The acting3 boatswain was delighted to hear that a lady was coming on board, thinking Captain Tortle would, under such circumstances, abstain4 from inflicting5 any severe punishment upon his crew, and he knew her presence would in many ways ameliorate the condition of the men. He also had some curiosity to see what sort of person the servant was; for it must be confessed that although Jerry had not forgotten A-tae, he was beginning to yearn6 after another affinity7. We do not wish to imply by this that he desired to slight Mary Ann, although probably he did not feel particularly anxious to meet her. He knew that he had promised to make her his wife upon his return, so, thinking that without doubt she had waited for him, he was determined9 to keep his word; but he somewhat resented what he called her silence, never imagining it resulted from his own inattention, and objected to her having written to him in poetry, "as if she couldn't write him a letter, instead of sending that stuff." It was in this spirit he anticipated the arrival of the female servant, and he determined to enjoy his freedom while he could, thinking that once Mary Ann was Mrs. Thompson all such luxuries as affinities10 would be simply out of the question. Jerry was fast returning to his former general devotion to the fair sex, and, as Clare observed, "would require a deal of looking arter for the future."
About nine o'clock on the morning of departure, Captain Tortle proceeded on shore to fetch the party, and it being rather a boisterous11 day, the lady was afraid to venture in the gig, so the captain politely brought her off in the pinnace, a boatswain's chair being slung12 from the main yard, in which she was safely lifted on board without having to climb the gangway ladder.
Mr. Thompson was standing13 by the starboard companion when the boat arrived alongside, and although on the sick-list, he gave an eye to the rigging of the chair. Everything being adjusted, and the lady comfortably lashed14 in the apparatus15, a boatswain's mate piped "hoist16 away," and in a few moments the chair rose from the pinnace, freighted with a lady in whose lap was seated a most beautiful little girl, who, instead of betraying fear at her novel position, laughed and kicked her feet about, only seeming concerned when she found herself safely landed upon the deck. The lady being released from the chair, it was again hoisted17 up and lowered into the boat alongside, from which it once more emerged, bearing a smart-looking French bonne, who was tightly clutching a blue-eyed baby; and although the latter did not cry, it evidently anything but enjoyed the hoisting19 process.
Mademoiselle Adèle, glanced timidly down upon the deck, and seeing Mr. Thompson with his arm in a sling20, naturally supposed he was "un brave," and determined to captivate his heart, thinking how nice it would be to recline her head upon his manly22 bosom23, and how all her friends would envy her the possession of "un officier de marine24;"[Pg 205] but the young woman's thoughts were brought to a somewhat abrupt25 conclusion by the men at the fall slacking away too rapidly, and Adèle landed upon the deck with something very like a bump, which for a moment knocked all the romance out of her, and caused her charge to scream in energetic protest.
As the bonne was being released from the chair, her employer, Major Barron, walked over the gangway, followed by Captain Tortle, who went aft and welcomed the lady to his ship; and in a few moments they were all below, praising the accommodation, and thanking their relation for his kindness in giving up so much of his cabin for their comfort. The major had been out in Africa for some years, but, having lately inherited a large estate in Kent, was returning to live upon his property, as a country gentleman should. He had delayed his departure from Simon's Town, knowing that his cousin, Captain Tortle, would touch there in the Stinger on his way home from China, and under the circumstances the admiral had politely given him special permission to embark on board his relative's ship.
Mrs. Barron was a gentle being, thoroughly26 devoted27 to her husband and children, and beloved by all who knew her, while her eldest28 daughter, a little darling between three and four years of age, requires something more than a brief description. A most graceful29 child was Miss Barbara, with a dazzling complexion30, which presented a charming contrast to her dark expressive31 eyes; the latter seeming to search into yours with mischievous32 intent, and to win your affection at a glance. Her dimpled cheeks, tinged33 with the healthy glow of childhood, were the admiration34 of every one who beheld35 her; while her pretty rosebud36 of a mouth was ever ready to pout37 in pretended seriousness, or arrange itself for the receipt of a kiss. These charms, crowned as they were by a mass of fair curly hair, in connection with a naturally naive38 manner, made this baby a being to be loved, and petted; and all the officers and crew were, upon beholding39 her, immediately converted into ardent40 admirers.
