the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第14部分

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her　cousin　Jim　Caro；　he　tried　to　regain　for　the　family　its　original
place　in　the　three…cornered　struggle。　　He　took　contracts　at　less　than
he　could　profit　by；　speculated　more　and　more；　till　at　last　the　crash
came；　he　was　sold　up；　went　away；　and　later　on　came　back　to　live　in　this
little　cottage；　which　was　his　wife's　by　inheritance。　　There　he　remained
till　his　death；　and　now　his　widow　was　gone。　　Hardships　had　helped　on
her　end。

The　quarryman　proceeded　on　his　way；　and　Pierston；　deeply　remorseful；
knocked　at　the　door　of　the　minute　freehold。　　The　girl　herself　opened
it；　lamp　in　hand。

'Avice！'　he　said　tenderly；　'Avice　Caro！'　even　now　unable　to　get　over
the　strange　feeling　that　he　was　twenty　years　younger；　addressing　Avice
the　forsaken。

'Ann；　sir；'　said　she。

'Ah；　your　name　is　not　the　same　as　your　mother's！'

'My　second　name　is。　　And　my　surname。　　Poor　mother　married　her　cousin。'

'As　everybody　does　here。　。　。　。　　Well；　Ann　or　otherwise；　you　are　Avice
to　me。　　And　you　have　lost　her　now？'

'I　have；　sir。'

She　spoke　in　the　very　same　sweet　voice　that　he　had　listened　to　a　score
of　years　before；　and　bent　eyes　of　the　same　familiar　hazel　inquiringly
upon　him。

'I　knew　your　mother　at　one　time；'　he　said；　'and　learning　of　her　death
and　burial　I　took　the　liberty　of　calling　upon　you。　　You　will　forgive　a
stranger　doing　that？'

'Yes；'　she　said　dispassionately；　and　glancing　round　the　room：　　'This
was　mother's　own　house；　and　now　it　is　mine。　　I　am　sorry　not　to　be　in
mourning　on　the　night　of　her　funeral；　but　I　have　just　been　to　put　some
flowers　on　her　grave；　and　I　took　it　off　afore　going　that　the　damp　mid
not　spoil　the　crape。　　You　see；　she　was　bad　a　long　time；　and　I　have　to
be　careful；　and　do　washing　and　ironing　for　a　living。　　She　hurt　her　side
with　wringing　up　the　large　sheets　she　had　to　wash　for　the　Castle　folks
here。'

'I　hope　you　won't　hurt　yourself　doing　it；　my　dear。'

'O　no；　that　I　sha'n't！　　There's　Charl　Woollat；　and　Sammy　Scribben；　and
Ted　Gibsey；　and　lots　o'　young　chaps；　they'll　wring　anything　for　me　if
they　happen　to　come　along。　　But　I　can　hardly　trust　'em。　　Sam　Scribben
t'other　day　twisted　a　linen　tablecloth　into　two　pieces；　for　all　the
world　as　if　it　had　been　a　pipe…light。　　They　never　know　when　to　stop　in
their　wringing。'

The　voice　truly　was　his　Avice's；　but　Avice　the　Second　was　clearly　more
matter…of…fact；　unreflecting；　less　cultivated　than　her　mother　had　been。
This　Avice　would　never　recite　poetry　from　any　platform；　local　or　other；
with　enthusiastic　appreciation　of　its　fire。　　There　was　a　disappointment
in　his　recognition　of　this；　yet　she　touched　him　as　few　had　done：　　he
could　not　bear　to　go　away。　　'How　old　are　you？'　he　asked。

'Going　in　nineteen。'

It　was　about　the　age　of　her　double；　Avice　the　First；　when　he　and　she
had　strolled　together　over　the　cliffs　during　the　engagement。　　But　he
was　now　forty；　if　a　day。　　She　before　him　was　an　uneducated　laundress；
and　he　was　a　sculptor　and　a　Royal　Academician；　with　a　fortune　and　a
reputation。　　Yet　why　was　it　an　unpleasant　sensation　to　him　just　then　to
recollect　that　he　was　two　score？

