The Case of Ailsa Gray

Front matter

THE CASE OF AILSA GRAY a THE CASE OF ÆLSA GRAY BY GEO. MANVILLE FENN LONDON F. V. WHITE & CO. 14 BEDFORD STREET, STR.4ND, W.C. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. As Innocent as Milk, ... 1 II. Jake makes a Mistake, . . .12 III. The Old Wrecker wrecks, . . .18 IV. Chad Brim alters his Tune, . . 25 V. Jake wants a Wedding Bell, . . 34 VI. Dave Carey makes a Discovery, . . 47 VII. Dave brings it to a Climax, . . 56 VIII. The Dark Night's Work, ... 66 IX. Another Blow, . . . .78 X. Under the Cloud, . . . .83 XI. The Vicar is unclerieal, . . .91 XII. The Drawing of a Blank, . . .101 XIII. The Shadow deepens, . . .108 XIV. Face to Face, . . . .114 XV. Sisters in Sorrow, . . . .120 XVI. The Squire grows legal, . . .128 XVII. A Terrible Dread, . . . .132 XVIII. Liz finds — not what She wants, . . 137 XIX. The Cloud lightens and grows dark, . 149 XX.

The Vicar's Skeleton, . . .155 XXI. Two Women, . . . .166 XXII. Dave grows morbid, and Mary jibs, . 172 XXIII. Mary seeks Consolation, . . . 180 v vi CONTENTS CHAP PA0* XXIV. The Squire's Dinner spoils, . 188 XXV Fishing and Catching Fire, . . 193 XXVI. A Thunderbolt for Two, . . 207 XXVII. Dave's Eyes are unsealed, . . 212 XXVIII. Preparing for the Worst, . . 218 XXIX. The Vicar is late, . .229 YYY. Chad Le Brim goes Fishing, . . 237 XXXI. Back to a Dead Life, . .247 XXXII. Chad's Opinions, . . . .254 XXXIII. One too Many, . . . .262 XXXIV. Ailsa speaks out, .... 267 XXXV An Encounter, . . . .279 XXXVI. In Gross Darkness, . . .284 XXXVII. Aftermath, . . .296 XXXVIII. Under the Other Cloud, . . 301 XXXIX. The Doctor's Patients, . . .305 XL. Dave Carey seeks for Bait, . . 319 XLI. Mrs Baines explains, . . . 327 XLII.

Out at Sea, . . . . .336 XLIII. A Strange Experience, . . 346 XLIV. On the Rocky Shore, . . .352 XLV. " All that remains of Her," . . 360 XL VI. Gathering the Loose Strands, . .

Chapter I As Innocent As Milk

A puetty picture in a beautiful frame, just such a scene as no artist has ever painted in its true colours, no tradesman framed in so golden a glory ; and sixty years ago. Only a pretty lass and a couple of cows, but the girl as she walked slowly along with a couple of tether ropes over her shoulder, invited a second glance, though she was rustic and homely in her common print dress and sun bonnet which shaded the face tanned by sea breezes. Her hair was of a warm brown, almost as warm as that of her bare arms and hands, which held the tether ropes and a long-shafted heavy mallet, as if she were leading off the two graceful, antelope-eyed cows to immediate, execution instead of to answer their demand, which had for the past hour been expressed in a musical lowing. They followed as prisoners, and showed their satis faction by playfully butting at each other, though care fully avoiding to tug the ropes by which they were led.

Behind them the westering sun gilded the furze and heather, adding wondrous tints to the orange dyes, while behind, the sea that washed the rugged rocks of the embattled island flashed with effulgent hues, as if it were turned to wine by the celestial glories which A spread from the zenith to where sea and sky mingled in one dazzUng glow. " Quiet, Bell ! Quiet, Bloom ! " cried the girl, as one of the cows lowered her head, raised her taU and broke into a clumsy dance, imitated at once by her com panion, with variations of her own. " Do you hear, you sillies ? Anyone would think you were a paU of calves." This admonition seemed to please one of the cows so highly that she dug a little black curled horn into the other's flank, evoking an attempt at retaliation. " Will you be quiet, you two ?

