the vanished messenger-第34章

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is　looking　for　Miss　Fentolin。　　Will　you　see　if　you　can　find　her？〃

The　man's　expression　was　full　of　polite　regret。

〃Miss　Fentolin　went　over　to　Legh　Woods　early　this　morning；　sir；〃
he　announced。　　〃She　is　staying　to　lunch　with　Lady　Saxthorpe。〃

Hamel　stood　quite　still　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　turned　to　the　window。
In　the　far　distance　he　could　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　Tower。　　Mr。
Fentolin's　chair　had　disappeared　from　the　walk。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　he　said。　　〃I　must　have　made　a　mistake。　　I　will　hurry
back。〃

There　were　more　questions　which　he　was　longing　to　ask；　but　the　cold
negativeness　of　her　manner　chilled　him。　　She　sat　with　her　fingers
poised　over　the　keys；　waiting　for　his　departure。　　He　turned　and
left　the　room。




CHAPTER　XXVIII

Mr。　Fentolin；　his　carriage　drawn　up　close　to　the　beach；　was　painting
steadily　when　Hamel　stood　once　more　by　his　side。　　His　eyes　moved
only　from　the　sea　to　the　canvas。　　He　never　turned　his　head。

〃So　your　wooing　has　not　prospered；　my　young　friend；〃　he　remarked
gently。　　〃I　am　sorry。　　Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃

〃Your　niece　has　gone　out　to　lunch；〃　Hamel　replied　shortly。

Mr。　Fentolin　stopped　painting。　　His　face　was　full　of　concern　as　he
looked　up　at　Hamel。

〃My　dear　sir；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃how　can　I　apologise！　　Of　course　she
has　gone　out　to　lunch。　　She　has　gone　out　to　Lady　Saxthorpe's。　　I
remember　the　subject　being　discussed。　　I　myself；　in　fact；　was　the
instigator　of　her　going。　　I　owe　you　a　thousand　apologies；　Mr。　Hamel。
Let　me　make　what　amends　are　possible　for　your　useless　journey。
Dine　with　us　to…night。〃

〃You　are　very　kind。〃

〃A　poor　amends；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued。　　〃A　morning　like　this　was
made　for　lovers。　　Sunshine　and　blue　sky；　a　salt　breeze　flavoured
just　a　little　with　that　lavender；　and　a　stroll　through　my　spring
gardens；　where　my　hyacinths　are　like　a　field　of　purple　and　gold；
a　mantle　of　jewels　upon　the　brown　earth。　　Ah；　well！　　One's　thoughts
will　wander　to　the　beautiful　things　of　life。　　There　were　once　women
who　loved　me；　Mr。　Hamel。〃

Hamel　looked　doubtfully　at　the　strange　little　figure　in　the　chair。
Was　this　genuine；　he　wondered；　a　voluntary　outburst；　or　was　it　some
subtle　attempt　to　incite　sympathy？　　Mr。　Fentolin　seemed　almost　to
have　read　his　thought。

〃It　is　not　for　the　sake　of　your　pity　that　I　say　this；〃　he　continued。
〃Mine　is　only　the　passing　across　the　line　which　age　as　well　as
infirmity　makes　inevitable。　　No　one　in　the　world　who　lives　to　grow
old；　and　who　has　loved　and　felt　the　fire　of　it　in　his　veins；　can
pass　that　line　without　sorrow；　or　look　back　without　a　pang。　　I　am
among　a　great　army。　　Well；　well；　I　shall　paint　no　more　to…day；〃　he
concluded　abruptly。

〃Where　is　your　servant？　　〃　Hamel　asked。

Mr。　Fentolin　glanced　around　him　carelessly。

〃He　has　wandered　away　out　of　sight。　　He　knows　well　how　necessary
solitude　is　to　me　if　once　I　take　the　brush　between　my　fingers
…　solitude　natural　and　entire；　I　mean。　　If　any　one　is　within　a
dozen　yards　of　me　I　know　it；　even　though　I　cannot　see　them。
Meekins　is　wandering　somewhere　the　other　side　of　the　Tower。〃

〃Shall　I　call　him　？〃

〃On　no　account；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　begged。　　〃Presently　he　will　appear；
in　plenty　of　time。　　There　is　the　morning　to　be　passed　…　barely
eleven　o'clock；　I　think；　now。　　I　shall　sit　in　my　chair；　and　sink　a
little　down；　and　dream　of　these　beautiful　lights；　these　rolling；
foam…flecked　waves；　these　patches　of　blue　and　shifting　green。　　I
can　form　them　in　my　brain。　　I　can　make　a　picture　there；　even　though
my　fingers　refuse　to　move。　　You　are　not　an　aesthete；　I　think；　Mr。
Hamel？　　The　study　of　beauty　does　not　mean　to　you　what　it　did　to　your
father；　and　my　father；　and；　in　a　smaller　way　to　me。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　Hamel　confessed。　　〃I　believe　I　feel　these　things
somewhere；　because　they　bring　a　queer　sense　of　content　with　them。
I　am　afraid；　though；　that　my　artistic　perceptions　are　not　so　keen
as　some　men's。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。

