the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第23部分

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with　life。

His　first　act　the　day　after　depositing　her　in　her　own　house　was　to　go
to　the　chapel　where；　by　her　statement；　the　marriage　had　been
solemnized；　and　make　sure　of　the　fact。　　Perhaps　he　felt　an　illogical
hope　that　she　might　be　free；　even　then；　in　the　tarnished　condition
which　such　freedom　would　have　involved。　　However；　there　stood　the　words
distinctly：　　Isaac　Pierston；　Ann　Avice　Caro；　son　and　daughter　of　So…
and…so；　married　on　such　a　day；　signed　by　the　contracting　parties；　the
officiating　minister；　and　the　two　witnesses。



2。　XIII。　　SHE　IS　ENSHROUDED　FROM　SIGHT

One　evening　in　early　winter；　when　the　air　was　dry　and　gusty；　the　dark
little　lane　which　divided　the　grounds　of　Sylvania　Castle　from　the
cottage　of　Avice；　and　led　down　to　the　adjoining　ruin　of　Red…King
Castle；　was　paced　by　a　solitary　man。　　The　cottage　was　the　centre　of　his
beat；　its　western　limit　being　the　gates　of　the　former　residence；　its
eastern　the　drawbridge　of　the　ruin。　　The　few　other　cottages　thereabout…
…all　as　if　carved　from　the　solid　rockwere　in　darkness；　but　from　the
upper　window　of　Avice's　tiny　freehold　glimmered　a　light。　　Its　rays　were
repeated　from　the　far…distant　sea　by　the　lightship　lying　moored　over
the　mysterious　Shambles　quicksand；　which　brought　tamelessness　and
domesticity　into　due　position　as　balanced　opposites。

The　sea　moanedmore　than　moanedamong　the　boulders　below　the　ruins；　a
throe　of　its　tide　being　timed　to　regular　intervals。　　These　sounds　were
accompanied　by　an　equally　periodic　moan　from　the　interior　of　the
cottage　chamber；　so　that　the　articulate　heave　of　water　and　the
articulate　heave　of　life　seemed　but　differing　utterances　of　the
selfsame　troubled　terrestrial　Beingwhich　in　one　sense　they　were。

Pierstonfor　the　man　in　the　lane　was　hewould　look　from　lightship　to
cottage　window；　then　back　again；　as　he　waited　there　between　the　travail
of　the　sea　without；　and　the　travail　of　the　woman　within。　　Soon　an
infant's　wail　of　the　very　feeblest　was　also　audible　in　the　house。　　He
started　from　his　easy　pacing；　and　went　again　westward；　standing　at　the
elbow　of　the　lane　a　long　time。　　Then　the　peace　of　the　sleeping　village
which　lay　that　way　was　broken　by　light　wheels　and　the　trot　of　a　horse。
Pierston　went　back　to　the　cottage　gate　and　awaited　the　arrival　of　the
vehicle。

It　was　a　light　cart；　and　a　man　jumped　down　as　it　stopped。　　He　was　in　a
broad…brimmed　hat；　under　which　no　more　of　him　could　be　perceived　than
that　he　wore　a　black　beard　clipped　like　a　yew　fencea　typical　aspect
in　the　island。

'You　are　Avice's　husband？'　asked　the　sculptor　quickly。

The　man　replied　that　he　was；　in　the　local　accent。　　'I've　just　come　in
by　to…day's　boat；'　he　added。　　'I　couldn't　git　here　avore。　　I　had
contracted　for　the　job　at　Peter…Port；　and　had　to　see　to't　to　the　end。'

'Well；'　said　Pierston；　'your　coming　means　that　you　are　willing　to　make
it　up　with　her？'

'Ay；　I　don't　know　but　I　be；'　said　the　man。　　'Mid　so　well　do　that　as
anything　else！'

'If　you　do；　thoroughly；　a　good　business　in　your　old　line　awaits　you
here　in　the　island。'

'Wi'　all　my　heart；　then；'　said　the　man。　　His　voice　was　energetic；　and；
though　slightly　touchy；　it　showed；　on　the　whole；　a　disposition　to　set
things　right。

