The Lifeboat - Robert Michael Ballantyne (best short books to read TXT) 📗

carry them away. Who they were no one knew and few cared. They were only two of the many who are thus cast annually, and by no means _unavoidably_, on our stormy shores.

Do not misunderstand us, good reader. Compared with what is done by other lands in this matter, Britain does her duty well; but, compared with what is required by God at the hands of those who call themselves Christians, we still fall far short of our duty, both as a nation and as individuals.


CHAPTER FIFTEEN.


RELATES TO LOVE, CROSS PURPOSES AND MISTAKES, ETCETERA.

Storms may rage, orphans and widows may weep, but the world must not pause in its regular routine of business and of pleasure. This is natural and right. It was not intended that men should walk perpetually in sackcloth and ashes because of the sorrows that surround them. But equally true is it that they were never meant to shut their eyes and ears to those woes, and dance and sing through life heedlessly, as far too many do until some thunderbolt falls on their own hearts, and brings the truth home.

The command is twofold: "Weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that do rejoice."

Come then, reader, let us visit good Mrs Foster, and rejoice with her as she sits at her tea-table contemplating her gallant son with a mother's pride. She has some reason to be proud of him. Guy has just received the gold medal awarded him by the Lifeboat Institution. Bax and Tommy have also received their medals, and all three are taking tea with the widow on the occasion. Lucy Burton and Amy Russell are there too, but both of these young ladies are naturally much more taken up with Tommy's medal than with those of Guy or of Bax!

And well they may be, for never a breast, large or small, was more worthy of the decoration it supported.

"My brave boy," said the widow, referring to Tommy, and taking him by the arm as he sat beside her, but looking, irresistibly, at her son, "it was a noble deed. If I had the giving of medals I would have made yours twice the size, with a diamond in the middle of it."

"What a capital idea!" said Lucy, with a silvery laugh, that obliged her to display a double row of brilliant little teeth.

"A coral ring set with pearls would be finer, don't you think?" said Guy, gravely.

Tommy grinned and said that that was a toothy remark!

Lucy blushed, and said laughingly, that she thought Mrs Foster's idea better, whereupon the widow waxed vainglorious, and tried to suggest some improvements.

Guy, fearing that he had been presumptuous in paying this sly compliment, anxiously sought to make amends by directing most of his conversation to Amy.

Bax, who was unusually quiet that evening, was thus left to make himself agreeable to Lucy. But he found it hard work, poor fellow. It was quite evident that he was ill at ease.

On most occasions, although habitually grave, Bax was hearty, and had always plenty to say without being obtrusive in his conversation. Moreover, his manners were good, and his deportment unconstrained and easy. But when he visited the widow's cottage he became awkward and diffident, and seemed to feel great difficulty in carrying on conversation. During the short time he had been at Deal since the wreck of the "Nancy," he had been up at the cottage every day on one errand or another, and generally met the young ladies either in the house or in the garden.

Could it be that Bax was in love? There was no doubt whatever of the fact in his own mind; but, strange to say, no one else suspected it. His character was grave, simple, and straightforward. He did not assume any of those peculiar airs by which young men make donkeys of themselves when in this condition! He feared, too, that it might be interfering with the hopes of his friend Guy, whose affections, he had latterly been led to suspect, lay in the same direction with his own. This made him very circumspect and modest in his behaviour. Had he been quite sure of the state of Guy's heart he would have retired at once, for it never occurred to him for a moment to imagine that the girl whom Guy loved might not love Guy, and might, possibly, love himself.

Be this as it may, Bax resolved to watch his friend that night closely, and act according to the indications given. Little did poor Guy know what a momentous hour that was in the life of his friend, and the importance of the part he was then performing.

Bax rose to go sooner than usual.

"You are very kind, ma'am," he said, in reply to Mrs Foster's remonstrances; "I have to visit an old friend to-night, and as it is probable I may never see him again, I trust you'll excuse my going so early."

Mrs Foster was obliged to acquiesce. Bax shook hands hurriedly, but very earnestly, with each of the party, and quitted the cottage in company with Guy.

"Come, Guy, let us walk over the sandhills."

"A strange walk on so dark a night; don't you think it would be more cheerful on the beach?"

"So it would, so it would," said Bax, somewhat hastily, "but I want to be alone with you, and we're likely to meet some of our chums on the beach. Besides, I want to have a quiet talk, and to tell ye something.--You're in love, Guy."

