Chapter 28 Chapter Thirteen Change of Color and Occupation

On this day, September 16, 1885, in Ireland - what do we say? —In all the islands of Britain, in all Europe, in all the world, is there any place where happiness is greater than in a little pocket shop in a trick company? . . . We don't believe it, unless it's the best corner of heaven. Sissy stayed in the big room, with Little Trick standing on the head of the bed; she had just recognized that the healthy and strong young man was the same child who got out of the rat hole in the Shame's ruined house. When the two of them broke up, she was only 7 years old, and now she is 18 years old.However, if she hadn't worked hard, lived in poverty, and fell into the exhausting environment of the factory, would she still have become a beautiful girl?

The two haven't seen each other for 12 years. However, the little trick is more sure of recognizing Sissy just by hearing her voice than by looking at her face.As for Sissy, she found out all the memories she kept of the child in her heart. And they held hands, and they talked of the past, and looked back as if looking at themselves in the mirror of their poverty! Kate stood by, unable to hide her excitement.Paul's delight is expressed in surprising interjections, and Burke's echoed chromatic "Woo!...woof!..." is equally extraordinary.Mr. O'Brien was there, and was very moved by the conversation.Mr. Belfort, the store clerk, would certainly be as excited as everyone else, if he wasn't in his office, busying himself with the company's accounts.They'd heard Sissy mentioned by Trickster a lot--like the Mackatys--and they'd gotten to know each other without seeing each other.In their eyes, she was Little Trick's older sister, as if she left yesterday and came home now.

Grip was the only thing missing in this scene. It was certain that although he had never seen Sissy, he could recognize the girl talking tricks at a glance.And it won't be long before the signal for the arrival of the Volcano steamer will be displayed on the St. George's Canal.At that time, the family will be reunited. As for the girl's experience, it can be guessed that it is the experience of all poor children in Ireland.Just six months after the little trick escaped, the slut died of excessive drinking, and Sissy was sent back to the Donegal asylum, where she stayed for two years.However, there are many unfortunate children waiting and she cannot be left there indefinitely...she will have to fend for herself when she is almost 9 years old.She is not qualified to work as a nanny to take care of food and housing without wages, so why is there no work in the factory?So, Sissy was sent to Belfast, where the factory employed a large number of workers.Sissy earned a few pennies a day in the mill, lived in the unhealthy dust of flax, was yelled at and beaten with no shelter, but she was always kind, gentle, helpful, and adapted The cruelty of life.

When Sissy fell to that point, she couldn't see any possibility of improving her situation, and she gradually sank into the abyss. Just when she didn't believe that someone would come to rescue her, a hand stretched out to grab her... The person who stretched out the hand was the one at the very beginning. The child she caressed is now a store owner!right!It was the little trick that had rescued her from that hell in Belfast, and set her up in his shop—his shop—where she was to be master—yes!Owner!He repeated over and over - not servants... She... servant?Can Kate tolerate it? ... Could Uncle give her the job? ... Is tricks allowed? ...

"Would you like to keep me?" she asked. "You don't need to ask, Sissy!" "But at least I have to do something, life can't be burdened by you, right?..." "Yes, Sissy." "Then what are we going to do?..." "Do nothing, Sissy." Things didn't work out.In fact, Sissy learned about the sales situation in the store, and after a week, settled in the counter, which was also according to her formally expressed wishes.Indeed, this added another attraction to the customer: the delicate maiden had been revived in her new surroundings.Moreover, her natural appearance is so cute and intelligent, which makes her suitable to be the proprietress of a small trick company.

One of Cissy's strongest desires is to see the first fireman of the Volcano come to her door.She already knew how Grip behaved in the poor school years, and also knew that after the little trick escaped the clutches of the vixen, it was Grip who protected the child instead of her.She tried to protect Little Trick from the wretch, just as Grip protected him from Cakel and his associates.Later, if it were not for the sacrifice of this good boy, the poor child would be buried in the school fire.When the first fireman returned, he was sure to be greeted warmly.However, due to business needs, the date of this voyage was extended, and by the end of 1886, the Volcano had not yet returned to the offshore waters of the Irish Sea.