Aren't you ashamed ? Here's parson's wife coming : a married lady like you two." The girl ceased speaking, and gazed across the glori fied landscape of rock and heather at a fashionably dressed figure approaching at an angle which would probably bring them together a couple of hundred yards ahead. " How young she looks," said the bearer of the mallet, softly. "Just a girl like me, and married two years. I wish I was someone's wife," she added, with a sigh, and her soft round face grew hard with lines in her fore head, her ruddy lips pale with compression, while the tether ropes by which she led the two little cows tightened as she increased her pace. " Ah," she mut tered now between her teeth, " but I don't want to be Mrs Gray, and I shouldn't be like her U I was some one's wife." She walked on as fast as the cows would let her, apparently gazing at the ground, but watching the light, graceful figure which drew rapidly near her, and she scanned the oval face with its large liquid eyes shaded by curved lashes and marked by long, straight brows, which rose and fell slightly as if in accord with the thoughts which passed through then owner's breast, as she, too, was keenly observant of her whom she approached.

" Ah, Liz ! " she cried, as she came within speaking distance, "is the vicar at the cottage?" "No, ma'am, he hasn't been here to-day." "How tiresome! And I've walked all this way to meet him. Oh, I'm so hot and weary ; I must come and sit down." " Yes, ma'am ; please, ma'am." "But I don't 'please, ma'am.' It is such rough walk ing in this tiresome place. Look at that." She raised her skirt a little and held out one prettily booted little foot, at which the girl and the cows stared. "Yes, ma'am; it's cracked. Them sort of shoes are not strong enough for Enys," said the girl, slowly ; and her eyes involuntarily fell to her own coarse, lace-up boots. "Strong enough, no. These rocks would wear out anything. Going to milk the cows ? " "Yes, ma'am." " Then I know : I'll sit down and watch you, and you shall give me a glass of milk."

"Haven't got no glass, ma'am, but you can have a mug." " No ; you're dreadful barbarians, Liz ; but the mug will do. You don't drink much milk for your com plexion, Liz ? " "No, ma'am, I never think about it." " Fie ! Don't tell fibs. A pretty girl and not think about your complexion ! But, come along, I'm parched with thirst, and — why, whoever is this coming ! " The girl turned her head sharply, with a look of eagerness in her eyes, but the flash died out as she said, rather sadly, — "Mr Britten Ranee, miss." "What?" "I mean ma'am." The vicar's young wife laughed merrily, and showed her perfect little white teeth as she shook a carefully gloved finger at the girl. "Oh, that's it, is it?" she cried. "But fie, fie, Liz le Brim ! Mr Britten Ranee is a well-to-do gentleman, though he does paint and loves boating and fishing, and — pretty lasses."

The girl opened her mouth and gazed rather vacantly in the speaker's eyes. Then the meaning of the in nuendo seemed to flash upon her, and her brown cheeks darkened with the colour which came into them. "I thought so," said the vicar's wife; "but you must take care, Liz, take care." The girl's Ups parted to speak as she darted an indig nant glance at the lady, but the words ready to be uttered were checked by the arrival of a rather hand some young fellow, bearing a small easel and a drawing board. " Ah, Mrs Gray ! " he cried, " did you see the sunset ? " " Sunset ? I did notice a veiy warm glow in Elizabeth's cheeks, and I have been giving her a few words of warning." " Warning ! " cried the young man, staring. " What about ?— Oh, I say ! " " Pretty young maidens who go milking the cows have no business to have young artists to come and look on."

"Oh, I say!" cried the young man again, with a look of reproach at the mocking face before him. The vicar's wife darted a quick glance in the direction of Liz, who, with face hidden beneath her sun bonnet, had turned away and was leading her cows onward toward a long, low, granite cottage nestled on a rugged shelf of the cliff a couple of hundred yards away, and too far off now to catch what was said. " Stupid boy ! " said the lady, in a low voice. The look of perplexity passed from the young man's face directly, and he gazed imploringly in his com panion's eyes as they walked on side by side after Liz and her cows. " Are you going back by the path or round by tl.e cliff edge?" said the newcomer, after a few moments' silence. There was a mocking smile in the piquant, attractive face beside him.

