the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第4部分

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shocks　of　battle　or　shouts　of　thanksgiving。

Presently　on　the　pale　road　before　him　he　discerned　a　figure；　the　figure
of　a　woman。　　He　remembered　that　a　woman　passed　him　while　he　was　reading
Avice's　letter　by　the　last　lamp；　and　now　he　was　overtaking　her。

He　did　hope　for　a　moment　that　it　might　be　Avice；　with　a　changed　mind。
But　it　was　not　she；　nor　anybody　like　her。　　It　was　a　taller；　squarer
form　than　that　of　his　betrothed；　and　although　the　season　was　only
autumn　she　was　wrapped　in　furs；　or　in　thick　and　heavy　clothing　of　some
kind。

He　soon　advanced　abreast　of　her；　and　could　get　glimpses　of　her　profile
against　the　roadstead　lights。　　It　was　dignified；　arresting；　that　of　a
very　Juno。　　Nothing　more　classical　had　he　ever　seen。　　She　walked　at　a
swinging　pace；　yet　with　such　ease　and　power　that　there　was　but　little
difference　in　their　rate　of　speed　for　several　minutes；　and　during　this
time　he　regarded　and　conjectured。　　However；　he　was　about　to　pass　her　by
when　she　suddenly　turned　and　addressed　him。

'Mr　Pierston；　I　think；　of　East　Quarriers？'

He　assented；　and　could　just　discern　what　a　handsome；　commanding；
imperious　face　it　wasquite　of　a　piece　with　the　proud　tones　of　her
voice。　　She　was　a　new　type　altogether　in　his　experience；　and　her　accent
was　not　so　local　as　Avice's。

'Can　you　tell　me　the　time；　please？'

He　looked　at　his　watch　by　the　aid　of　a　light；　and　in　telling　her　that
it　was　a　quarter　past　seven　observed；　by　the　momentary　gleam　of　his
match；　that　her　eyes　looked　a　little　red　and　chafed；　as　if　with
weeping。

'Mr。　Pierston；　will　you　forgive　what　will　appear　very　strange　to　you；　I
dare　say？　　That　is；　may　I　ask　you　to　lend　me　some　money　for　a　day　or
two？　　I　have　been　so　foolish　as　to　leave　my　purse　on　the　dressing…
table。'

It　did　appear　strange：　　and　yet　there　were　features　in　the　young　lady's
personality　which　assured　him　in　a　moment　that　she　was　not　an　impostor。
He　yielded　to　her　request；　and　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket。　　Here　it
remained　for　a　moment。　　How　much　did　she　mean　by　the　words　'some
money'？　　The　Junonian　quality　of　her　form　and　manner　made　him　throw
himself　by　an　impulse　into　harmony　with　her；　and　he　responded　regally。
He　scented　a　romance。　　He　handed　her　five　pounds。

His　munificence　caused　her　no　apparent　surprise。　　'It　is　quite　enough；
thank　you；'　she　remarked　quietly；　as　he　announced　the　sum；　lest　she
should　be　unable　to　see　it　for　herself。

While　overtaking　and　conversing　with　her　he　had　not　observed　that　the
rising　wind；　which　had　proceeded　from　puffing　to　growling；　and　from
growling　to　screeching；　with　the　accustomed　suddenness　of　its　changes
here；　had　at　length　brought　what　it　promised　by　these　vagariesrain。
The　drops；　which　had　at　first　hit　their　left　cheeks　like　the　pellets　of
a　popgun；　soon　assumed　the　character　of　a　raking　fusillade　from　the
bank　adjoining；　one　shot　of　which　was　sufficiently　smart　to　go　through
Jocelyn's　sleeve。　　The　tall　girl　turned；　and　seemed　to　be　somewhat
concerned　at　an　onset　which　she　had　plainly　not　foreseen　before　her
starting。

'We　must　take　shelter；'　said　Jocelyn。

'But　where？'　said　she。

To　windward　was　the　long；　monotonous　bank；　too　obtusely　piled　to　afford
a　screen；　over　which　they　could　hear　the　canine　crunching　of　pebbles　by
the　sea　without；　on　their　right　stretched　the　inner　bay　or　roadstead；
the　distant　riding…lights　of　the　ships　now　dim　and　glimmering；　behind
them　a　faint　spark　here　and　there　in　the　lower　sky　showed　where　the
island　rose；　before　there　was　nothing　definite；　and　could　be　nothing；
till　they　reached　a　precarious　wood　bridge；　a　mile　further　on；　Henry
the　Eighth's　Castle　being　a　little　further　still。

