CHAPTER XXXI
A VEREKER'S ADVICE TO A VEREKER
Diogenes, perceiving he was permitted to loiter no more,philosophically betook himself to his heels, or rather hoofs, andtrotted briskly supper-wards, up hill and down, until suddenly, abovethe rattle and grind of the wheels, I was aware of a man's voice,peculiarly sonorous and sweet, upraised in joyful singing.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Him all creatures here below--"
The single voice was joined by others that swelled in jubilant chorus:
"Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
Reaching the top of a hill I looked down upon a little hamlet shadywith trees, a cluster of thatched, flower-girt cottages, a hoarychurch, an ancient inn before which last stood Jessamy Todd and agroup of rustic folk, men in smocked frocks or shirt sleeves,bare-armed women in aprons or print gowns, children tousled and roundof eye, and all, for the most part, very silent, with heads reverentlybowed, for Jessamy was praying:
"--so Heavenly Father here we be, Thy children all, weary with another day's labour, grant us this night Thy peace, each one. If any there be that grieve, O Father, comfort 'em; if any there be in pain, O Father, pity an' cherish 'em; if any do bear ill-will agin his brother, O Father, turn his anger to love that love may come thereby. Oh, make us strong against all temptations, that when we come to our last, long sleep we may rest with Thee for ever. Amen.
And good-night, friends and brothers."
Hereupon Jessamy put on his hat, paused to grasp the horny handsextended to him, then lifted a large canvas bag to his shoulder, butat my shout he turned and flourished his hat in salutation as we droveup.
"Why, Jessamy," exclaimed Diana, as he placed the bag in the cart,"what's come t' your face?" And now I saw his comely features weredisfigured by an ugly blue weal.
"Oh, nothin' much, Ann," he exclaimed, smiling a little sheepishly."Only a whip--"
"Lord, Jess--whose?"
"I come on a fine gentleman thrashing of a little lad, whereupon Iventured a word of remonstrance as in dooty bound and turned to lookto the lad as lay a-weepin', whereupon the gentleman took occasion togi'e me this here--ye see he didn't 'appen to know me, poor soul!"
"Well, I hope you gave the 'poor soul' all he needed!" cried Diana,cracking the whip so loudly that Diogenes pricked startled ears.
"I'm afraid I did, Ann, God forgive me. The Old Adam's very strong inme."
"And how's the poor boy?"
"Why, the gentleman wore ridin' boots, d'ye see--"
"Ah!" exclaimed Diana between white teeth. "And what's become o' thegentleman--"
"They--put him to bed," confessed Jessamy guiltily, "but he's nice an'comfortable, Ann, an'll be right as nine pence in th' morning."
"What sort of a person was he?" I enquired.
"A biggish chap, a bit too round an' wi' too much neck."
"How often did ye hit him, Jess?"
"Four times, Ann! Four times, an' one would ha' been plenty. Fourtimes an' me preachin' forgiveness an' brotherly love--"
"Brotherly love's no good agin' that kind o' beast, a good strongfist's the thing, or better still a little, sharp _churi_--likemine!"
"Ah, but when I hit him," sighed Jessamy, "I went on hitting him--notfor the good of his soul but because--I--I j'yed in it--"
"Well, it did him just as much good, anyhow!" said Diana whereuponJessamy sighed again and shook his head in self-reproof. Seeing himthus downcast, I laid a hand on his arm and with the other felt in mypocket.
"Do you happen to possess a watch, Jessamy?" I enquired.
"Aye, for sure," he nodded, "that is, I did, an' a rare good 'un too,but it don't go these days by reason of a brick as was hove at me by ariotous fe-male."
"Good heavens!" I exclaimed. "Why?"
"The poor creetur' being in liquor didn't take kindly to my method o'prayer, so she let fly a brick as took me in the watch, bein'fortunate for me but bad for my watch--a good, silver watch, too, aswas given me by my old dad just afore he died. An' so I ain't had the'eart to buy another."
"Then will you please accept this?" said I a little diffidently, awareof Diana's sharp eyes, and I thrust the timepiece into his hand.
"Why--but--how can I--Lord bless me!" stammered Jessamy, glancing fromthe watch to me and back again irresolutely.
"You'd better put it into your pocket, Jess, quick, or he'll throw itinto the ditch!" nodded Diana. "So put it into your pocket and thankthe pretty gentleman." This Jessamy did, after no little demur andwith reiterated expressions of thanks.
"Which do remind me, sir, as I have a letter for you," said he.
"And my name is Peregrine," I nodded.
