the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第19部分

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She　looked　prettily　guilty　and　blushed　a　little　under　his　glance。　　The
man's　was　one　of　the　typical　island　physiognomieshis　features
energetic　and　wary　in　their　expression；　and　half　covered　with　a　close；
crisp　black　beard。　　Pierston　fancied　that　out　of　his　keen　dark　eyes
there　glimmered　a　dry　sense　of　humour　at　the　situation。

If　so；　Avice　must　have　told　him　of　Pierston's　symptoms　of　tenderness。
This　girl；　whom；　for　her　dear　mother's　sake　more　than　for　her　own
unquestionable　attractiveness；　he　would　have　guarded　as　the　apple　of
his　eye；　how　could　she　estimate　him　so　flippantly！

The　mortification　of　having　brought　himself　to　this　position　with　the
antitype；　by　his　early　slight　of　the　type；　blinded　him　for　the　moment
to　what　struck　him　a　short　time　after。　　The　man　upon　whose　arm　she　hung
was　not　a　soldier。　　What；　then；　became　of　her　entranced　gaze　at　the
sentinel？　　She　could　hardly　have　transferred　her　affections　so
promptly；　or；　to　give　her　the　benefit　of　his　own　theory；　her　Beloved
could　scarcely　have　flitted　from　frame　to　frame　in　so　very　brief　an
interval。　　And　which　of　them　had　been　he　who　whistled　softly　in　the
dusk　to　her？

Without　further　attempt　to　find　Alfred　Somers　Pierston　walked　homeward；
moodily　thinking　that　the　desire　to　make　reparation　to　the　original
woman　by　wedding　and　enriching　the　copywhich　lent　such　an
unprecedented　permanence　to　his　new　lovewas　thwarted；　as　if　by　set
intention　of　his　destiny。

At　the　door　of　the　grounds　about　the　castle　there　stood　a　carriage。　　He
observed　that　it　was　not　one　of　the　homely　flys　from　the　under…hill
town；　but　apparently　from　the　popular　resort　across　the　bay。　　Wondering
why　the　visitor　had　not　driven　in　he　entered；　to　find　in　the　drawing…
room　Nichola　Pine…Avon。

At　his　first　glance　upon　her；　fashionably　dressed　and　graceful　in
movement；　she　seemed　beautiful；　at　the　second；　when　he　observed　that
her　face　was　pale　and　agitated；　she　seemed　pathetic　likewise。
Altogether；　she　was　now　a　very　different　figure　from　her　who；　sitting
in　her　chair　with　such　finished　composure；　had　snubbed　him　in　her
drawing…room　in　Hamptonshire　Square。

'You　are　surprised　at　this？　　Of　course　you　are！'　she　said；　in　a　low；
pleading　voice；　languidly　lifting　her　heavy　eyelids；　while　he　was
holding　her　hand。　　'But　I　couldn't　help　it！　　I　know　I　have　done
something　to　offend　youhave　I　not？　　O！　what　can　it　be；　that　you　have
come　away　to　this　outlandish　rock；　to　live　with　barbarians　in　the　midst
of　the　London　season？'

'You　have　not　offended　me；　dear　Mrs。　Pine…Avon；'　he　said。　　'How　sorry　I
am　that　you　should　have　supposed　it！　　Yet　I　am　glad；　too；　that　your
fancy　should　have　done　me　the　good　turn　of　bringing　you　here　to　see
me。'

'I　am　staying　at　Budmouth…Regis；'　she　explained。

'Then　I　did　see　you　at　a　church…service　here　a　little　while　back？'

She　blushed　faintly　upon　her　pallor；　and　she　sighed。　　Their　eyes　met。
'Well；'　she　said　at　last；　'I　don't　know　why　I　shouldn't　show　the　virtue
of　candour。　　You　know　what　it　means。　　I　was　the　stronger　once；　now　I　am
the　weaker。　　Whatever　pain　I　may　have　given　you　in　the　ups　and　downs　of
our　acquaintance　I　am　sorry　for；　and　would　willingly　repair　all　errors
of　the　past　bybeing　amenable　to　reason　in　the　future。'

