I Saw Three Ships and Other Winter Tales

eached the exact point when Modesty Prowse could be surprised under the kissing-bush, and Old Zeb wiped his spectacles, thrust his chair back, and pushed out his elbows to make sure of room f

he stage of artificial ease, and wearing a lace cap, which was none the less dignified for having been smuggled, was perpending what to say when she should get him home. The dancers, pale and dusty, leant back in rows against the w

. Niver do I mind the Letterpo

conspirator," assented

nd turning con spiri

t's

s fore-finger round between neck and shirt-c

to sweat, crowder!"

x-eight time an' 't

e, crowder, to stay ye.

ne

ight say you was in sperrit

e; I

beyond the nat'ral hail-fel

yn't," answered the host

g-glint over my shoulder-but wud 'ee mind tellin' me if t

, sh

an' I'll make b'lieve to say 'Norronany' count.' Amazin' 'ot t' night," he

played his part of the comedy with elaborate slyness. "I

the wonders he accomplishes in an old pair o' Tresidder's high-lows must be seen to be bel

lock. I heard Sarah Ann Nanjulian, ju

ke up 'Randy my dandy,' for that son o' mine is lookin' blacker than the horned man, an' may be 't

, in Mr. Pennyway's shop, an armchair, in the worst taste, to be a pleasant surprise for Ruby when the happy day came for installing her. Finding he had still twenty minutes to spare after giving the last twitch to his neckerchief, and the last brush to his a

which was carrying hospitality too far. Not a word had she uttered to Zeb beyond the merest commonplaces; on the purchase of the chest of drawers she had breathed no question; she hung listlessly on his arm, and spoke only of the music, the other girls' frocks, the arrangement of the supp

eart turn sick with loathing. He glanced across the room at Ruby, who, with heightened colour, was listening to the stranger, and

sing-bush that some tall dancer's head had set swaying from the low rafter; the light of a sconce gleaming on Tresidder's bald scalp. Years after, he could recall the exact poise of Ruby's head as she answered som

loor. The musicians were sawing with might and main at high speed. He cro

by the fireplace a pair of eyes blazing with hate. The other had stared back quietly, as if he noted only the performance. As the music ended

ping died away, "that was wonderfully danced. In some ways I should almost sa

t better?" ask

cism, my friend; but yes-oh, yes, certa

shoes." And Zeb

swered, dropping on one knee and beginning to unfasten

face, was now seen to extend even to their feet. When the stranger stood up at length in Zeb's shoes, they fitted him to a nicety,

ily, Zeb stood squarely, with his legs wide apart and his hands deep in his pockets. He had no eyes for the intent faces around, no ears for their whispering, n

er's voice. "Then one-t

y dandy." As the quick air caught at the listeners' pulses, the stranger crossed his arms, drew his rig

ng to be mastered. So far, the performance was academic only. Zeb, unacquainted with the word, recognised the fact, and was quite aware of the inspiration-the personal gift-held in reserve to transfigure this precise art in a minute or so, and give it life. He saw the force gathering

and dashed into the heel-and-toe. Zeb caught the light in

he stranger to the

ht count eight rapidly, and suddenly began a step the like of which none present had ever witnessed, Above the hips hi

nged to the man, but had taken separate life: and merely the absolute symmetry of their loops and

ste

lightning, or as if the boards were flints giving ou

ste

it into a ball of fire, that spun and yet was motionless, in the very m

sts seemed ghostly after the fierce light he had been gazing on. He looked along the

Then something on the floor caught his atte

thin streak of silver was creeping along the

g across a strea

a foot in the air, and came down smartly on the final n

almost on the instant: for the stranger had

ne-a

e heart of the fire, where a clod of

or two of the guests, peeri

put the clod there

ea

oom that I be a passing well-to-do chap. I shudn' wonder now"-and here he embraced the company with a smile, half pompous and half timid- "

wed silence that followed, "for doubtless I may be thick o' hearin',

u d

d or light lips, down-right or random, 'out o' the heart the mouth speaketh' or wan

he cold

slice o'

ut it: or, as between man

her a born liar or

. I feel that o

"I've given over follerin' the freaks o'

bably summed up the o

g Zeb strode up to the stranger, wh

ck my shoes

them off and lo

'll find them a bit

. Man, I'm not al

y,

r devil, whichever you may be, I bain't fit to dance i' the sam

"two minutes ago I'd have agreed with you. But

wh

n't wear the

went af

with 'ee," he said qui

he

the

n't come,

you m

lowed h

s the matte

ed round sharply-"I lo

asked, like

yes, just now

won

you shall, an' carry, for my pleasure. You shall be slave, an' I your taskmaster; an' t

think y

od-night

ou'll suit me; but I'm not so sur

o this but the slammi

nt, was standing on the Vicarage doorstep to respire the first breath of the pale

d shoes were stained and splashed, as from much walking in miry ways. Also he

have you bee

N

e, my son, an' I

it so. I'm come to

ead on one side, much as a

here. Young man, who taugh

by

s that clever fellow you fetched ashore, on Monday.

an was after him, quick as thought,

bitter,

ter as dea

want your judgment on. Bitter, eh? I dessay. I dessay. I'm thinking of walking her-lemon spot on the left ear-Rattler strain, of cou