Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 11, 2025
"Well," continued Mr Stuart, helping Mrs Bingley to a glass of sherry, "not long ago I had occasion to send Haco Barepoles to London, and he bethought him of the lawyer who had written to Gaff, so he called on him and told him of his friend's disappearance.
On the way he had to pass Bingley Hall, and rang the bell. The door was opened by Susan Barepoles. "Is Maister Gildart to hoam?" Susan said he was, and Kenneth was delighted to find that his change of voice and costume disguised him so completely that Susan did not recognise him. "I wants to see him." Susan bade him wait in the lobby.
It is worthy of remark that Mrs Gaff, being a heavy woman, went through the bottom of the first of the cane chairs she sat down on after they were placed in the boudoir, and that her fisher-friends, being all more or less heavy, went successively through the bottoms of all the rest until none were left, and they were finally replaced by the six heavy mahogany chairs, with the hair seats, which ever afterwards stood every test to which they were subjected, that of Haco Barepoles' weight included.
"Well, then, enter," said Gildart, pushing open the door, and holding it while the band filed into the passage. He followed them and closed the door. In a short time Haco Barepoles made his appearance. He also passed through the village unobserved, and, entering the cottage, closed the door. Thereafter he proceeded to make himself comfortable.
"I've just seed my old shipmate, Haco Barepoles, an' it's not unlikely he'll be ready for sea day arter to-morrow; so the sooner we turn this little job out o' hands the better. Come, Tottie, you're a good girl; I see you've purvided the paper and ink. Get the table cleaned, lass, and you, Billy, come here."
"The same," returned Mr Stuart; "and it was he who accompanied Haco Barepoles in my sloop, which he persists in naming the `Coffin, although its proper name is the `Betsy Jane, on that memorable voyage when Haco sailed her into port on the larboard tack after she had been cut down to the water's edge on the starboard side.
When this letter was placed in Mr Stuart's hands the following morning he was in the act of concluding a conversation with Haco Barepoles.
I was comforted, however, by finding a good fire and a hot cup of coffee in the parlour for myself and Lizzie, provided by our invaluable housekeeper, Susan Barepoles, a girl who was worthy of a better name, being an active, good-looking, cheerful lass.
He was about to hurl defiance in the teeth of the seaman, and make a second effort on the bowsprit, when Haco Barepoles thrust his red head up the after-hatch, and sang out "breakfast!" "Breakfast, Billy," repeated Gaff. To which the cherub responded by rushing aft with a cheer, and descending the square hole after his father.
That evening Haco Barepoles was seen on the road to Cove, with his coat-skirts, his cravat-ends, and his hair streaming in the breeze. An hour previously, however, a brass band was seen walking towards the same place, and, half an hour after that, a young midshipman was observed posting rapidly in the same direction.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking