Edward Barry | Page 5

I dell
you dot ve don't advance nodings on dose dings. Ve cannot fill up dis
blace mit such rubbish."
"Will you buy it, then? Will you give me three pounds?"
"Vy don't you say dree dousand! Now I dell you vat I vill do, so as to
have no more droubles mit you, ven I have mine pizness to addend--I
vill give five shillings for it."
"Will you, you sweep!" shouted Barry, striking the wooden partition a
blow with the side of his clenched hand; and then to the astonishment
of the pawnbroker and his assistants, and the people in the shop, he
seized his parcel, and pushing open the partition door kicked
vigorously at the "confession box."
"Open the door and come out of this place, Mr. Maynard," he
cried--"I'm Ted Barry!"
In an instant the door was opened, and a little, pale-faced,
white-moustached man came out. A faint cry of astonishment escaped
his lips.
"Come, sir, take my arm," quickly said the seaman, who saw that the
old man was trembling with excitement; "let us get out of this before
we have a crowd round us."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Barry," was the eager reply, "do let us get away. I feel so
upset; and then, too, your voice gave me a shock--no, no, not a shock,
my boy, but a surprise, a pleasant surprise," and he pressed his arm
closely to Barry's. "Rose, poor Rose will be delighted to hear I have
seen you."
"Where is she?" asked Barry quickly.
The old man halted and looked piteously into his face.
"She is near here, Mr. Barry. We are poor, very poor now; she is

serving in a draper's shop."
An exclamation of pity that he could not repress burst from the
seaman's lips. Then he pulled himself together again.
"Let us sit down somewhere for half an hour if you can spare me the
time," he said. "See, there's a good place," and he indicated a large,
brilliantly lighted restaurant on the opposite side of the street. "I've had
no supper. Will you come and have some with me, and we can have a
chat?"
"Yes, yes; of course I will, my dear boy. But I must not stay long. I
always wait for Rose to see her home, and must be outside the shop at
nine o'clock."
"It is now a little past eight. We will have something to eat; and then--if
you will allow me to come with you--I should like to see Miss Maynard.
This is my last night on shore. My ship sails early on Monday."
"She will be delighted to see you, poor child; delighted and yet
distressed to hear that you are leaving. She has never forgotten you, and
we have often wondered why you have not written to us for so long.
'Tis quite a year."
Barry's face flushed with pleasure, but he made no reply. Entering the
restaurant, he chose a table in a quiet corner, and ordered some supper.
Then for the first time he was able to observe the thin, pinched face and
shabby clothing of his companion. "Poor old fellow, and poor little
girl!" he said to himself, and then, being a man of action, he at once
went to the point that was uppermost in his mind.
Placing his big, sun-tanned hand on that of the old man, he said
somewhat nervously,--
"What you told me just now about your changed circumstances has
distressed me very much. Will you, for the sake of our old friendship
when I was chief officer of the Maid of Judah, accept a small loan from
me? Do not refuse me, please. I assure you it will give me the greatest

happiness in the world," and then disregarding the old gentleman's
protestations with smiling good-humour, he forced the money into his
hand, and went on volubly, "You see, sir, it's only a trifle--six
pounds--and of no earthly use to me, especially as I'm off to sea again.
So pray do not refuse me."
"Mr. Barry . . . my dear boy . . . you are indeed a generous friend, and a
friend in need, but"--and here the tears stole down his withered cheeks
as he tried to smile--"I know your good-nature too well. I was always,
as my poor wife used to say, a stupid old man, but I am not so stupid as
not to know that had matters gone well with you, I should not have met
you to-night where I did. No, no, I cannot take all this hard-earned
money from you; but if you will lend me thirty shillings----"
"Sh! sh! my dear sir, you are entirely mistaken. I am not rolling in
wealth, I admit; but at the same time I'm not in want of money,