wessex tales-第36章

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Owlett；'　groaned　the　minister；　his　honest　affection　for　Lizzy　having
quickened　to　its　intensest　point　during　these　moments　of　risk　to　her
person　and　name。　　'That's　why　she's　here；'　he　said　to　himself。　　'O；
it　will　be　the　ruin　of　her！'

His　perturbation　was　interrupted　by　the　sudden　bursting　out　of　a
bright　and　increasing　light　from　the　spot　where　Lizzy　was　in　hiding。
A　few　seconds　later；　and　before　it　had　reached　the　height　of　a
blaze；　he　heard　her　rush　past　him　down　the　hollow　like　a　stone　from
a　sling；　in　the　direction　of　home。　　The　light　now　flared　high　and
wide；　and　showed　its　position　clearly。　　She　had　kindled　a　bough　of
furze　and　stuck　it　into　the　bush　under　which　she　had　been　crouching；
the　wind　fanned　the　flame；　which　crackled　fiercely；　and　threatened
to　consume　the　bush　as　well　as　the　bough。　　Stockdale　paused　just
long　enough　to　notice　thus　much；　and　then　followed　rapidly　the　route
taken　by　the　young　woman。　　His　intention　was　to　overtake　her；　and
reveal　himself　as　a　friend；　but　run　as　he　would　he　could　see　nothing
of　her。　　Thus　he　flew　across　the　open　country　about　Holworth；
twisting　his　legs　and　ankles　in　unexpected　fissures　and　descents；
till；　on　coming　to　the　gate　between　the　downs　and　the　road；　he　was
forced　to　pause　to　get　breath。　　There　was　no　audible　movement　either
in　front　or　behind　him；　and　he　now　concluded　that　she　had　not　outrun
him；　but　that；　hearing　him　at　her　heels；　and　believing　him　one　of
the　excise　party；　she　had　hidden　herself　somewhere　on　the　way；　and
let　him　pass　by。

He　went　on　at　a　more　leisurely　pace　towards　the　village。　　On
reaching　the　house　he　found　his　surmise　to　be　correct；　for　the　gate
was　on　the　latch；　and　the　door　unfastened；　just　as　he　had　left　them。
Stockdale　closed　the　door　behind　him；　and　waited　silently　in　the
passage。　　In　about　ten　minutes　he　heard　the　same　light　footstep　that
he　had　heard　in　going　out；　it　paused　at　the　gate；　which　opened　and
shut　softly；　and　then　the　door…latch　was　lifted；　and　Lizzy　came　in。

Stockdale　went　forward　and　said　at　once；　'Lizzy；　don't　be
frightened。　　I　have　been　waiting　up　for　you。'

She　started；　though　she　had　recognized　the　voice。　　'It　is　Mr。
Stockdale；　isn't　it？'　she　said。

'Yes；'　he　answered；　becoming　angry　now　that　she　was　safe　indoors；
and　not　alarmed。　　'And　a　nice　game　I've　found　you　out　in　to…night。
You　are　in　man's　clothes；　and　I　am　ashamed　of　you！'

Lizzy　could　hardly　find　a　voice　to　answer　this　unexpected　reproach。

'I　am　only　partly　in　man's　clothes；'　she　faltered；　shrinking　back　to
the　wall。　　'It　is　only　his　greatcoat　and　hat　and　breeches　that　I've
got　on；　which　is　no　harm；　as　he　was　my　own　husband；　and　I　do　it　only
because　a　cloak　blows　about　so；　and　you　can't　use　your　arms。　　I　have
got　my　own　dress　under　just　the　sameit　is　only　tucked　in！　　Will
you　go　away　upstairs　and　let　me　pass？　　I　didn't　want　you　to　see　me
at　such　a　time　as　this！'

'But　I　have　a　right　to　see　you！　　How　do　you　think　there　can　be
anything　between　us　now？'　　Lizzy　was　silent。　　'You　are　a　smuggler；'
he　continued　sadly。

'I　have　only　a　share　in　the　run；'　she　said。

'That　makes　no　difference。　　Whatever　did　you　engage　in　such　a　trade
as　that　for；　and　keep　it　such　a　secret　from　me　all　this　time？'

'I　don't　do　it　always。　　I　only　do　it　in　winter…time　when　'tis　new
moon。'

'Well；　I　suppose　that's　because　it　can't　be　done　anywhen　else　。　。　。
You　have　regularly　upset　me；　Lizzy。'

'I　am　sorry　for　that；'　Lizzy　meekly　replied。

'Well　now；'　said　he　more　tenderly；　'no　harm　is　done　as　yet。　　Won't
you　for　the　sake　of　me　give　up　this　blamable　and　dangerous　practice
altogether？'

