the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第30部分

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High　School；　and　date…markings　denoting　lessons　taken　at　a
comparatively　recent　time；　for　Avice　had　been　but　a　novice　as　governess
when　he　discovered　her。

For　a　school…girlwhich　she　virtually　wasto　weep　over　a　school…book
was　strange。　　Could　she　have　been　affected　by　some　subject　in　the
readings？　　Impossible。　　Pierston　fell　to　thinking；　and　zest　died　for
the　process　of　furnishing；　which　he　had　undertaken　so　gaily。　　Somehow；
the　bloom　was　again　disappearing　from　his　approaching　marriage。　　Yet　he
loved　Avice　more　and　more　tenderly；　he　feared　sometimes　that　in　the
solicitousness　of　his　affection　he　was　spoiling　her　by　indulging　her
every　whim。

He　looked　round　the　large　and　ambitious　apartment；　now　becoming　clouded
with　shades；　out　of　which　the　white　and　cadaverous　countenances　of　his
studies；　casts；　and　other　lumber　peered　meditatively　at　him；　as　if　they
were　saying；　'What　are　you　going　to　do　now；　old　boy？'　　They　had　never
looked　like　that　while　standing　in　his　past　homely　workshop；　where　all
the　real　labours　of　his　life　had　been　carried　out。　　What　should　a　man
of　his　age；　who　had　not　for　years　done　anything　to　speak　ofcertainly
not　to　add　to　his　reputation　as　an　artistwant　with　a　new　place　like
this？　　It　was　all　because　of　the　elect　lady；　and　she　apparently　did　not
want　him。

Pierston　did　not　observe　anything　further　in　Avice　to　cause　him
misgiving　till　one　dinner…time；　a　week　later；　towards　the　end　of　the
visit。　　Then；　as　he　sat　himself　between　her　and　her　mother　at　their
limited　table；　he　was　struck　with　her　nervousness；　and　was　tempted　to
say；　'Why　are　you　troubled；　my　little　dearest？'　in　tones　which
disclosed　that　he　was　as　troubled　as　she。

'Am　I　troubled？'　she　said　with　a　start；　turning　her　gentle　hazel　eyes
upon　him。　　'Yes；　I　suppose　I　am。　　It　is　because　I　have　received　a
letterfrom　an　old　friend。'

'You　didn't　show　it　to　me；'　said　her　mother。

'NoI　tore　it　up。'

'Why？'

'It　was　not　necessary　to　keep　it；　so　I　destroyed　it。'

Mrs。　Pierston　did　not　press　her　further　on　the　subject；　and　Avice
showed　no　disposition　to　continue　it。　　They　retired　rather　early；　as
they　always　did；　but　Pierston　remained　pacing　about　his　studio　a　long
while；　musing　on　many　things；　not　the　least　being　the　perception　that
to　wed　a　woman　may　be　by　no　means　the　same　thing　as　to　be　united　with
her。　　The　'old　friend'　of　Avice's　remark　had　sounded　very　much　like
'lover。'　　Otherwise　why　should　the　letter　have　so　greatly　disturbed
her？

There　seemed　to　be　something　uncanny；　after　all；　about　London；　in　its
relation　to　his　contemplated　marriage。　　When　she　had　first　come　up　she
was　easier　with　him　than　now。　　And　yet　his　bringing　her　there　had
helped　his　cause；　the　house　had　decidedly　impressed　heralmost
overawed　her；　and　though　he　owned　that　by　no　law　of　nature　or　reason
had　her　mother　or　himself　any　right　to　urge　on　Avice　partnership　with
him　against　her　inclination；　he　resolved　to　make　the　most　of　having　her
under　his　influence　by　getting　the　wedding　details　settled　before　she
and　her　mother　left。

The　next　morning　he　proceeded　to　do　this。　　When　he　encountered　Avice
there　was　a　trace　of　apprehension　on　her　face；　but　he　set　that　down　to
a　fear　that　she　had　offended　him　the　night　before　by　her　taciturnity。
Directly　he　requested　her　mother；　in　Avice's　presence；　to　get　her　to
fix　the　day　quite　early；　Mrs。　Pierston　became　brighter　and　brisker。
She；　too；　plainly　had　doubts　about　the　wisdom　of　delay；　and　turning　to
her　daughter　said；　'Now；　my　dear；　do　you　hear？'