〃It　is　the　physical　life　in　your　veins　…　too　splendid　to　permit　you
abstract　pleasures。　　Compensations　again；　you　see　…　compensations。
I　wonder　what　the　law　is　that　governs　these　things。　　I　have
forgotten　sometimes；〃　he　went　on；　〃forgotten　my　own　infirmities　in
the　soft　intoxication　of　a　wonderful　seascape。　　Only；〃　he　went　on；
his　face　a　little　grey；　〃it　is　the　physical　in　life　which　triumphs。
There　are　the　hungry　hours　which　nothing　will　satisfy。〃

His　head　sank；　his　chin　rested　upon　his　chest。　　He　had　all　the
appearance　now　of　a　man　who　talks　in　bitter　earnest。　　Yet　Hamel
wondered。　　He　looked　towards　the　Tower；　there　was　no　sign　of　Meekins。
The　sea…gulls　went　screaming　above　their　heads。　　Mr。　Fentolin　never
moved。　　His　eyes　seemed　half　closed。　　It　was　only　when　Hamel　rose　to
his　feet　that　he　looked　swiftly　up。

〃Stay　with　me；　I　beg　you；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　in　one　of
the　moods　when　solitude；　even　for　a　moment；　is　dangerous。　　Do　you
know　what　I　have　sometimes　thought　to　myself？〃

He　pointed　to　the　planked　way　which　led　down　the　steep；　pebbly　beach
to　the　sea。

〃I　have　sometimes　thought；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　it　would　be　glorious
to　find　a　friend　to　stand　by　my　side　at　the　top　of　the　planks；　just
there；　when　the　tide　was　high；　and　to　bid　him　loose　my　chair　and　to
steer　it　myself；　to　steer　it　down　the　narrow　path　into　the　arms　of
the　sea。　　The　first　touch　of　the　salt　waves；　the　last　touch　of　life。
Why　not？　　One　sleeps　without　fear。〃

He　lifted　his　head　suddenly。　　Meekins　had　am　peared；　coming　round
from　the　back　of　the　Tower。　　Instantly　Mr。　Fentolin's　whole　manner
changed。　　He　sat　up　in　his　chair。

〃It　is　arranged；　then；〃　he　said。　　〃You　dine　with　us　to…night。　　For
the　other　matters　of　which　you　have　spoken；　well；　let　them　rest　in
the　hands　of　the　gods。　　You　are　not　very　kind　to　me。　　I　am　not　sure
whether　you　would　make　Esther　a　good　husband。　　I　am　not　sure；　even；
that　I　like　you。　　You　take　no　pains　to　make　yourself　agreeable。
Considering　that　your　father　was　an　artist；　you　seem　to　me　rather　a
dull　and　uninspired　young　man。　　But　who　can　tell？　　There　may　be
things　stirring　beneath　that　torpid　brain　of　yours　of　which　no　other
person　knows　save　yourself。〃

The　concentrated　gaze　of　Mr。　Fentolin's　keen　eyes　was　hard　to　meet；
but　Hamel　came　out　of　the　ordeal　without　flinching。

〃At　eight　o'clock；　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　can　see　that　I
must　try　to　earn　your　better　opinion。

Hamel　read　steadily　for　the　remainder　of　the　morning。　　It　was　past
one　o'clock　when　he　rose　stiffly　from　his　seat　among　the　sand
knolls　and；　strolling　back　to　the　Tower；　opened　the　door　and
entered。　　The　cloth　was　laid　for　luncheon　in　the　little
sitting…room；　but　there　were　no　signs　of　Hannah　Cox。　　He　passed
on　into　the　kitchen　and　came　to　a　sudden　standstill。　　Once　more
the　memory　of　his　own　work　passed　away　from　him。　　Once　more　he
was　back　again　among　that　queer；　clouded　tangle　of　strange
suspicions；　of　thrilling；　half…formed　fears；　which　had　assailed
him　at　times　ever　since　his　arrival　at　St；　David's。　　He　stopped
quite　short。　　The　words　which　rose　to　his　lips　died　away。　　He
felt　the　breathless；　compelling　need　for　silence　and　grew　tense　in
the　effort　to　make　no　sound。

