just as I have never known her to appear to want what she gets. If Sallie asks me to take her up the river on the Sunday I have invited Aunt Jane to lunch, I explain things to Sallie, and there the matter appears to end; yet on that self-same Sunday Sallie and I go up the river, and on the Monday I have a letter from Aunt Jane saying that I am quite right to take every care of an internal chill!
To describe Sallie is impossible. She has very large, expressive8, grey eyes, exceedingly long lashes9, carmine10 lips, nondescriptive features, masses of dark brown hair that grows low down upon her forehead, and the quality of attracting the attention of everybody in her vicinity. She dresses well, is the victim of moods, seems to eat nothing, and is as straight as the Boat Race.
With a word or a glance she can annihilate11 or intoxicate12. I call to mind one occasion, when what might have been a delightful dinner was being ruined by a bounder, who monopolised the conversation with pointless stories. Sallie waited her chance.
"I have a grandfather," began the bounder.
"Have you?" enquired13 Sallie in a tone full of sweetness and meaning.
The man subsided14.
One day Sallie rang me up, and by the impatient "There? There?? There??? Oh, bother!" I knew that something important was in the air.
"I am," I replied.
"What?"
"Here, of course," I replied.
"I've got it," said Sallie; "I've got it."
"Heavens!" I responded. "How did you catch it? Hadn't you better go to bed?"
"You're not a bit funny. Aren't you glad I've got it?" she queried15.
"Certainly, very glad if you are."
"Jack16 gave it to me."
"Really? Has he got it too? What is it?"
"A car, of course!"
Now this was characteristic of Sallie. I did not even know that she desired a car; probably her brother Jack, who gives her everything but the good advice she so sadly needs, was as ignorant as I. Most likely he had planned the whole thing as a surprise, just as I once gave Sallie a punt as a "surprise," and learned later that for a month previously17 she had been taking lessons in punting. But that's just Sallie.
"It's so wonderful," Sallie went on to explain. "It does such funny things. Sometimes it barks like a dog—(I shivered, I knew what that meant for the car)—and sometimes it purrs just like Wivvles." Wivvles is a Persian kitten of no manners and less——but Wivvles can wait.
At times Sallie is very trying, although unconsciously. She has a habit of taking the first syllable18 of her friends' surnames and adding a "y." Windover, for instance, becomes "Winny." Poor Graves, who is very fat and moist, she calls "Gravy," and it hurts him just as it hurts dear old Skillington, who is long and learned, to hear himself referred to as "Skilly." It would, however, hurt them both far more if Sallie were allowed to guess their real feelings.
Having to some extent explained Sallie, I must proceed to tell the story that resulted in her becoming a member of the Night Club.
Bindle had arranged that I should tell the first story, and in honour of Jack Carruthers, who is Dick Little's particular pal19, and a foundation member of the Club, I decided20 to tell how Sallie had once personated an admiral's daughter and what came of it.
I
On coming down to breakfast one June morning I found awaiting me a telegram. It was from Jack Carruthers at Sheerness, and read:—
"got hilda here bring malcolm sallie dora for week end cruise meet you sheerness pier21 four oclock friday jack"
"I'll be damned if I do," I cried aloud.
"I b-b-beg your p-p-pardon, sir?" said Peake, who entered at that moment bearing before him the eternal eggs, bacon and kidneys. Peake is entirely22 devoid23 of culinary imagination.
"I remarked, Peake," I replied with great distinctness, "that I'll be damned if I do."
"Yes, sir," he responded, as he placed the dish of reiterations on the table before me; "b-b-b-but you said 'addock on W-w-Wednesdays and F-f-fridays, sir: this is only T-t-tuesday."
"I wasn't referring to fish, Peake," I said severely24, "but to Mr. Carruthers and the Hilda. He has invited me to take another cruise with him."
A look of fear came into Peake's eyes. I had recently threatened to take him with me on the next occasion that I sailed with Carruthers. Peake is an excellent servant; but he has three great shortcomings: he has no imagination, stutters like a machine-gun, and is a wretched sailor. For stuttering he has tried every known cure from the Demosthenian pebble25 to patent medicines, and for sea-sickness he has swallowed the contents of innumerable boxes and bottles. The result is that he stutters as much as ever, and during a Channel crossing is about as useful as a fishing-rod. It has never come to my knowledge that he has sought a cure for his lack of imagination.
