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Updated: August 19, 2024
We were at the windlass heaving up the anchor, at the time, and had just struck up a sailor's chanty, which made a good deal of noise, but nothing seemed to disturb Granfa. He slumbered peacefuly through all the rattle of chains, and shouting of commands, so, somewhat subdued, we decided there was nothing for it but to seek our berths.
Then he said "Hullo, here's the old 'un himself, and quite a character to be sure. No wonder Mrs. 'Andsomebody is in a taking." The door had opened behind us; Granfa stood revealed, wearing his ragged coat and hat, and carrying his stick and little bundle, wrapped in a red handkerchief. "Don't 'ee get in a frizz, my dears, about me," he said with dignity. "I be leaving this instant moment.
"He's Granfa," I reiterated, desperately, "Our own nice grandfather that we haven't seen for years, and he's just come for a nice little visit with us. Why, Mary Ellen, the Bishop knows him " "Known him for years," put in Angel. "Went to Harrow together." "Ess fay," assented Granfa, eagerly. "Us were boon companions up to Harrer."
Even Mary Ellen could have learned from Granfa new ways of handling a broom with the least exertion to the worker; aye, in his hands, the broom seemed used chiefly as a support; a staff, upon which he leant while telling us many a tale of those rare old smuggling days of his youth.
"I do feel far from peart," replied Granfa. "This is horrible. Did you feel it coming on?" "Off and on for a long time," said Granfa. "It's been a terr'ble experience, and I ban't likely to be ever the same again, I'm afeared." Mrs. Handsomebody looked ready to faint. At that moment, Mary Ellen, having heard the voice of her mistress, projected her face above the doorsill of the backstairs.
"You would be near us all," finished the Bishop, blandly. "Ess fay. I can wield a broom," said Granfa. "And 'twill be a noble end for me to pass my days in such a holy spot. 'Twill be but a short jump from there fair into Heaven itself, and I do thank 'ee, parson, with all my heart." So it was settled, and turned out excellently.
"You see," I explained, keeping my fascinated eyes on the wart on her chin, "he's just come for a little visit, and he really is our Granfa, and we love him awfully." "Won't have him abused," spluttered The Seraph. "Be rights," added Mary Ellen, solemnly, "he should have the best spare room, the byes' own aged relation." "I shall sift this affair," said Mrs.
My father belongs to come himself to the Harvest Home, but my granfa never came to church at all so long as he was alive. 'Time enough when I'm dead for that' he used to say. He was a big man down to the Chapel, my granfa was. Mostly when he did preach the maids would start screeching, so I've heard tell. But he were too old for preaching when I knawed 'un."
Handsomebody's house, that dread misgiving took the pith out of our legs. All of a sudden Granfa loomed bulky and solid; the problem of where he was to be stowed presented itself. He was not like Giftie to be hidden in the scullery. He was not even like a white rat that could be secreted under one's bed till its unfortunate odour resulted in painful research.
There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture. Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off. "Merciful Heaven!" she whispered. "What has happened to you?"
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