SAILORS' KNOTS

By W. W. Jacobs

1909

"MATRIMONIAL OPENINGS"

Mr. Dowson sat by the kitchen fire smoking and turning a docile and well-trained ear to the heated words which fell from his wife's lips. 

"She'll go and do the same as her sister Jenny done, " said Mrs. Dowson, with a side glance at her daughter Flora; "marry a man and then 'ave towork and slave herself to skin and bone to keep him. "

"I see Jenny yesterday, " said her husband, nodding. "Getting quite fat, she is. "

"That's right, " said Mrs. Dowson, violently, "that's right! The moment Isay something you go and try and upset it. "

"Un'ealthy fat, p'r'aps, " said Mr. Dowson, hurriedly; "don't get enoughexercise, I s'pose. "

"Anybody who didn't know you, Joe Dowson, " said his wife, fiercely, "would think you was doing it a purpose. "

"Doing wot?" inquired Mr. Dowson, removing his pipe and regarding heropen-mouthed. "I only said----"

"I know what you said, " retorted his wife. "Here I do my best frommorning to night to make everybody 'appy and comfortable; and whathappens?"

"Nothing, " said the sympathetic Mr. Dowson, shaking his head. "Nothing. "

"Anyway, Jenny ain't married a fool, " said Mrs. Dowson, hotly; "she's gotthat consolation. "

"That's right, mother, " said the innocent Mr. Dowson, "look on the brightside o' things a bit. If Jenny 'ad married a better chap I don't supposewe should see half as much of her as wot we do. "

"I'm talking of Flora, " said his wife, restraining herself by an effort. "One unfortunate marriage in the family is enough; and here, instead o'walking out with young Ben Lippet, who'll be 'is own master when hisfather dies, she's gadding about with that good-for-nothing CharlieFoss. "

Mr. Dowson shook his head. "He's so good-looking, is Charlie, " he said, slowly; "that's the worst of it. Wot with 'is dark eyes and his curly'air----"

"Go on!" said his wife, passionately, "go on!"

Mr. Dowson, dimly conscious that something was wrong, stopped and puffedhard at his pipe. Through the cover of the smoke he bestowed asympathetic wink upon his daughter. 

"You needn't go on too fast, " said the latter, turning to her mother. "Ihaven't made up my mind yet. Charlie's looks are all right, but he ain'tover and above steady, and Ben is steady, but he ain't much to look at. "

"What does your 'art say?" inquired the sentimental Mr. Dowson. 

Neither lady took the slightest notice. 

"Charlie Foss is too larky, " said Mrs. Dowson, solemnly; "it's easy comeand easy go with 'im. He's just such another as your father's cousinBill--and look what 'appened to him!"

Miss Dowson shrugged her shoulders and subsiding in her chair, went onwith her book, until a loud knock at the door and a cheerful, butpeculiarly shrill, whistle sounded outside. 

[Illustration: "Miss Dowson, subsiding in her chair, went on with herbook. "]

"There is my lord, " exclaimed Mrs. Dowson, waspishly; "anybody mightthink the 'ouse belonged to him. And now he's dancing on my cleandoorstep. "

"Might be only knocking the mud off afore coming in, " said Mr. Dowson, ashe rose to open the door. "I've noticed he's very careful. "

"I just came in to tell you a joke, " said Mr. Foss, as he followed hishost into the kitchen and gazed tenderly at Miss Dowson--"best joke Iever had in my life; I've 'ad my fortune told--guess what it was! I'vebeen laughing to myself ever since. "

"Who told it?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, after a somewhat awkward silence. 

"Old gypsy woman in Peter Street, " replied Mr. Foss. "I gave 'er a wrongname and address, just in case she might ha' heard about me, and she didmake a mess of it; upon my word she did. "

"Wot did she say?" inquired Mr. Dowson. 

Mr. Foss laughed. "Said I was a wrong 'un, " he said, cheerfully, "andwould bring my mother's gray hairs to the grave with sorrow. I'm to 'avebad companions and take to drink; I'm to steal money to gamble with, andafter all that I'm to 'ave five years for bigamy. I told her I wasdisappointed I wasn't to be hung, and she said it would be adisappointment to a lot of other people too. Laugh! I thought I should'ave killed myself. "

"I don't see nothing to laugh at, " said Mrs. Dowson, coldly. 

"I shouldn't tell anybody else, Charlie, " said her husband. "Keep it asecret, my boy. "

"But you--you don't believe it?" stammered the crestfallen Mr. Foss. 

