Under the Waves | Page 3

opinion of them," said
Edgar.
"So they should, for I mean it," replied Baldwin, "but I hope the
Irishman will turn up a trump this time.--May I take the liberty of askin'
how you're gittin' on wi' the engineering, Mister Edgar?"
"Oh, famously. That is to say, I've just finished my engagement with
the firm of Steel, Bolt, Hardy, and Company, and am now on the point
of going to sea."
Baldwin looked at his companion in surprise. "Going to sea!" he
repeated, "why, I thought you didn't like the sea?"
"You thought right, Baldwin, but men are sometimes under the

necessity of submitting to what they don't like. I have no love for the
sea, except, indeed, as a beautiful object to be admired from the shore,
but, you see, I want to finish my education by going a voyage as one of
the subordinate engineers in an ocean-steamer, so as to get some
practical acquaintance with marine engineering. Besides, I have taken a
fancy to see something of foreign parts before settling down vigorously
to my profession, and--"
"Well?" said Baldwin, as the youth made rather a long pause.
"Can you keep a secret, Baldwin, and give advice to a fellow who
stands sorely in need of it?"
The youth said this so earnestly that the huge diver, who was a
sympathetic soul, declared with much fervour that he could do both.
"You must know, then," began Edgar with some hesitation, "the fact
is-- you're such an old friend, Baldwin, and took such care of me when
I was a boy up to that sad time when I lost my father, and you lost an
employer--"
"Ay, the best master I ever had," interrupted the diver.
"That--that I think I may trust you; in short, Baldwin, I'm over head and
ears with a young girl, and--and--"
"An' your love ain't requited--eh?" said Baldwin interrogatively, while
his weatherbeaten face elongated.
"No, not exactly that," rejoined Edgar, with a laugh. "Aileen loves me
almost, I believe, as well as I love her, but her father is dead against us.
He scorns me because I am not a man of wealth."
"What is he?" demanded Baldwin.
"A rich China merchant."
"He's more than that," said Baldwin.

"Indeed!" said Edgar, with a surprised look; "what more is he?"
"He's a goose!" returned the diver stoutly.
"Don't be too hard on him, Baldwin. Remember, I hope some day to
call him father-in-law. But why do you hold so low an opinion of him?"
"Why, because he forgets that riches may, and often do, take to
themselves wings and fly away, whereas broad shoulders, and deep
chest, and sound limbs, and a good brain, usually last the better part of
a lifetime; and a brave heart will last for ever."
"I am afraid that I have yet to prove, to myself as well as to the old
gentleman, that the brave heart is mine," returned Edgar. "As to the
physique--you may be so far right, but he evidently undervalues that."
"I said nothing about physic," returned Baldwin, who still frowned as
he thought of the China merchant, "and the less that you and I have to
do wi' that the better. But what are you goin' to do, sir?"
"That is just the point on which I want to have your advice. What ought
I to do?"
"Don't run away with her, whatever you do," said Baldwin
emphatically.
The youth laughed slightly as he explained that there was no chance
whatever of his doing that, because Aileen would never consent to run
away or to disobey her father.
"Good--good," said the diver, with still greater emphasis than before, "I
like that. The gal that would sacrifice herself and her lover sooner than
disobey her father--even though he is a goose--is made o' the right stuff.
If it's not takin' too great a liberty, Mister Edgar, may I ask what she's
like?"
"What she's like--eh?" murmured the other, dropping his head as if in
reverie, and stroking the dark shadow on his chin which was beginning

to do duty for a beard. "Why, she--she's like nothing that I ever saw on
earth before."
"No!" ejaculated Baldwin, elevating his eyebrows a little, as he said
gravely, "what, not even like an angel?"
"Well, yes; but even that does not sufficiently describe her. She's
fair,"--he waxed enthusiastic here,--"surpassingly fair, with wavy
golden tresses and blue eyes, and a bright complexion and a winning
voice, and a sylph-like figure and a thinnish but remarkably pretty
face--"
"Ah!" interrupted Baldwin, with a sigh, "I know: just like my missus."
"Why, my good fellow," cried Edgar, unable to restrain a fit of laughter,
"I do not wish to deny the good looks of Mrs Baldwin, but you know
that she's uncommonly ruddy and