wessex tales-第18章

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leered　with　impish　jocoseness　as　he　thrust　his　tongue　into　his
cheek。

'Come；'　said　Barnet　gravely；　'we'll　have　no　more　of　that。'

'No；　noof　course　not；'　Charlson　hastily　answered；　seeing　that　his
humour　had　carried　him　too　far；　as　it　had　done　many　times　before。
He　was　profuse　in　his　apologies；　but　Barnet　did　not　reply。　　Of　one
thing　he　was　certainthat　scandal　was　a　plant　of　quick　root；　and
that　he　was　bound　to　obey　Lucy's　injunction　for　Lucy's　own　sake。



CHAPTER　III



He　did　so；　to　the　letter；　and　though；　as　the　crocus　followed　the
snowdrop　and　the　daffodil　the　crocus　in　Lucy's　garden；　the　harbour…
road　was　a　not　unpleasant　place　to　walk　in；　Barnet's　feet　never　trod
its　stones；　much　less　approached　her　door。　　He　avoided　a　saunter
that　way　as　he　would　have　avoided　a　dangerous　dram；　and　took　his
airings　a　long　distance　northward；　among　severely　square　and　brown
ploughed　fields；　where　no　other　townsman　came。　　Sometimes　he　went
round　by　the　lower　lanes　of　the　borough；　where　the　rope…walks
stretched　in　which　his　family　formerly　had　share；　and　looked　at　the
rope…makers　walking　backwards；　overhung　by　apple…trees　and　bushes；
and　intruded　on　by　cows　and　calves；　as　if　trade　had　established
itself　there　at　considerable　inconvenience　to　Nature。

One　morning；　when　the　sun　was　so　warm　as　to　raise　a　steam　from　the
south…eastern　slopes　of　those　flanking　hills　that　looked　so　lovely
above　the　old　roofs；　but　made　every　low…chimneyed　house　in　the　town
as　smoky　as　Tophet；　Barnet　glanced　from　the　windows　of　the　town…
council　room　for　lack　of　interest　in　what　was　proceeding　within。
Several　members　of　the　corporation　were　present；　but　there　was　not
much　business　doing；　and　in　a　few　minutes　Downe　came　leisurely
across　to　him；　saying　that　he　seldom　saw　Barnet　now。

Barnet　owned　that　he　was　not　often　present。

Downe　looked　at　the　crimson　curtain　which　hung　down　beside　the
panes；　reflecting　its　hot　hues　into　their　faces；　and　then　out　of　the
window。　　At　that　moment　there　passed　along　the　street　a　tall
commanding　lady；　in　whom　the　solicitor　recognized　Barnet's　wife。
Barnet　had　done　the　same　thing；　and　turned　away。

'It　will　be　all　right　some　day；'　said　Downe；　with　cheering　sympathy。

'You　have　heard；　then；　of　her　last　outbreak？'

Downe　depressed　his　cheerfulness　to　its　very　reverse　in　a　moment。
'No；　I　have　not　heard　of　anything　serious；'　he　said；　with　as　long　a
face　as　one　naturally　round　could　be　turned　into　at　short　notice。
'I　only　hear　vague　reports　of　such　things。'

'You　may　think　it　will　be　all　right；'　said　Barnet　drily。　　'But　I
have　a　different　opinion　。　。　。　No；　Downe；　we　must　look　the　thing　in
the　face。　　Not　poppy　nor　mandragorahowever；　how　are　your　wife　and
children？'

Downe　said　that　they　were　all　well；　thanks；　they　were　out　that
morning　somewhere；　he　was　just　looking　to　see　if　they　were　walking
that　way。　　Ah；　there　they　were；　just　coming　down　the　street；　and
Downe　pointed　to　the　figures　of　two　children　with　a　nursemaid；　and　a
lady　walking　behind　them。

'You　will　come　out　and　speak　to　her？'　he　asked。

'Not　this　morning。　　The　fact　is　I　don't　care　to　speak　to　anybody
just　now。'

'You　are　too　sensitive；　Mr。　Barnet。　　At　school　I　remember　you　used
to　get　as　red　as　a　rose　if　anybody　uttered　a　word　that　hurt　your
feelings。'

Barnet　mused。　　'Yes；'　he　admitted；　'there　is　a　grain　of　truth　in
that。　　It　is　because　of　that　I　often　try　to　make　peace　at　home。
Life　would　be　tolerable　then　at　any　rate；　even　if　not　particularly
bright。'