" By the path, of course." " Why not the other way ? I want to talk to you. I have so much to say." " Dear me ! What can Mr Britten Bance have to say to a poor old married woman like me ? " was the bantering reply. " Old ? " " Yes, I feel forty. But I see. Why, of course. I think I will come round by the cliff." "You will?" " Yes. You want to talk to me about your chance with Mary Rohaise." The young man made an angry gesture. " You are always mocking me," he said, in a low voice. " Mrs Gray— Ailsa— " " Hush, how dare you ? " The bright light which darted from the lady's eyes was neither fierce nor menacing. It was too long, and shut off too slowly by the heavily-fringed eyelids. In fact, far from shrinking away humbled and abashed, the young man drew a long, deep breath, which was followed by something like a sigh of satisfaction as he gazed away, and so missed seeing a half-contemptuous smile.

They had by this time reached the end of the rough cottage, where the two cows had increased their pace and passed under a broad piece of timber upon which the dry grey growth of sea-weed proclaimed it to be a portion of some unfortunate ship which had drifted for months in the wUd currents, perhaps for years, before it was wedged in among the rocks of Enys, and dragged up to form part of the rough, low cot. Liz followed her cows, and Britten Ranee and the vicar's young wife stood outside. "Now then," he whispered, " come." "To hear about your boy love for Mary Rohaise?" she answered, in a low tone. " No," he whispered earnestly ; " another tale, if I may dare to teU it. Mrs Gray — Ailsa — am I such a boy?" " Liz has begun milking," was the mocking reply. " I am so thirsty, and she has promised me a mugful fresh and new from the cow.

Hark ! " Whish — whish — whish — whish — the sound of the rich, white mUk streaming into the pail, supplemented by a long, impatient low from the cow awaiting her turn. " You treat me as if I were a child," whispered the young man, passionately. "No," was the mocking reply ; "only a silly boy. Come in and have a mug of nice warm milk, Mr Ranee." " Damn ! " ejaculated the young man through his teeth, as the lady disappeared into the low cow-house, and he turned angrily away, walking quickly, till a low, sweet musical laugh fell upon his ears, making him turn and walk back, without seeing a pair of eyes peering at him over the edge of a mass of rock some fifty yards beyond the cottage. As he reached the doorway of the cow-house, he stopped short in astonishment, for there, in the dim light, was the vicar's wife, seated upon the rough three legged stool which the girl had vacated ; her gloves removed, and her two soft white hands, glittering with rings, grasping the cow's teats and imitating Liz's actions over the frothing contents of the pail at her knees, but without result.

" That you, Mr Ranee ? " she cried, merrily. " Look here ; such fun ! But, Elizabeth, you must not tell any body I tried to milk." " No, miss," said the girl, quietly, " I shall not tell." " That's right. People might be shocked." " Yes, miss ; I don't think Mr Gray would like it." " WUl you leave off calling me Jliss, you stupid girl ! And, look here, the thing's empty ; you got all the mUk before I began, and I did so much want to get a whole mugful for Mr Ranee myself." The young man's face brightened, but he did not speak, though his fit of anger was evaporating. "Ah, mind! Oh!" exclaimed the amateur dairy maid, for the cow raised one leg as if ready to kick over pail and operator, and then whisked her tail round and brought it heavily upon the bent back. " She's whipping me — a savage wretch !

Mr Ranee, don't you see? AVhy don't you come and hold her taU?" "You're hurting her, ma'am, with those rings," said Liz, quietly. " That I'm not, for I'm squeezing her quite gently ; and I'm sure there's no more milk." " Oh, yes, ma'am, plenty ; but BeU won't let it down. She don't like anyone to milk her but me." "A nasty, obstinate thing ! But I will do it, and she shaU let me." "Ahoy!" A distant haU reached the speaker's ears. " AVhat's that ? " she cried, starting up in alarm. " Dave Carey," said Ranee, sourly. " He must have seen me at the door." " Oh, my gracious ! " cried the lady, excitedly, wiping her hands prior to putting on her gloves. " He mustn't see me Uke this. Here, Elizabeth, sit down and go on milking. How thesome these gloves are. My hands are so horribly damp." " You weren't so particular about me seeing you milking," said Ranee, in a low voice, as Liz took the vacated stool, rested her head against the cow's flank, and the regular whish, ivhish of the descending milk began once more.