Mrs. Dowson cast a stealthy glance at her daughter. "Its wonderful 'owsome o' those fortune-tellers can see into the future, " she said, shakingher head. 

"Ah!" said her husband, with a confirmatory nod. "Wonderful is no namefor it. I 'ad my fortune told once when I was a boy, and she told me Ishould marry the prettiest, and the nicest, and the sweetest-tempered galin Poplar. "

Mr. Foss, with a triumphant smile, barely waited for him to finish. "There you--" he began, and stopped suddenly. 

[Illustration: "I just came in to tell you a joke. "]

"What was you about to remark?" inquired Mrs. Dowson, icily. 

"I was going to say, " replied Mr. Foss--"I was going to say--I 'ad justgot it on the tip o' my tongue to say, 'There you--you--you 'ad all theluck, Mr. Dowson. '"

He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora; but there was a chillinessin the atmosphere against which his high spirits strove in vain. Mr. Dowson remembered other predictions which had come true, notably the caseof one man who, learning that he was to come in for a legacy, gave up atwo-pound-a-week job, and did actually come in for twenty pounds and abird-cage seven years afterwards. 

[Illustration: "He edged his chair a little nearer to Flora. "]

"It's all nonsense, " protested Mr. Foss; "she only said all that becauseI made fun of her. You don't believe it, do you, Flora?"

"I don't see anything to laugh at, " returned Miss Dowson. "Fancy fiveyears for bigamy! Fancy the disgrace of it!"

"But you're talking as if I was going to do it, " objected Mr. Foss. "Iwish you'd go and 'ave your fortune told. Go and see what she says aboutyou. P'r'aps you won't believe so much in fortune-telling afterwards. "

Mrs. Dowson looked up quickly, and then, lowering her eyes, took her handout of the stocking she had been darning and, placing it beside itscompanion, rolled the pair into a ball. 

"You go round to-morrow night, Flora, " she said, deliberately. "Itsha'n't be said a daughter of mine was afraid to hear the truth aboutherself; father'll find the money. "

"And she can say what she likes about you, but I sha'n't believe it, "said Mr. Foss, reproachfully. 

"I don't suppose it'll be anything to be ashamed of, " said Miss Dowson, sharply. 

Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly, and, finding himself accompaniedto the door by Mr. Dowson, gave way to gloom. He stood for so long withone foot on the step and the other on the mat that Mr. Dowson, whodisliked draughts, got impatient. 

[Illustration: "Mr. Foss bade them good-night suddenly. "]

"You'll catch cold, Charlie, " he said at last. 

"That's what I'm trying to do, " said Mr. Foss; "my death o' cold. Then Isha'n't get five years for bigamy, " he added bitterly. 

"Cheer up, " said Mr. Dowson; "five years ain't much out of a lifetime;and you can't expect to 'ave your fun without--"

He watched the retreating figure of Mr. Foss as it stamped its way downthe street, and closing the door returned to the kitchen to discusspalmistry and other sciences until bedtime. 

Mrs. Dowson saw husband and daughter off to work in the morning, andafter washing up the breakfast things drew her chair up to the kitchenfire and became absorbed in memories of the past. All the leadingincidents in Flora's career passed in review before her. Measles, whooping-cough, school-prizes, and other things peculiar to the age ofinnocence were all there. In her enthusiasm she nearly gave her asprained ankle which had belonged to her sister. Still shaking her headover her mistake, she drew Flora's latest portrait carefully from itsplace in the album, and putting on her hat and jacket went round to makea call in Peter Street. 

By the time Flora returned home Mrs. Dowson appeared to have forgottenthe arrangement made the night before, and, being reminded by herdaughter, questioned whether any good could come of attempts to peer intothe future. Mr. Dowson was still more emphatic, but his objections, being recognized by both ladies as trouser-pocket ones, carried noweight. It ended in Flora going off with half a crown in her glove andan urgent request from her father to make it as difficult as possible forthe sibyl by giving a false name and address. 

No name was asked for, however, as Miss Dowson was shown into the untidylittle back room on the first floor, in which the sorceress ate, slept, and received visitors. She rose from an old rocking-chair as the visitorentered, and, regarding her with a pair of beady black eyes, bade her sitdown. 

"Are you the fortune-teller?" inquired the girl. 

"Men call me so, " was the reply. 