'I　have　thought　more　than　once　of　proposing　a　little　plan　to　you；'
said　Downe　with　some　hesitation。　　'I　don't　know　whether　it　will　meet
your　views；　but　take　it　or　leave　it；　as　you　choose。　　In　fact；　it　was
my　wife　who　suggested　it：　　that　she　would　be　very　glad　to　call　on
Mrs。　Barnet　and　get　into　her　confidence。　　She　seems　to　think　that
Mrs。　Barnet　is　rather　alone　in　the　town；　and　without　advisers。　　Her
impression　is　that　your　wife　will　listen　to　reason。　　Emily　has　a
wonderful　way　of　winning　the　hearts　of　people　of　her　own　sex。'

'And　of　the　other　sex　too；　I　think。　　She　is　a　charming　woman；　and
you　were　a　lucky　fellow　to　find　her。'

'Well；　perhaps　I　was；'　simpered　Downe；　trying　to　wear　an　aspect　of
being　the　last　man　in　the　world　to　feel　pride。　　'However；　she　will
be　likely　to　find　out　what　ruffles　Mrs。　Barnet。　　Perhaps　it　is　some
misunderstanding；　you　knowsomething　that　she　is　too　proud　to　ask
you　to　explain；　or　some　little　thing　in　your　conduct　that　irritates
her　because　she　does　not　fully　comprehend　you。　　The　truth　is；　Emily
would　have　been　more　ready　to　make　advances　if　she　had　been　quite
sure　of　her　fitness　for　Mrs。　Barnet's　society；　who　has　of　course
been　accustomed　to　London　people　of　good　position；　which　made　Emily
fearful　of　intruding。'

Barnet　expressed　his　warmest　thanks　for　the　well…intentioned
proposition。　　There　was　reason　in　Mrs。　Downe's　fearthat　he　owned。
'But　do　let　her　call；'　he　said。　　'There　is　no　woman　in　England　I
would　so　soon　trust　on　such　an　errand。　　I　am　afraid　there　will　not
be　any　brilliant　result；　still　I　shall　take　it　as　the　kindest　and
nicest　thing　if　she　will　try　it；　and　not　be　frightened　at　a
repulse。'

When　Barnet　and　Downe　had　parted；　the　former　went　to　the　Town
Savings…Bank；　of　which　he　was　a　trustee；　and　endeavoured　to　forget
his　troubles　in　the　contemplation　of　low　sums　of　money；　and　figures
in　a　network　of　red　and　blue　lines。　　He　sat　and　watched　the　working…
people　making　their　deposits；　to　which　at　intervals　he　signed　his
name。　　Before　he　left　in　the　afternoon　Downe　put　his　head　inside　the
door。

'Emily　has　seen　Mrs。　Barnet；'　he　said；　in　a　low　voice。　　'She　has　got
Mrs。　Barnet's　promise　to　take　her　for　a　drive　down　to　the　shore　to…
morrow；　if　it　is　fine。　　Good　afternoon！'

Barnet　shook　Downe　by　the　hand　without　speaking；　and　Downe　went
away。



CHAPTER　IV



The　next　day　was　as　fine　as　the　arrangement　could　possibly　require。
As　the　sun　passed　the　meridian　and　declined　westward；　the　tall
shadows　from　the　scaffold…poles　of　Barnet's　rising　residence
streaked　the　ground　as　far　as　to　the　middle　of　the　highway。　　Barnet
himself　was　there　inspecting　the　progress　of　the　works　for　the　first
time　during　several　weeks。　　A　building　in　an　old…fashioned　town
five…and…thirty　years　ago　did　not；　as　in　the　modern　fashion；　rise
from　the　sod　like　a　booth　at　a　fair。　　The　foundations　and　lower
courses　were　put　in　and　allowed　to　settle　for　many　weeks　before　the
superstructure　was　built　up；　and　a　whole　summer　of　drying　was　hardly
sufficient　to　do　justice　to　the　important　issues　involved。　　Barnet
stood　within　a　window…niche　which　had　as　yet　received　no　frame；　and
thence　looked　down　a　slope　into　the　road。　　The　wheels　of　a　chaise
were　heard；　and　then　his　handsome　Xantippe；　in　the　company　of　Mrs。
Downe；　drove　past　on　their　way　to　the　shore。　　They　were　driving
slowly；　there　was　a　pleasing　light　in　Mrs。　Downe's　face；　which
seemed　faintly　to　reflect　itself　upon　the　countenance　of　her
companionthat　politesse　du　coeur　which　was　so　natural　to　her
having　possibly　begun　already　to　work　results。　　But　whatever　the
situation；　Barnet　resolved　not　to　interfere；　or　do　anything　to
hazard　the　promise　of　the　day。　　He　might　well　afford　to　trust　the
issue　to　another　when　he　could　never　direct　it　but　to　ill　himself。
His　wife's　clenched　rein…hand　in　its　lemon…coloured　glove；　her　stiff
erect　figure；　clad　in　velvet　and　lace；　and　her　boldly…outlined　face；
passed　on；　exhibiting　their　owner　as　one　fixed　for　ever　above　the
level　of　her　companionsocially　by　her　early　breeding；　and
materially　by　her　higher　cushion。