It　was　ultimately　agreed　that　the　widow　and　her　daughter　should　go　back
in　a　day　or　two；　to　await　Pierston's　arrival　on　the　wedding…eve；
immediately　after　their　return。


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In　pursuance　of　the　arrangement　Pierston　found　himself　on　the　south
shore　of　England　in　the　gloom　of　the　aforesaid　evening；　the　isle；　as　he
looked　across　at　it　with　his　approach；　being　just　discernible　as　a
moping　countenance；　a　creature　sullen　with　a　sense　that　he　was　about　to
withdraw　from　its　keeping　the　rarest　object　it　had　ever　owned。　　He　had
come　alone；　not　to　embarrass　them；　and　had　intended　to　halt　a　couple　of
hours　in　the　neighbouring　seaport　to　give　some　orders　relating　to　the
wedding；　but　the　little　railway　train　being　in　waiting　to　take　him　on；
he　proceeded　with　a　natural　impatience；　resolving　to　do　his　business
here　by　messenger　from　the　isle。

He　passed　the　ruins　of　the　Tudor　castle　and　the　long　featureless　rib　of
grinding　pebbles　that　screened　off　the　outer　sea；　which　could　be　heard
lifting　and　dipping　rhythmically　in　the　wide　vagueness　of　the　Bay。　　At
the　under…hill　island　townlet　of　the　Wells　there　were　no　flys；　and
leaving　his　things　to　be　brought　on；　as　he　often　did；　he　climbed　the
eminence　on　foot。

Half…way　up　the　steepest　part　of　the　pass　he　saw　in　the　dusk　a　figure
pausingthe　single　person　on　the　incline。　　Though　it　was　too　dark　to
identify　faces；　Pierston　gathered　from　the　way　in　which　the　halting
stranger　was　supporting　himself　by　the　handrail；　which　here　bordered
the　road　to　assist　climbers；　that　the　person　was　exhausted。

'Anything　the　matter？'　he　said。

'O　nonot　much；'　was　returned　by　the　other。　　'But　it　is　steep　just
here。'

The　accent　was　not　quite　that　of　an　Englishman；　and　struck　him　as
hailing　from　one　of　the　Channel　Islands。　　'Can't　I　help　you　up　to　the
top？'　he　said；　for　the　voice；　though　that　of　a　young　man；　seemed　faint
and　shaken。

'No；　thank　you。　　I　have　been　ill；　but　I　thought　I　was　all　right　again；
and　as　the　night　was　fine　I　walked　into　the　island　by　the　road。　　It
turned　out　to　be　rather　too　much　for　me；　as　there　is　some　weakness　left
still；　and　this　stiff　incline　brought　it　out。'

'Naturally。　　You'd　better　take　hold　of　my　armat　any　rate　to　the　brow
here。'

Thus　pressed　the　stranger　did　so；　and　they　went　on　towards　the　ridge；
till；　reaching　the　lime…kiln　standing　there　the　stranger　abandoned　his
hold；　saying：　　'Thank　you　for　your　assistance；　sir。　　Good…night。'

'I　don't　think　I　recognize　your　voice　as　a　native's？'

'No；　it　is　not。　　I　am　a　Jersey　man。　　Goodnight；　sir。'

'Good…night；　if　you　are　sure　you　can　get　on。　　Here；　take　this　stickit
is　no　use　to　me。'　　Saying　which；　Pierston　put　his　walking…stick　into
the　young　man's　hand。

'Thank　you　again。　I　shall　be　quite　recovered　when　I　have　rested　a
minute　or　two。　　Don't　let　me　detain　you；　please。'

The　stranger　as　he　spoke　turned　his　face　towards　the　south；　where　the
Beal　light　had　just　come　into　view；　and　stood　regarding　it　with　an
obstinate　fixity。　　As　he　evidently　wished　to　be　left　to　himself　Jocelyn
went　on；　and　troubled　no　more　about　him；　though　the　desire　of　the　young
man　to　be　rid　of　his　company；　after　accepting　his　walking…stick　and　his
arm；　had　come　with　a　suddenness　that　was　almost　emotional；　and
impressionable　as　Jocelyn　was；　no　less　now　than　in　youth；　he　was
saddened　for　a　minute　by　the　sense　that　there　were　people　in　the　world
who　did　not　like　even　his　sympathy。

