Bindle: Some Chapters in the Life of Joseph Bindle, Herbert George Jenkins [love letters to the dead TXT] 📗

to chapel on Sunday if you like."

And then for no reason at all Mrs. Bindle sat down at the table, buried her face in her arms and sobbed convulsively.

"I wonder wot I done now," muttered Bindle, as he regarded Mrs. Bindle's heaving shoulders with a puzzled expression on his face. "Funny things, women."

CHAPTER XXI CONCLUSION

"So 'Earty comes round in the mornin' an' says 'e's sorry, an' Millikins she be'aves jest like a little princess, 'oldin' 'er 'ead as 'igh as 'igh, an' agrees to go back, an' everybody lives 'appy ever after, everybody 'cept me. Since that night Mrs. B. 'as given me pickles. I don't understand it," he added in a puzzled way; "seems as if she's sort of 'uffy cause she dripped a bit."

"I think that is what it must be," remarked Mrs. Dick Little. "You must be gentle with her."

"Gentle! You don't know Mrs. B., miss, I mean mum. When Mrs. B.'s at one end o' the broom an' you're within range o' the dust she raises, it's nippy you got to be, not gentle."

Mrs. Little laughed.

It was a fortnight after the events at Mr. Hearty's house that had led up to Millie's leaving home, and Bindle was seated with the Littles in their new flat in Chelsea Palace Mansions.

"Yes," continued Bindle, after a pause, "them two love-birds is engaged, and Charlie Dixon's enlisted, an' Millie's as proud as an 'en wot's laid an egg. 'Earty's a different man; but it's Mrs. B. wot does me. She'd take the edge orf a chisel. Gentle! I'd like to meet the man 'oo'd got the pluck to try it on wi' Mrs. B." And Bindle laughed good-humouredly.

"An' to think," continued Bindle, looking quizzically from Dick Little to his wife, "to think that I 'elped you two to get tied up."

Mrs. Little laughed gaily, and Bindle drank deeply of a large glass of ale at his elbow.

"I'm afraid you're a terrible misogynist, Mr. Bindle," said Mrs. Little.

"A wot, mum?" queried Bindle, with corrugated brow.

"A woman-hater," explained Little.

"There you're wrong, mum, if yer'll allow me to say so; I don' 'ate women."

"But," persisted Mrs. Little, "you are always suggesting how happy the world would be without us."

Bindle removed his cigar from his mouth and, bending forward towards Mrs. Little, remarked impressively, "You got 'old o' the wrong end o' the stick, mum. I ain't got nothink to say agin women. I likes the ladies."

"But," broke in Little, "didn't you solemnly warn me, Bindle? Now own up."

"That's quite correct," replied Bindle, with undisturbed composure. "I did as I would like a mate to do by me, I jest put up me 'and like an' said, 'Dangerous crossin' 'ere,' same as they do for motors."

"But you say you are not a woman-hater; I don't understand." Mrs. Little screwed up her pretty face in what Little regarded as a most provoking manner.

"Well, mum, you're sort o' mixin' up women an' wives. I ain't got nothink to say against women provided they don't marry yer. When they do they seems to change." Bindle paused, then with unconscious philosophy added, "P'r'aps it's because they find out all about yer."

The silence that ensued was broken by Bindle. "I s'pose," he said thoughtfully, "I'd sort o' miss my little bit of 'eaven if anythink wos to 'appen to 'er. Fancy goin' 'ome an' no one there to say, 'Got a job?'"

There was a note in Bindle's voice which constrained Little and his wife to silence. After a minute's pause he added:

"It can't be all 'oney livin' with an 'eathen such as me."

For fully five minutes no one spoke. It was again Bindle who broke the silence.

"It was you, sir, o' course, wot played that little game on 'Earty?"

"What, the Theodore Hook joke?" enquired Little.

Bindle looked puzzled. "I mean the dogs an' 'ousekeepers an' orphans. I felt sorry for 'Earty then." And Bindle laughed in spite of himself.

"It was a cruel jest, whoever played it," said Mrs. Little with decision; and looking meaningly at her husband she added, "I hope I shall never know who did it, or I should speak very bluntly."

Dick Little looked uncomfortable, and Bindle created a diversion by rising.

"Well, I must be 'oppin' it," he remarked genially. "I enjoyed this little talk."

Dick Little preceded him into the hall. Bindle stepped back into the room.

"Miss—mum, I mean," he said awkwardly, "you ain't inclined to be religious, are yer?"

