No matter, returned the captain, Im nowise particular, an Ive been recommended to come to you; so here I am, ready to strike a bargain if youre agreeable.
Pray, may I ask who recommended you? said Jessie.
The seaman looked perplexed for a moment.
Well, I didnt observe his name over the door, he said, but the man in the shop below recommended me.
Oh? the green-grocer! exclaimed both ladies together, but they did not add what they thought, namely, that the green-grocer was a very impertinent fellow to play off upon them what looked very much like a practical joke.
Perhaps the best way to settle the matter, said Kate, will be to show the gentleman our room. He will then understand the impossibility.
Thats right, exclaimed the captain; risingand in doing so he seemed about to damage the ceilinglets go below, by all means, and see the cabin.
It is not down-stairs, remarked Jessie, leading the way; we are at the top of the house here, and the room is on a level with this one.
So much the better. I like a deck-cabin. In fact Ive bin used to it aboard my last ship.
On being ushered into the room which he wished to hire, the sailor found himself in an apartment so very unsuited to his size and character that even he felt slightly troubled.
Its not so much the size that bothers me, he said, stroking his chin gently, as the fittings.
There was some ground for the seamans perplexity, for the closet in which he stood, apart from the fact of its being only ten feet long by six broad, had been arranged by the tasteful sisters after the manner of a ladys boudoir, with a view to captivate some poor sister of very limited means, or, perhaps, some humble-minded and possibly undersized young clerk from the country. The bed, besides being rather small, and covered with a snow-white counterpane, was canopied with white muslin curtains lined with pink calico. The wash-hand stand was low, fragile, and diminutive. The little deal table, which occupied an inconveniently large proportion of the space, was clothed in a garment similar to that of the bed. The one solitary chair was of that cheap construction which is meant to creak warningly when sat upon by light people, and to resolve itself into match-wood when the desecrator is heavy. Two pictures graced the wallsone the infant Samuel in a rosewood frame, the other an oil paintingof probably the first century, for its subject was quite undistinguishablein a gold slip. The latter was a relic of better daysa spared relic, which the public had refused to buy at any price, though the auctioneer had described it as a rare specimen of one of the oldthe very oldmasters, with Rembrandtesque proclivities. No chest of drawers obtruded itself in that small chamber, but instead thereof the economical yet provident sisters, foreseeing the importance of a retreat for garments, had supplied a deal box, of which they stuffed the lid and then covered the whole with green baize, thus causing it to serve the double purpose of a wardrobe and a small sofa.
However, said Captain Bream, after a brief but careful look round, itll do. With a little cuttin and carvin here an there, well manage to squeeze in, for you must know, ladies, that we sea-farin men have a wonderful knack o stuffin a good deal into small space.
The sisters made no reply. Indeed they were speechless, and horrified at the bare idea of the entrance of so huge a lodger into their quiet home.
Look ye here, now, he continued in a comfortable, self-satisfied tone, as he expanded his great arms along the length of the bed to measure it, the bunks about five foot eight inches long. Well, Im about six foot two in my sockssix inches short; thats a difficulty no doubt, but its get-over-able this way, well splice the green box to it.
He grasped the sofa-wardrobe as he spoke, and placed it to the foot of the bed, then embracing the entire mass of mattresses and bedding at the lower end, raised it up, thrust the green box under with his foot, and laid the bedding down on itthus adding about eighteen inches to the length.
There you are, dee seequite long enough, an a foot to spare.
But it does not fit, urged Kate, who, becoming desperate, resolved to throw every possible obstruction in the way.
Thats true, madam, returned the captain with an approving nod. I see youve got a mechanical eyetheres a difference of elevation tween the box and the bed of three inches or more, but bless you, thats nothin to speak of. If youd ever been in a gale o wind at sea youd know that we seadogs are used to considerable difference of elevation between our heads an feet. My top-coat stuffed inll put that to rights. But youll have to furl the flummery topslsto lower em altogether would be safer.
He took hold of the muslin curtains with great tenderness as he spoke, fearing, apparently, to damage them.
You see, he continued, apologetically, Im not used to this sort o thing. Moreover, Ive a tendency to nightmare. Dont alarm yourselves, ladies, I never do anything worse to disturb folk than give a shout or a yell or two, but occasionally I do let fly with a leg or an arm when the fits on me, an if I should get entangled with this flummery, you know Id be apt to damage it. Yes, the safest way will be to douse the topsls altogether. As to the chairwell, Ill supply a noo one thatll stand rough weather. If youll also clear away the petticoats from the table itll do well enough. In regard to the lookin-glass, I know pretty well what Im like, an dont have any desire to study my portrait. As for shavin, Ive got a bulls-eye sort of glass in the lid o my soap-box that serves all my purpose, and I shave wi cold water, so I wont be botherin you in the mornins for hot. Ive got a paintin of my last shipthe Daisydone in water-coloursits a pretty big un, but by hangin Samuel on the other bulk-head, an stickin that black thing over the door, we can make room for it.
As Captain Bream ran on in this fashion, smoothing down all difficulties, and making everything comfortable, the poor sisters grew more and more desperate, and Kate felt a tendency to recklessness coming on. Suddenly a happy thought occurred to her.
But sir, she interposed with much firmness of tone and manner, there is one great difficulty in the way of our letting the room to you which I fear cannot be overcome.
The captain looked at her inquiringly, and Jessie regarded her with admiration and wonder, for she could not conceive what this insurmountable difficulty could be.
My sister and I, continued Kate, have both an unconquerable dislike to tobacco
Oh! thats no objection, cried the captain with a light laughwhich in him, however, was an ear-splitting guffawfor I dont smoke!
Dont smoke? repeated both sisters in tones of incredulity, for in their imagination a seaman who did not smoke seemed as great an impossibility as a street boy who did not whistle.
An whats more, continued the captain, I dont drink. Im a tee-total abstainer. I leave smokin to steam-funnels, an drinkin to the fish.
But, persisted Kate, on whom another happy thought had descended, my sister and I keep very early hours, and a latch-key we could never
Pooh! thats no difficulty, again interrupted this unconquerable man of the sea; I hate late hours myself, when Im ashore, havin more than enough of em when afloat. Ill go to bed regularly at nine oclock, an wont want a latch-key.