'I　must　do　my　best　to　save　this　run；'　said　she；　getting　rather　husky
in　the　throat。　　'I　don't　want　to　give　you　upyou　know　that；　but　I
don't　want　to　lose　my　venture。　　I　don't　know　what　to　do　now！　　Why　I
have　kept　it　so　secret　from　you　is　that　I　was　afraid　you　would　be
angry　if　you　knew。'

'I　should　think　so！　　I　suppose　if　I　had　married　you　without　finding
this　out　you'd　have　gone　on　with　it　just　the　same？'

'I　don't　know。　　I　did　not　think　so　far　ahead。　　I　only　went　to…night
to　burn　the　folks　off；　because　we　found　that　the　excisemen　knew
where　the　tubs　were　to　be　landed。'

'It　is　a　pretty　mess　to　be　in　altogether；　is　this；'　said　the
distracted　young　minister。　　'Well；　what　will　you　do　now？'

Lizzy　slowly　murmured　the　particulars　of　their　plan；　the　chief　of
which　were　that　they　meant　to　try　their　luck　at　some　other　point　of
the　shore　the　next　night；　that　three　landing…places　were　always
agreed　upon　before　the　run　was　attempted；　with　the　understanding
that；　if　the　vessel　was　'burnt　off'　from　the　first　point；　which　was
Ringsworth；　as　it　had　been　by　her　to…night；　the　crew　should　attempt
to　make　the　second；　which　was　Lulstead　Cove；　on　the　second　night；
and　if　there；　too；　danger　threatened；　they　should　on　the　third　night
try　the　third　place；　which　was　behind　a　headland　further　west。

'Suppose　the　officers　hinder　them　landing　there　too？'　he　said；　his
attention　to　this　interesting　programme　displacing　for　a　moment　his
concern　at　her　share　in　it。

'Then　we　shan't　try　anywhere　else　all　this　darkthat's　what　we　call
the　time　between　moon　and　moonand　perhaps　they'll　string　the　tubs
to　a　stray…line；　and　sink　'em　a　little…ways　from　shore；　and　take　the
bearings；　and　then　when　they　have　a　chance　they'll　go　to　creep　for
'em。'

'What's　that？'

'O；　they'll　go　out　in　a　boat　and　drag　a　creeperthat's　a　grapnel
along　the　bottom　till　it　catch　hold　of　the　stray…line。'

The　minister　stood　thinking；　and　there　was　no　sound　within　doors　but
the　tick　of　the　clock　on　the　stairs；　and　the　quick　breathing　of
Lizzy；　partly　from　her　walk　and　partly　from　agitation；　as　she　stood
close　to　the　wall；　not　in　such　complete　darkness　but　that　he　could
discern　against　its　whitewashed　surface　the　greatcoat　and　broad　hat
which　covered　her。

'Lizzy；　all　this　is　very　wrong；'　he　said。　　'Don't　you　remember　the
lesson　of　the　tribute…money？　　〃Render　unto　Caesar　the　things　that
are　Caesar's。〃　　Surely　you　have　heard　that　read　times　enough　in　your
growing　up？'

'He's　dead；'　she　pouted。

'But　the　spirit　of　the　text　is　in　force　just　the　same。'

'My　father　did　it；　and　so　did　my　grandfather；　and　almost　everybody
in　Nether…Moynton　lives　by　it；　and　life　would　be　so　dull　if　it
wasn't　for　that；　that　I　should　not　care　to　live　at　all。'

'I　am　nothing　to　live　for；　of　course；'　he　replied　bitterly。　　'You
would　not　think　it　worth　while　to　give　up　this　wild　business　and
live　for　me　alone？'

'I　have　never　looked　at　it　like　that。'

'And　you　won't　promise　and　wait　till　I　am　ready？'

'I　cannot　give　you　my　word　to…night。'　　And；　looking　thoughtfully
down；　she　gradually　moved　and　moved　away；　going　into　the　adjoining
room；　and　closing　the　door　between　them。　　She　remained　there　in　the
dark　till　he　was　tired　of　waiting；　and　had　gone　up　to　his　own
chamber。

Poor　Stockdale　was　dreadfully　depressed　all　the　next　day　by　the
discoveries　of　the　night　before。　　Lizzy　was　unmistakably　a
fascinating　young　woman；　but　as　a　minister's　wife　she　was　hardly　to
be　contemplated。　　'If　I　had　only　stuck　to　father's　little　grocery
business；　instead　of　going　in　for　the　ministry；　she　would　have
suited　me　beautifully！'　he　said　sadly；　until　he　remembered　that　in
that　case　he　would　never　have　come　from　his　distant　home　to　Nether…
Moynton；　and　never　have　known　her。

