Hocken and Hunken Part 15

"Twenty thousand tons a-month, my boy! See that two-funnelled craft 'longside the second jetty? Six thousand--not a fraction under.

We're things o' the past, you an' me, an' 'twas high time we hauled out o' the compet.i.tion."

"China clay?"

"All of it."

"I don't know much about china clay," said 'Bias reflectively.

"But I never met twenty thousand tons of anything where it wasn' time for somebody to protect the public."

"There's a Harbour Commission here, o' course--bye-laws an' all that sort o' thing."

"Ay; there's one openin' for ye. We'll find others."

They resumed their way. The street--Troy has but one street, but makes up for this by calling various lengths of it by various names--was in places so narrow that to avoid pa.s.sing vehicles they were forced to take refuge in handy doorways. In three out of four the door stood open, and Captain Cai, popping his head in at kitchen or small parlour, would beg pardon for intruding, pa.s.s the time of day with the mistress of the house, inquire for her husband's health--"Do I remember him, I wonder?"

--and how many children there were, and what might be their ages?

He always wound up by introducing his friend. n.o.body resented these salutations, these questions. Indeed how was it possible to be morose with Captain Cai?--he bubbled such transparent gaiety, kindliness, innocence.

"'Tis our way in Troy, you see," he told 'Bias as they dived into a cobbler's shop to escape the omnibus. "You have to be neighbourly if you don't want to be run over. . . . In London, now, you'd waste a lot o' time explainin' that you didn' want your boots mended."

"It's like what I've heard about canva.s.sin' for Parlyment," said 'Bias.

"And that's another suggestion fur ye."

Of the most important shops in the length of thoroughfare known as Fore Street and in Church Square (which is the same street with a corkscrew twist in it) 'Bias showed much appreciation. He was especially allured by the rainbow-tinted goods in Mr Shake Benny's window, and by the cards recommending them for sale. _If you admire Lord Rosebery, Now is Your Time_--He studied this for some moments.

"Time for what?" he asked, rubbing his ear softly.

"Drinks," suggested Cai, and laughed in pure pleasure of heart.

"Come along, man--or you'll be makin' me Prime Minister before we get to the s.h.i.+p. . . Yes, yon's the church--Established. You can tell by the four spikes an' the weatherc.o.c.k; like-wise by the tombstones. But they bury folks up the hill nowadays." He paused--"That reminds me"--he paused again.

"What of?"

"Oh--er--nothing; nothing particular. . . . Well, if you must know, I was thinkin' about that old hat o' mine."

"You don't tell me you've buried it?"

"No."

"It _is_ time for drinks," said 'Bias with decision. They called at the s.h.i.+p Inn, where they ascertained that Captain Hunken's chest and parrot-cage had been duly delivered.

"Very decent beer," p.r.o.nounced 'Bias as they shared a quart.

"When a man has a job to tackle--" began Cai, and glanced at his friend.

"You're sure we hadn' better wait till you've had a meal?--till to-morrow mornin' if you like."

'Bias drained his tankard and arose--a giant visibly refreshed.

"I'm a-goin' to see the house, instanter."

"Things," said Cai, "strike different parties from different points o'

view. That's notorious. One man's born an' bred in a place, and another isn't. . . . Now if the latter--as we'll call him for argyment's sake--"

But 'Bias, cutting short this parley, had gained the door and was marching forth.

To be sure (and Captain Cai might with better command on his nerves have hailed the omen) Nature could hardly have dressed sh.o.r.e and harbour of Troy in weather more auspicious. The smoke of chimneys arose straight on the "cessile air," making a soft dun-coloured haze through which the light of the declining day was filtered in streams of yellow--pale lemon-yellow, golden-yellow, orange, orange-tawny. On the far sh.o.r.e of the harbour, windows blazed as if cottage after cottage held the core of a furnace intense and steady. The green hillside above them lay bathed in this aureate flush, which permeated too the whole of the southern sky, up to its faint blue zenith.

"Pretty weather," grunted 'Bias, "I see the gla.s.s is steady too; leastways if you can trust the one they keep in the Inn parlour."

Cai did not respond: the crucial moment was drawing too near.

"Pretty li'l view, too. . . . A man with a box o' paints, now, might be tempted to have a slap at it."

Well-meant but artless simulation! Captain Hunken had once in his life purchased a picture; it represented Vesuvius by night, in eruption, and he had yielded to the importunity of the Neapolitan artist--or, rather, had excused himself for yielding--on the ground that after all you couldn't mistake the dam thing for anything else.

They came abreast of Harbour Terrace. They were pa.s.sing by the green front door of Number Two. Still Captain Cai made no sign.

"There's a house, f'r instance--supposin' a man could afford the rental--" 'Bias halted and regarded it. "Hullo, 'tis unoccupied!"

He turned about slowly. "You don't--mean--to tell me--as that's _of_ it?"

"That's _of_ it," Cai admitted tremulously. After a long pause, '"Bias," he stammered, "break it gently."

"I'm tryin' to," said 'Bias, breathing and backing to the railings for a better view. He removed his hat and wiped the top of his head several times around. Then of a sudden--

"Hooray!" he exploded.

"'Bias!" Cai stared, as well he might, for his friend's face was totally impa.s.sive.

"Hoo--" began 'Bias again. "Who the devil's this?" he demanded, as the door opened and Tabb's child appeared in the entry.

"I been expectin' you this hour an' more," announced Tabb's child.

"Stoppin' for drinks on the road, I reckon?"

"We did take a drink, now you mention it," stammered Captain Cai, caught aback: "though, as it happens that don't account for our bein' late.

But what brings _you_, here, missy?"

She laid a finger on her lip. "s.h.!.+ I've got 'em."

"Got what?"

"Servants for 'ee. They're inside." She pointed back in to the pa.s.sage mysteriously.

"Who's this child?" demanded Captain 'Bias.

"She's--er--a young friend o' mine--" began Captain Cai. But Fancy interrupted him, dropping a slight curtsey, and addressing his friend straight.

"My name's Fancy Tabb, sir. Which I hope you'll like Troy, and Cap'n Hocken ast me to make myself useful an' find you a pair of servants-- woman an' boy."

"Oh, but hold hard!" protested Captain Cai. "We haven't started furnis.h.i.+n' yet."

She nodded. "That's all right. No hurry with either of 'em--not for some weeks, or so long as it suits you. But you'll be safer to bespeak 'em: an' Mrs Bowldler is the chance of a lifetime."