Cornish Diamonds

BOOK II. {Continued) 18 VOL

CHAPTER V.

jij'||IHE summer weeks went by, hastened in !-_-_-_al their passage by an amount of amusement rare at Kerranstow. The weather was unusuallysettled and steady for the west coast, and most of the inhabitants had friends staying with them. After his old college friend, Mr. Jaques had the Wynnstays for a few weeks, and one of Mrs. Dendron's pretty sisters alighted for a flying visit at Pencoet ; so of course all these people must be amused and have all the beauties of the neighbourhood displayed to them. A golf-ground was started on the stretch of moorland beyond Hennacombe, and hardly a week passed that the whole of the little society did not unite in a day's excursion to some distant spot, supposed to possess greater attractions of some kind than their own splendid CORxYISH DIAMOIYDS. 4 bit of coast.

Even busy Rachel laid aside a few of her tasks, at the risk of letting her parochial machinery get out of gear, and gave herself up to the idle enjoyment that was the order of the day. Alick Studland was recovering, and no longer looked the gaunt scarecrow that he had been on his first arrival, but he was by no means yet in condition for service, and was enjoying to the full the dolcefar niente of convalescence. His intimacy at Pencoet had gone on growing without let or hindrance, and it was a long time before it excited any remark. It seemed natural enough that he, having such abundant leisure,should visit constantly at the pleasantest house in the neighbourhood, and that he should pay to its mistress all those little attentions that seemed her due — that he should sit at her feet at the al fresco lunches, should stroll about with her, fetch and carry for her, and be ready to attend on all her caprices.

Her supremacy in whatever company she happened to be was always so incontestable that for a long time no one thought of making any comment. Kerranstow was slow to think evil ; but there arrived a time, when August was ripening into September, when people began to watch them, to look at each other and exchange remarks, when, in short, it began to be remembered that there was such a person as Oliver Dendron in existence, and this was begin ning to look like a matter of which he might be expected to take cognizance. It was difficult to say how the idea first took shape ; probably in the brain of Mrs. Twisselton ; but once started, it could not be ignored. Possibly her senses were sharpened by finding herself always at some disadvantage in the little society of Kerranstow. In spite of the desire of everybody to be as civil as possible to her, she was conscious that, in some way she could not define, she was not one of them.

She was a woman who liked to be first, and here she found herself always a bad third, and it annoyed her. It also left her more at leisure for making her own observations. It was at a picnic to Gooseburn Mills that she first set the ball rolling. It was the scene of the shipwreck of two winters ago, and here there was a beach and a little sandy cove that made boating possible, and it was always a delight to the upland folk to be able to enjoy the sea at close quarters. Letty was alone now, her sister having started for Homburg the week before, and, not caring to have the carriage out for her sole use, she had declared her intention of riding. Naturally enough, Alick proposed himself as her escort, and, as they would be part of quite a cavalcade of dogcarts, etc., no objection could be made by Mrs. Grundy.

They thought good, however, to take a short cut over the turf, which, like most short cuts, resulted in their not arriving till every one was seated round the tablecloth, discussing cold pie and mayonnaise. Nothing was said at the time, beyond a little good-humoured chaffing of Alick for not knowing the way better, and it was not till after lunch, when the party had broken up into twos and threes, that Mrs. Twisselton had an opportunity of relieving her conscience. She did not choose her confidante very judiciously. She and Rachel had strolled down to the edge of the receding tide, and, poking the fringe of wet brown sea weed with the point of her parasol, she re marked — " Well, I must say I do wonder at Mr. Dendron, don't you ? " " Why ? " said Rachel, absently, wondering whether those two figures at the other horn of the bay, pushing down a boat, were Alick and Letty, and whether Jenifer or the Wynnstays were going too.

" Why ! " repeated Mrs. Twisselton, with a laugh. " The idea of his letting his wife go flackering about by herself in this fashion. Well, if anything happens, he has only himself to thank." Rachel was furious, and none the less because in her secret soul it had occurred to her to wonder whether her brother might not be going a little too far — presuming too much on the immunities and unconventionalities of country life — and whether she could venture to warn him. Besides her natural indignation at having the idea thus coarsely presented, she was wroth at Mrs. Twisselton having the effrontery to speak to her on a matter in which a member of her own family was in volved. " I imagine Mr. and Mrs. Dendron understand each other perfectly well," she said coldly. " He does not care at all for these sort of excursions.