He　could　find　no　further　excuse　for　remaining；　and　having　still　half…
an…hour　to　spare　he　went　round　by　the　road　to　the　other　or　west　side　of
the　last…century　'Sylvania　Castle；'　and　came　to　the　furthest　house　out
there　on　the　cliff。　　It　was　his　early　home。　　Used　in　the　summer　as　a
lodging…house　for　visitors；　it　now　stood　empty　and　silent；　the　evening
wind　swaying　the　euonymus　and　tamarisk　boughs　in　the　frontthe　only
evergreen　shrubs　that　could　weather　the　whipping　salt　gales　which　sped
past　the　walls。　　Opposite　the　house；　far　out　at　sea；　the　familiar
lightship　winked　from　the　sandbank；　and　all　at　once　there　came　to　him　a
wild　wishthat；　instead　of　having　an　artist's　reputation；　he　could　be
living　here　an　illiterate　and　unknown　man；　wooing；　and　in　a　fair　way　of
winning；　the　pretty　laundress　in　the　cottage　hard　by。



2。　V。　　THE　RESUMPTION　TAKES　PLACE

Having　returned　to　London　he　mechanically　resumed　his　customary　life；
but　he　was　not　really　living　there。　　The　phantom　of　Avice；　now　grown　to
be　warm　flesh　and　blood；　held　his　mind　afar。　　He　thought　of　nothing　but
the　isle；　and　Avice　the　Second　dwelling　thereininhaling　its　salt
breath；　stroked　by　its　singing　rains　and　by　the　haunted　atmosphere　of
Roman　Venus　about　and　around　the　site　of　her　perished　temple　there。
The　very　defects　in　the　country　girl　became　charms　as　viewed　from　town。

Nothing　now　pleased　him　so　much　as　to　spend　that　portion　of　the
afternoon　which　he　devoted　to　out…door　exercise；　in　haunting　the
purlieus　of　the　wharves　along　the　Thames；　where　the　stone　of　his　native
rock　was　unshipped　from　the　coasting…craft　that　had　brought　it　thither。
He　would　pass　inside　the　great　gates　of　these　landing…places　on　the
right　or　left　bank；　contemplate　the　white　cubes　and　oblongs；　imbibe
their　associations；　call　up　the　genius　loci　whence　they　came；　and
almost　forget　that　he　was　in　London。

One　afternoon　he　was　walking　away　from　the　mud…splashed　entrance　to　one
of　the　wharves；　when　his　attention　was　drawn　to　a　female　form　on　the
opposite　side　of　the　way；　going　towards　the　spot　he　had　just　left。　　She
was　somewhat　small；　slight；　and　graceful；　her　attire　alone　would　have
been　enough　to　attract　him；　being　simple　and　countrified　to
picturesqueness；　but　he　was　more　than　attracted　by　her　strong
resemblance　to　Avice　Caro　the　youngerAnn　Avice；　as　she　had　said　she
was　called。

Before　she　had　receded　a　hundred　yards　he　felt　certain　that　it　was
Avice　indeed；　and　his　unifying　mood　of　the　afternoon　was　now　so　intense
that　the　lost　and　the　found　Avice　seemed　essentially　the　same　person。
Their　external　likeness　to　each　otherprobably　owing　to　the　cousinship
between　the　elder　and　her　husbandwent　far　to　nourish　the　fantasy。　　He
hastily　turned；　and　rediscovered　the　girl　among　the　pedestrians。　　She
kept　on　her　way　to　the　wharf；　where；　looking　inquiringly　around　her　for
a　few　seconds；　with　the　manner　of　one　unaccustomed　to　the　locality；　she
opened　the　gate　and　disappeared。

Pierston　also　went　up　to　the　gate　and　entered。　　She　had　crossed　to　the
landing…place；　beyond　which　a　lumpy　craft　lay　moored。　　Drawing　nearer；
he　discovered　her　to　be　engaged　in　conversation　with　the　skipper　and　an
elderly　womanboth　come　straight　from　the　oolitic　isle；　as　was
apparent　in　a　moment　from　their　accent。　　Pierston　felt　no　hesitation　in
making　himself　known　as　a　native；　the　ruptured　engagement　between
Avice's　mother　and　himself　twenty　years　before　having　been　known　to　few
or　none　now　living。

The　present　embodiment　of　Avice　recognized　him；　and　with　the　artless
candour　of　her　race　and　years　explained　the　situation；　though　that　was
rather　his　duty　as　an　intruder　than　hers。

'This　is　Cap'n　Kibbs；　sir；　a　distant　relation　of　father's；'　she　said。
'And　this　is　Mrs。　Kibbs。　　We've　come　up　from　the　island　wi'en　just　for
a　trip；　and　are　going　to　sail　back　wi'en　Wednesday。'

