Captin Small," he ses.
"It's wonderful the way he manages 'em," ses Peter Russet to Mrs. Finch."Like a lion he is."
"A roaring lion," ses Ginger, looking at Sam. "He don't know wot fearis."
Sam began to smile, and Mrs. Finch looked at 'im so pleased that PeterRusset, who 'ad been looking at 'er and the room, and thinking much thesame way as Ginger, began to think that they was on the wrong tack.
"Afore 'e got stout and old," he ses, shaking his 'ead, "there wasn't asmarter skipper afloat."
"We all 'ave our day," ses Ginger, shaking his 'ead too.
"I dessay he's good for another year or two afloat, yet," ses PeterRusset, considering. "With care," ses Ginger.
Old Sam was going to say something, but 'e stopped himself just in time."They will 'ave their joke," he ses, turning to Mrs. Finch and trying tosmile. "I feel as young as ever I did."
Mrs. Finch said that anybody with arf an eye could see that, and then shelooked at a kettle that was singing on the 'ob.
"I s'pose you gentlemen wouldn't care for a cup o' cocoa?" she ses,turning to them.
Ginger Dick and Peter both said that they liked it better than anythingelse, and, arter she 'ad got out the cups and saucers and a tin o' cocoa,Ginger held the kettle and poured the water in the cups while she stirredthem, and old Sam sat looking on 'elpless.
"It does seem funny to see you drinking cocoa, captin," ses Ginger, asold Sam took his cup.
"Ho!" ses Sam, firing up; "and why, if I might make so bold as to ask?"
"'Cos I've generally seen you drinking something out of a bottle," sesGinger.
"Now, look 'ere," ses Sam, starting up and spilling some of the hot cocoaover 'is lap.
"A ginger-beer bottle," ses Peter Russet, making faces at Ginger to keepquiet.
"Yes, o' course, that's wot I meant," ses Ginger.
Old Sam wiped the cocoa off 'is knees without saying a word, but hisweskit kept going up and down till Peter Russet felt quite sorry for 'im.
"There's nothing like it," he ses to Mrs. Finch. "It was by sticking toginger-beer and milk and such-like that Captain Small 'ad command of aship afore 'e was twenty-five."
"Lor'!" ses Mrs. Finch.
She smiled at old Sam till Peter got uneasy agin, and began to thinkp'r'aps 'e'd been praising 'im too much.
"Of course, I'm speaking of long ago now," he ses.
"Years and years afore you was born, ma'am," ses Ginger.
Old Sam was going to say something, but Mrs. Finch looked so pleased that'e thought better of it. Some o' the cocoa 'e was drinking went thewrong way, and then Ginger patted 'im on the back and told 'im to becareful not to bring on 'is brownchitis agin. Wot with temper and beingafraid to speak for fear they should let Mrs. Finch know that 'e wasn't acaptin, he could 'ardly bear 'imself, but he very near broke out whenPeter Russet advised 'im to 'ave his weskit lined with red flannel. Theyall stayed on till closing time, and by the time they left they 'ad madetheirselves so pleasant that Mrs. Finch said she'd be pleased to see themany time they liked to look in.
Sam Small waited till they 'ad turned the corner, and then he broke outso alarming that they could 'ardly do anything with 'im. Twice policemenspoke to 'im and advised 'im to go home afore they altered their minds;and he 'ad to hold 'imself in and keep quiet while Ginger and PeterRusset took 'is arms and said they were seeing him 'ome.
He started the row agin when they got in-doors, and sat up in 'is bedsmacking 'is lips over the things he'd like to 'ave done to them if hecould. And then, arter saying 'ow he'd like to see Ginger boiled alivelike a lobster, he said he knew that 'e was a noble-'arted feller whowouldn't try and cut an old pal out, and that it was a case of love atfirst sight on top of a tram-car.
"She's too young for you," ses Ginger; "and too good-looking besides."
"It's the nice little bisness he's fallen in love with, Ginger," sesPeter Russet. "I'll toss you who 'as it."
Ginger, who was siting on the foot o' Sam's bed, said "no" at fust, butarter a time he pulled out arf a dollar and spun it in the air.
That was the last 'e see of it, although he 'ad Sam out o' bed and allthe clothes stripped off of it twice. He spent over arf an hour on his'ands and knees looking for it, and Sam said when he was tired of playingbears p'r'aps he'd go to bed and get to sleep like a Christian.
They 'ad it all over agin next morning, and at last, as nobody wouldagree to keep quiet and let the others 'ave a fair chance, they made uptheir minds to let the best man win. Ginger Dick bought a necktie thattook all the colour out o' Sam's, and Peter Russet went in for a collarso big that 'e was lost in it.
They all strolled into the widow's shop separate that night. Ginger Dick'ad smashed his pipe and wanted another; Peter Russet wanted sometobacco; and old Sam Small walked in smiling, with a little silver broochfor 'er, that he said 'e had picked up.
It was a very nice brooch, and Mrs. Finch was so pleased with it thatGinger and Peter sat there as mad as they could be because they 'adn'tthought of the same thing.