Besides, it's smooth sailing and business is booming now. The year-end settlement was on December 31, and the turnover exceeded last year.More than two thousand pounds, which is the current assets of the small pocket shop, without any debts-Mr. O'Brien has checked it and thinks it is correct.The honest businessman could only congratulate the young boss, exhorting him to always be extra cautious. "Keeping money is often more difficult than making it." Mr. O'Brien said, returning the inventory list to him. "You're right," replied Little Trickster. "Believe me, Mr. O'Brien, I won't let the brakes go. But it's always a pity to deposit money in an Irish bank. It's not a way to make a profit... Money Sleep there, just like a human being, and stop working when you sleep..."

"No, my boy, that's rest. Money, like people, needs rest." "However, Mr. O'Brien, if there is a good opportunity..." "The opportunity is not good enough, it has to be great." "I agree. In such a situation, I firmly believe that you will take the initiative to persuade me..." "Catch?... Of course, my boy, but on one condition, it must belong to your type of business." "That's what I think, too, Mr. O'Brien. It would never occur to me to take risks in a transaction that I don't understand at all, but then again, while proceeding cautiously, there is always a way to expand. Business……"

"In this case, I would be wrong if I disagreed, my boy, and if I were informed of a very safe business... yes... maybe... anyway, let's talk about it then!" The old merchant was wise enough not to make further promises. One date deserves special mention, and deserves to be marked with a red pen on the calendar of the little pocket shop, and that is February 23rd. One day, Baobo was in the toy store, climbed to the top of the ladder, and suddenly heard someone calling him, and almost fell off: "Hey! Climb up the parrot pole, . . . Hey!" "Grip!" cried Bob, and slid down the top like a naughty boy down the banister.

"It's me, And Co!... How's the trick, little boy?... How's Kate?... How's Mr. O'Brien? . "No one left? . . . and me, Grip?" Who said this? ... It was a beaming young girl. She walked up to the first fireman of the Volcano, and kissed him heavily on both cheeks without restraint. "I'm sorry!" Grip was deeply surprised, and said loudly, "Miss... I don't know you... What's the matter?... Do strangers kiss each other here?..." "Well, when we get to know each other, I'll do it all over again..." "She's Sissy, Grip!... Sissy!... Sissy!..." Bao Bo laughed loudly after saying a few words.