However；　a　pleasure　which　obliterated　all　this　arose　when　Pierston　drew
near　to　the　house　that　was　likely　to　be　his　dear　home　on　all　future
visits　to　the　isle；　perhaps　even　his　permanent　home　as　he　grew　older
and　the　associations　of　his　youth　re…asserted　themselves。　　It　had　been；
too；　his　father's　house；　the　house　in　which　he　was　born；　and　he　amused
his　fancy　with　plans　for　its　enlargement　under　the　supervision　of　Avice
and　himself。　　It　was　a　still　greater　pleasure　to　behold　a　tall　and
shapely　figure　standing　against　the　light　of　the　open　door　and
presumably　awaiting　him。

Avice；　who　it　was；　gave　a　little　jump　when　she　recognized　him；　but
dutifully　allowed　him　to　kiss　her　when　he　reached　her　side；　though　her
nervousness　was　only　too　apparent；　and　was　like　a　child's　towards　a
parent　who　may　prove　stern。

'How　dear　of　you　to　guess　that　I　might　come　on　at　once　instead　of
later！'　said　Jocelyn。　　'Well；　if　I　had　stayed　in　the　town　to　go　to　the
shops　and　so　on；　I　could　not　have　got　here　till　the　last　train。　　How　is
mother？our　mother；　as　I　shall　call　her　soon。'

Avice　said　that　her　mother　had　not　been　so　wellshe　feared　not　nearly
so　well　since　her　return　from　London；　so　that　she　was　obliged　to　keep
her　room。　　The　visit　had　perhaps　been　too　much　for　her。　　'But　she　will
not　acknowledge　that　she　is　much　weaker；　because　she　will　not　disturb
my　happiness。'

Jocelyn　was　in　a　mood　to　let　trifles　of　manner　pass；　and　he　took　no
notice　of　the　effort　which　had　accompanied　the　last　word。　　They　went
upstairs　to　Mrs。　Pierston；　whose　obvious　relief　and　thankfulness　at
sight　of　him　was　grateful　to　her　visitor。

'I　am　so；　O　so　glad　you　are　come！'　she　said　huskily；　as　she　held　out
her　thin　hand　and　stifled　a　sob。　　'I　have　been　so'

She　could　get　no　further　for　a　moment；　and　Avice　turned　away　weeping；
and　abruptly　left　the　room。

'I　have　so　set　my　heart　on　this；'　Mrs。　Pierston　went　on；　'that　I　have
not　been　able　to　sleep　of　late；　for　I　have　feared　I　might　drop　off
suddenly　before　she　is　yours；　and　lose　the　comfort　of　seeing　you
actually　united。　　Your　being　so　kind　to　me　in　old　times　has　made　me　so
sure　that　she　will　find　a　good　husband　in　you；　that　I　am　over　anxious；
I　know。　　Indeed；　I　have　not　liked　to　let　her　know　quite　how　anxious　I
am。'

Thus　they　talked　till　Jocelyn　bade　her　goodnight；　it　being　noticeable
that　Mrs。　Pierston；　chastened　by　her　illnesses；　maintained　no　longer
any　reserve　on　her　gladness　to　acquire　him　as　her　son…in…law；　and　her
feelings　destroyed　any　remaining　scruples　he　might　have　had　from
perceiving　that　Avice's　consent　was　rather　an　obedience　than　a　desire。
As　he　went　downstairs；　and　found　Avice　awaiting　his　descent；　he
wondered　if　anything　had　occurred　here　during　his　absence　to　give　Mrs。
Pierston　new　uneasiness　about　the　marriage；　but　it　was　an　inquiry　he
could　not　address　to　a　girl　whose　actions　could　alone　be　the　cause　of
such　uneasiness。

He　looked　round　for　her　as　he　supped；　but　though　she　had　come　into　the
room　with　him　she　was　not　there　now。　　He　remembered　her　telling　him
that　she　had　had　supper　with　her　mother；　and　Jocelyn　sat　on　quietly
musing　and　sipping　his　wine　for　something　near　half…an…hour。　　Wondering
then　for　the　first　time　what　had　be