"I b-b-beg pardon, sir. I thought you m-m-meant the breakfast. S-s-shall I pack your things, sir?" he questioned, as he stood regarding me wistfully, his hand on the handle of the door.
"What I said, Peake, was that I'll be damned if I do, which does not involve packing. You will not pack my things, and please don't again suggest doing so; it annoys me intensely. That is all."
Peake withdrew with the air of a man who has heard, but does not believe. I was convinced that he was already planning how he should spend his time during my absence. I ate my breakfast in silence, read the shipping26 casualties to steady my determination to decline Carruthers' invitation, and smoked four cigarettes.
Being unable to get my mind away from the Hilda and her skipper, I determined27, therefore, to go out at once and send him a telegram of curt28 refusal. With my fifth cigarette between my lips I set forth29.
The reason for my determination was Dora coupled with Malcolm. Dora bores me, and when Malcolm tries to flirt30 with her, which he does in a manner that reminds me of a cod31 making love to a trout32, I become demoralised. Dora is Sallie's pal and the wife of some man or other whom I have met and forgotten: no one would think of burdening his mind with anything belonging to Dora that she is not actually wearing at the moment. Dora is extremely modish33 and regards a husband as she would a last year's frock.
In the Earl's Court Road I encountered Sallie. She was engaged in meditatively34 prodding35 with the forefinger36 of her right hand the lifeless carcass of a chicken. I approached unseen.
"We should reverence37 the dead, my friend," I remarked gravely. She turned suddenly, with a little cry of pleasure that digested the kidneys and dismissed Malcolm and the Hilda from my overburdened mind.
"Oh, I am glad to see you," she said, "awfully38 glad. Can you remember whether a good chicken should be blue or yellow? I know it's one of the primary colours, because that's why I remember it?" And she knit her brows as, with a puzzled expression of doubt, she regarded the row of trussed birds upon the poulterer's slab39.
"You are confusing the primary colours with the primary pigments40. They——"
"Please try and help me," she pleaded; "I'm so worried. The housekeeper41 has gone to see a sick relative, and I have to forage42 for food. It's awful. I hate eating."
Sallie looked so wretched, and her grey eyes so luminous43 and pathetic, that I took the chickens in hand, purchased two saffron-coloured specimens44 at a venture, and we proceeded to the fishmonger's.
Sallie's shopping completed, I told her of Jack's wire and my determination.
"Oh! but we must go," she said with conviction. "We can't let him down."
I explained that I could not get away.
"I wish I were a man," Sallie sighed mournfully, and gazed down at her very dainty tailor-made skirt, a habit of hers when she wants to engage upon something a woman should not do. Then turning half round and dancing before me backwards45, she burst out, "But I should so love it. Do take me, pleeeeeeeeease."
"Sallie," I said, "there's an old lady opposite who is struck speechless by your salvation46 tactics."
"Oh! bother the old lady," she laughed. "Now we'll go and telegraph."
When I left Sallie, I had telegraphed an acceptance to Jack and wired to Malcolm. Sallie composed telegrams, which must have caused them some surprise on account of their extreme cordiality. We then parted, Sallie to call on Dora, I to telephone to Peake that he might after all pack my bag, although there were three days in which to do it. As a matter of fact I did not feel equal to that I-never-doubted-you'd-go-sir look in his eyes.
II
Victoria Station had been agreed upon as the rendezvous48, and there we met. Sallie looked demurely49 trim and appropriately dressed. Dora seemed to have got confused between a yachting-trip and a garden-party, and had struck an unhappy medium between the two. Dora has what is known to women as "a French figure"; but what to man remains50 a mystery; she also has fair hair and a something in the eye that makes men look at her with interest and women with disapproval51.
Malcolm is all legs and arms and sketch-book. He was quite appropriately dressed in a Norfolk knickerbocker suit, with a straw hat and an umbrella—appropriately dressed, that is, for anything but yachting. Malcolm is a marine-painter, and what he does not know about the sea and boats need not concern either yachtsman or artist. He is tall and thin, with the temper of an angel, the caution of a good sailor and the courage of a lion. He waves his arms about like semaphores, rates woman lower than a barge52, and never fails to earn the respect of sailormen.
