The Firm of Girdlestone eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 517 pages of information about The Firm of Girdlestone.

The Firm of Girdlestone eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 517 pages of information about The Firm of Girdlestone.

“What then?”

“Wait till then and you’ll see,” she said, with a merry laugh.  “No, really, I won’t stay another moment.  Whatever will the guests say?  I must, Toby; I really must—­” Away she tripped, while the major remained standing where she had left him, feeling a better man than he had done since he was a young ensign and kissed his mother for the last time at the Portsmouth jetty before the great transport carried him off to India.

Everything in the world must have an end, and Mrs. Scully’s dance was no exception to the rule.  The day was breaking, however, before the last guests had muffled themselves up and the last hansom dashed away from the door.  The major lingered behind to bid farewell, and then rejoined his German friend, who had been compelled to wait at the door for the latchkey.

“Look here, major,” the latter said, when they came into their room, “is it well to tell a Brussian gentleman to go to the devil?  You have much offended me.  Truly I was surprised that you should have so spoken!”

“Me dear friend,” the old soldier answered, shaking his hand, “I would not hurt your feelings for the world.  Bedad, if I come into the room while you are proposing to a lady, you are welcome to use the strongest German verb to me that you can lay your tongue to.”

“You have probosed, then?” cried the good-natured German, forgetting all about his grievance in an instant.

“Yes.”

“And been took—­received by her?”

“Yes.”

“Dat Is gloriful!” Von Baumser cried, clapping his hands.  “Three hochs for Frau Scully, and another one for Frau Clutterbuck.  We must drink a drink on it; we truly must.”

“So we shall, me boy, but it’s time we turned in now.  She’s a good woman, and she plays a good hand at whist.  Ged! she cleared the trumps and made her long suit to-night as well as ever I saw it done in me life!” With which characteristic piece of eulogy the major bade his comrade good night and retired to his room.

CHAPTER XXX.

AT THE “COCK AND COWSLIP.”

Tom Dimsdale’s duties were far from light.  Not only was he expected to supervise the clerks’ accounts and to treat with the wholesale dealers, but he was also supposed to spend a great part of his time in the docks, overlooking the loading of the outgoing ships and checking the cargo of the incoming ones.  This latter portion of his work was welcome as taking him some hours a day from the close counting-house, and allowing him to get a sniff of the sea air—­if, indeed, a sniff is to be had on the inland side of Woolwich.  There was a pleasing life and bustle, too, in the broad, brown river, with its never-ending panorama of vessels of every size and shape which ebb and flow in the great artery of national life.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Firm of Girdlestone from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.