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45.; . V OHARLESJDIOKENS’. WORKS. . .
eye (derived fromrher father), which she might perhaps
have declined if her sentiments on theisubgect-had been
taken." She was not otherwise posrtrvclygill-‘looking,
though anxious, meagre, of a muddy complexloupand
looking as old again as she reallyiwas. 1; I 1.1m x . v
As some dogs have it in -the blood, or are trained, to
worry certain. creatures-to afcertain point, so-‘-‘notto
make the icornparisoni disrespectful]y-Pleasant Rider-
hood had it in the’ blood,'or'had! been trained; to regard
seamen, within certain limits, as her prey. I Show her :1;
man ‘in a blue'jacket,' and, figuratively:spe.aking‘,7 she
pinned him instantly. I -Yet, all things -‘considered, she
was not of an evil mind or an unkmdly disposrtrong, For,
observe how many things were to beconsidered accord-
ing to her own unfortunate experience. ' Show Pleasant
Riderhood ‘a VVedding in thestreet, and she only saw two
people taking out a regular license to quarrel and fight.
Showher a Christening; and she saw a little heathen .
personageihaving, a quite superfluous ‘name ‘bestowed
upon it, inasmuch as it would be commonly addressed by
some abusive epithet: which little personage was not in
the least wanted by anybody, and would be shoved and
banged out of-ieverybody’s way,'until it should grow big
enough to shove andbang. ’ Show her a Funeral, and she
saw an nnremunerative ceremony in the nature of a black
masquerade, ‘conferring a temporary gentility on the per-'
formers, at an immense expense,’ and‘ representing the
only formal. party ever given by the deceased: Show
her a‘live‘father, and she saw but a duplicate of her own
father, who from her infancy had been taken with fits
and starts of discharging his duty to her, which duty was
> always incorporated in the form of a fist or a leathern
strap, and being discharged..hurt her. All things,con-
sidered, therefore, Pleasant Riderhood was not so very,
very bad. There was even a touch of romance in her-
of such romance as could' creepinto Limehouse Hole--
and maybe, sometimes of a summer evening, when she
stoodwith folded arms atvher shop-door, looking from
the reekin street to the sky where the sun was setting,
she,‘ may ave .had some vaporons visions of vfar-golf
islands in the southern seas or elsewhere (not being geo-'
gra hically particular), whereyit would be goodto roam’
wit a congenial partner among grovesof bread-‘fruit,
waiting for ships to be wafted from’ the hollow ports of
civilization. For, sailors to be got the better‘of,‘wcrc
essential to Miss I’leasant’s Eden. ' I 1.‘ ‘ I “ I
‘Not on a summercvcning did she came to her little
shop-door, when a certain man standing over against the
house on the opposite side of the street took‘ notice ‘of
her. That was on-a. cold shrewd windy ovening,‘nfter
dark. . Pleasant Riderhood shared with most of -the’lady'
inhabitants of the Hole, the peculiarity that her hair was
a. ragged knot, constantly coming down behind, and that
she never could enter upon any undertaking without first
twisting it into place. At that particular moment, be-
ing ncwly come to the threshold to take a look out of‘ '
doors, she was winding herself up with both‘han'ds after
this fashion. And so prevalent was the fashion,.that on
the occasion ‘of a fight or other disturbance in the Hole,‘
the ladies would be seen flocking from all quarters uni-
versally twisting their back-hair as they came along, and
manyiof them, in the hurry of the moment,‘ carrying
their back-combs in their months. I j V - . Z , V .
‘It was a wretched little shop, with a roof thatany man
standing in it could touch with his hand; little better
than a cellar or cave, down three steps.‘ Yet in its ill-
lighted window, among a flaring handkerchief-'or two,‘
an old peacoat or so, a few valueless watches andicom-'
passes, a‘ jar of tobacco and two. crossed. pipes, a bottle
of walnut ketchup, and some horrible sweets-these
creature discomforts serving as a blindto the main busi-
ness of the Leaving Shop-was displayed the inscription
SI-2AlIAN’S Bo.mnrxo-lIoUsE. ’ :n K: . V -
Taking notice of Pleasant Ridcrhood at the door, the
man crossed so quickly that she was still winding her-
self up, when he stood close before her. . . r
"Is your father at home?" said he. - I‘ :1
“ I think he is,” returned Pleasant, dropping her arms ;
“cornein.” I y . ‘- . I .3.‘ ,'
It was a tentative reply, the man having a seafaring
appearance. Her father was not : at home, and Pleasant
knew it. “Take a seat by the tire,” were her hospitable
V something in her way.:-'; . .