Malcolm is a man of strange capacities and curious limitations. Anybody will do anything for him, porters carry his luggage with no thought of tips, editors publish his drawings, whether they want to or no, people purchase his pictures without in the least understanding them, and, finally, everybody accepts him without comment, much as they do a Bank Holiday or an eclipse.
Sallie and Dora between them had only a small valise, whereas Malcolm carried a sketch-book and an umbrella. He, as I, was depending upon Carruthers for all save a tooth-brush.
There was the inevitable54 delay on the line, and we were over an hour late. Sallie was in a fever of excitement lest the Hilda should sail without us. Malcolm, with that supreme55 lack of tact47 so characteristic of him, explained what a ticklish56 business it was getting out of Sheerness Harbour under sail with the wind in its present quarter. He thought that in all probability the auxiliary57 motor had broken down, and that the Hilda would have to depend upon canvas to get out, in which case she must have sailed half-an-hour before.
When we eventually drew into the station, out of the train, down the platform, through the gates, into the street, sped Malcolm, and we, like "panting time toiled58 after him in vain." He waved his umbrella to us to hurry, not knowing that Dora has a deplorably short wind. On he tore, and finally disappeared through the pier-gates without, as we afterwards found, paying his toll59, a privilege he had generously delegated to us. When we in turn passed through the gates, it was to find Malcolm hysterically60 waving his umbrella, apparently62 at the Medway guardship. Suddenly the truth dawned upon us, the Hilda had sailed. Probably Carruthers had not received the telegram.
Arrived at the pierhead we saw the Hilda off the Isle63 of Grain, two miles distant, slowly slipping out of the Medway against the tide with the aid of her auxiliary motor. The sight was one of the most depressing that I have ever experienced. We looked at each other blankly.
"It's the cup of Tantalus," I murmured, with classical resignation.
"It's that damned auxiliary motor," muttered the practical Malcolm.
"Commong faire?" enquired Dora, who is inclined occasionally to lapse64 into French on the strength of her figure. "Commong faire?"
"Noo verrong," replied Malcolm in what he conceives to be the Gallic tongue.
I made no remark, but with Sallie stood idly watching a steam-pinnace approaching the pier-head from the Medway guardship that lay moored65 directly opposite.
"I know!" Sallie suddenly said, and I knew that she really did know. There are moments when I am at a loss to understand why I do not run away with Sallie and marry her in spite of herself, merely as a speculative66 investment. She is exquisitely67 ornamental68, and her utility equals her ?sthetic qualities; more would be impossible.
At Sallie's exclamation69 Dora and Malcolm drew towards us.
"Tell me the name of an admiral," Sallie cried, her large, grey eyes diverted from epic70 contemplation of the universe to a lyric71 mischievousness72. "I want an admiral."
"Try a lieutenant73 to begin with," Malcolm suggested, and was withered74.
"An admiral," said Dora. "Nelson; he was an admiral, wasn't——?"
"Van Tromp, Blake, Benbow, Villeneuve, Collingwood, St. Vincent, Cochrane——" glibly75 responded Malcolm.
As the responses were uttered at the same time, Sallie probably heard little of what was said. Suddenly becoming very calm, she addressed herself to Malcolm.
"I want to know the name of an English admiral of the present day. Are there any?"
"Plenty," responded Malcolm. "Crosstrees (I dare not give the real name), First Sea Lord, May, Meux, Jellicoe, Beresford, Scott, Beatty."
"Is Admiral Crosstrees married?" queried Sallie calmly. "Has he grown-up daughters? Is he old?"
"Any First Sea Lord who has not grown-up daughters has evaded76 his responsibilities as an officer and a gentleman," I remarked.
Suddenly Sallie took command. Motioning us back, she went to the extreme end of the pier and looked down. A moment later, the white top of a naval77 cap appeared above the edge, followed by a fair face and five feet six of a sub-lieutenant. Sallie addressed herself to him, and, taking advantage of his obvious confusion, said: "Will you please take us out to that yacht," pointing to the Hilda. "She has gone without us, and——well, we want to get on board."