Barnet　decided　to　allow　them　a　proper　time　to　themselves；　and　then
stroll　down　to　the　shore　and　drive　them　home。　　After　lingering　on　at
the　house　for　another　hour　he　started　with　this　intention。　　A　few
hundred　yards　below　'Chateau　Ringdale'　stood　the　cottage　in　which
the　late　lieutenant's　daughter　had　her　lodging。　　Barnet　had　not　been
so　far　that　way　for　a　long　time；　and　as　he　approached　the　forbidden
ground　a　curious　warmth　passed　into　him；　which　led　him　to　perceive
that；　unless　he　were　careful；　he　might　have　to　fight　the　battle　with
himself　about　Lucy　over　again。　　A　tenth　of　his　present　excuse　would；
however；　have　justified　him　in　travelling　by　that　road　to…day。

He　came　opposite　the　dwelling；　and　turned　his　eyes　for　a　momentary
glance　into　the　little　garden　that　stretched　from　the　palings　to　the
door。　　Lucy　was　in　the　enclosure；　she　was　walking　and　stooping　to
gather　some　flowers；　possibly　for　the　purpose　of　painting　them；　for
she　moved　about　quickly；　as　if　anxious　to　save　time。　　She　did　not
see　him；　he　might　have　passed　unnoticed；　but　a　sensation　which　was
not　in　strict　unison　with　his　previous　sentiments　that　day　led　him
to　pause　in　his　walk　and　watch　her。　　She　went　nimbly　round　and　round
the　beds　of　anemones；　tulips；　jonquils；　polyanthuses；　and　other　old…
fashioned　flowers；　looking　a　very　charming　figure　in　her　half…
mourning　bonnet；　and　with　an　incomplete　nosegay　in　her　left　hand。
Raising　herself　to　pull　down　a　lilac　blossom　she　observed　him。

'Mr。　Barnet！'　she　said；　innocently　smiling。　　'Why；　I　have　been
thinking　of　you　many　times　since　Mrs。　Barnet　went　by　in　the　pony…
carriage；　and　now　here　you　are！'

'Yes；　Lucy；'　he　said。

Then　she　seemed　to　recall　particulars　of　their　last　meeting；　and　he
believed　that　she　flushed；　though　it　might　have　been　only　the　fancy
of　his　own　supersensitivenesss。

'I　am　going　to　the　harbour；'　he　added。

'Are　you？'　Lucy　remarked　simply。　　'A　great　many　people　begin　to　go
there　now　the　summer　is　drawing　on。'

Her　face　had　come　more　into　his　view　as　she　spoke；　and　he　noticed
how　much　thinner　and　paler　it　was　than　when　he　had　seen　it　last。
'Lucy；　how　weary　you　look！　tell　me；　can　I　help　you？'　he　was　going　to
cry　out。'If　I　do；'　he　thought；　'it　will　be　the　ruin　of　us　both！'
He　merely　said　that　the　afternoon　was　fine；　and　went　on　his　way。

As　he　went　a　sudden　blast　of　air　came　over　the　hill　as　if　in
contradiction　to　his　words；　and　spoilt　the　previous　quiet　of　the
scene。　　The　wind　had　already　shifted　violently；　and　now　smelt　of　the
sea。

The　harbour…road　soon　began　to　justify　its　name。　　A　gap　appeared　in
the　rampart　of　hills　which　shut　out　the　sea；　and　on　the　left　of　the
opening　rose　a　vertical　cliff；　coloured　a　burning　orange　by　the
sunlight；　the　companion　cliff　on　the　right　being　livid　in　shade。
Between　these　cliffs；　like　the　Libyan　bay　which　sheltered　the
shipwrecked　Trojans；　was　a　little　haven；　seemingly　a　beginning　made
by　Nature　herself　of　a　perfect　harbour；　which　appealed　to　the
passer…by　as　only　requiring　a　little　human　industry　to　finish　it　and
make　it　famous；　the　ground　on　each　side　as　far　back　as　the　daisied
slopes　that　bounded　the　interior　valley　being　a　mere　layer　of　blown
sand。　　But　the　Port…Bredy　burgesses　a　mile　inland　had；　in　the　course
of　ten　centuries；　responded　many　times　to　that　mute　appeal；　with　the
result　that　the　tides　had　invariably　choked　up　their　works　with　sand
and　shingle　as　soon　as　completed。　　There　were　but　few　houses　here：
a　rough　pier；　a　few　boats；　some　stores；　an　inn；　a　residence　or　two；
a　ketch　unloading　in　the　harbour；　were　the　chief　features　of　the
settlement。　　On　the　open