'O；　I　see。　　And　where　are　you　staying？'

'Hereon　board。'

'What；　you　live　on　board　entirely？'

'Yes。'

'Lord；　sir；'　broke　in　Mrs。　Kibbs；　'I　should　be　afeard　o'　my　life　to
tine　my　eyes　among　these　here　kimberlins　at　night…time；　and　even　by
day；　if　so　be　I　venture　into　the　streets；　I　nowhen　forget　how　many
turnings　to　the　right　and　to　the　left　'tis　to　get　back　to　Job's　vessel…
…do　I；　Job？'

The　skipper　nodded　confirmation。

'You　are　safer　ashore　than　afloat；'　said　Pierston；　'especially　in　the
Channel；　with　these　winds　and　those　heavy　blocks　of　stone。'

'Well；'　said　Cap'n　Kibbs；　after　privately　clearing　something　from　his
mouth；　'as　to　the　winds；　there　idden　much　danger　in　them　at　this　time
o'　year。　　'Tis　the　ocean…bound　steamers　that　make　the　risk　to　craft
like　ours。　　If　you　happen　to　be　in　their　course；　under　you　gocut
clane　in　two　pieces；　and　they　never　lying…to　to　haul　in　your　carcases；
and　nobody　to　tell　the　tale。'

Pierston　turned　to　Avice；　wanting　to　say　much　to　her；　yet　not　knowing
what　to　say。　　He　lamely　remarked　at　last：　　'You　go　back　the　same　way；
Avice？'

'Yes；　sir。'

'Well；　take　care　of　yourself　afloat。'

'O　yes。'

'I　hopeI　may　see　you　again　soonand　talk　to　you。'

'I　hope　so；　sir。'

He　could　not　get　further；　and　after　a　while　Pierston　left　them；　and
went　away　thinking　of　Avice　more　than　ever。

The　next　day　he　mentally　timed　them　down　the　river；　allowing　for　the
pause　to　take　in　ballast；　and　on　the　Wednesday　pictured　the　sail　down
the　open　sea。　　That　night　he　thought　of　the　little　craft　under　the　bows
of　the　huge　steam…vessels；　powerless　to　make　itself　seen　or　heard；　and
Avice；　now　growing　inexpressibly　dear；　sleeping　in　her　little　berth　at
the　mercy　of　a　thousand　chance　catastrophes。

Honest　perception　had　told　him　that　this　Avice；　fairer　than　her　mother
in　face　and　form；　was　her　inferior　in　soul　and　understanding。　　Yet　the
fervour　which　the　first　could　never　kindle　in　him　was；　almost　to　his
alarm；　burning　up　now。　　He　began　to　have　misgivings　as　to　some　queer
trick　that　his　migratory　Beloved　was　about　to　play　him；　or　rather　the
capricious　Divinity　behind　that　ideal　lady。

A　gigantic　satire　upon　the　mutations　of　his　nymph　during　the　past
twenty　years　seemed　looming　in　the　distance。　　A　forsaking　of　the
accomplished　and　well…connected　Mrs。　Pine…Avon　for　the　little
laundress；　under　the　traction　of　some　mystic　magnet　which　had　nothing
to　do　with　reasonsurely　that　was　the　form　of　the　satire。

But　it　was　recklessly　pleasant　to　leave　the　suspicion　unrecognized　as
yet；　and　follow　the　lead。

In　thinking　how　best　to　do　this　Pierston　recollected　that；　as　was
customary　when　the　summer…time　approached；　Sylvania　Castle　had　been
advertised　for　letting　furnished。　　A　solitary　dreamer　like　himself；
whose　wants　all　lay　in　an　artistic　and　ideal　direction；　did　not　require
such　gaunt　accommodation　as　the　aforesaid　residence　offered；　but　the
spot　was　all；　and　the　expenses　of　a　few　months　of　tenancy　therein　he
could　well　afford。　　A　letter　to　the　agent　was　dispatched　that　night；
and　in　a　few　days　Jocelyn　found　himself　the　temporary　possessor　of　a
place　which　he　had　never　seen　the　inside　of　since　his　childhood；　and
had　then　deemed　the　abode　of　unpleasant　ghosts。



2。　VI。　　THE　PAST