Eveline

and the Asylum for the Victims of Misplaced Confidence. The Earl's seats are the splendid pile so well known as Normanstoke Towers, in Sussex; and 'Chitterlings,' a beautiful property in Cumberland, which has hitherto formed part of the jointure of the Countesses of Endover.'

When I had recovered from the perusal of this, I said to myself:

'The Dragon has had a finger in that pie. I wish at this moment-he had another-but no matter!'

The main fact was correct, however. Lord Endover had wrung a consent from me before we left town. He was overjoyed and very kind. I only felt ill at ease and uncomfortable. Sir Edward tried his best to console me.

'You will have your freedom-a first-class and leading position in both countries. 'Chitterlings' will be settled on you as part of your jointure. It is a lovely spot. I remember it well. The views of the lake are magnificent. It has been admirably kept up. Eveline, my darling, you ought to be a happy woman.'

'Let us forget it now, dear papa. Here at last we are out of the hurly-burly.'

We agreed in our arrangements for the day. I was to ride with him in the morning. We would walk up the downs in the afternoon. Sippett was in attendance on Lady L as usual. He went to town next day to meet Percy and on business. I was left alone. Lady L- made no scruple of her dislike to me. After breakfast I wandered along the Parade. I watched the sea and the boats. One old boatman interested me.

'Go for a row, miss? Beautiful mornin', miss. Sea like ice. Launch her down in half a jiffy, miss. Pull alongshore and see the bathin'.'

The loveliness of the day tempted me.

'Which is your boat, my friend?'

'That's she, miss. Yon white one, with the red streak.'

'She looks a safe craft. Does she rock about much?'

'Lor' bless your sweet soul! No, miss! Why look at her grand flat bottom, and her fine run aft! She can travel too. She's got legs on her! You should have seen her at the regatta. Better have an hour's now, miss.'

I got into the boat. The Locket, David Jones of Eastbourne, was painted on the board against which I leaned. It was a nice big boat with good cushions in clean white covers. The old man pushed off and jumped in.

'You'll go past the machines, miss, o'coorse?'

'Anywhere you like, Mr. David Jones. I have confidence in you. It is quite warm on the water.'

'Yes, miss. These are the ladies' machines. The gents' is further hup. We shall have to pass the ladies fust, but it won't take long.'

'Where are you going then, Mr. Jones?'

'Why, o'coorse-past the gents. All the ladies goes past in my boat. Tis what they likes best-as is nat'ral. That's what they takes the row for.'

The old fellow grinned. He screwed up his face into a comical expression. He actually winked.

The boat did travel well, as the poor old fellow said. It only took ten minutes to pass the line of gaudily arrayed, tall, angular female figures, of squalling children and shouting girls bobbing about knee- deep with their 'flat bottoms and fine runs aft' presented seawards.

'What a number of people on the beach, Mr. Jones!'

'Yes, miss. They allus comes there to look at the ladies.'

'I don't see very much to admire, but then perhaps it's because I'm a woman.'

'Jus' so, miss. You wait a bit. It's all right, I knows what the ladies like.'

Presently we passed the first of the men's bathing machines. Old Jones had pulled in closer.

'There we are, miss! Fine 'uns too among 'em today!'

I laughed-the idea was so crudely expressed. The fact was so evident that this was only an ordinary exercise on the part of the girls that I shook off the awkward feeling of restraint which troubled me. I looked boldly enough now. The men stood upon the machines with the doors open. They seemed to be employed principally in sawing their backs in a painful manner with bath towels. They were absolutely naked; their figures entirely and unblushingly exposed. Indeed when they saw me pass along with the old fellow they took special pains to exhibit themselves, their privates wagging proudly about in front.

'That's a fine 'un; ain't he, miss?'

I gazed in the direction in which the old man nodded his head as the boat glided by. I thought he even seemed to row slower as we passed. It was a tall man-white, handsome, well-developed-a patch of dark hair on his belly-a huge instrument of pleasure dangling between his thighs.

I held my breath. I noted the man well. I also observed the number of the machine-it was 33.

'Ah, he's a fine man, he is, miss, but he ain't half as fine a made man as what my son is. He's a sailor, miss, aboard a big four-masted ship, he is, and comin' home tomorrow. He's been round the Horn to Valparaiso and he's been took very bad along of the Horn and the weather. He's been paid off today, and he's comin' down here to see his old dad again. I 'spects him by the first train. He's been ten months away, but he's bound straight here, for he's a good lad and nothing wouldn't stop him in Lunnon.'

'Dear me, Mr. Jones, you quite interest me. And you think he would not stay to spend any of his money among the pleasures of London? He must be quite a model young man. I'm sure you must be proud of him.'

'I am that, miss. Not that he's much of a muddle either-he's fond of his old father, but he's fond of a pretty gal too. He'll be here tomorrow, then you can tell me if I'm right or not. Lor', miss, you should just see him pull these oars about. He used to make The Locket fly, he did! I fear I won't keep him here long. Not that he wouldn't go to sea again, but he'll get rid of his money among the gals here. They'll all be after him like they was afore.'

'What a sad thing, Mr. Jones. Don't you give him good advice?'

'So I used to do, miss. But Lor' luv yer, what's the good; lions wouldn't hold him, miss, he's that hot when he gets ashore. I got the missionary to reason with him, but it wasn't no good. He went about just the same again. No, miss, wild elephants couldn't hold him.'

'I think, perhaps, if you removed him from such temptations; if you kept him to your boat-letting business now, under your own eye, you know, Mr. Jones, don't you think that might tame him down a bit?'

'P'raps it might, miss, if he'd anyone to read and talk serious to him, but I don't know no one; and he's that quick and impatient-'

'You make me feel very much for your poor son, Mr. Jones. I shall come round in the morning, and if he's there then I should be pleased to talk to him on his duty to his parents.'

'I've been a widderer these twenty year come Michaelmas, so there's only me to look after the lad. He's more fit to look after me now. There's one thing I likes about him. He don't drink.'

I had one of my headaches next morning. I have not always the remedy for them at hand. On this occasion I had left it in London. I thought the air along the sea front might do me good. After breakfast I strolled along the Parade to the far corner where Mr. Jones-who, by the by, was not a Welshman but a native of Sussex-had his boat.

'Good morning, Mr. Jones. I see you are an advocate of cleanliness. Your Locket looks splendid, after the scrubbing you are giving her.'

A fine, tall, young fellow, fair and freckled, with his short curly hair shading his broad forehead, wielded a mop which belabored the bottom and sides of the upturned skiff. His legs were bare to the knees. He stood like an old Northern Viking, a splendid specimen of the Anglo-Saxon race. The heavy bucket might have contained only waste paper from the manner in which he shifted it about, charged to the brim with sea water. He almost dropped it, however, as he turned and saw me. His mouth opened. He stood stupidly staring at me from behind his old father. I recognized the youth at once.

'Good mornin', miss. I don't know nothin' about no advocates, miss, but my son Bill is just a givin' her a rub round as we was a thinkin', the mornin' being so fine, I might see a young lady down for a row.'

He had a twinkle in his eye which conveyed a silent hope that the liberal fee he had received the previous day might be repeated.

'So this is your son, is it, Mr. Jones? He must be of great service to you now you have got him.'

'Oh, yes, miss-he's a main stronger nor me. You should see him capsize that there butt all alone by hisself. Why a rhinoceros couldn't do it!'

The old boatman was brimming over with pride-satisfaction at recovering his long-absent son betrayed itself in every feature.

'You must be very glad to see your father again.'