"Yes, but are you?" persisted Miss Dowson, who inherited her father'sfondness for half crowns. 

"Yes, " said the other, in a more natural voice. 

She took the girl's left hand, and pouring a little dark liquid into thepalm gazed at it intently. "Left for the past; right for the future, "she said, in a deep voice. 

She muttered some strange words and bent her head lower over the girl'shand. 

[Illustration: "She muttered some strange words and bent her head lowerover the girl's hand. "]

"I see a fair-haired infant, " she said, slowly; "I see a little girl offour racked with the whooping-cough; I see her later, eight she appearsto be. She is in bed with measles. "

Miss Dowson stared at her open-mouthed. 

"She goes away to the seaside to get strong, " continued the sorceress;"she is paddling; she falls into the water and spoils her frock; hermother----"

"Never mind about that, " interrupted the staring Miss Dowson, hastily. "I was only eight at the time and mother always was ready with herhands. "

"People on the beach smile, " resumed the other. "They

"It don't take much to make some people laugh, " said Miss Dowson, withbitterness. 

"At fourteen she and a boy next door but seven both have the mumps. "

"And why not?" demanded Miss Dowson with great warmth. "Why not?"

"I'm only reading what I see in your hand, " said the other. "At fifteenI see her knocked down by a boat-swing; a boy from opposite brings herhome. "

"Passing at the time, " murmured Miss Dowson. 

"His head is done up with sticking-plaster. I see her apprenticed to adressmaker. I see her----"

The voice went on monotonously, and Flora, gasping with astonishment, listened to a long recital of the remaining interesting points in hercareer. 

"That brings us to the present, " said the soothsayer, dropping her hand. "Now for the future. "

She took the girl's other hand and poured some of the liquid into it. Miss Dowson shrank back. 

"If it's anything dreadful, " she said, quickly, "I don't want to hear it. It--it ain't natural. "

"I can warn you of dangers to keep clear of, " said the other, detainingher hand. "I can let you peep into the future and see what to do andwhat to avoid. Ah!"

She bent over the girl's hand again and uttered little ejaculations ofsurprise and perplexity. 

"I see you moving in gay scenes surrounded by happy faces, " she said, slowly. "You are much sought after. Handsome presents and fine clothesare showered upon you. You will cross the sea. I see a dark young manand a fair young man. They will both influence your life. The fairyoung man works in his father's shop. He will have great riches. "

"What about the other?" inquired Miss Dowson, after a somewhat lengthypause. 

The fortune-teller shook her head. "He is his own worst enemy, " shesaid, "and he will drag down those he loves with him. You are going tomarry one of them, but I can't see clear--I can't see which. "

"Look again, " said the trembling Flora. 

"I can't see, " was the reply, "therefore it isn't meant for me to see. It's for you to choose. I can see them now as plain as I can see you. You are all three standing where two roads meet. The fair young man isbeckoning to you and pointing to a big house and a motor-car and ayacht. "

"And the other?" said the surprised Miss Dowson. 

"He's in knickerbockers, " said the other, doubtfully. "What does thatmean? Ah, I see! They've got the broad arrow on them, and he ispointing to a jail. It's all gone--I can see no more. "

She dropped the girl's hand and, drawing her hand across her eyes, sankback into her chair. Miss Dowson, with trembling fingers, dropped thehalf crown into her lap, and, with her head in a whirl, made her waydownstairs. 

After such marvels the streets seemed oddly commonplace as she walkedswiftly home. She decided as she went to keep her knowledge to herself, but inclination on the one hand and Mrs. Dowson on the other got thebetter of her resolution. With the exception of a few things in herpast, already known and therefore not worth dwelling upon, the whole ofthe interview was disclosed. 

"It fair takes your breath away, " declared the astounded Mr. Dowson. 

"The fair young man is meant for Ben Lippet, " said his wife, "and thedark one is Charlie Foss. It must be. It's no use shutting your eyes tothings. "

"It's as plain as a pikestaff, " agreed her husband. "And she toldCharlie five years for bigamy, and when she's telling Flora's Fortune shesees 'im in convict's clothes. How she does it I can't think. "

"It's a gift, " said Mrs. Dowson, briefly, "and I do hope that Flora isgoing to act sensible. Anyhow, she can let Ben Lippet come and see her, without going upstairs with the tooth-ache. "

"He can come if he likes, " said Flora; "though why Charlie couldn't have'ad the motor-car and 'im the five years, I don't know. "

Mr. Lippet came in the next evening, and the evening after. In fact, soeasy is it to fall into habits of an agreeable nature that nearly everyevening saw him the happy guest of Mr. Dowson. A spirit of resignation, fostered by a present or two and a visit to the theatre, descended uponMiss Dowson. Fate and her mother combined were in a fair way toovercome her inclinations, when Mr. Foss, who had been out of town on ajob, came in to hear the result of her visit to the fortune-teller, andfound Mr. Lippet installed in the seat that used to be his. 