The　estrangement　between　them　was　not　complete；　but　it　was
sufficient　to　keep　them　out　of　each　other's　company。　　Once　during
the　day　he　met　her　in　the　garden…path；　and　said；　turning　a
reproachful　eye　upon　her；　'Do　you　promise；　Lizzy？'　　But　she　did　not
reply。　　The　evening　drew　on；　and　he　knew　well　enough　that　Lizzy
would　repeat　her　excursion　at　nighther　half…offended　manner　had
shown　that　she　had　not　the　slightest　intention　of　altering　her　plans
at　present。　　He　did　not　wish　to　repeat　his　own　share　of　the
adventure；　but；　act　as　he　would；　his　uneasiness　on　her　account
increased　with　the　decline　of　day。　　Supposing　that　an　accident
should　befall　her；　he　would　never　forgive　himself　for　not　being
there　to　help；　much　as　he　disliked　the　idea　of　seeming　to
countenance　such　unlawful　escapades。



CHAPTER　VHOW　THEY　WENT　TO　LULSTEAD　COVE



As　he　had　expected；　she　left　the　house　at　the　same　hour　at　night；
this　time　passing　his　door　without　stealth；　as　if　she　knew　very　well
that　he　would　be　watching；　and　were　resolved　to　brave　his
displeasure。　　He　was　quite　ready；　opened　the　door　quickly；　and
reached　the　back　door　almost　as　soon　as　she。

'Then　you　will　go；　Lizzy？'　he　said　as　he　stood　on　the　step　beside
her；　who　now　again　appeared　as　a　little　man　with　a　face　altogether
unsuited　to　his　clothes。

'I　must；'　she　said；　repressed　by　his　stern　manner。

'Then　I　shall　go　too；'　said　he。

'And　I　am　sure　you　will　enjoy　it！'　she　exclaimed　in　more　buoyant
tones。　　'Everybody　does　who　tries　it。'

'God　forbid　that　I　should！'　he　said。　　'But　I　must　look　after　you。'

They　opened　the　wicket　and　went　up　the　road　abreast　of　each　other；
but　at　some　distance　apart；　scarcely　a　word　passing　between　them。
The　evening　was　rather　less　favourable　to　smuggling　enterprise　than
the　last　had　been；　the　wind　being　lower；　and　the　sky　somewhat　clear
towards　the　north。

'It　is　rather　lighter；'　said　Stockdale。

''Tis；　unfortunately；'　said　she。　　'But　it　is　only　from　those　few
stars　over　there。　　The　moon　was　new　to…day　at　four　o'clock；　and　I
expected　clouds。　　I　hope　we　shall　be　able　to　do　it　this　dark；　for
when　we　have　to　sink　'em　for　long　it　makes　the　stuff　taste　bleachy；
and　folks　don't　like　it　so　well。'

Her　course　was　different　from　that　of　the　preceding　night；　branching
off　to　the　left　over　Lord's　Barrow　as　soon　as　they　had　got　out　of
the　lane　and　crossed　the　highway。　　By　the　time　they　reached　Chaldon
Down；　Stockdale；　who　had　been　in　perplexed　thought　as　to　what　he
should　say　to　her；　decided　that　he　would　not　attempt　expostulation
now；　while　she　was　excited　by　the　adventure；　but　wait　till　it　was
over；　and　endeavour　to　keep　her　from　such　practices　in　future。　　It
occurred　to　him　once　or　twice；　as　they　rambled　on；　that　should　they
be　surprised　by　the　excisemen；　his　situation　would　be　more　awkward
than　hers；　for　it　would　be　difficult　to　prove　his　true　motive　in
coming　to　the　spot；　but　the　risk　was　a　slight　consideration　beside
his　wish　to　be　with　her。

They　now　arrived　at　a　ravine　which　lay　on　the　outskirts　of　Chaldon；
a　village　two　miles　on　their　way　towards　the　point　of　the　shore　they
sought。　　Lizzy　broke　the　silence　this　time：　　'I　have　to　wait　here　to
meet　the　carriers。　　I　don't　know　if　they　have　come　yet。　　As　I　told
you；　we　go　to　Lulstead　Cove　to…night；　and　it　is　two　miles　further
than　Ringsworth。'

It　turned　out　that　the　men　had　already　come；　for　while　she　spoke　two
or　three　dozen　heads　broke　the　line　of　the　slope；　and　a　company　of
them　at　once　descended　from　the　bushes　where　they　had　been　lying　in
wait。　　These　carriers　were　men　whom　Lizzy　and　other　proprietors
regularly　employed　to　bring　the　tubs　from　the　boat　to　a　hiding…place
inland。　　They　were　all　young　fellows　of　Nether…Moynton；　Chaldon；　and
the　neighbourhood；　quiet　and　inoffensive　persons；　who　simply　engaged
to　carry　the　cargo　for　Lizzy　and　her　c