Having surveyed their new quarters, the major and his wife returned to the quarter-deck, and amused themselves by watching the arrival of their baggage. Mrs. Barron seated herself upon a chair brought up for her use, and took her youngest daughter in her lap, in order that Adèle, the bonne, might be free to direct which packages were required to be placed in the cabin, while Miss Barbara begged leave to be allowed to talk with Mr. Thompson, whom she termed, in her own charmingly-original language, "the man with the curly eye." As Jerry smiled upon her, and watched her every movement in a most admiring manner, Mrs. Barron gave the required permission, and the child walked half-way towards him, pretended to look shyly upon the deck, raised her bright eyes, lowered them again,—then, with a merry little laugh, rushed to the acting boatswain, who had knelt to receive her, and throwing her arms round his neck, hugged him as if he had been an old friend.
As the baggage was being moved about the deck, and it was possible the child might get in the way, Thompson took her upon his left arm and walked over to the port side, where he seated himself upon a shot-box. Having slid down upon his knee, the little pet carefully smoothed her ruffled43 garments; then, with a mingled44 expression of delight and coquetry, looked up in his face, and said, "How do you do, sir?"
"Werry well, thankee, miss. Why, you're as pretty as a pictur. What's your name, missy?"
The artful little monkey knew she had made an impression, so she bashfully inclined her head, and murmured "Cops."
"Cops, you beauty! Why, that ain't a name, is it?"
"No," exclaimed the cherub45, shaking her head, as if to say, "Now, don't you want to know all about me?"
[Pg 206]
"It's a purser's name, ain't it pretty?"
"No," continued the wide-awake one, not exactly knowing the meaning of the word, yet almost guessing its import. "I call my-self Cops."
"Do you, beauty? Well, any name is nice that you are called by. But what is your regular name?"
"Barbara Barron," demurely46 whispered the infant, playing with Mr. Thompson's gold chain as she spoke47. "My name is Barbara Barron, but I call my-self Cops."
"You're the prettiest darling I ever saw," declared her admirer. "You're as beautiful as a fairy. I'll do anything for you."
At this moment her papa came on deck, and seeing her seated upon Mr. Thompson's knee, pointed48 her out to the captain, observing, "There's Barbara captivating the boatswain; oh, that baby, never happy but when receiving attention from the other sex." But Tortle, who considered children rather a bore, merely observed that the boatswain would take good care of her, and took no further notice of the little darling.
Seeing her father, the young lady inquired if her parrot had come on board, upon which Thompson asked her what the bird was like.
Cops looked at him with a very serious air, as if about to impart a fearful secret, then taking his whiskers she tied them under his chin, untied49 them again, gazed earnestly into his eyes, and replied, "Ye-es. It's a grey one, with square blue eyes, pink nose, green feet, yellow tail, and gold ear-rings;" and added, her bright eyes extending with animation50, "It will bite you off if you are a naughty boy, mamma says so."
"Will it, miss? Now don't say so. I'll be a werry good boy, and then it will leave me alone. But where are you going to keep it?"
"I don't know," helplessly replied his enchantress. "Won't you keep it in your house, and let it live with you, and I'll come and see it?"
The bird was just then brought over the side, and Cops pointed it out to her friend.
"Is that your polly, darling?"
"Ye-es. Oh, don't he shiver? he's ill."
Thompson advanced, and told the sailor who was carrying it forward to take it down to his cabin, where, much to Miss Barbara's delight, it was duly installed in a place of honour just over the acting warrant-officer's table, from which elevated position it could throw its food and flirt51 its water over his head and down his neck as he sat at meals; but what cared he for that? to please such a child he would willingly have roomed with an alligator52.
When the bird had been fed and received its instructions from its mistress, Cops ordered her slave to carry her up stairs, which he accordingly did in a most submissive manner: and upon their reaching the top of the ladder, were accosted53 by the bonne, who had evidently been searching for the child, and was somewhat out of temper.
"Oh, mon Dieu! Mademoiselle que vous êtes nottey!"
"No, she ain't naughty," replied Jerry, who was exceedingly indignant at the charge. "She's as good as gold."
"Eff you zay zo, sare, I it belief!" exclaimed the bonne, darting54 a look of unmistakable admiration at the last speaker. "You are trop good not to say vat21 is not ze trof;" saying which she bade the child kiss her hand to her good friend, and darting another killing56 glance at the acting boatswain, seized Miss Cops, said, "Good-bye, sare," upon her own account, and disappeared below with her charge.
