If it wasn't for Emma, he'd break his word to the Captain after all.
"Here," he says, "I'll give you these."
"What's that?"
"It's the certificates. I shan't want them now, but they may be the saving
of you at a pinch. If you ever wanted to tune a piano, say."
And he hands me the papers and the key.
But, seeing I haven't his ear for music, the things are no use to me; and
I tell him so. I could better handle a grindstone than a piano.
Whereat Falkenberg burst out laughing, relieved to find me ready with a
jest to the last....
Falkenberg goes out. I have time to laze a little, and lie down all
dressed on the bed, resting and thinking. Well, our work was at an end; we
should have had to go anyhow. I could not reckon on staying here for all
eternity. The only thing outside all calculation was that Falkenberg
should stay. If only it had been me they'd offered his work, I'd have
worked enough for two! Now, was there any chance of buying him off, I
wondered? To tell the truth, I fancied I had noticed something before; as
if the Captain were not altogether pleased to have this labourer about the
place bearing his own name.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140