When the sub. had recovered from Sallie's smile and her carnation78 tint79, he stammered80 his regret.
"I'm most awfully sorry; but I'm here to take liberty men aboard. I'm, I'm, afraid I can't, otherwise I would with er—er—er——"
"What are liberty men?" questioned Sallie, looking at him with grey-eyed gravity.
"Men who have been ashore81 on leave," was the response.
"Can you signal to that?" asked Sallie with guile82, nodding at the guardship.
"I beg pardon," replied the bewildered sub, fast breaking up beneath Sallie's gaze.
"Does the captain know the First Sea Lord, Admiral Crosstrees?"
"I—I don't know," he replied, "I——"
"I am Miss Crosstrees. Will you please tell me who you are. I should like to know, because you are the first officer I have met who has been discourteous83 to me. I will not trouble you further," and she moved away like an outraged84 Mrs. Siddons.
"I—I'm awfully sorry, Miss Crosstrees. I didn't know——of course——if you can get down. I will most certainly——" He collapsed85 into confused silence.
"You will take us then?" Sallie questioned, approaching two steps nearer to him.
"Certainly: but er—er—can you—er?"
Sallie looked down. A perpendicular86 iron ladder led down to the pinnace some thirty feet below. It was not pleasant for a woman.
"Will you go down and—and——" faltered87 Sallie. He was a nice youth, who understood and disappeared, I after him. Then came Sallie, easily and naturally as if accustomed to such ladders all her life. Dora followed, almost hysterical61 with fear, and finally came Malcolm, with his umbrella and the valise in one hand and his sketch-book between his teeth. I could see the men were impressed with his performance.
I did not at all like the adventure. It might end very unpleasantly for some of us, and the "some," I knew, would be Malcolm and me. I was by no means reassured88 when I saw that the sub. was steering89 the pinnace directly for the guardship. Did he suspect? I racked my brains to try and recollect90 if the First Sea Lord were married, if he had a family, if——. It was as if from far away that I heard the sub, hailing the guardship through a megaphone.
"Admiral Crosstrees' daughter wishes to be put aboard that yacht, sir. Am I——"
"Certainly," came the reply, as the officer of the watch came to the side and saluted91. Hands bobbed up from everywhere, and it seemed as if a dead ship had suddenly been galvanised into life. Sallie's bow and smile were much appreciated, every man taking it unto himself. That is Sallie's way. She can slay92 a regiment93 or a ship's company with a glance, whilst another woman is exhausting herself in trying to enlist94 the interest of a stockbroker95.
Out we rushed after the Hilda. Sallie, now that she had gained her point, became absorbed in contemplating96 the Isle of Grain, and watching the white wake of the pinnace. Occasionally a slight, half-sad, half-contemplative smile would flit across her features. She had forgotten everything—yachts, pinnaces, subs, and was just alone with the things that mattered, the sea, the sky, and the green fields.
Dora chatted with the sub., whose eyes repeatedly wandered to where Sallie was standing53 quite oblivious97 to his presence. Malcolm was in deep converse98 with one of the crew, whilst I watched the others, especially Sallie. I find it difficult to keep my eyes off Sallie when she is within their range. She is an interesting study for a man with the chilled physique of a St. Anthony; for the rest of us she is a maddening problem.
The Hilda was labouring dully, heavily through the broken water, whilst we raced, bobbed, jumped and tore after her.
Malcolm hailed her through the megaphone, and there came back in Carruthers' drawling voice:
"Awfully glad you've come!"
The bowman brought the pinnace dexterously99 under the Hilda's port quarter, and Sallie clutched at the yacht's shrouds100 and sprang aboard. The sub. watched her with frank admiration101. Sallie does everything in the open most thoroughly102 well. I have seen her fall flat on her face at the winning-post in her determination not to be beaten by a longer-legged and swifter opponent. How truly admirable she was, struck us all very vividly103 as we strove to hoist104, pull, and push Dora, aboard. In spite of its ?sthetic glory, Dora's figure possesses very obvious limitations in the matter of surmounting105 obstacles.
Immediately she was on board, Sallie went up to Carruthers and gravely shook hands (Sallie hates being kissed, I speak from careful observation), and drew him aside.
