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Updated: May 20, 2025
"Aye, aye, Shipmate, that does ketch me, all aback, shipmate. Why Lord! I'd give a pound, two pound ah, ten! just to have been astarn of him wi' a rope's end, though come to think of it I'd ha' preferred a capstan-bar." "Peterday," said the Sergeant removing his gaze from the wall with a jerk, "on the twenty-fifth instant we shall be without a roof to cover us, and all my doing.
Peterday now rose, and set a jug together with three glasses upon the table, also spoons, and a lemon, keeping his "weather-eye" meanwhile, upon the kettle, which last, condescending to boil obligingly, he rapped three times with his wooden leg.
"True Peterday, but then I'm used to it, and use is everything as you know, I can lay my hand upon anything in a minute watch me!" Saying which, the Sergeant squeezed himself between the press and the dresser, opened the cupboard, and took thence several articles which he named, each in order. "A pair o' jack-boots, two brushes, blacking, and a burnisher."
Bellew also noticed that each side of the room partook of the same characteristics, one being devoted to things nautical, the other to objects military. All this Bellew noticed while the soldier was brewing the tea, and the sailor was bestowing the last finishing touches to the muffins. "It aren't often as we're honoured wi' company, sir," said Peterday, as they sat down, "is it, Dick?"
"Not good enough for such a woman I know, but the best I could afford, sir!" said the Sergeant appearing profoundly interested in the leaves overhead, while Bellew opened the very small box. "Why it's very handsome, Sergeant!" said Bellew, making the jewels sparkle in the sun, "anyone might be proud of such a ring." "Why, it did look pretty tidy in the shop, sir, to me, and Peterday.
Grieg was always breaking his heart over something, or other. And Gracious! there's Mr. Bellew at the window. Pray come in, Mr. Bellew, and tell us how you liked Peterday, and the muffins?" "Thank you!" said Bellew, stepping in through the long French window, "but I should like to hear Miss Anthea play again, first, if she will?"
Ye see, sir," said Peterday, taking advantage of the Sergeant's abstraction, and whispering confidentially behind his muffin, "that messmate o' mine has such a high opinion o' my gifts as is fair over-powering, and a tin whistle is only a tin whistle, after all." "And it is about the only instrument I could ever get the hang of," said Bellew. "Why do you mean as you play, sir?"
"You will be wondering at the tantrums of the man Grimes, sir, of his ordering me and my comrade Peterday out of his cottage. Sir I'll tell you in two words. It's all owing to the sale up at the Farm, sir. You see, Grimes is a great hand at buying things uncommonly cheap, and selling 'em uncommonly dear. To-day it seems he was disappointed " "Ah?" said Bellew.
They had already "given 'em" three or four selections, each of which had been vociferously encored by Peterday, or Bellew, and had just finished an impassioned rendering of the "Suwanee River," when the Sergeant appeared with his boots beneath his arm. "Shipmate!" cried Peterday, flourishing his whistle, "did ye ever hear a tin whistle better played, or mellerer in tone?"
Hereupon, Peterday rose, and crossing to a battered sea-man's chest in the corner, came back with three or four tin whistles which he handed to Bellew, who laid aside his pipe, and, having selected one, ran tentatively up and down the scale while Peterday listened attentive of ear, and beaming of face.
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