Great changes had taken place in the Sailors’ Home at Wreckumoft since Billy Gaff last saw it. A new wing had been added to it, and the original building had been altered and repaired, while every convenience in the way of ventilating and heating had been introduced, so that the sailors who frequented this admirable Home found themselves surrounded by comforts and luxuries such as, in former days, they had never dreamed of.
Fortunately for this valuable institution, Sir Richard Doles1, Bart, had not been made a director, consequently the business of the Home was not impeded2.
Fortunately, also, the secretary who had been recently appointed to the Home was a man of ability and energy, being none other than our friend Kenneth Stuart.
That incorrigible3 young man had ventured one day to say to his father that he could not make up his mind to give up the “portionless girl,” Lizzie Gordon; that he considered her anything but portionless, seeing that she possessed4 an earnest, loving, Christian5 heart, and a wise thoughtful mind; qualities which wealth could not purchase, and compared with which a fortune was not worth a straw.
Mr Stuart, senior, thereupon dismissed Mr Stuart, junior, from his presence for ever, and told him to go and beg his bread where he chose!
Curiously6 enough, Mr Stuart, senior, happened to dine that day with Colonel Crusty at the club where the latter put up when in town, and the valiant7 colonel told him that he had that morning dismissed his daughter from his presence for ever, she having returned to the parental8 home as Mrs Bowels9. The two, therefore, felt a peculiar10 sort of sympathy, being, as it were, in the same boat, and cracked an additional bottle of claret on the strength of the coincidence. When they had finished the extra bottle, they ordered another, and became exceedingly jocose11, insomuch that one vowed12 he would leave his fortune to the Church, but the other preferred to leave his to a Lunatic Asylum13.
On receiving his dismissal, Kenneth left his father’s house with words of regret and good-will on his lips, and then went to tell Lizzie, and seek his fortune.
He had not to seek long or far. Being a director of the Sailors’ Home, I chanced to be in search of a secretary. A better man than Kenneth could not be found, so I proposed him, and he was at once appointed.
The salary being a good one, he was enabled to retain Dan Horsey and Bucephalus. He also obtained permission to remove Emmie to his house, having told his father who the child was, and having been told in return that he, (the father), had become aware of the fact long ago, and that he was welcome to her! Kenneth then set himself earnestly to work to promote the interests of the Sailors’ Home, and to prepare his house for the reception of Lizzie, who had agreed to marry him whenever he felt himself in a position to ask her.
Lizzie was a peculiar girl. She had, indeed, permitted Kenneth to visit her as a lover; but she resolutely14 refused to accept him as long as his father continued adverse15 to the union. The moment, however, that she heard of his being cast off and disinherited, she agreed, with tears in her eyes, to marry him whenever he pleased.
But to return from this digression: the new secretary of the Sailors’ Home of Wreckumoft became the guardian16 spirit of the place. He advised all the arrangements which the Board made. He drew up all the rules that the Board fixed17.
An “Address” which he issued to officers and seamen18 frequenting the port of Wreckumoft, wound up with the following words:
“The Directors of the Sailors’ Home are anxious that seamen should clearly understand that the institution was designed for their sole benefit, and established with the view of protecting them from the systematic19 extortion of crimps and other snares20, to which their circumstances and calling render them peculiarly liable; and, above all, to promote their moral elevation21, social improvement, and religious instruction. The rules by which the institution is governed are, as far as practicable, adapted to meet the habits of all who participate in its benefits, and to further their best interests. It is conducted on principles of order, comfort, and liberality; and no restraint is exercised beyond that which common prudence22 and mutual23 interest require. In the ‘Home’ thus provided; which embraces security, freedom of action, and social enjoyment24, the Directors desire to create and sustain mutual sympathy, trust, and good-will, and to employ those agencies which tend most to mature habits of frugality25, self-respect, and the love of God.”
Immediately after the appearance of this address, seamen flocked to the “Home” for lodgings26, and those who did so found the place so uncommonly27 pleasant that they brought their messmates, so that for months afterwards not only was every bed taken, but the very stairs and landings of the building were occupied by men who preferred to sleep there, and enjoy the advantages of the Institution, rather than go back to the dens28 which they had frequented in former days.
On the night when Billy went to the Home it was very full, and he stumbled over more than one recumbent seaman29 on the landings before he reached the hall, where, late though it was, a number of men were playing chess, draughts30, and bagatelle31, or reading books and papers. Here he found Haco Barepoles, as rugged32 as ever, seated by the fire and deeply engaged in a copy of the “Pilgrim’s Progress.”
“Wonderful book; wonderful book!” exclaimed Haco, laying the volume on the table and scratching his head, as if to stir up the brain inside. Just then Billy came up.
“Hallo, Haco!”
“Hallo, stranger! You’ve the advantage of me, lad, for I don’t know ye.”
“Yes, ye do.”
“Eh! do I? Let me see.”
Here the mad skipper scrutinised the lad’s face earnestly.
“Well, I have seen ye afore now, but you’ve ’scaped from me, youngster.”
“I’m Billy, alias33 the Bu’ster, alias the Cork34, alias Gaff—”
“What, Billy Gaff? Dead and come alive again!” cried Haco, springing up and seizing the youngster’s hand.
Having wrung35 Billy’s arm almost off his shoulder, Haco took him up to his berth36, where he made him sit down on the bed and recount all his and his father’s adventures from beginning to end.
When Billy had concluded the narrative37, which of course he gave only in brief outline, Haco said—
“Now, lad, you and I shall go have a pipe outside, and then we’ll turn in.”
“Very good; but I have not yet asked you about your daughter Susan. Is she still with Captain Bingley?”
“Ay, still with him, and well,” replied Haco, with a look that did not convey the idea of satisfaction.
“Not goin’ to get married?” inquired Billy with caution.
Haco snorted, then he grunted38, and then he said—
“Yes, she was goin’ to get married, and he wished she wasn’t, that was all.”
“Who to?” inquired the other.
“Why, to that Irish scoundrel Dan Horsey, to be sure,” said Haco with a huge sigh of resignation, which, coming from any other man, would have been regarded as a groan39. “The fact is, lad, that poor Susan’s heart is set upon that fellow, an’ so it’s no use resistin’ them no longer. Besides, the blackguard is well spoken of by his master, who’s a trump40. Moreover, I made a kind o’ half promise long ago that I’d not oppose them, to that scapegrace young Lieutenant41 Bingley, who’s on his way home from China just now. An’ so it’s a-goin’ to be; an’ they’ve set their hearts on havin’ the weddin’ same week as the weddin’ o’ Master Kenneth and Lizzie Gordon; so the fact is they may all marry each other, through other, down the middle and up again, for all I care, ’cause I’m a-goin’ on a whalin’ voyage to Novy Zembly or Kumskatchkie—anywheres to git peace o’ mind—there!”
Saying this Haco dashed the ashes out of his big German pipe into his left palm, and scattered42 them to the winds.
“Now, lad,” he said, in conclusion, “we’ll go turn in, and you’ll sleep with me to-night, for ye couldn’t get a bed in the Home for love or money, seein’ that it’s choke full already. Come along.”
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1
doles
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| 救济物( dole的名词复数 )； 失业救济金 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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4
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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5
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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6
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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7
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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8
parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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9
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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10
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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jocose
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| adj.开玩笑的，滑稽的 | |
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12
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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13
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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14
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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15
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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16
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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17
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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18
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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19
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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20
snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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22
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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24
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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25
frugality
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| n.节约，节俭 | |
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26
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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27
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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28
dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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29
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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30
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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31
bagatelle
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| n.琐事；小曲儿 | |
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32
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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33
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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34
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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35
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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36
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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37
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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38
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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39
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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40
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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41
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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42
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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