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Edward Barry: South Sea Pearler, a novel by Louis Becke |
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Chapter 18. On Board The New Barque |
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_ CHAPTER XVIII. ON BOARD THE NEW BARQUE Three months had come and gone, and one warm summer's evening as Barry was dressing for the theatre one of the hotel waiters announced "Captain Watson." "Come in, old man," cried Barry cheerfully, and he opened the door to his visitor. "Sit down there and smoke while I put on my togs, then we'll have a long cool drink. Phew, it'll be a roaster this evening." "Going out dining?" inquired the rumbling-voiced old man. "No, to the theatre. I'm taking Mrs. Tracey. How is everything getting on on board?" "Right as can be. Came in to see if you'd come down to-morrow and have a look at her." Barry nodded. "Right you are, Watson: and I daresay that Mrs. Tracey will come too. She takes a lot of pride in the new ship I can tell you." "Just so. And you'll find that the new ship will be even a better sailer than the _Mahina_." For the _Mahina_, had been sold a month or so before, and in her place had been bought a smart little barque of double her tonnage. She was to sail for Arrecifos in a few days, and old Watson had joined her as chief mate, for poor Manuel Barradas was in prison, having received a sentence of two years' imprisonment for his share in the seizure of the brig. And here, as this story draws near to an end, let me tell what became of him. After twelve months of his sentence had expired he was, through the persistent efforts of Barry and his friends, set at liberty, the judge who had tried him being one of some hundreds of people who petitioned the Crown on his behalf. Before another year had passed he was back in Arrecifos Lagoon, in charge of the station, which he took over from Velo at Barry's desire; the faithful Samoan being tired of living on shore, and for long, long years Barradas remained in Barry's employ on the island, happy and contented and with his mind at rest. * * * * * * The hotel in which Barry was living was quite near the wharves of the Circular Quay. He had taken up his quarters there after the _Mahina_ had been sold, for as old Watson was an active and energetic chief officer there was no need for him to live on board the new vessel. During the time he had been living on shore he had met Mrs. Tracey frequently; for he acted as her business agent, and she relied upon him with the most implicit confidence. When he suggested that the brig should be sold and another vessel bought she eagerly acquiesced on the one condition that he would take command. "Of course I will," he said, "and very glad to do so, Mrs. Tracey. She is a beautiful little barque and not a bit too big. You will see how she can sail when you pay a visit to Arrecifos next year." "I almost wish I were going this time, Captain Barry. Till next year seems a long, long time to wait, and what I should do without Toea to talk to I can't imagine. I suppose I shall grow more reconciled by and by." "You will make many friends, Mrs. Tracey." Her cheeks reddened slightly. "Friends! No, not friends--merely people who want to know me because I am rich. And I don't want to make friends. The other afternoon a Mrs. Bell-Lovatt and her two daughters called to see me, and Mrs. Bell-Lovatt simply gushed over me for half an hour and made me feel quite sick with her odious flattery. I knew the girls when I was at school in Melbourne, but I've never seen them since and had no wish to see them again." Barry laughed. "You'll have to put up with a good deal of that sort of thing, I fear. Even I, myself, have discovered that I unknowingly possessed heaps of friends. When I go into the Exchange now, a dozen or more men--shipowners, brokers, and others--insist on shaking hands with me and asking me to dinner. When I was in Sydney last and was badly in want of a berth no less than three of these very men metaphorically kicked me out of their offices when I applied to them. But now that I am agent and manager to 'the rich Mrs. Tracey' they can't find words to express their admiration of my talents and all-round virtues." "Ah, well. We must not mind these things, I suppose. But I wish I were a man--I should at least escape being called upon and kissed by 'catty' women like Mrs. Bell-Lovatt." Not once since he returned had Barry caught sight of the woman he had hoped to call his wife, and as the days went by he thought less and less of her and more of Alice Tracey. And his would indeed have been a hard, unimpressionable nature not to have yielded the influence she was surely, but slowly, exercising upon him. She honestly tried to attract him, and now that he was a free man she did not mean to let him go away to sea again without trying to let him understand that she would feel the loss of his society very much. "If he cared for me ever so much he wouldn't tell me," she thought to herself, "he is that sort of man, I'm sure. If I had no money it would be different. Ah, well, I must wait." Old Watson, in his own quiet way, was helping matters on; for he conceived quite a sincere admiration for the young widow, and one day he bluntly told Barry that she was "only waiting to be asked. And there'll be a hungry crowd hanging around her once you are away at sea, my boy." "She's too rich a woman for me to think of, Watson," he said, with a laugh. This was said on board the barque when they were at dinner, and Mose, the steward promptly imparted it to Toea when she one day came to look at the new ship, and Toea of course repeated it to her mistress, who said nothing but smiled