"Oh," mused41 Jerry, "that's it, is it, Miss Polly-wo-frunkzay? Well, I can't make love to you before such a beautiful angel as that baby is; besides, I don't think it's right. Being an engaged man, it ain't correct for me to make love to French gals57." It will be[Pg 207] seen by this that Mr. Thompson changed his ideas, as some do their political opinions, to suit the circumstances of the case.
By noon, everything being quite ready, the Stinger saluted58 the admiral's flag, and, having steamed through False Bay, made sail for home, all bidding adieu to Africa without the slightest regret.
About five o'clock that evening the ship was bowling59 along under close-reefed topsails, and Mrs. Barron and Adèle were both confined to their cabins by sea-sickness, thus giving Miss Cops an opportunity of visiting her new friend, which probably she would not otherwise have enjoyed. Before she left the cabin the child fished out a toy-basket which she had brought on board in her hand, and after giving it a good shake, to ascertain60 if its contents were safe, she knocked at the outer door of the cabin until the sentry61 heard her and let her out; then she proceeded into the steerage; and presented herself at the door of the acting boatswain's cabin, which she found closed.
Mr. Thompson had invited his friend Clare to tea with him; and when Barbara arrived at the door they were busily discussing the merits of a tin of sardines62, termed by them "Sardinians," and Jerry was in the midst of an explanation, when they heard a knock at the door, upon which Tom laid his hand upon his friend's sleeve, and said, "Hush63! there's some one calling Jerry."
"I expect it's little Cops," replied Thompson, picking out a grain of Indian-corn which had just been dropped into the sardines by the parrot.
"Jer-ry!" again exclaimed the impatient child, who, now hearing her friend's voice, applied64 her boots to the pannel right vigorously, "I want to come in."
Thompson laid down his fork, slid the door back, and beheld his little friend, who, without more ceremony, walked into the cabin, climbed upon his knee, and, pointing to Clare, asked "if he were his father?"
"No, Miss, he's my chum."
"I'm his old friend, Miss, and has got a little boy about your age," observed Tom, who had seen the child before.
Barbara pretended not to care about Clare's boy, yet asked a dozen questions concerning him; the fact was, Cop had a weakness for boys, whom she considered as being specially65 created for her amusement. So well known was she at the Cape66, that none of her young gentlemen friends would submit to her tyrannical friendship, she regarding them as slaves, who were to be petted or slapped as the whim67 of the moment prompted her, a course of treatment many of her older friends submitted to with great equanimity68.
After partaking of some biscuit and sardines, the child produced her basket, and begging her friends not to tell any one about it, opened the lid, when out tumbled a much-ruffled monkey, seeing which Barbara laughed and clapped her hands, whereupon the animal sat up, stretched out one leg, scratched itself, and looked up at the beams, and when the attention of those present was attracted in that direction, quietly put his hind69 leg in the basin near him, and grasped a lump of sugar, which he deftly70 conveyed to his mouth, unobserved by any one but the child, who was perfectly71 frantic72 with delight over his achievement.
When her merriment had somewhat abated73, Cops, with wide-open eyes and expressive action of forefinger74, solemnly enjoined75 her friends not to tell "no one" about her monkey, as papa and mamma thought she had left it behind her.
"Is it such a dreadful secret, that the monkey can't go on deck?" observed Tom, who began to think his friend had enough live stock in his cabin, his hair being by that time pretty well decorated with rejected Indian corn rinds. "Don't you think it would be better to let him live in the pinnace, miss?"
[Pg 208]
"No," gravely replied the child, "it mustn't live not nowhere but here, or he'll die, and the blume mouse will come for you."
Barbara believed in a highly-decorative lot of bogeys76, but was, while constantly threatening others with their visits, herself perfectly indifferent to them. Jerry listened to the child with rapt attention, and pretended to credit every word she uttered; seeing which Cops enlarged upon the blue rodent77 question until Clare began to imagine she was slightly touched in the brain, he never having before met with an infant who possessed78 such wonderful imaginative power.
"Is she all right there?" observed Tom, touching79 the back of her curly hair with his forefinger.
"Right! I should rather say she is," replied her champion. "Why, she's as smart as lightning; and what you think is nonsense is real downright cleverness, a deal beyond the understanding of you and I. Why, she can speak French; can't you, pretty?"
"Oui monsieur," archly replied the young lady.