At this time, Little Trick and Kate came in.However, Grip, that bastard, was so cunning that he insisted that he couldn't understand other people's explanations, so he insisted on returning the lady's two kisses.St. Patrick's Witness!He thought Sissy was so pure and lovely, so glamorous!He brought back from America an exquisite men's travel box, which contained shoehorn, razor and soap, which was prepared for Little Trickster to use in the future, but he insisted that he bought it for Sissy, and he had a premonition , I could see her in the department store, but Sissy had to accept the gift—but the person who should really receive the gift was not unhappy because of it. How many days are flying away now, in the Bidford Street shop!When Grip wasn't working on the ship, he "wasn't sailing," as he put it.Apparently the counter of the little pocket shop had an attraction, a magnet, so to speak, that reached the warehouse dock and drew him to Sissy's side.what else can we do?This natural law is hard to resist.Tricks also noticed this. "My sister, isn't she lovely?" he asked Grip one day. "Your sister, brother! You know, she is cute even if she is not! ... She is not ugly even if she is ugly! ... Even if she is evil ..." "Evil...Cissy?...Sniff! Grip!" "Yeah... I'm talking stupid things! It's because I can't express...if I could express..." Quite the contrary, he expressed it well, at least, so Kate thought.Grip has been back for 3 weeks and at one point Kate said to the trick: "Our Grip, it's like a moulting animal... He's changing from black to skin color again... I don't think he'll be on the Volcano for long!" This is also Mr. O'Brien's view. However, on March 15th, the Volcano set sail for America, the whole family saw him off, and the first fireman returned to work. Couldn't the Volcano leave him? — at least he claimed so. After going there for 7 weeks and returning on May 13, Grip's "skin color change" seemed to be more obvious.Of course, he was equally warmly welcomed.But when he hugged others, he didn't seem so excited, and Sissy only kissed his left cheek, and he only kissed Sissy's right cheek.Be cautious, what does that mean? ... When the two met, Grip became serious, and Sissy also became serious, which added a bit of restraint to the evening party.When Grip was about to go back to the boat, the little trick said to him: "See you tomorrow, my dear Grip? . . . " He often answers: "No... I have urgent work in the boiler room tomorrow... I can't come! . . . " However, on the next day, good Grip came again as on the previous day, even an hour earlier, and there was an extraordinary phenomenon: his skin must have been getting whiter by the day. One might think that Grip was in the stage of mental adaptation, ready to be persuaded to give up his career as a fireman and join the small trick company.The trick was that, but on this point he avoided pushing Grip.Best to let him decide for himself. At the beginning of June, it really showed something. "Business, has it been good?..." Grip asked. "You can tell," replied Little Trick, "our store is not deserted." "Yes...there are so many people shopping!..." "A lot, Grip, especially after Sissy came to the counter." "I don't wonder at all, my boy! But I don't see that in all Dublin, and even in all Ireland, people buy what she doesn't buy!" "Actually, it's hard to find a cuter girl selling goods..." "It's more...or more..." Grip took up the conversation, but couldn't find a metaphor worthy of Sissy. "Smarter too!" Little Trick added. "So...that's good?..." Grip asked again. "I told you!" "Where is Mr. Belfort? . . . " "Mr. Belfort is also good." "I'm not asking about his body!" Grip replied, perhaps a little impatiently. "What does Mr. Belfort's body have to do with me?..." "But I do, Grip. Mr. Belfort is very useful to us. . . . He's a very good accountant . . . " "Is he an expert?..." "Very knowledgeable." "I think he's a bit old..." "No...you don't look old at all!" "Humph!" The sound of "Huh!" seemed to say that Mr. Belfort would be very old in a short time. That's all for the conversation.Little Trick thought it should be conveyed to the kind Kate and Mr. O'Brien, who couldn't help smiling. After five or six days, the little boy uncle stepped in and asked Grip: "The Volcano ship will set sail again soon?" "That's what everybody says, maybe!" replied Grip, his brow covered with dark clouds, as if over a sea blowing a southwesterly wind. "So," And Co.He asked again, "Just take a look, didn't you light the boiler again?..." Sure enough, the first fireman's eyes flashed, but it was undoubtedly because Sissy walked over.The pretty and smiling girl sometimes stops and says: "Grip, can you help me get down that box of chocolates?...I'm not tall enough..." So Grip took down the box of chocolates. It is also sometimes said: "Can you help me get down that box of sugar?... I'm not physically strong enough..." So Grip moved down the sugar box. "Is your long voyage long?" Bob asked, his sly look and sneaky eyes seemed to be mocking his friend Grip. "Long, I suppose!" replied the stoker, shaking