desperate remedies-第7章

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reflecting　a　blue　intenser　by　many　shades　than　that　of　the　sky
overhead；　and　dotted　in　the　foreground　by　half…a…dozen　small　craft
of　contrasting　rig；　their　sails　graduating　in　hue　from　extreme
whiteness　to　reddish　brown；　the　varying　actual　colours　varied　again
in　a　double　degree　by　the　rays　of　the　declining　sun。

Presently　the　distant　bell　from　the　boat　was　heard；　warning　the
passengers　to　embark。　　This　was　followed　by　a　lively　air　from　the
harps　and　violins　on　board；　their　tones；　as　they　arose；　becoming
intermingled　with；　though　not　marred　by；　the　brush　of　the　waves　when
their　crests　rolled　overat　the　point　where　the　check　of　the
shallows　was　first　feltand　then　thinned　away　up　the　slope　of
pebbles　and　sand。

She　turned　her　face　landward　and　strained　her　eyes　to　discern；　if
possible；　some　sign　of　Owen's　return。　　Nothing　was　visible　save　the
strikingly　brilliant；　still　landscape。　　The　wide　concave　which　lay
at　the　back　of　the　hill　in　this　direction　was　blazing　with　the
western　light；　adding　an　orange　tint　to　the　vivid　purple　of　the
heather；　now　at　the　very　climax　of　bloom；　and　free　from　the
slightest　touch　of　the　invidious　brown　that　so　soon　creeps　into　its
shades。　　The　light　so　intensified　the　colours　that　they　seemed　to
stand　above　the　surface　of　the　earth　and　float　in　mid…air　like　an
exhalation　of　red。　　In　the　minor　valleys；　between　the　hillocks　and
ridges　which　diversified　the　contour　of　the　basin；　but　did　not
disturb　its　general　sweep；　she　marked　brakes　of　tall；　heavy…stemmed
ferns；　five　or　six　feet　high；　in　a　brilliant　light…green　dressa
broad　riband　of　them　with　the　path　in　their　midst　winding　like　a
stream　along　the　little　ravine　that　reached　to　the　foot　of　the　hill；
and　delivered　up　the　path　to　its　grassy　area。　　Among　the　ferns　grew
holly　bushes　deeper　in　tint　than　any　shadow　about　them；　whilst　the
whole　surface　of　the　scene　was　dimpled　with　small　conical　pits；　and
here　and　there　were　round　ponds；　now　dry；　and　half　overgrown　with
rushes。

The　last　bell　of　the　steamer　rang。　　Cytherea　had　forgotten　herself；
and　what　she　was　looking　for。　　In　a　fever　of　distress　lest　Owen
should　be　left　behind；　she　gathered　up　in　her　hand　the　corners　of
her　handkerchief；　containing　specimens　of　the　shells；　plants；　and
fossils　which　the　locality　produced；　started　off　to　the　sands；　and
mingled　with　the　knots　of　visitors　there　congregated　from　other
interesting　points　around；　from　the　inn；　the　cottages；　and　hired
conveyances　that　had　returned　from　short　drives　inland。　　They　all
went　aboard　by　the　primitive　plan　of　a　narrow　plank　on　two　wheels
the　women　being　assisted　by　a　rope。　　Cytherea　lingered　till　the　very
last；　reluctant　to　follow；　and　looking　alternately　at　the　boat　and
the　valley　behind。　　Her　delay　provoked　a　remark　from　Captain　Jacobs；
a　thickset　man　of　hybrid　stains；　resulting　from　the　mixed　effects　of
fire　and　water；　peculiar　to　sailors　where　engines　are　the　propelling
power。

'Now　then；　missy；　if　you　please。　　I　am　sorry　to　tell　'ee　our　time's
up。　　Who　are　you　looking　for；　miss？'

'My　brotherhe　has　walked　a　short　distance　inland；　he　must　be　here
directly。　　Could　you　wait　for　himjust　a　minute？'

'Really；　I　am　afraid　not；　m'm。'　　Cytherea　looked　at　the　stout；
round…faced　man；　and　at　the　vessel；　with　a　light　in　her　eyes　so
expressive　of　her　own　opinion　being　the　same；　on　reflection；　as　his；
and　with　such　resignation；　too；　that；　from　an　instinctive　feeling　of
pride　at　being　able　to　prove　himself　more　humane　than　he　was　thought
to　beworks　of　supererogation　are　the　only　sacrifices　that　entice
in　this　wayand　that　at　a　very　small　cost；　he　delayed　the　boat　till
some　among　the　passengers　began　to　murmur。

'There；　never　mind；'　said　Cytherea　decisively。　　'Go　on　without　meI
shall　wait　for　him。'

'Well；　'tis　a　very　awkward　thing　to　leave　you　here　all　alone；'　said
the　captain。　　'I　certainly　advise　you　not　to　wait。'

'He's　gone　across　to　the　railway　station；　for　certain；'　said　another
passenger。

'Nohere　he　is！'　Cytherea　said；　regarding；　as　she　spoke；　the　half
hidden　figure　of　a　man　who　was　seen　advancing　at　a　headlong　pace
down　the　ravine　which　lay　between　the　heath　and　the　shore。