If by 'anything happening' you mean that she might have lost her way this morning, you forget she was with my brother." But it was useless to think Mrs. Twisselton could feel any snubs through her tough hide, and, with another little sarcastic laugh, she said — " Oh, you don't understand what I mean. If she does not take care, she may lose her way with Mr. Studland in more senses than one." Rachel made no answer, and began to walk away, but before she had gone many steps she encountered the vicar, who approached them, saying — "Miss Treby, are you and Mrs. Twisselton inclined for a row over to Seal Island ? We shall just have time before tea, if we start promptly. By the way, have you any idea what has become of the others — Studland and Mrs. Dendron, I mean ? The rest are down by the boat.

I thought, if we all went, we had better take two boats. What do you say ? " But Mrs. Twisselton, with a glance of exultant malice at Rachel, responded promptly — " Oh, we saw Mrs. Dendron and her cavalier push off in a little skiff just now ; didn't we, Miss Treby ? " "Ah, well," said Mr. Jaques, placidly, " I dare say we shall find them over on the island." But the truants were not on Seal Island ; neither were they discoverable when the rest returned to the cove at five o'clock. The kettle was boiled, the tea-things were unpacked, and still there was not a sign of them. "Never mind. Tea is sure to bring them," said Muriel, merrily, helping Jenifer to set out cups and saucers. " Mrs. Dendron won't miss her after noon tea if she can help it." Rachel was uneasy, though she tried not to show it.

She was anxious lest Alick should have over taxed his strength, and be unable to row back against the strong tide now running out, and she was doubly uncomfortable as she recalled Mrs. Twisselton's unpleasant innuendoes. There was no one with whom she could take counsel but Jenifer, and to her she could say nothing till tea was over and together they carried a pile of crockery down to a brook, out of hearing of the others, to wash up. "It is very odd," she began, "that Letty and Alick should not have got back yet ; don't you think so ? I hope they have not got into any difficulties with that boat." " Oh, I don't think anything could have happened to them in this weather, and Mr. Studland under stands what he is about too well to do anythino foolish. It is not like you to be nervous." Rachel smiled.

"No, I am not given to tremors; but the fact is, I am a little uneasy. It is not so much that I am afraid of their having come to grief; but I wonder whether you have noticed — you are so much more at Pencoet than I am — has it ever struck you that — well, in short, that Alick is there too much ? " Jenifer finished very carefully wiping the cup that Rachel handed her, before she answered in a steady, level voice — " I haven't been there myself so often lately. I suppose it is natural he should go there a good deal. He isn't strong enough for golf yet or a long day's shooting, and there isn't much else for him to do." " That is true ; but still that does not justify them in going off like this together away from all the rest of us. I don't like it, Jenifer ; it makes me uncomfortable." Neither did Jenifer, and still less did she like being called upon to discuss the matter ; but there was a good deal of resolute stuff in her, and she faced the situation unflinchingly.

" They are great friends, certainly ; nobody could help noticing that ; but one need not suppose there is any harm in it." " Harm in it ! " said Rachel, irritably. " You have seen nothing of the world, Jenifer, and it is all very well for you to take that innocent view ; but they are both quite old enough, and worldly enough, to know what people would be likely to say ; and you can see for yourself that if any unmarried girl carried on in that style we should all suppose they were engaged." Jenifer found herself, she knew not why, em barked on the cause of the defence. She could not but admit the force of Rachel's last argument ; but added — "You know I think Letty would always know how to take care of herself, and not go too far." "H'm. I doubt whether Alick is equally well armed. But I must say I think it is entirely her doing."

Jenifer thought so too, but that was a topic on which she would rather keep silence. She finished piling up the cups, and rose to carry them back ; but before they rejoined the others, Rachel said — "The worst of it is people are beginning to notice and comment. If your cousin says any thing to you about it, snap her up, won't you ? " Jenifer nodded acquiescence, and the subject was dropped. As they went up the beach, a little boat containing two people came in sight, slowly rounding the headland to the northward. The two delinquents had drifted away together between the sea and the sunshine, heedless of the proprieties, careless of the company they left be hind, only desiring to enjoy the blue unclouded weather in their own fashion and in each others' society, which for the moment they preferred to any other.