"You? No," said the lady pettishly. "You're nobody." " Of course," he retorted. " And you're a good boy who does not teU tales. Is he very near ? Oh, these tiresome gloves ! " "I don't know how near he is," growled Ranee. " You won't look," she whispered ; " and when you know how I trust you ! " she cooed softly. The blood surged through the young man's veins, and he looked sharply round. "Make haste," he whispered, as he turned back to speak, " he isn't a hundred yards away." " Here, I say, you jolly old poacher ! " came in a cheery voice, "what's this? You taking to milking! D'ye hear ? You'd better look out ; old Chad's boat's in sight, and Jake Prevut's only just below. Liz, my lass, this won't do Mrs Gray ! Oh, I beg your pardon." The speaker's straw hat was doffed as he caught sight of the vicar's wife.

Just inside the low doorway, gloved, calm, and looking at him in a quiet, haU-amused fashion, while the blood rose in the young man's broad white forehead above the brown which extended to the red ridge mark of his hat. It was not a handsome face, but one of those frank looking Saxon countenances which insphed confidence in the owner's manliness and strength, making women look twice — or more ; while men thought of what a sturdy companion the owner of that face would be to trust as a comrade, or in time of need. "What for, Mr Carey?" said the lady, with a sweet smile, and with a display of calm dignity, as she offered her gloved hand — "a few words of banter — what you young men call chaff — to your friend." "I — really did not know you were here." " Of course you did not. I came expecting to meet my husband here, and met Mr Ranee instead.

It is so hot walking." " Yes, very — very," cried the newcomer, eagerly. " And I am waiting for a pleasant draught of new milk. Elizabeth is going to give us one directly. Have you seen Mr Gray ? " " Yes, about two hours ago. Really, Mrs Gray, I am very sorry." "Pray say no more, Mr Carey," and with a quiet, grave look the speaker turned to where Liz's head was buried in her print hood and the cow's flank. "Come, Elizabeth, there must be plenty for all three now ; will you leave off milking and give us each a draught ? " Liz rose without a word, and, with her eyes bent down, went out of the cow-shed to fetch a mug ; while, com pletely changed in her manner, and making Britten Ranee writhe mentally to see how carefully she modi fied her ways before Carey, the vicar's wife went on speaking to both.

" I do so love these beautiful, gentle little cows," she said ; " they are so different to any we see in England. Ah, what a different life it is here in Enys ; so calm and peaceful ! Everything seems idyllic and imaginary. I often feel as if some day I shall awaken out of a dream. I wonder what mamma would say if she could see me here now," she added, with a musical little laugh. At that moment, with her face still hidden from Ranee and the lady, but turned to Carey, and giving him an angry indignant look in passing, Liz reappeared with a white mug, which she proceeded to fill by dipping it into the pail, and held out dripping and covered with froth to the lady visitor, who raised her carefully gloved hand and hesitated to take the vessel, making a charming little grimace. Dave Carey caught the position in a moment, whisked out his handkerchief, took the mug, and carefully wiped the handle before presenting it to the lady.

"Thank you, Mr Carey," she said, with a winning look and smile as she took the mug ; while a faint sound of teeth grating together came from where Ranee stood looking on. " I see that the memory of Sir Walter Raleigh's gallant act has not died out." She drank long and deeply, paused for breath, and drank again before handing back the mug to Liz, who re filled it ; whUe as Dave Carey gazed at the ruddy mouth upon which a little of the white mUk froth lingered, he thought what sweet lips they would be to kiss, then of Denis Gray, the man he called friend, and then, with a hot flush rising once more to his brow, of Mary Rohaise. His musings were interrupted by the musical voice at his side. "Elizabeth has only brought one mug. WUl you mind drinking after me ? " "No, not I," said Ranee, extending his hand, which shook with a spasm of jealous anger, and he took the mug which was extended to Carey.