But　just　within　the　summit　of　the　bank；　whither　it　had　apparently　been
hauled　to　be　out　of　the　way　of　the　waves；　was　one　of　the　local　boats
called　lerrets；　bottom　upwards。　　As　soon　as　they　saw　it　the　pair　ran　up
the　pebbly　slope　towards　it　by　a　simultaneous　impulse。　　They　then
perceived　that　it　had　lain　there　a　long　time；　and　were　comforted　to
find　it　capable　of　affording　more　protection　than　anybody　would　have
expected　from　a　distant　view。　　It　formed　a　shelter　or　store　for　the
fishermen；　the　bottom　of　the　lerret　being　tarred　as　a　roof。　　By
creeping　under　the　bows；　which　overhung　the　bank　on　props　to　leeward；
they　made　their　way　within；　where；　upon　some　thwarts；　oars；　and　other
fragmentary　woodwork；　lay　a　mass　of　dry　nettinga　whole　sein。　　Upon
this　they　scrambled　and　sat　down；　through　inability　to　stand　upright。



1。　V。　　A　CHARGE

The　rain　fell　upon　the　keel　of　the　old　lerret　like　corn　thrown　in
handfuls　by　some　colossal　sower；　and　darkness　set　in　to　its　full　shade。

They　crouched　so　close　to　each　other　that　he　could　feel　her　furs
against　him。　　Neither　had　spoken　since　they　left　the　roadway　till　she
said；　with　attempted　unconcern：　　'This　is　unfortunate。'

He　admitted　that　it　was；　and　found；　after　a　few　further　remarks　had
passed；　that　she　certainly　had　been　weeping；　there　being　a　suppressed
gasp　of　passionateness　in　her　utterance　now　and　then。

'It　is　more　unfortunate　for　you；　perhaps；　than　for　me；'　he　said；　'and　I
am　very　sorry　that　it　should　be　so。'

She　replied　nothing　to　this；　and　he　added　that　it　was　rather　a　desolate
place　for　a　woman；　alone　and　afoot。　　He　hoped　nothing　serious　had
happened　to　drag　her　out　at　such　an　untoward　time。

At　first　she　seemed　not　at　all　disposed　to　show　any　candour　on　her　own
affairs；　and　he　was　left　to　conjecture　as　to　her　history　and　name；　and
how　she　could　possibly　have　known　him。　　But；　as　the　rain　gave　not　the
least　sign　of　cessation；　he　observed：　　'I　think　we　shall　have　to　go
back。'

'Never！'　said　she；　and　the　firmness　with　which　she　closed　her　lips　was
audible　in　the　word。

'Why　not？'　he　inquired。

'There　are　good　reasons。'

'I　cannot　understand　how　you　should　know　me；　while　I　have　no　knowledge
of　you。'

'Oh；　but　you　know　meabout　me；　at　least。'

'Indeed　I　don't。　　How　should　I？　　You　are　a　kimberlin。'

'I　am　not。　　I　am　a　real　islanderor　was；　rather。　。　。　。　　Haven't　you
heard　of　the　Best…Bed　Stone　Company？'

'I　should　think　so！　　They　tried　to　ruin　my　father　by　getting　away　his
tradeor；　at　least；　the　founder　of　the　company　didold　Bencomb。'

'He's　my　father！'

'Indeed。　　I　am　sorry　I　should　have　spoken　so　disrespectfully　of　him；
for　I　never　knew　him　personally。　　After　making　over　his　large　business
to　the　company；　he　retired；　I　believe；　to　London？'

'Yes。　　Our　house；　or　rather　his；　not　mine；　is　at　South　Kensington。　　We
have　lived　there　for　years。　　But　we　have　been　tenants　of　Sylvania
Castle；　on　the　island　here；　this　season。　　We　took　it　for　a　month　or　two
of　the　owner；　who　is　away。'

'Then　I　have　been　staying　quite　near　you；　Miss　Bencomb。　　My　father's　is
a　comparatively　humble　residence　hard　by。'