"Captain Small is very lucky at finding things," ses Ginger, at last.
"He's got the name for it," ses Peter Russet.
"It's a handy 'abit," ses Ginger; "it saves spending money. Who did yougive that gold bracelet to you picked up the other night, captin?" heses, turning to Sam.
"Gold bracelet?" ses Sam. "I didn't pick up no gold bracelet. Wot areyou talking about?"
"All right, captin; no offence," ses Ginger, holding up his 'and. "Idreamt I saw one on your mantelpiece, I s'pose. P'r'aps I oughtn't toha' said anything about it."
Old Sam looked as though he'd like to eat 'im, especially as he noticedMrs. Finch listening and pretending not to. "Oh! that one," he ses,arter a bit o' hard thinking. "Oh! I found out who it belonged to. Youwouldn't believe 'ow pleased they was at getting it back agin."
Ginger Dick coughed and began to think as 'ow old Sam was sharper than he'ad given 'im credit for, but afore he could think of anything else tosay Mrs. Finch looked at old Sam and began to talk about 'is ship, and tosay 'ow much she should like to see over it.
"I wish I could take you," ses Sam, looking at the other two out o' thecorner of his eye, "but my ship's over at Dunkirk, in France. I've justrun over to London for a week or two to look round."
"And mine's there too," ses Peter Russet, speaking a'most afore old Sam'ad finished; "side by side they lay in the harbour."
"Oh, dear," ses Mrs. Finch, folding her 'ands and shaking her 'cad. "Ishould like to go over a ship one arternoon. I'd quite made up my mindto it, knowing three captins."
She smiled and looked at Ginger; and Sam and Peter looked at 'im too,wondering whether he was going to berth his ship at Dunkirk alongside o'theirs.
"Ah, I wish I 'ad met you a fortnight ago," ses Ginger, very sad. "Igave up my ship, the High flyer, then, and I'm waiting for one my ownersare 'aving built for me at New-castle. They said the High flyer wasn'tbig enough for me. She was a nice little ship, though. I believe I'vegot 'er picture somewhere about me!"
He felt in 'is pocket and pulled out a little, crumpled-up photograph ofa ship he'd been fireman aboard of some years afore, and showed it to'er.
"That's me standing on the bridge," he ses, pointing out a little dotwith the stem of 'is pipe.
"It's your figger," ses Mrs. Finch, straining her eyes. "I should knowit anywhere."
"You've got wonderful eyes, ma'am," ses old Sam, choking with 'is pipe.
"Anybody can see that," ses Ginger. "They're the largest and the bluestI've ever seen."
Mrs. Finch told 'im not to talk nonsense, but both Sam and Peter Russetcould see 'ow pleased she was.
"Truth is truth," ses Ginger. "I'm a plain man, and I speak my mind."
"Blue is my fav'rit' colour," ses old Sam, in a tender voice. "Trueblue."
Peter Russet began to feel out of it. "I thought brown was," he ses.
"Ho!" ses Sam, turning on 'im; "and why?"
"I 'ad my reasons,"
ses Peter, nodding, and shutting 'is mouth very firm.
"I thought brown was 'is fav'rit colour too," ses Ginger. "I don't knowwhy. It's no use asking me; because if you did I couldn't tell you."
"Brown's a very nice colour," ses Mrs. Finch, wondering wot was thematter with old Sam.
"Blue," ses Ginger; "big blue eyes--they're the ones for me. Otherpeople may 'ave their blacks and their browns," he ses, looking at Samand Peter Russet, "but give me blue."
They went on like that all the evening, and every time the shop-bell wentand the widow 'ad to go out to serve a customer they said in w'ispers wotthey thought of each other; and once when she came back rather suddenGinger 'ad to explain to 'er that 'e was showing Peter Russet a scratchon his knuckle.
Ginger Dick was the fust there next night, and took 'er a little chineyteapot he 'ad picked up dirt cheap because it was cracked right acrostthe middle; but, as he explained that he 'ad dropped it in hurrying tosee 'er, she was just as pleased. She stuck it up on the mantelpiece,and the things she said about Ginger's kindness and generosity made PeterRusset spend good money that he wanted for 'imself on a paintedflower-pot next evening.
With three men all courting 'er at the same time Mrs. Finch had 'er handsfull, but she took to it wonderful considering. She was so nice and kindto 'em all that even arter a week's 'ard work none of 'em was reallycertain which she liked best.
They took to going in at odd times o' the day for tobacco and such-like.They used to go alone then, but they all met and did the polite to eachother there of an evening, and then quarrelled all the way 'ome.
Then all of a sudden, without any warning, Ginger Dick and Peter Russetleft off going there. The fust evening Sam sat expecting them everyminute, and was so surprised that he couldn't take any advantage of it;but on the second, beginning by squeezing Mrs. Finch's 'and at ha'-pastseven, he 'ad got best part of his arm round 'er waist by a quarter toten. He didn't do more that night because she told him to be'ave'imself, and threatened to scream if he didn't leave off.