"A letter, Peregrine, as was give to me for you by your uncle, SirJervas." And presently, having felt through his numerous pockets, hebrought forth the letter in question, which, with due apology, Iproceeded to open and read; here it is:
"MY DEAR PEREGRINE:Apropos of your forthcoming marriage (at this I started) be guided byyour own discretion in the matter, since Marriage is one of the fewserious dangers to be feared in an otherwise somewhat vapid tedium wecall life. Be yourself to yourself, guide, philosopher and friend,since you are likely to heed the wisdom of such more than that of anyother friend, for I judge that being a Vereker, no Vereker (or anyother lesser human) can stay you from your fixed purpose. So (writingas a relation who has developed an unexpected regard for you) myserious advice is--act upon your own advice. Your beautiful gipsy is amagnificent creature with a mind and will of her own, the dignifiedunrestraint of a dryad and the deplorable diction of a wandering gipsywench. She would be excellent as a picture, entertaining as acompanion and execrable as a wife. This of course is merely theopinion of a Vereker which to another Vereker is of not the slightestconsideration. None the less, being somewhat your senior in years, Iwould venture to point out what I have learned by bitter experience,to wit, nephew, viz: that which is delightful for an hour may disgustin a week and become intolerable within a month.
In which certainty I subscribe myself, Most humbly your uncle, Jervas Vereker.
P.S. If you care to designate such address as will find you, yourallowance shall be forwarded either by week or month as you shalldetermine."
Scarcely had I finished the perusal of this characteristic missivethan we turned from the road and jolted down the grassy slope towardsthe little wood from whose rustling shadow came the blithe thump andring of the Tinker's busy hammer, which merry clamour ceased suddenly;and forth to welcome us came Jerry, sooty and grimed as Vulcan himselfand smiling in cheery greeting. And glancing from his honest face,with its wise and kindly eyes, over the quiet peace of this shelteredwood and smiling countryside, to Diana's proud and vital beauty, Iknew indeed that no Vereker or any other human could stay me from mypurpose.
"Jeremy," said I, plunging hand into pocket, "I don't know if youpossess a watch or want a watch, but I've bought you one; pray acceptit in memory of our friendship and as a very small mark of my esteem."
"Lord love me--a silver watch!" exclaimed the Tinker for about thetenth time, clapping the same to his ear.
"Two on 'em, brother!" said Jessamy, doing the same by his.
"My soul!" exclaimed the Tinker. "Fortune ain't in the habit o'showering brand-noo silver watches about me like this an' it's apt toketch me unprepared with words to soot the occasion--"
"True, brother, when Peregrine stuck mine into my fist it was like aroaster in the short ribs, low, brother, low--I was floored, takenaback, an' nat'rally broached to an' come to a dead halt--"
"Wicked extravagance, I call it!" exclaimed Diana, glancing up fromthe potatoes she was peeling. "Though if he wants to waste his money,he couldn't ha' wasted it better!"
"For that," said I, seating myself beside her, "I will help you withthose things if you'll show me how!" At this she glanced swiftly at mewithout lifting her head and in her eyes was an indescribablekindliness and her viv
id lips were curved to smile so tender that Istared in joyful bewilderment and forgot all else in the world untilroused by the Tinker's voice:
"And exactly what o'clock might it be by your chronometer, Jessamy?"
"Precisely fifteen minutes an' three quarters past seven, brother."
"Then, according to mine, you're precisely three quarters of a minutefast, Jessamy, my lad."
"Why, as to that, friend," answered Jessamy, "it's in my mind thatyou're just about that much slow, comrade."
And so, reaching a knife, I began to help Diana in the peeling ofpotatoes and, though finding it a somewhat trying business, yetcontrived ever and anon to steal surreptitious glances at her downbentface and to surprise more than once that new soft and shy-sweet wonderin her glance.
"You'll cut yourself if you aren't more careful!" she admonished, andthe kindness it seemed had somehow got into her voice.
"What matter?" said I. "What does anything matter except--"
"What?" she questioned softly.
"You, Diana--you and only you--"
"Don't be silly!" said she, but in the same gentle voice and thoughshe stooped her head a little lower, I thought the colour was deepenedin her cheek.
"Should you think me silly, Diana, if I told you--"
"Yes, I should!" she answered so suddenly that I started and the wetpotato shot from my grasp.
"I fancy it'll rain to-night, Jessamy," said the Tinker, glancing upat the heavens.
"Brother, I'm pretty sure of it," answered Jessamy, "I noticed theclouds bankin' up to wind'ard. We'd best rig up t' other tent--"
"Why, Peregrine," exclaimed the Tinker, as I stooped to recover theelusive vegetable, "who's been sp'iling of your noo coat, yourcollar's all ripped, lad?"
"A black scoundrel who insulted Diana," I exclaimed, clenching myfists.
"A gentleman as spoke to me, you mean!"
"The damned rogue tried to kiss you--"
"Well, what of it--I didn't let him, did I?"
"You have no business to run such risks," said I angrily, my gorgerising at memory of the fellow, "a tavern is no place for a girl--"
"Well, I can't live under a glass case!" she retorted. "And, anyway, Ican take care of myself--better than you can!"
"Yes," I answered humbly, "I fear I am not a very terriblechampion--Jessamy, O Jessamy, teach me how to fight!"
For answer Jessamy rose and opening his canvas bag reached thence fourof those padded gloves termed 'mufflers.'
"With your uncle George's compliments!" said he, glancing at me withtwinkling eyes. "And now, seeing the light's good, if you'm minded totry a round or so afore supper, why cheerily it is, messmate!"
Then, tossing aside the half-peeled potato I stripped off my coat.