At Sunwich Port | Page 7

as to her father's capacity stirred within her. She attempted
the poor consolation of an "acid tablet," and it was at once impounded
by the watchful Mrs. Kingdom. Mean-time the reek of "bull's-eyes"
was insufferable.
The service seemed interminable, and all that time the indignant damsel,
wedged in between her aunt and the openly exultant enemy of her
House, was compelled to endure in silence. She did indeed attempt one
remark, and Master Hardy, with a horrified expression of outraged
piety, said "H'sh," and shook his head at her. It was almost more than
flesh and blood could bear, and when the unobservant Mrs. Kingdom
asked her for the text on the way home her reply nearly cost her the loss
of her dinner.
The Conqueror, under its new commander, sailed on the day following.
Mr. Wilks watched it from the quay, and the new steward observing
him came to the side, and holding aloft an old pantry-cloth between his
finger and thumb until he had attracted his attention, dropped it
overboard with every circumstance of exaggerated horror. By the time
a suitable retort had occurred to the ex-steward the steamer was half a

mile distant, and the extraordinary and unnatural pantomime in which
he indulged on the edge of the quay was grievously misinterpreted by a
nervous man in a sailing boat.
[Illustration: "Mr. Wilks watched it from the quay."]
Master Hardy had also seen the ship out, and, perched on the extreme
end of the breakwater, he remained watching until she was hull down
on the horizon. Then he made his way back to the town and the nearest
confectioner, and started for home just as Miss Nugent, who was about
to pay a call with her aunt, waited, beautifully dressed, in the front
garden while that lady completed her preparations.
Feeling very spic and span, and still a trifle uncomfortable from the
vigorous attentions of Ann, who cleansed her as though she had been a
doorstep, she paced slowly up and down the path. Upon these
occasions of high dress a spirit of Sabbath calm was wont to descend
upon her and save her from escapades to which in a less severe garb
she was somewhat prone.
She stopped at the gate and looked up the road. Then her face flushed,
and she cast her eyes behind her to make sure that the hall-door stood
open. The hated scion of the house of Hardy was coming down the road,
and, in view of that fact, she forgot all else--even her manners.
The boy, still fresh from the loss of his natural protector, kept a wary
eye on the house as he approached. Then all expression died out of his
face, and he passed the gate, blankly ignoring the small girl who was
leaning over it and apparently suffering from elephantiasis of the
tongue. He went by quietly, and Miss Nugent, raging inwardly that she
had misbehaved to no purpose, withdrew her tongue for more
legitimate uses.
"Boo," she cried; "who had his hair pulled?"
Master Hardy pursued the even tenor of his way.
"Who's afraid to answer me for fear my father will thrash him?" cried

the disappointed lady, raising her voice.
This was too much. The enemy retraced his steps and came up to the
gate.
"You're a rude little girl," he said, with an insufferably grown-up air.
"Who had his hair pulled?" demanded Miss Nugent, capering wildly;
"who had his hair pulled?"
"Don't be silly," said Master Hardy. "Here." He put his hand in his
pocket, and producing some nuts offered them over the gate. At this
Miss Nugent ceased her capering, and wrath possessed her that the
enemy should thus misunderstand the gravity of the situation.
"Well, give 'em to Jack, then," pursued the boy; "he won't say no."
This was a distinct reflection on Jack's loyalty, and her indignation was
not lessened by the fact that she knew it was true.
"Go away from our gate," she stormed. "If my father catches you, you'll
suffer."
"Pooh!" said the dare-devil. He looked up at the house and then,
opening the gate, strode boldly into the front garden. Before this
intrusion Miss Nugent retreated in alarm, and gaining the door-step
gazed at him in dismay. Then her face cleared suddenly, and Master
Hardy looking over his shoulder saw that his retreat was cut off by Mr.
Wilks.
"Don't let him hurt me, Sam," entreated Miss Nugent, piteously.
Mr. Wilks came into the garden and closed the gate behind him.
"I wasn't going to hurt her," cried Master Hardy, anxiously; "as if I
should hurt a girl!
"Wot are you doing in our front garden, then?" demanded Mr. Wilks.

He sprang forward suddenly and, catching the boy by the collar with
one huge hand, dragged him, struggling violently, down