Max Pemberton

“ A warming westerly wind had scattered the mists and conjured up a little ocean of bubblinig waves. The woods took the shape of castles and strongholds sett upon black hills; the wash of the water over the sedge grasses was a dirge, very mournful and lonely to hear. I had not looked to find company upon the Thames at such an hour, least of all the company of the Honourable one. Rare was the day when he could afford a candle against the dark; rare the occasion when he had not fuddled away his wits with any drink that he could get long before ten o'clock struck. ”

“ At four o'clock, when the sun rose, I was still smoking in my cabin. The picture of the lonely man working there to make his poor boat gay haunted me. With all his follies and repulsive weaknesses, there was in him that which men love in their friends. ”

“ He shook his head.
"I didn't see any of that kind," he replied; "there 's a woman in red——"
I interrupted him sharply.
"And Mr. Duncan?"
"Don't ask me that, Sir; you may guess how he is."
A few minutes later, I sculled to Ye Daisy Belle in Humphrey's dinghy. Half-a-dozen skiffs were drifting around the wretched hulk. In one of them the woman named Marygold was screeching coarse abuse with all her lungs. A blatant cad, in a long grey overcoat and a low hat, was hammering at the cabin door with a stick. Three more of the same order were swelling the chorus and consoling the girl. ”

“ Her company was playing at Oxford last night, and she 's bringing over half-a-dozen of her friends to see her off. They 're not the kind of men you and I like, but that can't be helped to-day. I shall take care that she keeps out of their way after this. It 's pretty bad to remember that she was ever with such a lot, but what can you say? A girl can't starve, and she 's no people. It will be different when we 're together. And if she likes the old place, we 'll soon make it what it should be. If you 'll let me have the gig now, I could smarten it up with a few flowers against her coming. ”

“ Had I done well to let him go? Was there any happiness for him with this woman? Would marriage help him? Again, I reasoned as I had reasoned during the night; again, the answer was the same. I could only mutter, "God help him," and go to my bed!
*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*
At twelve o'clock, my man knocked upon my bed-room door, and told me that strange things were happening at Ye Daisy Belle.
"There 's two boat-loads of theatricals gone up the river, Sir," said he, "and now they 're calling for Mister Duncan. I rather fancy he don't hear 'em, Sir." ”

“ I did not like to ask him whose fault that was, and presently he went on with it
"Very well, then; seeing no man cares the snap of his fingers for me, why should I care the snap of my fingers for any man? ”