Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924 / 2008-06-27 00:00:00
He seemed to be a lover of gardens. I too take extreme delight in
them; but I did not mean my compunction to carry me as far as
Jacobus's flower-beds, however beautiful and old. He added, with a
certain homeliness of tone:
"There's only my girl there."
It is difficult to set everything down in due order; so I must
revert here to what happened a week or two before. The medical
officer of the port had come on board my ship to have a look at one
of my crew who was ailing, and naturally enough he was asked to
step into the cabin. A fellow-shipmaster of mine was there too;
and in the conversation, somehow or other, the name of Jacobus came
to be mentioned. It was pronounced with no particular reverence by
the other man, I believe. I don't remember now what I was going to
say. The doctor--a pleasant, cultivated fellow, with an assured
manner--prevented me by striking in, in a sour tone:
"Ah! You're talking about my respected papa-in-law."
Of course, that sally silenced us at the time. But I remembered
the episode, and at this juncture, pushed for something
noncommittal to say, I inquired with polite surprise:
"You have your married daughter living with you, Mr.
Read more
Parts:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17