the quest of the golden girl-第24章
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CHAPTER V
CONCERNING THE HAVEN OF YELLOWSANDS
On the morrow； at the peep of day； Rosalind was off to seek her lord。 An hour or so after I started in leisurely pursuit。
Yellowsands！ I had heard in a vague way of the place； as a whim of a certain young nobleman who combined brains with the pursuit of pleasure。 Like most ideas； it was simple enough when once conceived。 Any one possessing a mile or two of secluded seaboard； cut off on the land side by precipitous approaches； and including a sheltered river mouth ingeniously hidden by nature； in the form of a jutting wall of rock； from the sea； might have made as good use of these natural opportunities as the nobleman in question； had they only been as wise and as rich。 William Blake proposed to rebuild Jerusalem in this green and pleasant land。 My lord proposed to erect a miniature Babylon amid similar pleasant surroundings； a little dream…city by the sea； a home for the innocent pleasure…seeker stifled by the puritanism of the great towns； refugium peccatorum in this island of the saints。
〃Once it was the Puritan Fathers who left our coasts；〃 he is recorded to have said； 〃nowadays it is our Prodigal Sons。〃
No doubt it was in further elaboration of this aphorism that the little steamboat that sailed every other day from Yellowsands to the beckoning shores of France was called 〃the Mayflower。〃
My lord's plan had been simple。 By the aid of cunning architects he had first blasted his harbour into shape； then built his hotels and pleasure…palaces； and then leased them to dependants of his who knew the right sort of people； and who knew that it was as much as their lease was worth to find accommodation for teetotal amateur photographers or wistful wandering Sunday…school treats。 As； unfortunately； the Queen's highway ran down in tortuous descent to the handful of fishermen's cottages that had clung there limpet…like for ages； there was always a chance of such a stray visitation； but it was remote； and the whole place； hand and heart； was in the pocket of my lord。
So much to give the reader some idea of the secret watering…place of Yellowsands； situated at the mouth of that romantic little torrent； the river Sly。 Such further description as may be needed may be kept till we come within sight of its gilded roofs and marble terraces。
CHAPTER VI
THE MOORLAND OF THE APOCALYPSE
I reckoned that it would take me two or three days； leisurely walking； to reach Yellowsands。 Rosalind would； of course； arrive there long before me； but that I did not regret； as I was in a mood to find company in my own thoughts。
Her story gave me plenty to think of。 I dwelt particularly on the careless extravagance of the happy。 Here were two people to whom life had given casually what I was compelled to go seeking lonely and footsore through the world； and with little hope of finding it at the end； and yet were they so little aware of their good fortune as to risk it over a trumpery theory； a shadow of pseudo…philosophy。 Out of the deep dark ocean of life Love had brought them his great moon…pearl； and they sat on the boat's edge carelessly tossing it from one to the other； unmindful of the hungry fathoms on every side。 A sudden slip； and they had lost it for ever； and might only watch its shimmering fall to the bottom of the world。 Theories！ Theories are for the unknown and the unhappy。 Who will trouble to theorise about Heaven when he has found Heaven itself？ Theories are for the poor… devil outcast；for him who stands outside the confectioner's shop of life without a penny in his pocket； while the radiant purchasers pass in and out through the doors；for him who watches with wistful eyes this and that sugared marvel taken out of the window by mysterious hands； to bless some happy customer inside。 He is not fool enough even to hope for one of those glistering masterpieces of frosted sugar and silk flowers； which rise to pinnacles of snowy sweetness； white mountains of blessedness； rich inside； they say； with untold treasures for the tooth that is sweet。 No！ he craves nothing but a simple Bath…bun of happiness； and even that is denied him。
Would I ever find my Bath…bun？ I disconsolately asked myself。 I had been seeking it now for some little time； and seemed no nearer than when I set out。 I had seen a good many Bath…buns on my pilgrimage； it is true。 Some I have not had space to confide to the reader； but somehow or other they had not seemed the unmistakably predestined for which I was seeking。
And oh； how I could love a girl； if she would only give me the chance；that is； be the right girl！ Oh； Sylvia Joy！ where art thou？ Why so long dost thou remain hidden 〃in shady leaves of destiny〃？
〃Seest thou thy lover lowly laid； Hear'st thou the sighs that rend his breast？〃
And then； as the novelists say； 〃a strange thing happened。〃
The road I was tramping at the moment was somewhat desolate。 It ran up from a small market town through a dreary undulating moorland； forking off here and there to unknown villages of which the horizon gave no hint。 Its cheerless hillocks were all but naked of vegetation； for a never very flourishing growth of heather had recently been burnt right down to the unkindly… looking earth； leaving a dwarf black forest of charred sticks very grim to the eye and heart； while the dull surface of a small lifeless…looking lake added the final touch to the Dead…Sea mournfulness of the prospect。
Suddenly I became aware of the fluttering of a grey dress a little ahead of me。 Unconsciously I had been overtaking a tall young woman walking in the same direction as myself； with a fine athletic carriage of her figure and a noble movement of her limbs。
She walked manfully； and as I neared her I could hear the sturdy ring of her well…shod feet upon the road。 There was an air of expectancy about her walk； as though she looked to be met presently by some one due from the opposite direction。
It was curious that I had not noticed her before； for she must have been in sight for some time。 No doubt my melancholy abstraction accounted for that； and perhaps her presence there was to be explained by a London train which I had listlessly observed come in to the town an hour before。 This surmise was confirmed； as presently；over the brow of a distant undulation in the road； I descried a farmer's gig driven by another young woman。 The gig immediately hoisted a handkerchief； so did my pedestrian。 At this moment I was within a yard or two of overtaking her。 And it was then the strange thing happened。
Distance had lent no enchantment which nearness did not a hundred times repay。 The immediate impression of strength and distinction which the first glimpse of her had made upon me was more and more verified as I drew closer to her。 The carriage of her head was no whit less noble than the queenly carriage of her limbs； and her glorious chestnut hair； full of warm tints of gold； was massed in a sumptuous simplicity above a neck that would have made an average woman's fortune。 This glowing description； however； must be lowered or heightened in tone by the association of these characteristics with an undefinable simplicity of mien； a certain slight rusticity of effect。 The town spoke in her well…cut gown and a few simple adornments； but the dryad still moved inside。
I suppose most men； even in old age； feel a certain anxiety； conscious or not； as they overtake a woman whose back view is in the least attractive。 I confess that I felt a more than usual； indeed a quite irrational； perturbation of the blood； as； coming level with her； I dared to look into her face。 As I did so she involuntarily turned to look at meturned to look at me； did I say？ 〃To look〃 is a feeble verb indeed to express the unexpected shock of beauty to which I was suddenly exposed。 I cannot describe her features； for somehow features always mean little to me。 They were certainly beautifully moulded； and her skin was of a lovely pale olive； but the life of her face was in her great violet eyes and her wonderful mouth。 Thus suddenly to look into her face was like unexpectedly to come upon moon and stars reflected in some lonely pool。 I suppose the look last