By this time the monkey began to revive, the sugar which it had freely purloined80 having acted us a powerful restorative; and when the child declared she must go, it leaped upon her shoulder, and snicking its sharp little teeth, offered a determined resistance; whereupon Clare cleverly manufactured a leathern belt, which he fastened round the animal's waist, and having secured it with the chain of Thompson's old call, he drove a nail in a beam; then taking the wriggling81 creature from the child's shoulder, deposited it upon a shelf where Jerry usually kept his books and other treasures.
As the monkey landed overhead, the marine sentry on duty before the door of the captain's cabin left his post and walked forward, being directed by Tortle "to find out that child and to bring her aft;" and hearing her voice in the boatswain's cabin, he put his head inside the door and told Cops "that her mar8 wanted her," upon which the pretty creature kissed Mr. Thompson, blew a similar favour to Clare and the monkey, and having heard her parrot say "Good-night," trotted82 aft, and was soon afterwards undressed by the drowsy83 Adèle, who was half-dead with sea-sickness.
After they had been at sea a few days the weather moderated, and the remainder of the voyage was remarkable84 for its uniformly fine weather. Miss Adèle recovered from her sea-sickness and managed to get about; and the midshipmen took every opportunity of improving their knowledge of the French language by conversing85 with her. Now, although this flattered the bonne exceedingly, still it was not the attention she wanted; and the sprightly86 girl was somewhat chagrined87 by her failure in regard to Mr. Thompson, who avoided her in every possible manner. At last, one afternoon, when the men were at cutlass-drill upon the quarter-deck, Miss Adèle sauntered forward to the acting boatswain's cabin, and seeing him engaged in examining a pair of trousers, boldly advanced, and addressed him.
"Monsieur Thompe-sonne, how you do you do to-day?"
Jerry whistled softly, and pretended not to hear her, upon which she stood in his light, and, smiling on him, repeated the question.
"Ah! how-de-do, may-dam-moselle?"
"Monsieur Thompe-sonne, will you please be so kind as to tell me vare my malle—my tronke is?"
Jerry looked at his garment, then glanced at the speaker, as much as to imply that he thought her very bold to speak to him when he was engaged in such a business; and, touching his injured arm, informed her that he was on the sick-list.
"Oh, are you sicke, poor theeng? I am varrai sorry. Vill you allow me to attend to you? I vill soon your arm make vell."
[Pg 209]
Jerry got up, meditating88 a bolt forward, but the bonne was too clever for him; as upon his rising she placed a hand upon each side of the door, and looking at him in a most affectionate manner, softly repeated, "I am varrai sorry."
Adèle was dressed in a most killing costume, and the effect of her speaking grey eyes upon his susceptible89 heart resembled that of the sun upon ice; so Jerry stuffed the garment he was holding into his chest, and, approaching her politely, yet half reluctantly, begged she would withdraw, observing that ladies wern't allowed forward.
Seeing that he feared she would get herself in trouble with her mistress, the bonne altered her tactics, and with a sweet smile declared she had no intention of entering his cabin, but that all she required was the loan of a chair; upon hearing which Mr. Thompson lifted out the best one he possessed, and having dusted it, motioned her to take it, after which he retired91 to his den18.
Miss Adèle took out some knitting, and placing the chair exactly opposite the acting boatswain's cabin, worked away like a machine, much to the admiration of a group of marines, who were watching her proceedings92 with the greatest attention. The bonne did not lack admirers, as she well knew; but the man she almost worshipped, "the charming Monsieur Thompesonne," was unkind to her.
Finding she meant to blockade him, Jerry turned his attention to cleaning the animals, when the quick eye of the French girl discovered the monkey, and she determined to thaw93 her cold idol94 by threatening him with exposing the child's secret; so she started, and exclaimed with an affected95 little scream, "Oh, Monsieur Thompe-sonne! vare deed you get zat monquai?"
"It's mine, miss; I've had it a long time," he coolly replied.
Adèle got up, walked to the cabin door, surveyed the animal with a slightly contemptuous air, and observed, "Zat is Meece Barbe's monquai."
"Oh no, it ain't; it ain't the little gal's; it's mine."
"Oh no. Monsieur, I know zat monquai; it my fingare bited too many times. Her papa zay it vas to be kill, but one leetle niggare boy he zave it, and now meece hide it here—I must tell her papa of it."
"For goodness' sake, don't do that!" whispered the fellow, quite forgetting in his anxiety to shield his favourite from trouble, that probably her papa only deprived his child of her plaything because he thought it could not be accommodated on board. "Oh, please don't tell on the pretty baby."
