CHAPTER THREE
MORE TO THE TALE
The following day was bright and sunny as only Scotland can be and after a short breakfast; Charles and Kirk hitched up the horses, the potboy placed the whiskey and beer in the back and they were off to see Mr. and Mrs. Selkirk again.
After a bit of to do about not accepting the gifts by Selkirk, Mrs. Selkirk prevailed and graciously accepted the gifts and disappeared downstairs with Charles and Kirk to deposit them. Defoe thought for a minute she was going to kick her husband but, in the end, it didn’t come to that.
Selkirk arranged himself and Defoe on chairs in the garden to enjoy the garden and one of his children brought them out coffee. Finally in his element, Selkirk spun more amazing tales of his sojourn on the deserted island and Defoe took surreptitious notes so as not to disturb his host.
At one point Defoe stopped and said “Is it true that you really did ask to be left on the island?” Selkirk shuffled and looked around some.
“Well, that was a little misunderstanding.” Defoe nodded sagely.
“I simply said to the captain…”
“Captain Stradling?” Defoe interrupted.
“Yeah, that be him, the old bastard. I simply was stating my opinion that I would rather be left on the island than to sail on that ol’ leaky rust bucket. He just took my meaning all wrong and to heart.”
“And then he told you that you could just stay on the island if you felt that way, correct?”
“Well,” Selkirk looked surprised at Defoe’s command of the facts, “well, yes.”
“But,” he continued, “I didn’t really mean it that way, I was just voicing an opinion, you take my meaning.” Defoe nodded.
“Yes, yes; I perfectly understand. Pray good Sir; please continue.”
The late morning wound into mid-afternoon and Selkirk looked to be about finished with his tale. Again, Defoe thanked him and his wife and his children profusely for their time. Mrs. Selkirk insisted on giving them sandwiches and beer for the journey back.
Defoe called to Charles and Kirk to finish their ball game they were playing with the village children; time to get back to Edinburgh. On the way back, the road passed over the Firth of Forth and Defoe had them stop the carriage so they could look at the ocean.
“It is very beautiful here,” he commented to Charles.
“Yes, Milord, very beautiful,” Charles agreed.
“So pretty in fact, I wouldn’t mind having a house and living here.”
“Yes, Milord, a house. Very fine.”
“You know Charles, you don’t have to agree with everything I say all the time, and it is unbecoming of a Scotsman.”
“No, Milord, you are so correct.”
“Oh, and by the way,” Defoe said, “I am not really a lord so you don’t have to keep calling me that.”
“No, Milord,” was Charles’s prompt reply.
“You could call me Mr. Defoe or Daniel even.”
Charles looked shocked. “Oh no, Milord. That twouln’t do a’tall. What would people think?”
“Ah well, yes,” Dafoe thought to himself, “there’s always that.”
“Alright then lads, let’s be off,” and he climbed back up to the road while the boys scrambled to take their places.
Defoe had become to rely more on more on the young Charles. Edinburgh, born and bred, the large boned youth was bright, yet humble and unassuming. At over 6’ in height, he had clear blue eyes and curly brown hair. As an outsider to Scotland, Defoe grew to depend on Charles’s advices and insights into the Scottish people. Since Defoe was a something of an imposter anyway, it was incredibly important to know what ground he was standing on.
Defoe sighed and turned to get back in the carriage; Charles and Kirk got Defoe placed back in and scampered up top to drive the horse pair home.
“No use,” thought Defoe to himself as he gazed at the water. “What would Mary ever say to coming up here?” She already thought that leaving London for the wilds of Edinburgh was a sacrifice no proper Englishwoman should really have to make; so, to go further north? Never. “Ah,” he sighed to himself, “back to the city we go.” He stared out the carriage window and watched the coastline for as long as he could.
Back in Edinburg, Defoe and company were greeted by more chilly weather and winds. His chubby wife started in the moment he was home going on and on about their seven respective children and what they mostly had not been doing in his absence.
Charles and Kirk had to step lively to get all the luggage unpacked and back in place while the lady of the house was bending his Lordship’s ear over the doings of his recalcitrant sons and their poor school performance.
“I will talk to them when they come home Mary,” he sighed and promised.
“Well, you had better, I am sick to death of this. Bad enough we have to leave proper English schools but then to come up here and have them behave like this. Tis a complete disgrace!”
“Don’t you have some shopping to do my dear?” he inquired gently. “I am sure Charles would be happy to go with you and take the carriage.” He shot a pointed look at Charles who snapped to.
“Yes, madam,” he ventured. “I believe that also madam wished to visit the shop that sells the beautiful crystal glasses and the wool shop.”
“Ah,” Mary was distracted by the thought of shopping. “Ah, yes. We had talked about that hadn’t we Charles?”
“Yes, madam and I would be happy to take you there. It is a bit windy outside but no rain.”
Mary had to stop and think a little; being still in the middle of a full rant, she wasn’t exactly sure if she was done yet. Having her husband gone for two days; at home alone with the children and no carriage available had vexed her considerably. However, the children were still all in school and they had time before dinner.
“Alright then, we will go. Let me go tell cook what to start for dinner.” She bustled out of the room; Charles winked at Defoe who rolled his eyes and gave a little salute before going upstairs to his study.
“Ah sigh,” he thought, “married life.” He could hear his wife clanging and banging downstairs getting ready to go. He rang for the maid and the young girl came huffing up the stairs; “Some tea if you please Gwen.”
“Would your Lordship be wishing some toast?” she curtsey and replied.
“Ah, yes; some toast would be good also.” She curtsied again and hurried off on her errand.
Defoe sat in his big chair and stared into space; there was a large stack of bills tucked into a corner pigeon hole but he couldn’t bear to look at them now, so soon after coming back from a nice little trip.
Instead he went to his traveling letter box and pulled out his notes from his visit to Alexander Selkirk and read them over. Later, the girl brought the tea and he sat sipping it and munching toast. “I wonder,” he thought, “I wonder…..”
The house was quiet for once; he could hear cook and the girl chopping and banging around in the downstairs kitchen. He pulled out his favorite writing quill and ink and fresh parchment and started jotting down notes. Notes and ideas about a man on a deserted island, all alone; Robinson Crusoe.