" I meant Mr Carey," said the lady, who stUl held the handle. " You wUl not mind, Mr Ranee ? " " Oh, no, of course not," he said, hastUy ; but as he re linquished his hold he bit his lip, and Mrs Gray handed it to Carey with a smUe. Liz filled the mug for the third time, and Britten Ranee drank, though not to his fellow islander's health ; but winced slightly as he handed back the empty vessel to Liz, for he saw that she was gazing at him furtively, and he fancied that she read his thoughts. " Thank you for our refreshment, Elizabeth ; I wiU not forget it," said Mrs Gray. " There, I must say good afternoon, and to you, too, gentlemen, for I suppose you are not coming my way." The young men looked sharply at each other, but for a few moments neither spoke. It was Dave Carey, who, half wondering to himself at his embarrassment, broke the silence.

" No, Mrs Gray ; I was going round by the harbour to have a look at my boat. Coming, Ranee ? " " Yes," said the latter, hoarsely ; and Mrs Gray held out her hand to each in turn. " Tell my husband you have seen me," she said, quietly ; and then, with a nod and a smile to Liz, she walked slowly away, while, for the sake of having something to look at instead of his old companion, Dave Carey took out a pipe and pouch of tobacco, and began to fill the former very slowly. Ranee thrust his hands deeply into his pockets, and began to whistle an accompaniment to the whish, whish of the milk falling into the pail.

Chapter II Jake Makes

A MISTAKE It took some time to siU Dave Carey's meerschaum, and longer still to light it, for his hands were wanting in their regular cunning, and, after two or three efforts, in which the match went out, and Ranee looked on with a sneer upon his handsome face, Dave stepped inside the cow-house, where he was sheltered from the breeze which blew off the sea. Then, with his pipe in full glow, and a feeling of annoyance in his breast to which it was a stranger, he gave Liz a surly look and nod, stepped out on to the cliff, and faced Ranee, whose brow was furrowed and whose hands seemed deeper in his pockets than ever. The young men stood gazing in each other's eyes for quite a minute, and the sound of the mUk streaming into the paU ceased, tUl the cow waiting her turn lowed impatiently, and broke the silence — broken in more ways than one, for, nipping the mouthpiece of the pipe between his teeth, Dave said sharply, — " Coming my way ?

" Ranee gave him a sour look, nodded, and the two young men strode off together close beside the edge of the cliff; while the cow lowed again and again, for Liz was still leaning sidewise, watching the visitors till they passed out of her sight. " I hope they aren't going to quarrel and fight," she said to herself. " They didn't Uke it, and she did, for I saw her give a little laugh when they were looking at JAKE MAKES A MISTAKE each other. Be a nasty place to quarrel and fight, along there by Creux path." The milk flowed again for a minute or two, but stopped once more as Liz wrinkled her forehead. "AU ladies aren't like that," she said to herself, "for Miss Mary never seems so bold. But, then, she isn't married, and that makes a difference, I suppose ; but I don't think I should look like that at two young men if I was anybody's wife.

It was like trying to make 'em in love, not as men want much trying, but it don't seem nice when you've promised someone, and he thinks you care for no one else. Oh ! Jake ! " She uttered a cry of alarm, for she had not heard footsteps, and was too deep in thought to notice a shadow cast by a sturdy, swarthy-looking young fellow, in a tight jersey and sealskin cap, as he stepped inside, and, after standing watching the girl for a few moments, drew her attention by giving her a smart slap over the shoulders. " Done milking ? " he growled. " Oh, Jake ! You shouldn't," she cried. " You quite hurt." "I meant to. No, you aren't done milking; not likely, when you're having men to see you." " They didn't come to see me, Jake," said the girl, with a suppressed sob. " You're a lie ! " he growled ; " I see 'em with my own eyes, and Master Ranee stop outside while young Master Dave come in to kiss you."