Adèle walked into the cabin, gazed almost fiercely in his face, and exclaimed, "Vy should I hold my tongue? you do not care for me. Vy should I do so for zo meece?"
"Phew!" whistled Jerry, seeing in a moment what the girl meant. "Why, my dear may-dam-mosselle, I'll do anything to please you, if you won't split about the monkey."
"I do not vant to spleet ze monquai—mais I vant ze leetle politeness from yourself, Monsieur Thompe-sonne. Do you like me? No! Ees it zat I am zo uglee donc!"
"Lord bless you, miss, I'm in a perfect fever about you. But please get out of my cabin, the engineers are a-looking over here, and making fun of us."
"Pah! what you care for zengeneers! If zey laugh, you can blow zem viz ze boxe; you are brave. Vous êtes un vrai Hercule!"
"Anything you like, miss, if you'll only get out of my cabin."
"Monsieur Thompe-sonne," cried the girl, now thoroughly roused, and indifferent to any consequences to herself or the man she admired, "Ger-rrr-ai, do you lofe me?"
"Lord bless you, miss, I adore you; but do, if you please, get out of my cabin."
[Pg 210]
After much persuasion96 she finally left his presence, but not until she had extorted97 from him the word "yes," in reply to her inquiry98, "Do you lofe me?" It appeared that she had, from some French novel, taken the idea that all the English law required was the repeating of the word "yes" on the part of the man; evidently the author must have taken a passage from the marriage service and introduced it in his story as "a manner and custom of the John Boule," as after Jerry had said that word she became as submissive as a slave, and that evening told her mistress, in great confidence, "zat she was going to be married to ze brave Monsieur Thompe-sonne as soon as zey arrived."
As the time passed Miss Barbara became known to all the crew, and it was a sight that would have moved a misanthrope99 to see the pretty infant tyrannizing over the men in her tiny way. As to Thompson, he was her slave, and poured out the choicest treasures he possessed for her amusement, it being nothing uncommon100 to see Cops sitting upon the image of the God Buddha101, and nursing the God Fo, whom she called "a nice fat little boy," while an admiring crowd of sailors watched her footsteps, and removed every rope yarn102 from her path whenever she honoured them by extending her promenade103 round the forecastle.
Jerry was exceedingly particular how he treated the bonne; in fact, upon all occasions he what the Irish term "blarnied" her, in order that she might keep Miss Cop's secret; while she, imagining he was lawfully104 engaged to marry her according to English custom, gave him a little latitude105, and overlooked many small offences which otherwise she would have resented.
"Upon my word, you get more beautiful every day," he observed to Adèle one morning when she brought Cops forward to feed her bird. "I wonder how it is you haven't got married before this?"
"Oh, cher Ger-r-r-r-ai, I vait for you. I know alway zat you live some-me-ware in ze world."
"Did you, miss? Ah! I see. You're one of them what's-his-names wot believe in having another of the opposite sex always a cruising about in search of them. I've never come across one of your speecee before. How do you like it?"
"Oh, I lof you, Ger-r-r-r-ai, and vot do I vant more?" replied the girl, darting a sentimental106 glance at him over her shoulder as she walked away.
"A deal that you won't get, I reckon," quietly observed the acting warrant-officer, as he watched her across the steerage. "I'll keep on at this game until you lands, and then adoo to polly-woo-frunkse; there's too much of the rile tiger about your style to suit me."
One afternoon, as the ship was running as upright as a dart55, Cops was permitted to go forward as far as the booms, and of course was attended by her friend; and as this was to be his last day on the list, he had devoted nearly the whole of it to the child. After telling her some marvellous stories, which the clever "dot" perfectly understood, he told her what the guns said at Canton, and invented a new speech for each piece, Jerry being never tired of talking to her; when suddenly she declared, she was weary, and made him sit down upon a shot box while she told him a story; seeing which a number of men who were lying upon the deck got up and watched the child, as if they could have worshipped her.
"Who is those men?" inquired the little autocrat107, pointing to the sailors. "May I play with them?"
The captain and first lieutenant108 being below, and the men off watch, Thompson thought it would be no harm to indulge his idol, so the sailors were informed they might approach the child, upon which she assumed a severe expression of face and sent[Pg 211] them all in the corner, while she plundered109 her attendant of his silk handkerchief, which she wrapped round a gun-chock and carefully nursed in her lap. After having amused herself for some time, she made them all sit in a circle, then with bated breath told them of the "blume" mouse.