Hannah　Cox　was　kneeling　on　the　stone　floor。　　Her　ear　was　close　to
the　crack　of　the　door　which　led　into　the　boat…house。　　Her　face；
half　turned　from　it；　was　set　in　a　strange；　concentrated　passion　of
listening；　her　lips　were　parted；　her　eyes　half　closed。　　She　took
no　more　notice　of　Hamel　or　his　arrival　than　if　he　had　been　some
useless　piece　of　furniture。　　Every　faculty　seemed　to　be　absorbed　in
that　one　intense　effort　of　listening。　　There　was　no　need　of　her
out…stretched　finger。　　Hamel　fell　in　at　once　with　a　mood　so　mesmeric。
　He；　too；　listened。　　The　small　clock　which　she　had　brought　with　her
from　the　village　ticked　away　upon　the　mantelpiece。　　The　full　sea
fell　with　placid　softness　upon　the　high　beach　outside。　　Some　slight
noise　of　cooking　came　from　the　stove。　　Save　for　these　things　there
was　silence。　　Yet；　for　a　space　of　time　which　Hamel　could　never　have
measured；　they　both　listened。　　When　at　last　the　woman　rose　to　her
feet；　Hamel；　finding　words　at　last；　was　surprised　to　find　that　his
throat　was　dry。

〃What　is　it；　Mrs。　Cox？〃　he　asked。　　〃Why　were　you　listening　there？〃

Her　face　was　absolutely　expressionless。　　She　was　busying　herself
now　with　a　small　saucepan；　and　her　back　was　turned　towards　him。

〃I　spend　my　life；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃listening　and　waiting。　　One
never　knows　when　the　end　may　come。〃

〃But　the　boat…house；〃　Hamel　objected。　　〃No　one　has　been　in　there　
his　morning；　have　they？〃

〃Who　can　tell？〃　she　answered。　　〃He　could　go　anywhere　when　he　chose；
or　how　he　chose　…　through　the　keyhole；　if　he　wanted。〃

〃But　why　listen？〃　Hamel　persisted。　　〃There　is　nothing　in　there　now
but　some　odds　and　ends　of　machinery。〃

She　turned　from　the　fire　and　looked　at　him　for　a　moment。　　Her　eyes
were　colourless；　her　tone　unemotional。

〃Maybe！　　There's　no　harm　in　listening。〃

〃Did　you　hear　anything　which　made　you　want　to　listen？〃

〃Who　can　tell？〃　she　answered。　　〃A　woman　who　lives　well…nigh　alone；
as　I　live；　in　a　quiet　place；　hears　things　so　often　that　other　folk
never　listen　to。　　There's　always　something　in　my　ears；　night　or　day。
Sometimes　I　am　not　sure　whether　it's　in　this　world　or　the　other。　　It
was　like　that　with　me　just　then。　　It　was　for　that　reason　I　listened。
Your　luncheon's　ready；　sir。〃

Hamel　walked　thoughtfully　back　into　his　sitting…room。　　He　seated
himself　before　a　spotless　cloth　and　watched　Hannah　Cox　spread　out
his　well…cooked；　cleanly…served　meal。

〃If　there's　anything　you　want；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　hear　you　at
a　word。　　The　kitchen　door　is　open。〃

〃One　moment；　Mrs。　Cox。〃

She　lingered　there　patiently；　with　the　tray　in　her　hand。

〃There　was　some　sound；〃　Hamel　continued；　〃perhaps　a　real　sound；
perhaps　a　fancy；　which　made　you　go　down　on　your　knees　in　the　kitchen。
Tell　me　what　it　was。〃

〃The　sound　I　always　hear；　sir；〃　she　answered　quietly。　　〃I　hear　it　in
the　night；　and　I　hear　it　when　I　stand　by　the　sea　and　look　out。　　I
have　heard　it　for　so　many　years　that　who　can　tell　whether　it　comes
from　this　world　or　the　other　…　the　cry　of　men　who　die！〃

She　passed　out。　　Hamel　looked　after　her；　for　a　moment；　like　a　man
in　a　dream；　In　his　fancy　he　could　see　her　back　again　once　more　in
the　kitchen；　kneeling　on　the　stone　floor；…　listening！




CHAPTER　XXIX

A　cold　twilight　had　fallen　upon　the　land　when　Hamel　left　the　Tower
that　evening　and　walked　briskly　along　the　foot…way　to　the　Hall。
Little　patches　of　mist　hung　over　the　creeks；　the　sky　was　almost
frosty。　　The　lights　from　St。　David's　Hall　shone　like　cheerful
beacons　before　him。　　He　hastened　up　the　stone　steps；　crossed　the
terrace；　and　passed　into　the　hall。　　A　servant　conducted　him　at　once
to　the　drawing…room。　　Mrs。　Fentolin；　in　a　pink　evening　dress；　with
a　pink　ornament　in　her　hair；　held　out　both　her　hands。　　In　the
background；　Mr。　Fentolin；　in　his　queerly…cut　evening　clothes；　sat
with　folded　arms；　leaning　back　in　his　carriage。　　He　listened　grimly
to　his　sister…in…law　as　she　stood　with　Hamel's　hands　in　hers。

〃My　dear　Mr。　Hamel！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃How　perfectly　charming　of　you
to　come　up　and　relieve　a　little　our　sad　loneli