'He　can't　get　here　in　less　than　five　minutes；'　a　passenger　said。
'People　should　know　what　they　are　about；　and　keep　time。　　Really；　if…
…'

'You　see；　sir；'　said　the　captain；　in　an　apologetic　undertone；　'since
'tis　her　brother；　and　she's　all　alone；　'tis　only　nater　to　wait　a
minute；　now　he's　in　sight。　　Suppose；　now；　you　were　a　young　woman；　as
might　be；　and　had　a　brother；　like　this　one；　and　you　stood　of　an
evening　upon　this　here　wild　lonely　shore；　like　her；　why　you'd　want
us　to　wait；　too；　wouldn't　you；　sir？　　I　think　you　would。'

The　person　so　hastily　approaching　had　been　lost　to　view　during　this
remark　by　reason　of　a　hollow　in　the　ground；　and　the　projecting　cliff
immediately　at　hand　covered　the　path　in　its　rise。　　His　footsteps
were　now　heard　striking　sharply　upon　the　flinty　road　at　a　distance
of　about　twenty　or　thirty　yards；　but　still　behind　the　escarpment。
To　save　time；　Cytherea　prepared　to　ascend　the　plank。

'Let　me　give　you　my　hand；　miss；'　said　Captain　Jacobs。

'Noplease　don't　touch　me；'　said　she；　ascending　cautiously　by
sliding　one　foot　forward　two　or　three　inches；　bringing　up　the　other
behind　it；　and　so　on　alternatelyher　lips　compressed　by
concentration　on　the　feat；　her　eyes　glued　to　the　plank；　her　hand　to
the　rope；　and　her　immediate　thought　to　the　fact　of　the　distressing
narrowness　of　her　footing。　　Steps　now　shook　the　lower　end　of　the
board；　and　in　an　instant　were　up　to　her　heels　with　a　bound。

'O；　Owen；　I　am　so　glad　you　are　come！'　she　said　without　turning。
'Don't；　don't　shake　the　plank　or　touch　me；　whatever　you　do。　。　。　。
There；　I　am　up。　　Where　have　you　been　so　long？'　she　continued；　in　a
lower　tone；　turning　round　to　him　as　she　reached　the　top。

Raising　her　eyes　from　her　feet；　which；　standing　on　the　firm　deck；
demanded　her　attention　no　longer；　she　acquired　perceptions　of　the
new…comer　in　the　following　order：　　unknown　trousers；　unknown
waistcoat；　unknown　face。　　The　man　was　not　her　brother；　but　a　total
stranger。

Off　went　the　plank；　the　paddles　started；　stopped；　backed；　pattered
in　confusion；　then　revolved　decisively；　and　the　boat　passed　out　into
deep　water。

One　or　two　persons　had　said；　'How　d'ye　do；　Mr。　Springrove？'　and
looked　at　Cytherea；　to　see　how　she　bore　her　disappointment。　　Her
ears　had　but　just　caught　the　name　of　the　head　draughtsman；　when　she
saw　him　advancing　directly　to　address　her。

'Miss　Graye；　I　believe？'　he　said；　lifting　his　hat。

'Yes；'　said　Cytherea；　colouring；　and　trying　not　to　look　guilty　of　a
surreptitious　knowledge　of　him。

'I　am　Mr。　Springrove。　　I　passed　Corvsgate　Castle　about　an　hour　ago；
and　soon　afterwards　met　your　brother　going　that　way。　　He　had　been
deceived　in　the　distance；　and　was　about　to　turn　without　seeing　the
ruin；　on　account　of　a　lameness　that　had　come　on　in　his　leg　or　foot。
I　proposed　that　he　should　go　on；　since　he　had　got　so　near；　and
afterwards；　instead　of　walking　back　to　the　boat；　get　across　to
Anglebury　Stationa　shorter　walk　for　himwhere　he　could　catch　the
late　train；　and　go　directly　home。　　I　could　let　you　know　what　he　had
done；　and　allay　any　uneasiness。'

'Is　the　lameness　serious；　do　you　know？'

'O　no；　simply　from　over…walking　himself。　　Still；　it　was　just　as　well
to　ride　home。'

Relieved　from　her　apprehensions　on　Owen's　score；　she　was　able
slightly　to　examine　the　appearance　of　her　informantEdward
Springrovewho　now　removed　his　hat　for　a　while；　to　cool　himself。
He　was　rather　above　her　brother's　height。　　Although　the　upper　part
of　his　face　and　head　was　handsomely　formed；　and　bounded　by　lines　of
sufficiently　masculine　regularity；　his　brows　were　somewhat　too
softly　arched；　and　finely　pencilled　for　one　of　his　sex；　without
prejudice；　however；　to　the　belief　which　the　sum　total　of　his
features　inspiredthat　though　they　did　not　prove　that　the　man　who
thought　inside　them　would　do　much　in　the　world；　men　who　had　done
most　of　all　had　had　no　better　ones。　　Across　his　forehead；　otherwise
perfectly　smooth；　ran　one　thin　line；　the　healthy　freshness　of　his
remaining　features　expressing　that　it　had　come　the