The sailors looked at each other and laughed, upon which, thinking they were not sufficiently110 attentive111, she ordered them all out of her house, and having sent her only love, Jerry, into the corner, drew the handkerchief more tightly round the gun-chock, and bade her baby go to sleep before the mouse came out of the gun. Thompson stood with his face to the ship's side, looking in Barbara's eyes, the very perfection of a naughty boy, when suddenly a hand was laid upon her shoulder, and she heard the voice of Captain Tortle, who roughly told her to go below, as mamma wanted her.
Now, Miss Barbara was an exceedingly dignified112 child; and Tortle having addressed her as youngster, she pretended not to have heard his speech, but proceeded to scold her naughty boy, who, unmindful of the commander's presence, was still "in the corner."
"Hush, sir!" she observed, when the captain again spoke to her, and added, looking up in his face,—her eyes dilated113 with excitement,—"Don't you see my baby is asleep? I'm samed of you!"
Hearing this, Tortle, who could not appreciate the pretty little comedy, rudely picked up the child, and carried her down to the cabin; and, upon stooping to ask her for a kiss, received a severe smack114 on the face from the indignant little lady, who immediately afterwards wisely sought refuge in the folds of her mamma's dress, where she indulged in a good cry.
Tortle rubbed his face with his handkerchief, and pretended to be amused, while he inwardly vowed115 he would never touch her again. Poor baby! 'twas very thoughtless of him to wake her so suddenly from her dream of pleasure, and he fully42 deserved the blow she gave him. Upon seeing her sister in tears, Marie, the younger one, joined in the out-burst, and cried "Go away" to the naughty captain, who thereupon beat a retreat to the upper deck.
When their grief was somewhat abated, their gentle mother, with solemn voice, told them how wrong it was for a little girl to do such a sad unladylike act as to smack the captain, and how she feared that Barbara would never become an angel if she did not alter her behaviour,—upon which the darling naively116 declared she would rather be Cops and smack him again than be an angel and not do it. This irreverent reply so shocked her mother that she reported the circumstance to her papa, who thereupon seized the infant, and smothered117 her in kisses; when the artful puss, finding him in a good humour, proceeded to tell him about her monkey, and how kind dear, dear Thompson had been. Adèle heard this, and did not feel pleased with the disclosure, but comforted herself with Jerry's having said yes, and looked forward to becoming "Mrs. Thompe-sonne" with as much confidence as ever.
The day after this Mrs. Barron had an opportunity of speaking to the acting boatswain, who, almost against the wish of the doctor, was now once more on duty, and after a little conversation she sounded him about Adèle.
"Why, bless your heart, mam, I don't mean anything to the young woman," and then he told her all about her threat of exposing the presence of the monkey, softening118 it down, however, as much as possible, and blaming his own dull head more than the girl's foolishness.
"You're not married, are you, Mr. Thompson?"
"Me, mam? what makes you think that?"
"Why, I have heard you mention your little boy."
[Pg 212]
"Do you know Clare, mam? Tom, we calls him, Miss Cops knows him," he added, smiling at the child, who was seated on his arm. "Well, mam, that poor fellow has a wife and a child and I've a life-interest in their baby, that is, if poor Tom don't live, I shall help bring him up, as I knows if he dies his wife won't be long a follerin' of him, as they loves each other truly and dearly."
"Why, you cannot attend to the boy when you are at sea, can you, Mr. Thompson?"
"I don't mean to foller the sea any longer. I've a poor old mother who is in an almshouse, and I'm going to take her out and stay by her in future; and then if anything occurs to poor Tom and his wife, I can take the boy home with me."
"Where does your mother reside?"
"At Nonnington, Kent, mam. I was born there."
"Why, that is near my husband's estate; I must talk to him about you."
That evening the major sent for Mr. Thompson, having first obtained full particulars about the acting-warrant from the captain and doctor, the latter gentleman being a great friend of his. After putting a few questions to Jerry, he informed him that he had determined to pension off the steward119 now managing his estate, as he knew he was too old to agree with his ideas as to its future government, and that having observed Mr. Thompson was gifted with great tact90 and had a way which pleased him, he would give him a house and garden rent free, with coal and wood, and a salary of eighty pounds for the first year, if he would in return give all his time and best services to him as steward, adding, "I know you will quickly learn what is necessary, and will suit me far better than a man who has been brought up to the business."