CORxYISH DIAMONDS. 11 " Shall we go to Seal Island ? " asked Studland, as he pushed off. "We may perhaps catch a glimpse of a seal taking his afternoon siesta on the sunny side." "No, that is too commonplace ; everybody goes to Seal Island. Let us go after those birds." She pointed to a spot to the northward, where a school of mackerel had drawn together a crowd of sea-birds from every point in the compass. Gulls, cormorants, guillemots were all circling, swooping, flapping over the space of troubled water with hoarse, shrill cries. "How delicious it is to get away '."said Letty, trailing her bare hand childishly through the water. " How I hate a picnic, don't you ? " "Why?" He had reached that point of in timacy when he felt he might talk in monosyllables if he chose. "It is so ridiculous when you have discovered a perfectly wild and lovely spot, where solitude is the essence of the charm, and have taken the trouble to transport yourself there with provisions for the whole day, to spoil it all by collecting together all the most boring elements of society."

"But I thought you liked society. I have heard you pity yourself for being out of the world." " Stupid boy. I should have thought you under stood me better. This "—pointing to the group still visible in the bay behind her — "is not the world ; still less is it Society — with a big S, mark — I like things in extremes ; I like the cream of society, crowded functions, gorgeous festivities ; or, failing that, I like solitude — solitude a deux:' "I am glad you put in that saving clause. I should not like to think you did not want me ; or wanted me only as a pair of arms." "Ah," said' she, "one mayn't be always in the mood for one's acquaintances, but one always wants one's friends." "Thank you." Their eyes met, and Letty felt it would be wiser not to pursue that subject any farther just then. She was just beginning to be aware that the ice was getting rather thin, and was trying not to see a board in front of her, marked "dangerous."

The guise of simplicity and friendliness which her flirtations always wore imposed upon herself as much as on her victims. She considered herself a model of discretion — as indeed she was, compared with the fast women of society — and in this case never consciously intended a flirtation at all, but day by day yielded to the pleasantness of the moment. — By far the commoner case ; for one woman who deliberately intends to do wrong, there are nine hundred and ninety-nine who drift heedlessly into equivocal situations. The moment, too, at which her new friend had appeared had been unpropitious. She had been trying hard for a long while to be very good; to make the best of an unpromising state of things, to behave well to an unresponsive husband, to occupy herself with her books, her garden, and so forth.

At first it had been all very well ; but after a time she woke to find herself dead sick of it all. She wanted amusement, she wanted com panionship more stimulating than that of Jenifer and Rachel. It was not mere love of admiration, but a hunger for something her life failed to give her, and a need for something or somebody to make much of. When Alick first returned, his suffering state appealed to that pitiful tenderness with which Nature had so richly endowed her, and gave her an excuse to enter upon more in timate relations than she might otherwise have done. She had liked him from the first ; she liked his looks, his height, his strong, sunburnt face, and the curious sea-shining in his eyes that sailors so often have, and the peculiarly mellow tones of his voice vibrated on her ear with an irresistible pleasantness.

In character, too, he was such a contrast to the London men she had been chiefly thrown with, that he interested her. His very ignorance of many things with which she was familiar, refreshed her, backed as it was with brains and capacity enough in his own department of practical living ; and she felt the subtle pleasure of being able to draw out a reserved and silent man whom others found it difficult to get on with. If a qualm ever seized her that she was letting their friendship grow to unmanageable lengths, she silenced it with the assurance that it had done her all the good in the world by taking her out of herself, and she was not going to throw it away at Mrs. Grundy's bidding. Moreover, she told herself that Alick Studland was pre-eminently a man to be trusted. In this she was perfectly right ; he was the last man in the world to walk with his eyes open into an entanglement of this kind ; the sort of thing had never been in his line at all ; but possibly in a certain sense the risk was the greater from his inexperience in any such dilemma.

As Rachel said, the fault was chiefly Letty's ; it was she who had taken the initiative ; but he would have been more than human if the subtle flattery of the preference of such a woman had not gone to his head. They floated softly on, Alick pulling an occasional lazy stroke or two, but for the most part letting the current bear them along. They had not reached Letty's fanciful goal — never would reach it. The flickering, glittering mass with its hovering attendants had moved further west ward, and they kept along under the cliffs, which to-day, instead of frowning darkly, were glowing with purple and red under the westering sun. They talked a little lazily ; that easy, frag mentary talk that two people enjoy who under stand each other at the half word, or without the intervention of words at all.