Bax said this so abruptly that his friend started, and for a few seconds was silent. Then, with a laugh, he replied--

"Well, Bax, you've a blunt way of broaching a subject, but, now that you put the thing to me, I feel inclined to believe that I am. You're a sharper fellow than I gave you credit for, to have found me out so soon."

"It needs but little sharpness to guess that when two young folk are thrown much together and find each other agreeable, they're likely to fall in love."

Bax's voice sank to its deepest tones; he felt that his hopes had now received their deathblow, and in spite of himself he faltered. With a mighty effort he crushed down the feeling, and continued in a tone of forced gaiety--

"Come, I'm rejoiced at your good luck, my boy; she's one of a thousand, Guy."

"So she is," said Guy, "but I'm not so sure of my good luck as you seem to be; for I have not yet ventured to speak to her on the subject of love."

"No?" exclaimed Bax in surprise, "that's strange."

"Why so?" said Guy.

"Because you've had lots of time and opportunity, lad."

"True," said Guy, "I have had enough of both, but some folk are not so bold and prompt as others in this curious matter of love."

"Ah, very true," observed Bax, "some men do take more time than others, and yet it seems to me that there has been time enough for a sharp fellow like you to have settled that question. However, I've no doubt myself of the fact that she loves you, Guy, and I do call that uncommon good luck."

"Well, it may seem a vain thing to say, but I do fancy that she likes me a bit," said the other, in a half jocular tone.

The two friends refrained from mentioning the name of the fair one. The heart and mind of each was filled with one object, but each felt a strange disinclination to mention her name.

"But it seems to me," continued Guy, "that instead of wanting to tell me something, as you said, when you brought me out for a walk in this dreary waste of furze and sand at such a time of night, your real object was to pump me!"

"Not so," replied Bax, in a tone so deep and sad as to surprise his friend; "I brought you here because the lonely place accords with my feelings to-night. I have made up my mind to go to Australia."

Guy stopped abruptly. "You jest, Bax," said he.

"I am in earnest," replied the other, "and since I have forced myself into your confidence, I think it but fair to give you mine. The cause of my going is love! Yes, Guy, I too am in love, but alas! my love is not returned; it is hopeless."

"Say not so," began Guy, earnestly; but his companion went on without noticing the interruption.

"The case is a peculiar one," said he. "I have known the sweet girl long enough to know that she does not love me, and that she _does_ love another man. Moreover, _I_ love that man too. He is my friend; so, the long and the short of it is, I'm going to up-anchor, away to the gold-fields, and leave the coast clear to him."

"This must not be, Bax; you may be wrong in supposing your case hopeless. May I ask her name?"

"Forgive me, Guy, I _must_ not mention it," said Bax.

It is not necessary to weary the reader with the variety of arguments with which Guy plied his friend in order to turn him from his purpose, as they wandered slowly over the sandhills together. He was unsuccessful in his efforts to arouse hope in the bosom of his friend, or to induce him to suspend his determination for a time. Nor was he more fortunate in attempting to make Bax say who was the friend--for whom he was about to make so great a sacrifice,--little suspecting that it was himself!

"Now," said Bax, after having firmly resisted his companion's utmost efforts, "I want you to leave me here alone. I may seem to you to be obstinate and ungracious to-night" (he stopped and seized Guy's hand), "but, believe me, I am not so. My heart is terribly down, and you know I'm a rough matter-of-fact fellow, not given to be sentimental, so I can't speak to you as I would wish on this subject; but wherever I may go in this world, I will never cease to pray for God's blessing on you and yours, Guy."

"I like to hear you say that, Bax," returned the other; "it will rejoice my heart to think that love for me will be the means of taking you often to the throne of God."

"You're a good fellow, Guy; perhaps what you have often said to me has not been thrown away as much as you suppose. Come, now, instead of you having to urge the subject on me, I'll ask you to give me a text. Supposing that you and I were parting _to-night_ for the last time, and that I were going off to Australia _to-morrow_, what would you say to me in the way of advice and encouragement?"

Guy paused thoughtfully for a moment, and then said, "Delight thyself in the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will give thee the desires of thine heart."

"Thank 'ee, lad, I'll not forget the words," said Bax, wringing his friend's hand.

"Perhaps I'll think of another and more suitable text when the time for parting really comes," said Guy, sadly. "Good-night, Bax; mind you come