Still farther down the room sobs were echoed back to me from Captain
Pharo's bursting heart.
So that I was gratified, at the next round, to hear Captain Pharo
declare that he felt the necessity of going home at once to have a copy
of the verses made and "a ya-ard built around 'em, Judah."
Most of the Basins had gone; there were still some of the prettiest
girls upon the floor, not with proper Basin escort, but with Notely's
broadcloth guests, who were whispering sweet words of adulation to
tingling, unaccustomed ears.
"Come!" Gurdon whispered to Fluke; "we should give up playing at this
hour, and take those girls home."
Fluke shook his head. "Go home, you," he said: "one fiddle is enough!
If we want a merry time, don't bother."
Gurdon stayed patiently, but with a brow waxing determined. The
flattered girls, the broadcloth guests cast unwelcome glances at him.
"Go home, Gurd!" said Fluke, at last. "You spoil it all with a face
like that. Go on, and don't mind us, or you and I shall quarrel."
"Not till those girls are ready to be taken home," said Gurdon.
Fluke threw down his fiddle with an oath. "I said that you and I
should quarrel."
"I would not strike my twin-brother for all the false men and foolish
girls in Christendom!" said Gurdon, standing before Fluke's threat,
with folded arms, and such a look at him that Fluke came to himself,
wincing.
"We may as well go home," he said sulkily.
The young men of the world watched this scene with amusement not
untempered with choler, while they proceeded elaborately to assist the
pretty Basins, who were wrapping themselves in their thin shawls.
"I fancy we are not to be trusted to escort these young ladies home?"
said "Sid," with an elegant sarcastic inclination toward Gurdon.
"No," said poor Gurdon stonily. For he had played for them with a
gracious heart all the evening, and it was hard to be hated. But he
marshalled his flock away without flinching.