‘Aye, but when will that be? I may have to wait months before I get my knuckles at his throat.’
‘Surely these orders will bring him out to head-quarters at once?’
‘They ought to; but he’s mean enough to try and shirk the whole business, I’ve heard officers of the regiment say as much—and in any case he can’t arrive before we start for the Coast.’
The staunch old couple came down themselves to the new Mole to bid their boy Godspeed.
‘There’ll be more Larkins’ out there than you, Herkles, boy,’ said the old Sergeant, with a fierce light in his eye. He had made no great demonstrations; but Mimie’s conduct had, perhaps, wounded him more deeply than his wife. Now, for a moment, he brightened up like an old war-horse, but it was with more than the scent of the coming fray. ‘Rechab’s ship ordered to the coast, and maybe they’ll send him ashore with the Naval Brigade. He’s carpenter’s mate and a right handy lad. So you’ll foregather, and between you you might have a chance of bringing yon scoundrel to book.’
‘I’ll try,’ said Herbert, with his teeth set.
‘If he’d only make an honest woman of my sweet bird. If he’d only marry and behave decently to her.’
‘Decently!’ cried Mrs. Larkins, interposing in a strong indignant voice. ‘Was there ever a Farrington who behaved decently to one of us?’
‘I’d like to force him and all his relations too. But time’s up. God bless you, mother, and you, sergeant, and bring all things right in the end.’
With that, amidst thundering cheers and the invigorating strains of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and ‘The Girl I left behind me,’ the good ship slowly got under weigh.