It　was　impossible　that　Jocelyn　should　not　feel　a　tender　impulsion
towards　this　attractive　and　once　independent　woman；　who　from　every
worldly　point　of　view　was　an　excellent　match　for　hima　superior　match；
indeed；　except　in　money。　　He　took　her　hand　again　and　held　it　awhile；
and　a　faint　wave　of　gladness　seemed　to　flow　through　her。　　But　nohe
could　go　no　further。　　That　island　girl；　in　her　coquettish　Sunday　frock
and　little　hat　with　its　bunch　of　cock's　feathers　held　him　as　by　strands
of　Manila　rope。　　He　dropped　Nichola's　hand。

'I　am　leaving　Budmouth　to…morrow；'　she　said。　　'That　was　why　I　felt　I
must　call。　　You　did　not　know　I　had　been　there　all　through　the　Whitsun
holidays？'

'I　did　not；　indeed；　or　I　should　have　come　to　see　you。'。

'I　didn't　like　to　write。　　I　wish　I　had；　now！'

'I　wish　you　had；　too；　dear　Mrs。　Pine…Avon。'

But　it　was　'Nichola'　that　she　wanted　to　be。　　As　they　reached　the　landau
he　told　her　that　he　should　be　back　in　town　himself　again　soon；　and
would　call　immediately。　　At　the　moment　of　his　words　Avice　Caro；　now
alone；　passed　close　along　by　the　carriage　on　the　other　side；　towards
her　house　hard　at　hand。　　She　did　not　turn　head　or　eye　to　the　pair：
they　seemed　to　be　in　her　view　objects　of　indifference。

Pierston　became　cold　as　a　stone。　　The　chill　towards　Nichola　that　the
presence　of　the　girl；sprite；　witch；　troll　that　she　wasbrought　with
it　came　like　a　doom。　　He　knew　what　a　fool　he　was；　as　he　had　said。　　But
he　was　powerless　in　the　grasp　of　the　idealizing　passion。　　He　cared　more
for　Avice's　finger…tips　than　for　Mrs。　Pine…Avon's　whole　personality。

Perhaps　Nichola　saw　it；　for　she　said　mournfully：　　'Now　I　have　done　all
I　could！　　I　felt　that　the　only　counterpoise　to　my　cruelty　to　you　in　my
drawing…room　would　be　to　come　as　a　suppliant　to　yours。'

'It　is　most　handsome　and　noble　of　you；　my　very　dear　friend！'　said　he；
with　an　emotion　of　courtesy　rather　than　of　enthusiasm。

Then　adieux　were　spoken；　and　she　drove　away。　　But　Pierston　saw　only　the
retreating　Avice；　and　knew　that　he　was　helpless　in　her　hands。　　The
church　of　the　island　had　risen　near　the　foundations　of　the　Pagan
temple；　and　a　Christian　emanation　from　the　former　might　be　wrathfully
torturing　him　through　the　very　false　gods　to　whom　he　had　devoted
himself　both　in　his　craft；　like　Demetrius　of　Ephesus；　and　in　his　heart。
Perhaps　Divine　punishment　for　his　idolatries　had　come。



2。　X。　　SHE　FAILS　TO　VANISH　STILL

Pierston　had　not　turned　far　back　towards　the　castle　when　he　was
overtaken　by　Somers　and　the　man　who　carried　his　painting　lumber。　　They
paced　together　to　the　door；　the　man　deposited　the　articles　and　went
away；　and　the　two　walked　up　and　down　before　entering。

'I　met　an　extremely　interesting　woman　in　the　road　out　there；'　said　the
painter。

'Ah；　she　is！　　A　sprite；　a　sylph；　Psyche　indeed！'

'I　was　struck　with　her。'

'It　shows　how　beauty　will　out　through　the　homeliest　guise。'

'Yes；　it　will；　though　not　always。　　And　this　case　doesn't　prove　it；　for
the　lady's　attire　was　in　the　latest　and　most　approved　taste。'

'Oh；　you　mean　the　lady　who　was　driving？'

'Of　course。　　What；　were　you　thinking　of　the　pretty　little　cottage…girl
outside　here？　　I　did　meet　her；　but　what's　she？　　Very　well　for　one's
picture；　though　hardly　for　one's　fireside。　　This　lady'

'Is　Mrs。　Pine…Avon。　　A　kind；　proud　woman；　who'll　do　what　people　with　no
pride　would　not　condescend　to　think　of。　　She　is　leaving　Budmouth　to…
morrow；　and　she　drove　across　to　see　me。　　You　know　how　things　seemed　to
be　going　with　us　at　one　time？　　But　I　am　no　good　to　any　woman。　　She's
been　very　generous　towards　me；　which　I've　not　been　to　her。　。　。　。
She'll　ultimately　throw　herself　away　upon　some　wretch　unworthy　of　her；
no　doubt。'

