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Nicky-Nan, Reservist, a novel by Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch |
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Chapter 24. The First Three |
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_ CHAPTER XXIV. THE FIRST THREE Mr Pamphlett had breakfasted, and had gone upstairs to put on his frock-coat and array himself for Divine service. The servant girl announced Mr Nanjivell. "Sorry to trouble 'ee, sir, and upon such a day," said Nicky-Nan, drawing up his sound leg to "attention," as his enemy entered the parlour: "but my business won't wait. I saw Doctor Mant after the meetin' last night, an' this mornin' I was up early an' had a talk wi' the Minister--wi' Mr Hambly. The upshot is, that time presses." "I do not usually discuss business on the Sabbath," said Mr Pamphlett stiffly. "O' course not. Who would?" Nicky-Nan agreed. "But the upshot is that you an' me havin' been not what you might call friends--" "I am due at Divine service in less than an hour. State your business," commanded Mr Pamphlett. "And I am due away, sir, in about that time. Will you look at this paper?" Nicky-Nan laid on the table a half-sheet of notepaper scribbled over with figures in pencil. "Look over that, if you please; or put it off till you come back from Chapel, if you will: but by that time I shall be gone. You'll find my address in Plymouth at the foot." "If you'd kindly explain--" "Mrs Penhaligon has the money. I've spoke to Dr Mant: who says I can be put right, an' the operation, with board and lodging, will be covered by ten pound. I've taken ten pound, as accounted for on the paper." Mr Pamphlett picked up the paper, and felt for his pince-nez. "Still I don't understand." "No, you wouldn't. I'm _trustin'_ 'ee--that's what it comes to. I've had a talk with Mr Hambly besides; and he and Dr Mant'll look after my interests. . . . You see, I _did_ find a hoard o' money in the Old Doctor's House, an' stuck to it, not knowin' the law. On the paper, too, you'll see what I've used of it--every penny accounted for. Mr Hambly says that anyway the law gives me a share far beyond anything I've used. So I leave it atween 'ee, to see fair play for me if ever I come back. If I don't, I've left it to the Penhaligon children; an' Mr Hambly an' Dr Mant'll see fair play for them. . . . But you understand, sir"--Nicky-Nan dived into his left trouser-pocket and showed a palmful of coins--"I've taken ten pound, for the operation an' sundries." Mr Pamphlett studied the paper for a moment. "But, my good man--since you say that you have taken Mr Hambly into your confidence--" "Well, sir?" "Oh, well--you will be back, doubtless, in a few days' time; and then we can talk. This--this is very--er--honest of you." "It may be. As for bein' back in a few days' time, if the War should be over in a few days' time you may expect me. I hope it won't. God forgive me for sayin' so, but I'll be more comfortable there. . . . Ay, d'ee hear me, Mr Pamphlett? More _comfortable_ than here amidst women's tongues an' clerkly men's devices, an', what's worse, even the set-up whisperin' o' children. God forgive 'em an' forgive _you!_ I'm a Polpier man, an' the last o' my stock; but I'll come back, if at all, to finish in Polpier with credit." "This represents a considerable sum of money," said Mr Pamphlett, conning the paper, and with a note, which he could not suppress, of elation in his voice. "Ay; does it not?" said Nicky-Nan scornfully. "Well, I leave 'ee at home, to prove how honest you can contrive to be with it. D'ee _see?_ . . . There's boys, like your nephew, young Obed Pearce, as goes to fight for their conscience; an' there's boys, like young Seth Minards, as goes to fight despite their conscience; but for me, that am growin' elderly, I go, maybe with a touch o' the old country, in contempt o' my kind." Mr Pamphlett had seated himself at the table, and with his golden pencil-holder was at work on the paper making calculations. Nicky-Nan, going out, turned in the doorway and lifted his hand to the old remembered naval salute. A couple of hours later, having given them a two-miles' lift on the way, Nicky-Nan at the cross-roads dropped young Seth and young Obed to take their way to the inland barracks. He was for the coast-road, with the hospital and the operating-theatre at the end of it. If Heaven willed, he might eventually be of some service on the heave of the sea, as they in their youth and their strength assuredly would be in the land campaign. As his hired trap jolted on, at a twist of the road before it bore straight-eastwardly, he caught sight of their diminishing figures side by side and already a goodish way off on a rise of the inland road. It did not occur to them to turn on the chance of sighting him and waving a hand. The two were comrades already, sharing talk, on this their first stage towards the battlefields of Flanders. [THE END] _ |
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