Ship's Company, the Entire CollectionJacobs, W. W. (William Wymark)
General
Ship's Company, the Entire Collection
Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark)
England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Humorous stories, English
“He shut the door when 'e got in, and arter Peter 'ad lit the candle they
took hold o' Sam and went through 'im, and arter trying to find pockets
where he 'adn't got any, they took off 'is belt and found Ginger's watch,
seventeen pounds five shillings, and a few coppers.
“'We 'ad over nine quid each, me and Peter,' ses Ginger. 'Where's the
rest?'
“'It's all I've got left,' ses Sam; 'every ha'penny.'
“He 'ad to undress and even take 'is boots off afore they'd believe 'im,
and then Ginger took 'is watch and he ses to Peter, 'Lemme see; 'arf of
seventeen pounds is eight pounds ten; 'arf of five shillings is
'arf-a-crown; and 'arf of fourpence is twopence.'
“'What about me Ginger old pal?' ses Sam, in a kind voice. 'We must
divide it into threes.'
“'Threes?' ses Ginger, staring at'im. 'Whaffor?'
“''Cos part of it's mine,' ses Sam, struggling 'ard to be perlite. 'I've
paid for everything for the last ten days, ain't I?'
“'Yes,' ses Ginger. 'You 'ave, and I thank you for it.'
“'So do I,' ses Peter Russet. 'Hearty I do.'
“'It was your kind-'artedness,' ses Ginger, grinning like mad. 'You gave
it to us, and we wouldn't dream of giving it to you back.'
“'Nothin' o' the kind,' ses Sam, choking.
“'Oh, yes you did,' ses Ginger, 'and you didn't forget to tell people
neither. You told everybody. Now it's our turn.'
“He opened the door and kicked the lodger out. Leastways, he would 'ave
kicked 'im, but the chap was too quick for 'im. And then 'e came back,
and, putting his arm round Peter's waist, danced a waltz round the room
with 'im, while pore old Sam got on to his bed to be out of the way.
They danced for nearly 'arf-an-hour, and then they undressed and sat on
Peter's bed and talked. They talked in whispers at fust, but at last Sam
'eard Peter say:--
“'Threepence for 'is brekfuss; sevenpence for 'is dinner; threepence for
'is tea; penny for beer and a penny for bacca. 'Ow much is that,
Ginger?'
“'One bob,' ses Ginger.
“Peter counted up to 'imself. 'I make it more than that, old pal,' he
ses, when he 'ad finished.
“'Do you?' ses Ginger, getting up. 'Well, he won't; not if he counts it
twenty times over he won't. Good-night, Peter. 'Appy dreams.'”
DUAL CONTROL
“Never say 'die,' Bert,” said Mr. Culpepper, kindly; “I like you, and so
do most other people who know what's good for 'em; and if Florrie don't
like you she can keep single till she does.”
Mr. Albert Sharp thanked him.
“Come in more oftener,” said Mr. Culpepper. “If she don't know a steady
young man when she sees him, it's her mistake.”
“Nobody could be steadier than what I am,” sighed Mr. Sharp.
Mr. Culpepper nodded. “The worst of it is, girls don't like steady young
men,” he said, rumpling his thin grey hair; “that's the silly part of
it.”
“But you was always steady, and Mrs. Culpepper married you,” said the
young man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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