'Do　you　think　so？'　murmured　Somers。　　After　a　while　he　said　abruptly；
'I'll　marry　her　myself；　if　she'll　have　me。　　I　like　the　look　of　her。'

'I　wish　you　would；　Alfred；　or　rather　could！　　She　has　long　had　an　idea
of　slipping　out　of　the　world　of　fashion　into　the　world　of　art。　　She　is
a　woman　of　individuality　and　earnest　instincts。　　I　am　in　real　trouble
about　her。　　I　won't　say　she　can　be　wonit　would　be　ungenerous　of　me　to
say　that。　　But　try。　　I　can　bring　you　together　easily。'

'I'll　marry　her；　if　she's　willing！'　　With　the　phlegmatic　dogmatism　that
was　part　of　him；　Somers　added：　　'When　you　have　decided　to　marry；　take
the　first　nice　woman　you　meet。　　They　are　all　alike。'

'Wellyou　don't　know　her　yet；'　replied　Jocelyn；　who　could　give　praise
where　he　could　not　give　love。

'But　you　do；　and　I'll　take　her　on　the　strength　of　your　judgment。　　Is
she　really　handsome？I　had　but　the　merest　glance。　　But　I　know　she　is；
or　she　wouldn't　have　caught　your　discriminating　eye。'

'You　may　take　my　word　for　it；　she　looks　as　well　at　hand　as　afar。'

'What　colour　are　her　eyes？'

'Her　eyes？　　I　don't　go　much　in　for　colour；　being　professionally　sworn
to　form。　　But；　let　me　seegrey；　and　her　hair　rather　light　than　dark
brown。'

'I　wanted　something　darker；'　said　Somers　airily。　　'There　are　so　many
fair　models　among　native　Englishwomen。　　Still；　blondes　are　useful
property！。　。　。　　Well；　well；　this　is　flippancy。　　But　I　liked　the　look　of
her。'


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Somers　had　gone　back　to　town。　　It　was　a　wet　day　on　the　little
peninsula：　　but　Pierston　walked　out　as　far　as　the　garden…house　of　his
hired　castle；　where　he　sat　down　and　smoked。　　This　erection　being　on　the
boundary…wall　of　his　property　his　ear　could　now　and　then　catch　the
tones　of　Avice's　voice　from　her　open…doored　cottage　in　the　lane　which
skirted　his　fence；　and　he　noticed　that　there　were　no　modulations　in　it。
He　knew　why　that　was。　　She　wished　to　go　out；　and　could　not。　　He　had
observed　before　that　when　she　was　planning　an　outing　a　particular　note
would　come　into　her　voice　during　the　preceding　hours：　　a　dove's
roundness　of　sound；　no　doubt　the　effect　upon　her　voice　of　her　thoughts
of　her　lover；　or　lovers。　　Yet　the　latter　it　could　not　be。　　She　was　pure
and　singlehearted：　　half　an　eye　could　see　that。　　Whence；　then；　the　two
men？　　Possibly　the　quarrier　was　a　relation。

There　seemed　reason　in　this　when；　going　out　into　the　lane；　he
encountered　one　of　the　red　jackets　he　had　been　thinking　of。　　Soldiers
were　seldom　seen　in　this　outer　part　of　the　isle：　　their　beat　from　the
forts；　when　on　pleasure；　was　in　the　opposite　direction；　and　this　man
must　have　had　a　special　reason　for　coming　hither。　　Pierston　surveyed
him。　　He　was　a　round…faced；　good…humoured　fellow　to　look　at；　having　two
little　pieces　of　moustache　on　his　upper　lip；　like　a　pair　of　minnows
rampant；　and　small　black　eyes；　over　which　the　Glengarry　cap　straddled
flat。　　It　was　a　hateful　idea　that　her　tender　cheek　should　be　kissed　by
the　lips　of　this　heavy　young　man；　who　had　never　been　sublimed　by　a
single　battle；　even　with　defenceless　savages。

The　soldier　went　before　her　house；　looked　at　the　door；　and　moved　on
down　the　crooked　way　to　the　cliffs；　where　there　was　a　path　back　to　the
forts