his head. "At least four or five weeks..." "Oh! 5 weeks, so fast! . . . I thought you were going to tell me 5 months!" "Five months? . . . Why don't you say five years!" cried Grip, as distraught as a poor chap in five years' prison. "So... you're happy, Grip?" "Well!... What do you want from me?...Yes! I really..." "What a fool you are!" After Baobo finished speaking, he made a meaningful grimace and walked away. In fact, Grip was half dead, because, like a fly hitting a lampshade, it was not life to be bumping against walls all day long.Since no decision had been made to stay, he had to go anyway, and this is what happened on June 22. During Grip's voyage, Little Tricky got the consent of Mr. O'Brien and made a business, which made considerable profits for the company. An inventor produced a toy, and Little Tricky bought it without hesitation. Franchise. This kind of toy is sold exclusively by the trick company, Two Children, which is even more attractive to buy.Children of gentlemen who want to swim in the seaside always want this kind of rather expensive toy as a gift, and Baobo specializes in selling this kind of goods, but he is too busy, making customers wait anxiously.Sissy had to help out, and that didn't hurt sales one iota.Although the food department store has a complete range of goods, the turnover seems to be surpassed by the toy department.But when it all comes down to the cash drawer in the little pocket store, Mr. Cashier has nothing to grieve about.This one bestseller alone adds several hundred gold coins to the capital.If this momentum continues, and normal Christmas profits are added, the total could well reach £3,000 by the year-end accounts on 31 December. In this way, the young owner of the small pocket shop will be able to give Sissy a considerable dowry when she wants to get married someday!Why hide it?Grip, a young man, is not a bad guy, and he likes Sissy, but she still refuses to show it, which shows that he will become a perfect husband.Yes, everyone in the company knows.But the question is, can Grip decide? ...Would it be okay without him on the merchant ship? … Would the steam engine work if he was not at his post? . . . Wouldn't his jaw drop if Little Trick told him that he might want to get married? ... In view of these circumstances, when the Volcano returned on July 29, the first fireman seemed more restrained, clumsy, more sad... in short, more unfortunate.His freighter will sail on September 15th...how is he...will he go this time? It was possible, because Little Trickster was very determined--it's hard to imagine how hard-hearted he is! —He never urged it, it was imperative anyway.Just wait for Grip to make up his mind and formally propose.After all, it was his sister's life, and now that she depended on him, it was his duty to ensure her happiness... However, the first condition laid down—the "essential" one—Grip had to give up the seaman's Career, agree to join the company as a partner... Otherwise, no! This time, Grip was really pushed into a corner, he couldn't make things difficult for himself, and had to show his attitude. Sure enough, one day, he turned around Kate-he was still most willing to open his heart to this kind woman.Kate seemed to say to him casually: "Grip, how much Sissy has changed and is getting more and more beautiful, haven't you noticed?" "No..." replied Grip, "I didn't notice... why should I?... I don't see..." "Oh! Don't you see?...Well, open your eyes and you'll see how beautiful our girl must be!...Did you know she's going to be nineteen soon?..." "What... really?..." replied Grip, who, in fact, knew Sissy's age almost exactly. "I'm afraid you are mistaken, Kate..." "I'm not mistaken . . . 19 years old . . . she's going to be married soon . . . The trick is to find her an honest boy . . . twenty-six or seven years old . . . eh! Just like you . . . You know, we're looking for someone we can totally trust...say, not working on a merchant ship, that's no good...work on a merchant ship!...always sailing...they don't have to come and propose!...Seafarers ...the husband...the two are not compatible!...Besides, since Cissy will have a large dowry..." "She doesn't need a dowry..." said Grip. "That's right...a very nice fellow...but a dowry is no hindrance to starting a family...so our young boss will be found soon..." "He took a fancy to someone?..." "I think so." "A shop-goer? . . . " "Come often." "Do I know you?..." "No...you don't seem to know him!" Kate replied, looking at Grip with downcast eyes. "Oh...that person...does Miss Sissy like it?" He asked dully, the words stuck in his throat. "Blind...you can't tell...some people are just hesitant..." "My God, some people are just stupid!" Grip said. "That's exactly how I see it!" replied the kind Kate. The words thrown to the stoker head-on did not stop him from sailing away. A week later, on September 15, he left again.When he returned on October 29, it was clear that he had made a major decision, but he hadn't made it clear yet. He had time. In short, the Volcano would stay at home for at least two months.It is