He was arf-way home afore 'e thought of the reason for Ginger Dick andPeter Russet giving up, and then he went along smiling to 'imself to suchan extent that people thought 'e was mad. He went off to sleep with thesmile still on 'is lips, and when Peter and Ginger came in soon arterclosing time and 'e woke up and asked them where they'd been, 'e wasstill smiling.
"I didn't 'ave the pleasure o' seeing you at Mrs. Finch's to-night," heses.
"No," ses Ginger, very short. "We got tired of it."
"So un'ealthy sitting in that stuffy little room every evening," sesPeter.
Old Sam put his 'ead under the bedclothes and laughed till the bed shook;and every now and then he'd put his 'ead out and look at Peter and Gingerand laugh agin till he choked.
"I see 'ow it is," he ses, sitting up and wiping his eyes on the sheet."Well, we cant all win."
"Wot d'ye mean?" ses Ginger, very disagreeable.
"She wouldn't 'ave you, Sam, thats wot I mean. And I don't wonder atit. I wouldn't 'ave you if I was a gal."
"You're dreaming, ses Peter Russet, sneering at 'im.
"That flower-pot o' yours'll come in handy," ses Sam, thinking 'ow he 'adput 'is arm round the widow's waist; "and I thank you kindly for theteapot, Ginger.
"You don't mean to say as you've asked 'er to marry you?" ses Ginger,looking at Peter Russet.
"Not quite; but I'm going to," ses Sam, "and I'll bet you even arf-crownsshe ses 'yes.'"
Ginger wouldn't take 'im, and no more would Peter, not even when he raisedit to five shillings; and the vain way old Sam lay there boasting andtalking about 'is way with the gals made 'em both feel ill.
"I wouldn't 'ave her if she asked me on 'er bended knees," ses Ginger,holding up his 'ead.
"Nor me," ses Peter. "You're welcome to 'er, Sam. When I think of theevenings I've wasted over a fat old woman I feel----"
"That'll do," ses old Sam, very sharp; "that ain't the way to speak of alady, even if she 'as said 'no.'"
"All right, Sam," ses Ginger. "You go in and win if you think you're soprecious clever."
Old Sam said that that was wot 'e was going to do, and he spent so muchtime next morning making 'imself look pretty that the other two could'ardly be civil to him.
He went off a'most direckly arter breakfast, and they didn't see 'im agintill twelve o'clock that night. He 'ad brought a bottle o' whisky inwith 'im, and he was so 'appy that they see plain wot had 'appened.
"She said 'yes' at two o'clock in the arternoon," ses old Sam, smiling,arter they had 'ad a glass apiece. "I'd nearly done the trick at oneo'clock, and then the shop-bell went, and I 'ad to begin all over agin.Still, it wasn't unpleasant."
"Do you mean to tell us you've asked 'er to marry you?" ses Ginger,'olding out 'is glass to be filled agin.
"I do," ses Sam; "but I 'ope there's no ill-feeling. You never 'ad achance, neither of you; she told me so."
Ginger Dick and Peter Russet stared at each other.
"She said she 'ad been in love with me all along," ses Sam, filling theirglasses agin to cheer 'em up. "We went out arter tea and bought theengagement-ring, and then she got somebody to mind the shop and we wentto the Pagoda music-'all."
"I 'ope you didn't pay much for the ring, Sam," ses Ginger, who alwaysgot very kind-'arted arter two or three glasses o' whisky. "If I'd knownyou was going to be in such a hurry I might ha' told you before."
"We ought to ha' done," ses Peter, shaking his 'ead.
"Told me?" ses Sam, staring at 'em. "Told me wot?"
"Why me and Peter gave it up," ses Ginger; "but, o' course, p'r'aps youdon't mind."
"Mind wot?" ses Sam.
"It's wonderful 'ow quiet she kept it," ses Peter.
Old Sam stared at 'em agin, and then he asked 'em to speak in plainEnglish wot they'd got to say, and not to go taking away the character ofa woman wot wasn't there to speak up for herself.
"It's nothing agin 'er character," ses Ginger. "It's a credit to her,looked at properly," ses Peter Russet.
"And Sam'll 'ave the pleasure of bringing of 'em up," ses Ginger.
"Bringing of 'em up?" ses Sam, in a trembling voice and turning pale;"bringing who up?"
"Why, 'er children," ses Ginger. "Didn't she tell you? She's got nineof 'em."
Sam pretended not to believe 'em at fust, and said they was jealous; butnext day he crept down to the greengrocer's shop in the same street,where Ginger had 'appened to buy some oranges one day, and found that itwas only too true. Nine children, the eldest of 'em only fifteen, wasstaying with diff'rent relations owing to scarlet-fever next door.
Old Sam crept back 'ome like a man in a dream, with a bag of oranges hedidn't want, and, arter making a present of the engagement-ring toGinger--if 'e could get it--he took the fust train to Tilbury and signedon for a v'y'ge to China.
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