Now and then they sank into a dreamy silence, only broken by an occasional murmur from Letty, expressive of an absolute content. She would not take the trouble to steer, but let him scull, throwing a glance from time to time over his shoulder. Presently she became aware that the boat's head was going round, and she raised a protest. " Oh not yet, not yet. We have hardly come any distance. Tea won't be ready for ages. Let us have another half-hour." " Well," dubiously ; " but you must remember how far the tide has brought us." " It has been very obliging, hasn't it. You have had hardly any work. Don't be lazy ; this is too delicious to be cut short." "You don't suppose I want to get back?" he said. " I am happy enough." There was an odd intonation in his voice. He leaned forward and looked into her eyes, and his look was like a caress.

Letty wished she had not spoken ; but the boat's head was round again now, and they sped on with a few strong strokes. He did not again propose to turn back till she herself reluctantly said — " Well, it is a thousand pities, but everything nice must come to an end ; I suppose we really ought to be getting back. Besides" — more pro saically — " I want my tea." "Alick," she said presently, "don't you think you had better row a little harder? We don't seem to be making any way. Don't you notice we have been in a line with that cave for an enormous time." He straightened himself for a moment, and wiped the drops off his forehead. "I see," he said. "I am doing my best. I ought to have known what these currents are, but I reckoned on the muscles I used to have before my accident." He bent to the oars again, for the boat had lost ground even in that momentary pause, and for every foot lost, it seemed to take an age to regain one painful inch.

" Oh, it was my fault ! " cried Letty. " I ought not to have made you go on." " You did not know. You see, it is so fatally easy to drift down the current ; one forgets what it will cost to get back." Letty was silent, aware that to waste his breath by making him talk would be no kindness ; but she watched him distressfully, seeing the veins swell and stand out in knots on his forehead, and the muscles of his arms grow tense with strain. At last she ventured on a suggestion. " Isn't there any place where we could land and get up over the cliff? " " A goat could ; scarcely a man ; certainly not a woman." So she held her peace once more, and the little boat crept painfully back by the way she had erst floated so easily, and at length Gooseburn Cove came in sight. The golden glow had deepened through rose to greyness before they touched the beach, and the picnic party could be seen in the attitude of waiting with baskets packed and wraps on their arms, while the carriages might be decried in the lane above.

It was not altogether a pleasant thing to have to land, and encounter all the questions, remarks, and reproaches that were directed to them, but it had to be faced. Studland tried to make light of his exhaustion, but he was forced to sit down upon a rock to recover himself a little before ascending the beach to where the horses were waiting. Mr. Jaques, who was walking on with the rest, came back. " You are not fit to ride. I will take your horse and see Mrs. Dendron home. Your sister came in the Roscorla carriage, so you had better have a seat in mine, and John shall drive you up to Hennacombe as soon as he has set down the Wynnstays." Alick tried to resist, but was too thoroughly done up for anything but submission, and Letty was subdued into consenting to any arrangement. They both felt they were being treated somewhat as though in disgrace.

The miraculous appearance at this juncture of a cup of milk was a welcome distraction. It was Jenifer who, when it was decided that preparations must be made for an instant return on the reappearance of the truants, had saved the milk which someone was just going to give to the dogs, and had kept out a cup for them. She had slipped her supplies into Mr. vol. ii. 19 9 Jaques's hands before running on to take her place in the dog-cart. Letty was a little in fear of her ride home with the vicar, but she need not have been ; he was not given to meddling in other men's matters, and if he thought she had been imprudent, he forbore to say so. He was, however, rather a silent com panion, and left her abundant leisure to meditate on her evil behaviour.

CHAPTER VI

"s£3M RACE YEO was standing at the back door of &s_i__i the Vicarage taking a few minutes' rest before the kettle should boil. Behind her was the wide kitchen with its sanded floor, its black rafters, and its huge oaken table and settle, all in the per fection of afternoon order ; before her lay the orchard in a flicker of sun and shadow. Down the steep, stony lane that ran between, came Peninah Sutton, stepping along with the easy carriage and fine pose of the head that distinguished her, a welcome sight to Grace, who did not often see a neighbour with whom to " change the weather, and pass the time of day." " Good evenin', Mrs. Yeo," said the visitor. " I thought I'd step down along to knaw if ye'd care to have a couple of my ducklings, same as ye did last year. They're faine and plump."