words when’ shehad got him in; ‘,‘men of ydur calling‘
4;: '1 iv E ",‘ ‘I N,
are always welcome here.”.- r - ‘
-'‘Thankee,’’ said the man.. ’ ‘n’-: v‘ N f '
:;His manner-was the manner ofua sailor; and his hands
' were ‘the hands‘ of .ai:sailor,l.except .that' they; were
smooth. .1 ?Pleasant had an eye for sailors, and she noticed
the unused colour and texture of the hands,'sunburnt
though they were, as sharply as she noticed their unmis-
takable looseness and suppleness, as he sat himself’ down
with his left‘var'n1 carelesslylthrown: across ‘hiswleft leg
:1. little above the knee, and tholright: arm’ as carelessly
thrown over the elbow ofrthe-wooden .chair,:-1'vith the
hand curved, half open and half shut, as if: it had i just
let go a rope- - .‘:-r:“.. ma 2‘ 1.: :: I =
“ light you be looking for 9. Boarding-illonse?3ivPlcas-
ant inquired, taking . an observant’ stand on; one side of
the fire. . . '.’..:v ' Hi " ‘
“I don’t rightly know my plans yet,” returned the
man. . I ‘ i ‘I I 2
“ You ain’t looking fora Leaving Shop?” 1 .'. : '
. “No,” saidthe man.-‘ . 1: 41" . ’
“No,” assented Pleasant, “ you’ve ot too much of an
outfit on‘you for that.‘ But if, you s ould wantyeither,
thisisboth.”. :w w --3‘ -l -
‘ . ,r. 1 ’. 4','."1f“.‘."‘.'
‘.“Ay,'ay l” said the man,-glancingtound the place.
’ ’ '1 V. . V y m s "
“I-know.‘ I’ve been here'before.’.. ' . K .
‘ “Did you'Leave anythingzwhen you werehere be-
fore?” asked Pleasant with a‘ view ‘to principal and
interest]. -. A .‘ ,1 ‘V V 2 ="1,,.":"ai; :=:' :'
“”“No.” The man shook his head. =91" vii ’ HI <
,“ I am pretty sure you never boarded here?” ‘Wzw
“ No.” . The man aguinshook his heads 1xv'1"z" vv '
“ What did you do here when you were here before?
asked Pleasant. “For I don’t rememberv'you;”: :1’
“ It's not at all likely you should. . ‘I only stood at'thc
door, one night-"-on the lower-stepthere-while a ship-
mate of mine’ lookedin to speak to yourzfather. :11 re-
member the place we1l.!’. ‘Looking very curiously round
it. ' .'I"T"-:1”;
' “ Might that havebeen long ago ‘Z’-’r -' T" E v
‘fAy,.a goodish bit ago. L:VVhen‘I came off
voyage.” , v w; l‘ -1 3.2, V. , . .5 .-:-“ . V
. .“ Then you have notbeentto sea Iately.?”.r n’ -
. -“.No.": Been in the sickrbay. since then,‘ and been. -
ploycdnshore.” ‘ ‘ '-I I x. '1 : . v
“ Then to be sure, that ac'counts‘for your hands”? '
.xTl1e iman witl1'a keen look, a quick smile, and a change
of manner, caught her’up.. ; ‘.‘,You’re ‘a’ good zobserver.
Yes. “That accounts for my hands.”'- - E. ‘ ' '1‘ Z M: ‘
Pleasant wasisomewhat disquieted-'by'his look, and
returned it suspiciously. Not only was his changeof
manner, though very'sudden; quite collected, butrhls
former -manner, which he ‘resumed,’ had a certain=sup-
rI‘1fy;‘lllSt
.,..
pressedconfidence and sense of power in it that were
alf threatening.‘ ‘- " '! - . , r -
a“. Will yourfather be long'Z.”. ho inquircd.- mm . ,
‘-“Idon’t'kuow. -. I can't say.i’:;-,s I -L ,‘ ‘ m.:.: 9 '
' f‘As you supposedhe was‘at'l1ome, it ‘would seem
that he as just gone out? 'qHow’s'that?’,’ :' 1 :’.:v
' ‘fl supposed he had corn‘e:home,’,’ Pleasant‘ explained.
w
‘-‘ Oh?’ ’You’ supposed he had comev home? :Tl16I) 119’ '
hasbcen some time out? How’s tl1at?”‘7‘ U.
“ I don't want to deceive you. i Father's on‘ the river
in IIIS boat.” ' I’ "vb V 2,271." mi! ':-l‘ ':l H‘. I
..“'At the oldlworl:?”.asked theman‘; Cw ;' ; .43
“'I,don’t know what you mean,” said Pleasant,'shrink-
ing.a step back. “‘ “’hat on earth 'd’ye want?I’:e:wV’ ‘5
ix 1 ..
. r
“I don't want to hurt your father. I'.don’t" want to.
say I might, if I chose.‘ I want "to ‘speak to him. ‘ Not
much in tliat,’is there ‘I. ‘There shall be no secrets from
3'0“; Sourshall be -by.,”‘ Andiplninly, .llIiss-Riderhoody
there's nothing to be got out of me,Zox-- made (Of me; =
am not good for the Leaving Shop, I am not good for 1110
Boarding-House,’ I am not good"for anvtlringill “Fol”
way torthelextent of2six-penn’ortheof.--lialfpeucc. JPN
“ the idea. aside, and we shall get on together.’l ,5 met
-"u"ABl1l4)’01i’re a seafaring'man?” argued Pleasant, 95‘
if that were a‘ snfiicientvreason for hisvbeing. good fol’
n‘ ‘..lvj," I 1-33:’
“ Yes and no. 31 have been, and I may be again. But
I am not for you. VVon’t youtake my word for it? 5’:
The conversation had arrived at a crisis to justify
...-m-merge:-sit.-..Mu.lcu.s.1-..
g ‘ ‘wen. ...,..,,,,...,...wm. ‘ ‘ '-