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For the two years following after the Major's death, Derrick and I, as I mentioned before, shared the rooms in Montague Street. For me, owing to the trouble I spoke of, they were years of maddening suspense and pain; but what pleasure I did manage to enjoy came entirely through the success of my friend's books and from his companionship.
At first he thought it was Celia, and, with a leap of the lover's heart, he took a step forward; then he stopped short; the figure was that of a man in flannels; and a moment or two afterwards, he had recognised Heyton. The disappointment was great; he had no desire to meet Heyton; the sight of him recalled the bitter past; and Derrick stood, frowning as he watched Heyton on his way to the lake.
The derrick has been knocked to pieces and the oil's shooting into the air a hundred feet." A second great shout drowned his words. This was an oil crowd. It dreamed oil, talked oil, thought oil, prayed for oil. A stranger in the town was likely to feel at first that the place was oil mad.
Very careful records were kept of labor, materials, derrick performances, steam-shovel performances, quantity of dynamite used, etc., and, in addition, a diary was kept giving a description of the work and materials used each day; various tables and diagrams were also prepared.
He was still discussing it when, two hours later, Derrick returned. "Here's good news!" said the Major, glancing up as his son approached. "Trust Lawrence to fall on his feet! He tells me the girl will have a thousand a year. You know her, don't you? What's she like?" "I have met her," replied Derrick, with forced composure. "She is very charming."
You see, I include your honoured self, because, as I have said, I have already a sneaking fondness for you. May one, without being too intrusive, ask if it is necessary for you to leave your native land?" "It is," said Derrick, quietly. "I've no place, no foothold here and there are other reasons with which I needn't bother you." "Oh, you wouldn't bother me; but I'm not curious.
Derrick's house, where he is known only as the new teacher, nobody knows and nobody dares ask his name; and recourse is accordingly had to the diplomacy of the "help." "'Child, said Mrs. Derrick, 'what on earth is his name? "'Mother, how should I know? I didn't ask him. "'But the thing is, said Mrs. Derrick, 'I did know; the Committee told me all about him.
"Here I are, Mr Priest," answered the carpenter, emerging from the forecastle hatchway after having stowed away his mawl again in the most methodical manner. "That's right," observed the mate. "Now, Chips, our foremast having gone, we want a derrick or a pair of sheers over this hatchway to help us in breaking out the cargo.
It amused me very much to see Derrick turned into a lion he was so essentially un-lion-like. People were for ever asking him how he worked, and I remember a very pretty girl setting upon him once at a dinner-party with the embarrassing request: "Now, do tell me, Mr. Vaughan, how do you write stories? I wish you would give me a good receipt for a novel."
All day the procession went on. However incredible it seemed, it was evident that the "Great Trek" had begun at last. Soon after midday a heliogram came through from Buller, saying he had severely defeated the enemy yesterday, and believed them to be in full retreat. The Boers were evidently removing him. They had struck a "shearlegs" or derrick upon the parapet.