wisely. Leaving his hotel Barry drove to Mrs. Tracey's apartments in Macquarie Street, where she soon joined him, looking very charming in a dainty evening dress of yellow silk. "How do I look, Captain Barry of the barque _Arrecifos_?" she inquired. "As beautiful as the barque _Arrecifos_ herself," answered Barry promptly, "and no more beautiful ship was ever launched." "Oh, how nice of you to pay me such a compliment!" she laughed as a vivid blush dyed her face. "I really wish Mr. Watson were here to see me too; for he, too, has been ministering to my woman's vanity. He says quite a lot of nice things to me, the dear old fellow." "Yes, I know he admires you intensely," laughed Barry, "and he makes no secret of it either. He's as simple as a child in some things, but as honest as the day." In a few minutes they reached the theatre, just in time to see the curtain rise on the first act of "King John." The play was one which interested them both, and until the end of the first act neither of them troubled to look about them. Then Barry, turning to speak to his companion, pointed out to her on the opposite side of the house a striking figure of an old man with white hair--the premier of the colony. "Yes, I see him; what a fine, powerful face!" Barry for the moment made no answer, for suddenly he found himself looking into the pale face of a tall, slenderly built woman seated beside a man he knew--old, white-mustached and of a generally military cut. He dropped his eyes at once and turned his head quickly away, but not so quickly that Mrs. Tracey saw his forehead mantle momentarily. "Poor little Rose," he thought, "I'm glad she didn't see me." Then he saw that Mrs. Tracey, who was looking straight before her, seemed to have suddenly become white. "Are you not feeling well?" he asked; "the theatre is very hot." She gave him a swift, penetrating glance. "It is very hot," she said in a low voice. "Do you mind if we leave?" "Frankly, no," and Barry stroked his beard, and something like a smile came into his eyes; "I don't particularly care about staying." Then he bent his head closer. "There are some people here----" "I know," she interrupted softly, "and it hurts you to see her." "Not a bit," he said earnestly; "but, you see, it might not be very pleasant for her to see me--might spoil her enjoyment a little. And as I know the man too, I'll have to bow if we meet going out." She placed her little gloved hand on his arm. "Then let us go," she said softly. When they reached the vestibule, Barry stopped. "It is not quite nine o'clock. Would you care to come to the Lyceum and see Rignold in 'The Ironmaster'? A cab will take us there in five minutes." "Do you really want me to go?" "Very much indeed. Come." They descended the stairs together, and entering a cab drove off, Alice Tracey's dark eyes sparkling like diamonds as she looked into Barry's calm, collected face. But not a seat could be obtained, much to Barry's annoyance; then he laughed. "There's nothing worth seeing at any of the other theatres. What is to be done? Would you care to come for a drive round to Lady Marquarie's Chair? The _Arrecifos_ is lying just near by in Woolloomoolloo Bay. It's a pretty drive." "Oh yes. It will be lovely to be out in the cool, fresh air." The cabman took them to the Chair, from where they had a good view of the stately little barque as she lay upon the silent waters in a flood of moonlight. "Let us walk down to the edge of the water and hail old Watson--just to give him a surprise." "Indeed I have a very great mind to go on board--may I?" she asked as he helped her out of the cab. "Why not? He'll be off his head with delight. And then I'll get big Joe and some of the hands to pull us round in the boat to the Circular Quay. Here you are, cabby. You need not wait." Old Watson's astonishment when he heard the captain's hail and saw him and Mrs. Tracey standing on the rocky shore just abreast of the ship may be imagined. In a few minutes he and two hands jumped into the boat and pulled her ashore. "Well, well, to be sure, this is a surprise, Mrs. Tracey! why----" "Mr. Watson, don't talk now. Wait till we are on board. I've come to show you my dress." The old mate uttered his deep, rumbling laugh, as the boat pushed off and quickly drew up alongside. Then, after the steward had brought him and the captain a brandy-and-soda each and a glass of wine for the fair owner of the _Arrecifos_, he discreetly went below out of the way under the excuse of writing a letter or two, and left her and Barry on deck under the awning. They sat talking together for some time--of the people in Arrecifos, of Barradas, and of the days on the old _Mahina_. Then when Barry spoke of the barque's approaching departure she became silent. "I shall miss you very much, Captain Barry----" she began and then she stopped. He looked at her and saw that her eyes were filled with tears. "You do me a great honour to say so," he began, and then her eyes met his again; in a moment he took her hand and bent down towards her. "I don't want you to go," she whispered. Barry's answer was to slip his arm round her waist and draw her head upon his shoulder. * * * * * * An hour later old Watson, still pretending to write, heard them descending the companion way. He stood up, as Mrs. Tracey, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, came in on Barry's arm. "Mr. Watson," she said laughingly, "this ship is to proceed to Arrecifos under the command of _Captain_ Watson; Captain Barry will remain in Sydney." "To marry the owner," added Barry, as he looked into her dark eyes, and drew her slender figure towards him. [THE END] _ |
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