"Jack, until that steam launch is out of sight I'm Miss Crosstrees, daughter of the First Sea Lord. Don't let any of the crew give me away."
"Or the guardship will sink us," I added.
Carruthers looked puzzled, but with a cheery, "all right, Sallie, my bonnie," he went to the side to thank the sub. Carruthers would cheerfully imperil his immortal106 soul for Sallie. The sub. was brought aboard, and we all drank to the eyes that are brightest, in 1900 Champagne107, I have forgotten the brand. The sub. was very obvious, and we all guessed the eyes he pledged—all save Sallie.
As the sub. stood at the side preparatory to descending108 into the pinnace, Sallie held out her hand, which he took as if it had been some saintly relic109.
"I shall always remember your kindness, Mr. ——" (I dare not give his name for fear of the Admiralty censuring110 him). Then with an arch look added, "I shall tell my father." And the pinnace that had brought a sub. went away with a potential Sea Lord. When the pinnace was about a hundred yards off Dora waved her handkerchief. "Why is it that Dora does these things?" I saw the mute question in Sallie's eyes. The men would have cheered had they dared.
"Carruthers," I remarked as the pinnace sped away from us, "will you put me ashore at once?"
"Why, old man?" he questioned blankly.
"Your most excellent sister," I retorted, "has been posing as the daughter of the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, without even knowing if he be married or no. I call it disgraceful, and it is likely to produce a pained feeling in Whitehall when it becomes known. That sub. is bound to write to the Admiralty and demand the command of a Super-Dreadnought for his services. I demand to be put ashore at once."
When Carruthers had heard the story he laughed loud and long, and, putting his arm round Sallie, proclaimed hers the best brain in the family.
The log of the Medway guardship would persist in obtruding112 itself upon my vision. There would be an entry relating to the First Sea Lord's daughter and the service rendered her. The wretched business haunted me. I sought out "Who's Who"; but that gave me no assistance. If the First Sea Lord had a daughter, it might be all right; but if he had not? However, there was nothing to be done but to try to enjoy the trip, and forget the Admiralty.
The Hilda is a 200-ton barge-rigged, sailing yacht, possessed113 of an auxiliary motor; a boon114 to the wind or tide-bound yachtsman. Some men affect to despise the aid of a motor, but Carruthers argues that a mariner115 is not less a mariner because he harnesses to his needs an explosive-engine and a propeller116.
Once aboard the Hilda I felt that our adventures were ended. It was perfect weather for idling. The previous day's rain had cleared the heavens of all but a few filmy clouds. There was a good sailing breeze, and the Hilda bent117 gravely over as she cut through the water on her way seawards. Malcolm was for'ard, lying on his back looking aloft at the swelling118 canvas. There is no sight so grand or pleasing to a yachtsman's eye as that obtained from this position, and Malcolm knows it. Carruthers was at the helm flirting119 outrageously120 with Dora. Sallie was talking with old Jones, the bo'sun and mate, about his latest grandson.
The crew of the Hilda are to a man devoted121 to Sallie. Tidings that she is to be one of a cruising party means much and self-imposed extra labour, both as regards the Hilda herself and her crew. Everything and everybody are smartened up, and Vincent, the cook, ages perceptibly under the strain of thinking out a menu that shall tempt122 Sallie to eat. His brow never clears until Sallie has paid him the customary visit of ceremony, which to him is more in the nature of a religious rite111.
"Chef"; (she always called him "chef") "it was delicious! Thank you very much indeed," Sallie would say with a grave and gracious smile befitting so great an occasion, a happy, boyish look would spread itself over Vincent's sombre features, and the crew would know that there was to be some dainty at their next meal; for Vincent, when happy, which was extremely seldom, radiated good-will and distributed his largess with unstinting hand.
There is no ecstasy123 like that of idleness, and no idleness to compare with that felt upon a yacht running before a breeze. Yesterday's troubles are wiped out, and to-morrow's anxieties seem too far off for serious consideration. I was standing musing124 upon the beauty of the day, watching the Hilda's track which seemed to trail off into infinity125, when I became conscious that the little streak126 of grey smoke that I had been gazing at for some time came from the funnels127 of a destroyer, which was evidently being pushed. She was fetching us back to her at a rare pace, and was obviously heading our way. For some minutes I continued idly to watch her. Suddenly the old misgiving128 assailed129 me.