necessary to overhaul and replace machines and boilers.During the last voyage, Grip's eyes probably ignored the temperature too much, and burned the pot two or three times. Two months of rich and surplus, especially if this is just a matter of words. "Miss Sissy isn't married yet?" he asked Kate as soon as he entered the shop. "Not yet, but it won't be delayed...imminently!" The kind woman replied. Needless to say, since the Volcano was disarmed, the stoker had nothing to do on board.So there is no need to make a fuss, not to mention that he always stays, and often stays in the small trick shop, and he almost stays.Really wicked!After all this time, things still haven't progressed. The overhaul of the Volcano was completed on schedule, and it was decided to set sail in another week.Yet Grip, the fool, hadn't spoken--at least not in the words that were expected. In the first week of December, something unexpected happened suddenly. Mr. O'Brien received a letter from Australia; in reply to his last letter, the reply contained this message: The Martin Mackatys, the Maddocks and their young daughter, Sim, and Pat, who found them, all embarked in Melbourne for their return to Ireland.They were not lucky, and when they returned home, they were still as poor as when they left.They took an immigrant ship, the sailing ship Queensland, and it must have been a long and difficult time to cross the ocean. They could not reach Queenstown Harbor within three months. How sad it is for Little Trick to receive such news!The Malcati family has always been unhappy, unable to find a job, desperate! ...but at last he can see the family who adopted him again...he wants to help them...ah!How could he not be ten times richer to make them ten times better off! Little Trick asked Mr. O'Brien to give him the letter, and he took it and put it in the office. The strange thing is that from this day on, he never mentioned it again, as if after receiving this letter, he Avoid talking about the old family at Kelvin Farm. The news had an effect on Grip.Who would have expected this?Human heart, you are always the same, even in the chest of the first fireman!The Markkaty family is coming back, and those two brothers that Little Trick loves, Pat and Sim, must be two wonderful lads... Will he marry the two middle-aged as his sister? One of them, who can say for sure? . . . Anyway, Grip became jealous, terribly jealous, and when the trick took him aside to talk on the morning of December 9th, he resolved to put an end to the situation. "Come on, Grip, go to my office . . . I want to talk to you." Grip's face was pale, and he followed the little trick. Could it be that he had a premonition that something important would happen? As soon as they were alone, sitting face to face, the owner of the little pocket store said to Grip in a cold tone: "Maybe I'm going to make a bigger deal, and I need to use your money." "Why," replied Grip, "isn't it too early to mention! How much do you use? . . . " "Use whatever money you have in the savings bank." "Just take it when you use it." "This is your passbook... Sign it, and I will pick it up today..." Grip opened the passbook and signed it. "As for interest," continued Little Trickster, "I won't talk to you..." "There is no need for this..." "Because, from today onwards, you have joined the Little Tricks Company." "In what capacity?" "partner." "Then... where is my ship?..." "You can ask for leave." "Then... what about my profession?..." "You just give up." "Why should I give up?..." "Because you are going to marry Sissy." "I...I'm going to marry...Miss Sissy!" repeated Grip, as if he didn't understand. "Yes...she is willing to marry." "Ah!...it's her..." "Yes... because you are willing to marry..." "Me?...I would like to..." Grip didn't know what to answer, and he didn't hear a word of what the little trick said.He picked up the hat, put it on his head, took it off again, put it on the chair, and sat down on it without realizing it. "Well," said Little Trickster to him, "you'll have to buy another one when you get married." Of course he was going to buy a hat, but he had never been able to figure out how his marriage was settled.In the past twenty days, no one, including Sissy, could pull him out of the state of astonishment.It doesn't matter!After the wedding... this state will pass. Sure enough, on December 24, the day before Christmas, Grip put on a black dress as if going to a funeral, while Sissy wore a white dress as if going to a ball.Mr. O'Brien, Trickster, Bob, and Kate all put on their Sunday clothes; though it was still Friday.Two carriages pulled up to the little pocket shop and took them all to the Catholic Roman Church in Bidford Street.Half an hour later, Grip and Sissy came out of the church, and they were married, and no one was surprised that they were married to each other! Other than that, nothing has changed.Everyone was overjoyed, and went back to the Little Tricks Company store, and opened again, because it was Christmas Eve, and the store was so plentiful and full of customers that it couldn't close its doors.