Jerry stood quite dumbfounded for a moment, then in a few words thanked his benefactor120, adding, as if that thought were uppermost, "I shall often be able to see your little daughter, which pleases me as much as anything."
Great was Miss Barbara's joy when she heard that her friend was to live near them on shore, and she immediately suggested to her papa the propriety121 of building a sugar-candy house for Mr. Thompson's mother, which proposition her father gravely promised to take into consideration.
Tom Clare was delighted with his friend's good fortune, little thinking that he intended to share it with him; but when they chatted it over that evening, Jerry offered Tom a home in his house, saying, the country air and the society of his wife would soon bring him round. Visions of happy tea-parties under the trees in the orchard122, for Thompson knew his future home well, and of little Tom learning to be a farmer, while Polly was to milk the cows, and Clare to see after the flower garden; these pleasant thoughts busied the friends until they heard a cry along the decks of "light on our starboard bow," and they knew that they had once more arrived off their native land. Upon going on deck, they saw the Start light blinking across the water, and Jerry pressed his friend's thin hand, and laughingly observed that in a few days they would be on the right side of that light.
Clare soon after this went forward, and Mr. Thompson was left to his own thoughts, but in a few moments he became aware that Adèle was standing near him, and to his surprise found she was weeping.
"Oh, Monsieur Thompe-sonne, how could you trifle vith me like zat you have did? I lofe you so mooche, and you zay to madame you do not lofe me."
Thompson looked at the girl with astonishment123, then desiring her to wait where she was for a moment, descended124 into his cabin. After a short delay he returned to the deck bearing in his hands a small box which he handed to the bonne, saying, "Addel-ly! I knows you ladies are fond of gold chains. I knows, too, that I have been rather too[Pg 213] soapy with you, but if you'll say you forgive me, as you knows I did it for the pretty one's sake, I'll give you that."
Adèle walked aft and descended to the cabin, where she examined the chain, which was of solid gold, and the one that Jerry had looted from the pirate Seh-wang. After carefully weighing it in her hands, and reflecting for a few moments, the bonne returned to the deck, and having found out the patient Thompson, informed him "that it was verray good, she vas content," and added in an undertone, "Je voudrais être trompée, tous les jours à ce prix là!"
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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2
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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3
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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4
abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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5
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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6
yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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7
affinity
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| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
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8
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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9
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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10
affinities
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| n.密切关系( affinity的名词复数 )；亲近；（生性）喜爱；类同 | |
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11
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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12
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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13
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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14
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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15
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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16
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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17
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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19
hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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20
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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21
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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22
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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23
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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24
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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25
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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26
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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27
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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28
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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29
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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30
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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31
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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32
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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33
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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35
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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36
rosebud
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| n.蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女 | |
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37
pout
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| v.撅嘴；绷脸；n.撅嘴；生气，不高兴 | |
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38
naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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39
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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40
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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41
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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42
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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43
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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44
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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45
cherub
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| n.小天使，胖娃娃 | |
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46
demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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48
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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49
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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50
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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51
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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52
alligator
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| n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼) | |
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53
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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54
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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55
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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56
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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57
gals
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| abbr.gallons （复数）加仑（液量单位）n.女孩，少女( gal的名词复数 ) | |
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58
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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59
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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60
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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61
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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62
sardines
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| n. 沙丁鱼 | |
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63
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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64
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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65
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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66
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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67
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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68
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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69
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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70
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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71
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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72
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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73
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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74
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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75
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
bogeys
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| n.妖怪，可怕的人（物）( bogey的名词复数 )v.妖怪，可怕的人（物）( bogey的第三人称单数 ) | |
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77
rodent
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| n.啮齿动物；adj.啮齿目的 | |
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78
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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79
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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80
purloined
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| v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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82
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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83
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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84
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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85
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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86
sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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87
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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89
susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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90
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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91
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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92
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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93
thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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94
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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95
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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96
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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97
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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98
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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99
misanthrope
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| n.恨人类的人；厌世者 | |
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100
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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101
Buddha
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| n.佛；佛像；佛陀 | |
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102
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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103
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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104
lawfully
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| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
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105
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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106
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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107
autocrat
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| n.独裁者；专横的人 | |
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108
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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109
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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111
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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112
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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113
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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115
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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116
naively
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| adv. 天真地 | |
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117
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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118
softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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119
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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120
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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121
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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122
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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123
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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124
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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