Sallie's deception130 had been discovered, and the irate131 captain of the guardship had sent to demand an explanation. I strolled over to Carruthers and told him my fears. He grinned with obvious enjoyment132. Carruthers is imperturbable133. He looked over his shoulder at the destroyer. After a time he called to Sallie, who was sitting amidships, musing.
"They're coming to fetch you, Sallie," he said cheerfully, and then explained his fears. "Shall we fight for you, my girl, or calmly give you up?"
Sallie clapped her hands with glee. To be chased by a warship134 was a novelty she enjoyed to its fullest extent.
"Will they fire, do you think?" she enquired of Malcolm, trembling with eagerness.
"They'll probably megaphone us to come up into the wind," responded the practical Malcolm.
Sallie's face fell. I really believe she half hoped that the destroyer would endeavour to sink the Hilda. By this time everyone aboard had become conscious that something unusual was happening. The crew stood grouped amidships, talking in undertones and casting side-glances at our little party standing round the wheel. It was now apparent to all that we were the destroyer's objective. On she came like a mad thing, her grey snout tearing at the waters and throwing them over her humped-up shoulders. She looked like some wicked gnome135 bent on the ruin of the inoffensive Hilda. Sallie's eyes danced with glee. She had never seen anything so magnificent as this sinister136 creature that came bounding towards us. We all watched breathlessly. Presently a crisp, metallic137 voice sounded through the megaphone:
"Yacht ahoy! we want to board you."
A few sharp words from Carruthers and we flew hither and thither138, and soon the Hilda with mains'l and tops'l brailed came up into the wind. It was all quietly and prettily139 done, and our nimbleness much impressed the destroyer's crew, as we afterwards learned.
The destroyer was soon beside us. We expected another megaphone message; but no, they were lowering a boat. Dora became anxious and asked, could we not hide Sallie? Nothing short of extreme physical force could have hidden Sallie at that moment.
The destroyer's boat was soon under our lee, and an officer with the stripes of a lieutenant-commander sprang aboard and saluted Dora and Sallie. The Hilda's crew stood gazing at us in undisguised amazement140. What was going to happen?
Sallie stepped forward.
The officer looked round as if seeking someone.
"Can I speak to Miss Crosstrees?" he enquired, looking from one to the other.
"I am Miss Crosstrees," said Sallie stepping forward.
A look of bewilderment spread itself over the young man's face. Then, as if with sudden inspiration, he plunged141 his hand into his waistcoat pocket and withdrew a small gold pencil case and held it out to Sallie.
"I think you dropped this in the pinnace. The captain of the guardship—er—er—sent me after you with it." The poor fellow seemed covered with confusion.
"Thank you," Sallie said, as she looked up at him with great, grave, but smiling eyes and with that damnable demureness142 that sends men mad about her, "but it isn't mine. I didn't drop anything in the launch. Thank you so much," she smiled. "It is so kind of Captain ——. Will you thank him for taking so much trouble?" Then after a moment's pause she added, "No; I will write," and beckoning143 me to follow she descended144 to the cabin, where she wrote two blazing indiscretions, one to the Captain of the guardship and the other to the sublieutenant who had taken us off to the Hilda. I strove to prevent her: I remonstrated145, I expostulated, I implored146; but to no purpose. All I was there for, it appeared, was to tell her that a launch was not a pinnace, to post her as to other technicalities and to do the spelling. When we returned on deck the L.-C. was drinking champagne, whilst the crew of the destroyer's boat drank a mute toast in grog. In their pockets they had already stowed away a handful of Carruthers' cigars.
With much goodwill147 the boat put off, was hoisted148 aboard the destroyer, which swung round and, with a valedictory149 moan from her syren, darted150 off home again bearing important despatches from Sallie to the Captain of the Medway guardship and one of his junior officers.
"What did you say in that note?" I enquired of Sallie, visions of a prosecution151 for forgery152 flitting through my mind.
"Oh, I just thanked him," said Sallie nonchalantly; but I saw by the dancing lights in her eyes that there was something else.
"And——?" I interrogated153.