At first Mrs. Dowson turned a deaf ear to his request for information, and it was only when his jocularity on the subject passed the bounds ofendurance that she consented to gratify his curiosity. 

"I didn't want to tell you, " she said, when she had finished, "but youasked for it, and now you've got it. "

"It's very amusing, " said Mr. Foss. "I wonder who the dark young man inthe fancy knickers is?"

"Ah, I daresay you'll know some day, " said Mrs. Dowson. 

"Was the fair young man a good-looking chap?" inquired the inquisitiveMr. Foss. 

Mrs. Dowson hesitated. "Yes, " she said, defiantly. 

"Wonder who it can be?" muttered Mr. Foss, in perplexity. 

"You'll know that too some day, no doubt, " was the reply. 

"I'm glad it's to be a good-looking chap, " he said; "not that I thinkFlora believes in such rubbish as fortune-telling. She's too sensible. "

"I do, " said Flora. "How should she know all the things I did when I wasa little girl? Tell me that. "

"I believe in it, too, " said Mrs. Dowson. "P'r'aps you'll tell me I'mnot sensible!"

Mr. Foss quailed at the challenge and relapsed into moody silence. Thetalk turned on an aunt of Mr. Lippet's, rumored to possess money, and anuncle who was "rolling" in it. He began to feel in the way, and only hisnative obstinacy prevented him from going. 

It was a relief to him when the front door opened and the heavy step ofMr. Dowson was heard in the tiny passage. If anything it seemed heavierthan usual, and Mr. Dowson's manner when he entered the room and greetedhis guests was singularly lacking in its usual cheerfulness. He drew achair to the fire, and putting his feet on the fender gazed moodilybetween the bars. 

"I've been wondering as I came along, " he said at last, with an obviousattempt to speak carelessly, "whether this 'ere fortune-telling as we'vebeen hearing so much about lately always comes out true. "

"It depends on the fortune-teller, " said his wife. 

"I mean, " said Mr. Dowson, slowly, "I mean that gypsy woman that Charlieand Flora went to. "

"Of course it does, " snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says aforeanything. "

"I know five or six that she has told, " said Mr. Lippet, plucking upcourage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; theysaid so. "

"Still, she might make a mistake sometimes, " said Mr. Dowson, faintly. "Might get mixed up, so to speak. "

"Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly. 

"Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet. 

Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. Itlighted on Mr. Foss. 

"She's an old humbug, " said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put thepolice on to her. "

Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again. 

"Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so, " said Mrs. Dowson;"naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says. If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and ifshe told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her. "

"Don't say that, " shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't saythat. That's what she did say!"

"What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?"

"I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens, " said her husband, staring atthe table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and, being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me, I went in and had eighteenpennorth. "

"Well, you're upset, " said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "Youget upstairs to bed. "

"I'd sooner stay 'ere, " said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seemsmore cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish. "

"What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss. 

Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spokedesperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel toforeign parts----"

"You get to bed, " said his wife. "Come along. "

Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich, " he continued, slowly--"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marryagain; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes. "

Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering withpassion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You--you've been drinking. "

"I've 'ad two arf-pints, " said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy witha young woman. "

Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him. 

"I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson, " said Mr. Foss, kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain'tto be relied on. "

"Eyes like lamps, " said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine nextmonth. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty. "

A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of theover-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort. 

"If she said it, " she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss, "it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry ayoung woman with--with----"

"Stormy brown eyes, " interjected Mr. Foss, softly. 

"It's his fate and it can't be avoided, " concluded Mrs. Dowson. 

"But it's so soon, " said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die inthree weeks and I'm to be married three months after. "

Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid theglittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three!three weeks!"

"Don't be frightened, " said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don'tbelieve it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die inthree weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhapsFlora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars. "

"No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother, " said Mr. Dowson, hopefully. 

Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave himso soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and wentup-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair whichMr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations toFlora as he considered suitable to the occasion.