said Jacka.
Charlie looked at him keenly for a moment. `Ah, but that's just it. Money d'add to money all the while. Start with just a little and treat it right, an' it'll go on growing while you're asleep. Mind, it need a steady 'and. But that's what I got.
And sail-making's different from bal work. There's more profit to it. Reckon my consumptives was a blessed dressed up, else I'd still have been down mine and no better off at forty than thirty !'
Jacka knitted his black brows. `Wonder what surgeon's about, coming this time of night. 'Tis no concern of his to visit when he's not asked.'
`D'you pay 'im for every time?'
`Nay, give him his due, he's no great one for that'
Kempthorne spat on the sanded floor. 'Well, I shouldn't like it of 'twas my house. It don't seem right, 'im coming round any hour of the day, fingering a girl's knee. That's 'ow bad things d'start'
Jacka stared at Charlie. 'I "thought you was a friend of his. I thought 'twas he cured you of the miner's cough.'
`So 'twas. I've nought against him. I'm only saying as it 'pears, to me. When all's said, he's only a youngster-and you know -what happened with Daniel's wife.'
There was a moment's silence, Jacka's eyebrows were like a scar. He stared at Charlie without pleasure and then strode into the next room.
He found Rosina sitting o n. the end of the bed, and, Dwight was putting a bandage roun d her knee. Mrs. Hoblyn glanced up nervously.
Dwight was cheerful, having, at last discovered the cause of their reluctance to let shim treat Rosina. 'Oh Hoblyn, glad you came in. Mrs. Hoblyn has been explaining about Mr. Nye '
'Ah?' said Jacka,
'Mr. Nye said it might be better to amputate the leg. Of course there's no fear of that A ridiculous suggestion. I want you to keep your knee bound, for a week until `I come again.' He finished his work-and stood up.
`Yes, sur,' said Rosina.
`I don't see as 'tis necessary for you to be calling, surgeon,' said Jacka, not quite confident of himself. `Rosina d'get along well and fine as she is. She been like it too long now for a cure. When she's sick, that's' different like.'
`Rosina gets along,' said Dwi ght, `But it isn't a happy or a healthy way to live. I can, promise no improvement, but I intend to try.'
'Sometimes more 'arm than good comes of probing at things.
Dwight flushed. `Have no fear: she'll not die of it’
'Well, I believe in leaving well alone.'
'But you have hardly the right to deny your daughter the chance of proper treatment.'
This was treading on Jacka's corns. `Who's no right?' he shouted.' `I've a right to do what I will with my own.' Don't forget that, surgeon.'
`Jacka, please!' said Mrs. Hoblyn.
`Hold your clack, woman!'
`I'll not!' said Polly, standing up to him for once. 'Dr. Enys is doing his best, and takin' pains, and that's more'n have ever been done for my girl before. You ought to be shamed, turning on him like this!'
Dwight caught sight of Charlie at the door, and some expression on his face made Dwight feel that the little sailmaker was enjoying the scene. For soave reason he didn't want' Rosina cured. Was it because his own suit would then be less hopeful?
Dwight was in time to step in front of Jacka as he made a movement towards his wife. It looked as if there might be a scuffle, but jacka gave way. As usual his anger was shortlived, and suddenly it changed its direction, towards the man who had primed it.
`Get out of the room,' he bawled at Charlie. "Twill be time enough to come in 'ere when you're wed to my daughter and not before!'
Nevertheless, as Dwight took his leave he knew that his next visit would be very much, on sufferance, and he would have to produce some result soon or admit failure.
The next Tuesday was the first warm day of the delayed summer. The toe of England, eddying along through cold and cheerless days, had suddenly and at last reached warmer water. Even at seven, which was the hour he had agreed to meet Caroline, the air was gentle and
Charlie looked at him keenly for a moment. `Ah, but that's just it. Money d'add to money all the while. Start with just a little and treat it right, an' it'll go on growing while you're asleep. Mind, it need a steady 'and. But that's what I got.
And sail-making's different from bal work. There's more profit to it. Reckon my consumptives was a blessed dressed up, else I'd still have been down mine and no better off at forty than thirty !'
Jacka knitted his black brows. `Wonder what surgeon's about, coming this time of night. 'Tis no concern of his to visit when he's not asked.'
`D'you pay 'im for every time?'
`Nay, give him his due, he's no great one for that'
Kempthorne spat on the sanded floor. 'Well, I shouldn't like it of 'twas my house. It don't seem right, 'im coming round any hour of the day, fingering a girl's knee. That's 'ow bad things d'start'
Jacka stared at Charlie. 'I "thought you was a friend of his. I thought 'twas he cured you of the miner's cough.'
`So 'twas. I've nought against him. I'm only saying as it 'pears, to me. When all's said, he's only a youngster-and you know -what happened with Daniel's wife.'
There was a moment's silence, Jacka's eyebrows were like a scar. He stared at Charlie without pleasure and then strode into the next room.
He found Rosina sitting o n. the end of the bed, and, Dwight was putting a bandage roun d her knee. Mrs. Hoblyn glanced up nervously.
Dwight was cheerful, having, at last discovered the cause of their reluctance to let shim treat Rosina. 'Oh Hoblyn, glad you came in. Mrs. Hoblyn has been explaining about Mr. Nye '
'Ah?' said Jacka,
'Mr. Nye said it might be better to amputate the leg. Of course there's no fear of that A ridiculous suggestion. I want you to keep your knee bound, for a week until `I come again.' He finished his work-and stood up.
`Yes, sur,' said Rosina.
`I don't see as 'tis necessary for you to be calling, surgeon,' said Jacka, not quite confident of himself. `Rosina d'get along well and fine as she is. She been like it too long now for a cure. When she's sick, that's' different like.'
`Rosina gets along,' said Dwi ght, `But it isn't a happy or a healthy way to live. I can, promise no improvement, but I intend to try.'
'Sometimes more 'arm than good comes of probing at things.
Dwight flushed. `Have no fear: she'll not die of it’
'Well, I believe in leaving well alone.'
'But you have hardly the right to deny your daughter the chance of proper treatment.'
This was treading on Jacka's corns. `Who's no right?' he shouted.' `I've a right to do what I will with my own.' Don't forget that, surgeon.'
`Jacka, please!' said Mrs. Hoblyn.
`Hold your clack, woman!'
`I'll not!' said Polly, standing up to him for once. 'Dr. Enys is doing his best, and takin' pains, and that's more'n have ever been done for my girl before. You ought to be shamed, turning on him like this!'
Dwight caught sight of Charlie at the door, and some expression on his face made Dwight feel that the little sailmaker was enjoying the scene. For soave reason he didn't want' Rosina cured. Was it because his own suit would then be less hopeful?
Dwight was in time to step in front of Jacka as he made a movement towards his wife. It looked as if there might be a scuffle, but jacka gave way. As usual his anger was shortlived, and suddenly it changed its direction, towards the man who had primed it.
`Get out of the room,' he bawled at Charlie. "Twill be time enough to come in 'ere when you're wed to my daughter and not before!'
Nevertheless, as Dwight took his leave he knew that his next visit would be very much, on sufferance, and he would have to produce some result soon or admit failure.
The next Tuesday was the first warm day of the delayed summer. The toe of England, eddying along through cold and cheerless days, had suddenly and at last reached warmer water. Even at seven, which was the hour he had agreed to meet Caroline, the air was gentle and
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