The　driver　of　the　trap　was　paid　off；　and　Jocelyn　and　Isaac　Pierston
undoubtedly　scions　of　a　common　stock　in　this　isle　of　intermarriages；
though　they　had　no　proof　of　itentered　the　house。　　Nobody　was　in　the
ground…floor　room；　in　the　centre　of　which　stood　a　square　table；　in　the
centre　of　the　table　a　little　wool　mat；　and　in　the　centre　of　the　mat　a
lamp；　the　apartment　having　the　appearance　of　being　rigidly　swept　and
set　in　order　for　an　event　of　interest。

The　woman　who　lived　in　the　house　with　Avice　now　came　downstairs；　and　to
the　inquiry　of　the　comers　she　replied　that　matters　were　progressing
favourably；　but　that　nobody　could　be　allowed　to　go　upstairs　just　then。
After　placing　chairs　and　viands　for　them　she　retreated；　and　they　sat
down；　the　lamp　between　themthe　lover　of　the　sufferer　above；　who　had
no　right　to　her；　and　the　man　who　had　every　right　to　her；　but　did　not
love　her。　　Engaging　in　desultory　and　fragmentary　conversation　they
listened　to　the　trampling　of　feet　on　the　floor…boards　overhead
Pierston　full　of　anxiety　and　attentiveness；　Ike　awaiting　the　course　of
nature　calmly。

Soon　they　heard　the　feeble　bleats　repeated；　and　then　the　local
practitioner　descended　and　entered　the　room。

'How　is　she　now？'　said　Pierston；　the　more　taciturn　Ike　looking　up　with
him　for　the　answer　that　he　felt　would　serve　for　two　as　well　as　for　one。

'Doing　well；　remarkably　well；'　replied　the　professional　gentleman；　with
a　manner　of　having　said　it　in　other　places；　and　his　vehicle　not　being
at　the　door　he　sat　down　and　shared　some　refreshment　with　the　others。
When　he　had　departed　Mrs。　Stockwool　again　stepped　down；　and　informed
them　that　Ike's　presence　had　been　made　known　to　his　wife。

The　truant　quarrier　seemed　rather　inclined　to　stay　where　he　was　and
finish　the　mug　of　ale；　but　Pierston　quickened　him；　and　he　ascended　the
staircase。　　As　soon　as　the　lower　room　was　empty　Pierston　leant　with　his
elbows　on　the　table；　and　covered　his　face　with　his　hands。

Ike　was　absent　no　great　time。　　Descending　with　a　proprietary　mien　that
had　been　lacking　before；　he　invited　Jocelyn　to　ascend　likewise；　since
she　had　stated　that　she　would　like　to　see　him。　　Jocelyn　went　up　the
crooked　old　steps；　the　husband　remaining　below。

Avice；　though　white　as　the　sheets；　looked　brighter　and　happier　than　he
had　expected　to　find　her；　and　was　apparently　very　much　fortified　by　the
pink　little　lump　at　her　side。　　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him。

'I　just　wanted　to　tell　'ee；'　she　said；　striving　against　her　feebleness；
'I　thought　it　would　be　no　harm　to　see　you；　though　'tis　rather　soonto
tell　'ee　how　very　much　I　thank　you　for　getting　me　settled　again　with
Ike。　　He　is　very　glad　to　come　home　again；　too；　he　says。　　Yes；　you've
done　a　good　many　kind　things　for　me；　sir。'

Whether　she　were　really　glad；　or　whether　the　words　were　expressed　as　a
matter　of　duty；　Pierston　did　not　attempt　to　learn。

He　merely　said　that　he　valued　her　thanks。　　'Now；　Avice；'　he　added
tenderly；　'I　resign　my　guardianship　of　you。　　I　hope　to　see　your　husband
in　a　sound　little　business　here　in　a　very　short　time。'

'I　hope　sofor　baby's　sake；'　she　said；　with　a　bright　sigh。　　'Would
youlike　to　see　her；　sir？'

'The　baby？　　O　yesYOUR　baby！　　You　must　christen　her　Avice。'

'Yesso　I　will！'　she　murmured　readily；　and　disclosed　the　infant　with
some　timidity。　　'I　hope　you　forgive　me；　sir；　for　concealing　my
thoughtless　marriage！'

'If　you　forgive　me　for　making　love　to　you。'

'Yes。　　How　were　you　to　know！　　I　wish'

