An Elaborate Elopement Page #3

"An Elaborate Elopement" is a humorous novella by W. W. Jacobs, known for his wit and keen observations of human nature. Set in a coastal town, the story revolves around a comically intricate scheme to elope, involving a cast of quirky characters and a series of misunderstandings. Jacobs skillfully intertwines romance and comedy, showcasing the absurdity of the characters' plans and the unexpected obstacles they face. Through his engaging narrative and sharp dialogue, Jacobs highlights themes of love, aspiration, and the folly of overcomplicating life's simplest desires.

• Fiction

								

simplicity.

“I don’t think he would,” said his tormenter, with a bewitching smile;
“and I’ll wear a lock of your hair all my life if you do. But you’d
better give it to me before you go in.”

“I ain’t going in,” said the fat sailor shortly.

“Not for me?” queried Kate archly.

“Not for fifty like you,” replied the old man firmly. “He nearly had me
when he was loose. I can’t think how he got out.”

“Why, I let him out,” said Miss Rumbolt airily. “Just for a little run.
How would you like to be shut up all day?”

The sailor was just going to tell her with more fluency than politeness
when he was interrupted. “That’ll do,” said the skipper, who had come
behind them. “Go for’ard, you. There’s been enough of this fooling; the
lady thought you had taken the ship. Thompson, I’ll take the helm;
there’s a little wind coming. Stand by there.”

He walked aft and relieved the steersman, awkwardly conscious that the
men were becoming more and more interested in the situation, and also
that Kate could hear some of their remarks. As he pondered over the
subject, and tried to think of a way out of it, the cause of all the
trouble came and stood by him.

“Did my father know of this?” she inquired.

“I don’t know that he did exactly,” said the skipper uneasily. “I just
told him not to expect you back that night.”

“And what did he say?” said she.

“Said he wouldn’t sit up,” said the skipper, grinning, despite himself.

Kate drew a breath the length of which boded no good to her parent, and
looked over the side.

“I was afraid of that traveller chap from Ipswich,” said Hezekiah,
after a pause. “Your father told me he was hanging round you again, so
I thought I—well, I was a blamed fool anyway.”

“See how ridiculous you have made me look before all these men,” said
the girl angrily.

“They’ve been with me for years,” said Hezekiah apologetically, “and
the mate said it was a magnificent idea. He quite raved about it, he
did. I wouldn’t have done it with some crews, but we’ve had some dirty
times together, and they’ve stood by me well. But of course that’s
nothing to do with you. It’s been an adventure I’m very sorry for,
very.”

“A pretty safe adventure for you,” said the girl scornfully. “You
didn’t risk much. Look here, I like brave men. If you go in the cage
and undo that bear, I’ll marry you. That’s what I call an adventure.”

“Smith,” called the skipper quietly, “come and take the helm a bit.”

The seaman obeyed, and Lewis, accompanied by the girl, walked forward.

At the bear’s cage he stopped, and, fumbling in his pocket for the key,
steadily regarded the brute as it lay gnashing its teeth, and trying in
vain to bite the ropes which bound it.

“You’re afraid,” said the girl tauntingly; “you’re quite white.”

The captain made no reply, but eyed her so steadily that her gaze fell.
He drew the key from his pocket and inserted it in the huge lock, and
was just turning it, when a soft arm was drawn through his, and a soft
voice murmured sweetly in his ear, “Never mind about the old bear.”

And he did not mind.
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