'But　he　could　afford　a　much　bigger　one　if　he　chose。'

'You　have　heard　so？　　I　don't　know。　　He　doesn't　tell　me　much　of　his
affairs。'

'My　father；'　she　burst　out　suddenly；　'is　always　scolding　me　for　my
extravagance！　　And　he　has　been　doing　it　to…day　more　than　ever。　　He　said
I　go　shopping　in　town　to　simply　a　diabolical　extent；　and　exceed　my
allowance！'

'Was　that　this　evening？'

'Yes。　　And　then　it　reached　such　a　storm　of　passion　between　us　that　I
pretended　to　retire　to　my　room　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　but　I
slipped　out；　and　I　am　never　going　back　home　again。'

'What　will　you　do？'

'I　shall　go　first　to　my　aunt　in　London；　and　if　she　won't　have　me；　I'll
work　for　a　living。　　I　have　left　my　father　for　ever！　　What　I　should　have
done　if　I　had　not　met　you　I　cannot　tellI　must　have　walked　all　the　way
to　London；　I　suppose。　　Now　I　shall　take　the　train　as　soon　as　I　reach
the　mainland。'

'If　you　ever　do　in　this　hurricane。'

'I　must　sit　here　till　it　stops。'

And　there　on　the　nets　they　sat。　　Pierston　knew　of　old　Bencomb　as　his
father's　bitterest　enemy；　who　had　made　a　great　fortune　by　swallowing　up
the　small　stone…merchants；　but　had　found　Jocelyn's　sire　a　trifle　too
big　to　digestthe　latter　being；　in　fact；　the　chief　rival　of　the　Best…
Bed　Company　to　that　day。　　Jocelyn　thought　it　strange　that　he　should　be
thrown　by　fate　into　a　position　to　play　the　son　of　the　Montagues　to　this
daughter　of　the　Capulets。

As　they　talked　there　was　a　mutual　instinct　to　drop　their　voices；　and　on
this　account　the　roar　of　the　storm　necessitated　their　drawing　quite
close　together。　　Something　tender　came　into　their　tones　as　quarter…hour
after　quarter…hour　went　on；　and　they　forgot　the　lapse　of　time。　　It　was
quite　late　when　she　started　up；　alarmed　at　her　position。

'Rain　or　no　rain；　I　can　stay　no　longer；'　she　said。

'Do　come　back；'　said　he；　taking　her　hand。　　'I'll　return　with　you。　　My
train　has　gone。'

'No；　I　shall　go　on；　and　get　a　lodging　in　Budmouth　town；　if　ever　I　reach
it。'

'It　is　so　late　that　there　will　be　no　house　open；　except　a　little　place
near　the　station　where　you　won't　care　to　stay。　　However；　if　you　are
determined　I　will　show　you　the　way。　　I　cannot　leave　you。　　It　would　be
too　awkward　for　you　to　go　there　alone。'

She　persisted；　and　they　started　through　the　twanging　and　spinning
storm。　　The　sea　rolled　and　rose　so　high　on　their　left；　and　was　so　near
them　on　their　right；　that　it　seemed　as　if　they　were　traversing　its
bottom　like　the　Children　of　Israel。　　Nothing　but　the　frail　bank　of
pebbles　divided　them　from　the　raging　gulf　without；　and　at　every　bang　of
the　tide　against　it　the　ground　shook；　the　shingle　clashed；　the　spray
rose　vertically；　and　was　blown　over　their　heads。　　Quantities　of　sea…
water　trickled　through　the　pebble　wall；　and　ran　in　rivulets　across
their　path　to　join　the　sea　within。　　The　'Island'　was　an　island　still。

They　had　not　realized　the　force　of　the　elements　till　now。　　Pedestrians
had　often　been　blown　into　the　sea　hereabout；　and　drowned；　owing　to　a
sudden　breach　in　the　bank；　which；　however；　had　something　of　a
supernatural　power　in　being　able　to　close　up　and　join　itself　together
again　after　such　disruption；　like　Satan's　form　when；　cut　in　two　by　the
sword　of　Michael；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'The　ethereal　substance　closed；
　　　　　Not　long　divisible。'

Her　clothing　offered　more　resistance　to　the　wind　than　his；　and　she　was
consequently　in　the　greater　danger。　　It　was　impossible　t