"Oh! I told him the truth and asked him to come to tea and bring that nice boy who had helped us."
"Sallie," I remarked severely, "captains of battleships do not generally take their junior officers out to tea."
But Sallie only smiled.
Later the cause of the young officer's confusion was explained in a letter he wrote to Sallie. He was engaged to Miss Crosstrees.
There was an unusual silence at the conclusion of the story, unbroken even by Bindle's mallet154. Bindle insisted on a mallet upon being elected as chairman. It was obvious that Sallie had cast her spell over the Night Club.
"I'd a-liked to 'ave been one o' them officers. A real sport 'im wot didn't give 'er away," remarked Bindle at length meditatively. Then turning to me he enquired:
"Don't yer think, sir, we ought to sort o' revise them rules about ladies? We didn't ought to be narrow-minded."
"He's got Sallyitis," laughed Carruthers.
"Yes, I got it bad, sir," flashed Bindle, "an' I want a smile from 'er wot give it to me."
"What about your views on hens?" enquired Dare.
"Well, sir," replied Bindle with quiet self-possession, "a single little 'en won't do us any 'arm."
And that is how it came about that Sallie Carruthers was unanimously elected a member of the Night Club.
I doubt if anything ever gave Sallie greater pleasure than this tribute, particularly as she was always treated as one of ourselves, except by Angell Herald155, who could never forget that he was something of a "ladies' man."
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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rebuking
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的现在分词 ) | |
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5
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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6
omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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7
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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8
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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9
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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10
carmine
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| n.深红色，洋红色 | |
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11
annihilate
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| v.使无效；毁灭；取消 | |
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12
intoxicate
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| vt.使喝醉，使陶醉，使欣喜若狂 | |
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13
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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14
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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15
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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16
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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17
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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18
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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19
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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20
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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21
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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22
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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23
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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24
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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25
pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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26
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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27
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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28
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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30
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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31
cod
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| n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗 | |
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32
trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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33
modish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的 | |
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34
meditatively
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| adv.冥想地 | |
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35
prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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36
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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37
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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38
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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39
slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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40
pigments
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| n.（粉状）颜料( pigment的名词复数 )；天然色素 | |
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41
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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42
forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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43
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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44
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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45
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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46
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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47
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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48
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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49
demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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50
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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51
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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52
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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53
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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54
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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55
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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56
ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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57
auxiliary
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| adj.辅助的，备用的 | |
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58
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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59
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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60
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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61
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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62
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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63
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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64
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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65
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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66
speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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67
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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68
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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69
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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70
epic
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| n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的 | |
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71
lyric
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| n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的 | |
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72
mischievousness
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| 恶作剧 | |
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73
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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74
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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75
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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76
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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77
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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78
carnation
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| n.康乃馨（一种花） | |
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79
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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80
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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82
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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83
discourteous
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| adj.不恭的，不敬的 | |
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84
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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85
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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86
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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87
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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88
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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89
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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90
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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91
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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92
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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93
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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94
enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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95
stockbroker
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| n.股票（或证券），经纪人（或机构） | |
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96
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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97
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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98
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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99
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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100
shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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101
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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102
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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103
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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104
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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105
surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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106
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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107
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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108
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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109
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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110
censuring
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的现在分词 ) | |
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111
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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112
obtruding
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| v.强行向前，强行，强迫( obtrude的现在分词 ) | |
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113
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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114
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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115
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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116
propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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117
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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118
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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119
flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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120
outrageously
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| 凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地 | |
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121
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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122
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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123
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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124
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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125
infinity
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| n.无限，无穷，大量 | |
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126
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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127
funnels
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| 漏斗( funnel的名词复数 )； （轮船，火车等的）烟囱 | |
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128
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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129
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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130
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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131
irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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132
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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133
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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134
warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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135
gnome
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| n.土地神；侏儒，地精 | |
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136
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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138
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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139
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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140
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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141
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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142
demureness
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| n.demure（拘谨的，端庄的）的变形 | |
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143
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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144
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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145
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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146
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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148
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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149
valedictory
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| adj.告别的；n.告别演说 | |
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150
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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151
prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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152
forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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153
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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154
mallet
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| n.槌棒 | |
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155
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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