There was such earnestness in his voice that Mrs. Little checked the laugh that was upon her lips.

"No, Mr. Bindle, I'm afraid I'm not at all a good person."

Bindle heaved a sigh of relief. "Then 'e's got a sportin' chance," he muttered, half to himself. "Good-night, mum." And Bindle closed the door behind him.

"Well, Ettie," said Dick Little, as he re-entered the room, "what do you think of J. B.? Not a bad sort of fellow, eh?"

"Dick, I think he's a perfect dear."

And Dick Little expressed entire concurrence with his wife's view in a way that young husbands have.

THE END

BOOKS BY HERBERT JENKINS

BINDLE

Some chapters In the Life of Joseph Bindle. Of the popular edition, 190,000 copies have already been called for.

THE NIGHT CLUB

Further episodes in the career of Bindle. No less than 37,000 copies of the ordinary edition were called for within a few weeks of publication.

ADVENTURES OF BINDLE

A second edition, completing 60,000 copies, was ordered before the book appeared. Further episodes in the career of J.B.

MRS. BINDLE

Some incidents from the life of the Bindles. Among other things, It narrates how Mrs. Bindle encountered a bull and what happened to the man who destroyed her geraniums.

THE BINDLES ON THE ROCKS

Another volume of stories of the Bindle m�nage. Poor old Bindle loses his job and hard times are endured, but his good friends rally round when his plight is discovered.

JOHN DENE OF TORONTO

A comedy of Whitehall which struck a new note and achieved a new success.

MALCOLM SAGE, DETECTIVE

Some chapters from the records of the Malcolm Sage Bureau. A book of thrills and mystery.

PATRICIA BRENT, SPINSTER

A comedy of our own times that stirred five continents to laughter. It has been translated into Swedish, Dutch, Norwegian, etc.

THE RAIN-GIRL

A romance of to-day, telling how Richard Hereford threw up a post at the Foreign Office and set out to tramp the roads as a vagabond.

THE RETURN OF ALFRED

A comedy of mis-identification by which a man is proclaimed a returned prodigal.

HERBERT JENKINS' SPLENDID LIBRARY

MODERN BALLROOM DANCING (Illustrated)

By VICTOR SILVESTER, Winner of the World's Dancing Championship, 1922-1923.

How to dance the Flat Charleston, Tango, Foxtrot, and other ballroom dances.

SILVESTER'S SENSIBLE COOKERY

BY ELIZABETH SILVESTER, late Principal of the Leamington School of Cookery.

A common-sense cookery book for the inextravagant.

PETER PETTINGER

BY W. RILEY, Author of Windyridge.

A powerful story of the relation of Capital and Labour.

THE LAKE OF ENCHANTMENT

BY ROSEMARY REES, Author of April's Sowing.

A romance of New Zealand.

Newcastle Chronicle.—"A delightful love story."

ASHMORLANDS

BY WINIFRED BOGGS, Author of The Sale of Lady Daventry.

Manchester Evening News.—"A powerful story told with skill."

KIRSTIE-TO-ME

BY MAUDE CRAWFORD, Author of Peggy up in Arms.

A delightful love story.

KIM RUFF

BY SIDNEY COWING, Author of Held to Ransom.

The romance of a man of grit.

East Anglian Daily News.—"The story is excellent."

THE ISLE OF HATE

BY ALAN DARE, Author of Killigrew.

A thrilling story.

Morning Post.—"A story well worth reading."

THE STOLEN SCAR

BY GRET LANE, Author of The Saga of Sally Bird.

A gripping adventure story.

East Anglian Daily Times.—"A tale which will make a strong appeal."

DIGBY'S MIRACLE

BY FRED E. WYNNE, Author of A Mediterranean Mystery.

A clever story of faith, fraud and foolishness.

The Times.—"The plot is ingenious and the characters are definite and amusing."

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

THE NIGHT CLUB

Further Episodes in the Career of Bindle

ADVENTURES OF BINDLE

A New Volume of Bindle's Experiences

JOHN DENE OF TORONTO

A Comedy of Whitehall

MALCOLM SAGE, DETECTIVE

Some Pages from the Records of the Malcolm Sage Detective Bureau

MRS. BINDLE

Some Incidents from the Domestic Life of the Bindles

THE BINDLES ON THE ROCKS

Another volume of stories of the Bindles' M�nage

PATRICIA BRENT, SPINSTER

THE RAIN GIRL

THE RETURN OF ALFRED

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bindle, by Herbert Jenkins