'I have noticed,' said he; ' - my name is Tartar.'
Neville inclined his head.
'I have noticed (excuse me) that you shut yourself up a good deal,
and that you seem to like my garden aloft here. If you would like
a little more of it, I could throw out a few lines and stays
between my windows and yours, which the runners would take to
directly. And I have some boxes, both of mignonette and wall-
flower, that I could shove on along the gutter (with a boathook I
have by me) to your windows, and draw back again when they wanted
watering or gardening, and shove on again when they were ship-
shape; so that they would cause you no trouble. I couldn't take
this liberty without asking your permission, so I venture to ask
it. Tartar, corresponding set, next door.'
'You are very kind.'
'Not at all. I ought to apologise for looking in so late. But
having noticed (excuse me) that you generally walk out at night, I
thought I should inconvenience you least by awaiting your return.
I am always afraid of inconveniencing busy men, being an idle man.'
'I should not have thought so, from your appearance.'
'No? I take it as a compliment. In fact, I was bred in the Royal
Navy, and was First Lieutenant when I quitted it. But, an uncle
disappointed in the service leaving me his property on condition
that I left the Navy, I accepted the fortune, and resigned my
commission.'
'Lately, I presume?'
'Well, I had had twelve or fifteen years of knocking about first.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269