" No, he didn't, Jake, dear," said the girl, meekly ; " I shouldn't have let him if he had tried, and I know he wouldn't." " Wouldn't he ? He's always after the girls. AVonder what Squire's Mary would say if she know'd." "Don't talk like that, Jake," said the girl, milking away rapidly now, and adulterating the contents of the paU with a couple of tears, " I Uke Master Dave." "Yah ! I know you do," snarled the man. " Jake, dear, don't. You usen't to speak to me like that." " No ; and you usen't to be always having fellows to see you." " I'm not, dear." " Yes, you are. Nice modest sort o' girl you were once, but now you're like all the rest. I never see such a place as this is. People thinks about nothing else but men and women." "Jake!" The word sounded appealing enough to disarm anger, but it had no effect upon Jake Prevot, the marked man of Enys, who bore the character of loving everything that partook not of simple, straightforward, honest work.

" But I'm not going to stand it," he went on. " I'll pitch Brit Ranee down into the Creux, and Master Dave atop of him to kill him. And when I've done that, I'm off to furren abroad, for you don't ketch me marrying girls like you." " Jake, Jake ! " sobbed the girl. " Don't talk to me," he growled ; and she ceased speaking, but went on weeping into the milk pail in a spiritless way, while the cow fidgeted and stamped, as if not satisfied with the way in which the task was being performed. This went on for some minutes, and irritated Jake Prevot. "Stand still, will yer? " he growled, but the cow paid no heed, and raised her hind leg with so sharp a movement that the hoof came in contact with the pail and nearly knocked it over. "You won't, won't yer?" roared Jake, snatching a pitchfork from the corner of the shed, and raising the handle to strike the offending beast ; but Liz uttered one appealing cry, and leaped up to check him, when the stout piece of ash caught her a heavy blow across the brow.

Liz gave a cry, but it was more of alarm than pain, JAKE MAKES A MISTAKE while Jake stood for a moment aghast, then dropped the fork and made a rush for the little square opening which gave light to the place, and began to struggle through, as, with a savage oath, a fierce-looking, grizzled, weather beaten man made a rush at him. Jake stuck half-way for a moment, and he would have been seized and dragged back but for Liz's brave defence, for she threw herself upon the new-comer, and clasped him round the waist. " Run, Jake ! run ! " she cried, in answer to which the young man kicked out his legs like a frog in his struggles to get through. " Curse you, wench ! will you let go ? " roared her prisoner. "Don't, father, don't! " she cried. "Jake, Jake, I can't hold him ! Make haste ! " They were true words, for the old man savagely shook her off, flinging her against the cow, and once more the milk had a narrow escape of being overturned.

But Jake's legs disappeared, and Liz uttered a sigh of reUef as she clung to the cow, knowing full well that though her father rushed to the door, it would take a very active man to overtake Jake Prev6t anywhere on the moorland or among the rocks below. And as she stood panting there, and trying to stifle her sobs, she had audible proof of the young man's safety from her father's lips. " You only let me ketch you here again ! " he roared, in the voice of an ogre, " I won't leave a whole bone in your skin." This he repeated with a full garnish of insular oaths in English and French patois, ending by coming back, uttering a low muttering growl, to darken the doorway as Liz settled down to go on mUking, and made the very unnecessary announcement, — " He's gone." Liz stifled a sigh, but she breathed more freely, for she had great faith in her father's words, and fully believed that he would not for a moment hesitate to try and perform the fracturing operation as he threatened.

Then there came a few savage oaths growled over her shoulder at the one in retreat and still in sight, before Chad le Brim, smuggler when necessary, fisherman, and reputed wrecker, resting his great gnarled hand upon the piece of rock overhead. " Look here, wench," he cried, " I won't have him here. Tell him if he comes again I'U break his neck ; and so I will that of anyone who comes here to work ill of you." " Oh, father ! " " Yes ; I'll ' Oh, father ' you. Just you mind. You're my wench, and I'm going to have you married proper some day when I pick up a right 'un. You aren't the parson's wife." " Father ! AVhat are you saying ? " cried Liz, in alarm, and she turned quickly on her stool. " I know what I'm saying ; I aren't got to sixty seven without knowing what pretty women are, whether they wear silk, or whether it's a bit o' print.