Pierston　bade　her　good…bye；　kissing　her　hand；　turned　from　her　and　the
incipient　being　whom　he　was　to　meet　again　under　very　altered
conditions；　and　left　the　bed…chamber　with　a　tear　in　his　eye。

'Here　endeth　that　dream！'　said　he。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*


Hymen；　in　secret　or　overt　guise；　seemed　to　haunt　Pierston　just　at　this
time　with　undignified　mockery　which　savoured　rather　of　Harlequin　than
of　the　torch…bearer。　　Two　days　after　parting　in　a　lone　island　from　the
girl　he　had　so　disinterestedly　loved　he　met　in　Piccadilly　his　friend
Somers；　wonderfully　spruced　up；　and　hastening　along　with　a　preoccupied
face。

'My　dear　fellow；'　said　Somers；　'what　do　you　think！　　I　was　charged　not
to　tell　you；　but；　hang　it！　I　may　just　as　well　make　a　clean　breast　of　it
now　as　later。'

'Whatyou　are　not　going　to　。　。　。　'　began　Pierston；　with　divination。

'Yes。　　What　I　said　on　impulse　six　months　back　I　am　about　to　carry　out
in　cold　blood。　　Nichola　and　I　began　in　jest　and　ended　in　earnest。　　We
are　going　to　take　one　another　next　month　for　good　and　all。'



PART　THIRD　　　　A　YOUNG　MAN　OF　SIXTY

　　　　　'In　me　thou　seest　the　glowing　of　such　fire；
　　　　　　That　on　the　ashes　of　his　youth　doth　lie
　　　　　　As　the　death…bed　whereon　it　must　expire；
　　　　　　Consumed　with　that　which　it　was　nourished　by。'
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　W。　SHAKESPEARE。



3。　I。　　SHE　RETURNS　FOR　THE　NEW　SEASON

Twenty　years　had　spread　their　films　over　the　events　which　wound　up　with
the　reunion　of　the　second　Avice　and　her　husband；　and　the　hoary
peninsula　called　an　island　looked　just　the　same　as　before；　though　many
who　had　formerly　projected　their　daily　shadows　upon　its　unrelieved
summer　whiteness　ceased　now　to　disturb　the　colourless　sunlight　there。

The　general　change；　nevertheless；　was　small。　　The　silent　ships　came　and
went　from　the　wharf；　the　chisels　clinked　in　the　quarries；　file　after
file　of　whitey…brown　horses；　in　strings　of　eight　or　ten；　painfully
dragged　down　the　hill　the　square　blocks　of　stone　on　the　antediluvian
wooden　wheels　just　as　usual。　　The　lightship　winked　every　night　from　the
quicksands　to　the　Beal　Lantern；　and　the　Beal　Lantern　glared　through　its
eye…glass　on　the　ship。　　The　canine　gnawing　audible　on　the　Pebble…bank
had　been　repeated　ever　since　at　each　tide；　but　the　pebbles　remained
undevoured。

Men　drank；　smoked；　and　spat　in　the　inns　with　only　a　little　more
adulteration　in　their　refreshments　and　a　trifle　less　dialect　in　their
speech　than　of　yore。　　But　one　figure　had　never　been　seen　on　the　Channel
rock　in　the　interval；　the　form　of　Pierston　the　sculptor；　whose　first
use　of　the　chisel　that　rock　had　instigated。

He　had　lived　abroad　a　great　deal；　and；　in　fact；　at　this　very　date　he
was　staying　at　an　hotel　in　Rome。　　Though　he　had　not　once　set　eyes　on
Avice　since　parting　from　her　in　the　room　with　her　firstborn；　he　had
managed　to　obtain　tidings　of　her　from　time　to　time　during　the　interval。
In　this　way　Pierston　learnt　that；　shortly　after　their　resumption　of　a
common　life　in　her　house；　Ike　had　ill…used　her；　till　fortunately；　the
business　to　which　Jocelyn　had　assisted　him　chancing　to　prosper；　he
became　immersed　in　its　details；　and　allowed　Avice　to　pursue　her
household　courses　without　interference；　initiating　that　kind　of
domestic　reconciliation　which　is　so　calm　and　durable；　having　as　its
chief　ingredient　neither　hate　nor　love；　but　an　all…embracing
indifference。

At　first　Pierston　had　sent　her　sums　of　money　privately；　fearing　lest
her　husband　should　deny　her　mater