Grace thought fit to be dubious. " Well, I d'knaw whether or no I can du with'n. Measter, he'll be alone, and he d'not ate much poultry. But come your ways in," hospitably leading the way to the kitchen. " You'll lay off your hat, and stop to your tea ? Us'll be losing our comp'ny next week." " Iss, all the strangers is departing seemin'ly," said Peninah, accepting the invitation, nothing loth. " It have been quite a gay summer for the quality." " Gay, indeed ; rather tu gay, by all accounts." And Grace shook her head solemnly. " Ah, so they du say. Faine gooins on up to Penquite." " Ah, and wud ye believe now, he and she went off in a little boat together from the picnic down to Gooseburn, and never come back till near night fall. John, he didn't get in till nigh upon eleven. He wud'n say much ; 'twas the groom to Roscorla that told me. 'Twud'n surprise me nothin' if they meant to be off."

" Naw, you don't tell ! Well, I wonder Pa'son don't spake to'n, that I du." "Aw you see, t'measter's head is in the clouds, poor good man ; he don't notice nothin' ; but I du wonder what her husband is about." " A poor silly fool ; he lets her goo her awn way. He should give her a good clout on the head and shut her up till she come to her senses ; that is what he should du. But Susy Cann — you mind Susy Cann ? she used to live dairymaid with me when poor mother was alive, and she is housemaid up to Penquite now — she says he's a soft one. He sets there in his study, poking over's books, and so long as nobody meddles with him, he doesn't care what his wife does." " Then he deserves all he gets, and serve him right. A woman don't think nothin' of a man who can't take his own part. I declare I'd sooner John knocked me about than left me to myself.

But Susy Cann, she must have seen a dale ? " and Grace looked inquisitively at her visitor. " Well, there, I don't pay much heed to Susy Cann's havers ; she always was the one to talk. ' That girl,' my poor mother often say — ' she'd talk the hind leg off a donkey.' She did tell me once But there, I don't knaw as I'd ought to repeat it." " Law, Miss Sutton, you knaw I wud'n goo for to make any mischief. Whatever did she tellt? " " Well, she du say he's hanging about there the whole blessed afternoon more days than not, playing and singing and one thing and another. 'Taint Susy's place to goo in the parlour — she wishes it was — a terrible curious girl is Susy — but the parlourmaid, when she took in the tea one day declares she believes he was a-kissin' of her. But there, we must remember that Susy Cann don't spake the treuth in general."

The caution was however lost upon Grace. " Aw dear, and she a married woman ! Shock ing, shocking ! 'Tisn't sittin' ; and from them that did ought to know better, too. I never did have no opinion of them smart London ladies ; but our own Mr. Alick, that was always so different. If it had been the young painter fellow from foreign parts, I shouldn't have been so surprised." But Peninah bristled up in defence of her lodger. " If you mean my young gentleman, Mrs. Yeo, I beg you won't name him in the same day with such carryin's on. A quieter, more decent livin' young gentleman doesn't breathe, be he foreigner or be he home-born. I wud'n have had him in my house if he had been one o' your light-o'-loves." " No, Miss Sutton," said Grace, appeasingly ; " to be sure you wud'n. And 'twud'n have been sittin' you should ; you bein' such a personable woman for your years, and not that old neither."

"Well," said Peninah, rising, "I suppose I must be gooin' my ways home-along ; the days is gettin' short. And when will I bring you down them ducks?" Hardly had Peninah's tall form disappeared over the crest of the hill, than another visitor approached. Grace was clearing the table, but turned as a shadow fell across the open door. "Why, Miss Jenifer," she cried, as she saw who it was, " you are quite a stranger ! Were you looking for pa'son ? He's just gone along to the church. Did'n you hear the bell. Mr. and Mrs. Wynnstay have driven over to Westcreek for the day." "No, I didn't want Mr. Jaques, thank you, Grace. I came down this way to see if John was at leisure. I have got some new music I wanted him to try over. I thought he would just have finished the milking." " So he have, miss ; he brought me in the pails an hour ago ; but at leisure he is not, for he haven't been in to his tea yet.

He went off up the orchard. The gales is beginning, or soon will, and he thought he had better get in all them keddlestones before they was knocked all to pieces falling off the trees." " It does not matter, thanks. I can leave the music for him. I was going on to Pencoet, and I thought I would call in as I passed." " Aw, me dear, I wish you wud'n goo so often up to Penquite." " Why ? " asked Jenifer, quickly, and then wished she had not spoken ; she could guess what Grace meant well enough, and on such a matter the least said the better. "Well, there, I don't ha's like to tell ye. But ye must ha' heard surely what all the folks is talking." " Oh, I don't listen to all the talk in the village, Grace," said Jenifer, impatiently, " and I am sur prised you should ; I should have thought you had too much to do."