wessex tales-第49章

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precarious　existence　in　that　exposed　spot；　and　her　form　was　absorbed
in　its　dark　and　stunted　outline　as　if　she　had　become　part　of　it。
She　had　evidently　heard　the　men　as　well　as　he。　　They　passed　near
him；　talking　in　loud　and　careless　tones；　which　could　be　heard　above
the　uninterrupted　washings　of　the　sea；　and　which　suggested　that　they
were　not　engaged　in　any　business　at　their　own　risk。　　This　proved　to
be　the　fact：　　some　of　their　words　floated　across　to　him；　and　caused
him　to　forget　at　once　the　coldness　of　his　situation。

'What's　the　vessel？'

'A　lugger；　about　fifty　tons。'

'From　Cherbourg；　I　suppose？'

'Yes；　'a　b'lieve。'

'But　it　don't　all　belong　to　Owlett？'

'O　no。　　He's　only　got　a　share。　　There's　another　or　two　in　ita
farmer　and　such　like；　but　the　names　I　don't　know。'

The　voices　died　away；　and　the　heads　and　shoulders　of　the　men
diminished　towards　the　cliff；　and　dropped　out　of　sight。

'My　darling　has　been　tempted　to　buy　a　share　by　that　unbeliever
Owlett；'　groaned　the　minister；　his　honest　affection　for　Lizzy　having
quickened　to　its　intensest　point　during　these　moments　of　risk　to　her
person　and　name。　　'That's　why　she's　here；'　he　said　to　himself。　　'O；
it　will　be　the　ruin　of　her！'

His　perturbation　was　interrupted　by　the　sudden　bursting　out　of　a
bright　and　increasing　light　from　the　spot　where　Lizzy　was　in　hiding。
A　few　seconds　later；　and　before　it　had　reached　the　height　of　a
blaze；　he　heard　her　rush　past　him　down　the　hollow　like　a　stone　from
a　sling；　in　the　direction　of　home。　　The　light　now　flared　high　and
wide；　and　showed　its　position　clearly。　　She　had　kindled　a　bough　of
furze　and　stuck　it　into　the　bush　under　which　she　had　been　crouching；
the　wind　fanned　the　flame；　which　crackled　fiercely；　and　threatened
to　consume　the　bush　as　well　as　the　bough。　　Stockdale　paused　just
long　enough　to　notice　thus　much；　and　then　followed　rapidly　the　route
taken　by　the　young　woman。　　His　intention　was　to　overtake　her；　and
reveal　himself　as　a　friend；　but　run　as　he　would　he　could　see　nothing
of　her。　　Thus　he　flew　across　the　open　country　about　Holworth；
twisting　his　legs　and　ankles　in　unexpected　fissures　and　descents；
till；　on　coming　to　the　gate　between　the　downs　and　the　road；　he　was
forced　to　pause　to　get　breath。　　There　was　no　audible　movement　either
in　front　or　behind　him；　and　he　now　concluded　that　she　had　not　outrun
him；　but　that；　hearing　him　at　her　heels；　and　believing　him　one　of
the　excise　party；　she　had　hidden　herself　somewhere　on　the　way；　and
let　him　pass　by。

He　went　on　at　a　more　leisurely　pace　towards　the　village。　　On
reaching　the　house　he　found　his　surmise　to　be　correct；　for　the　gate
was　on　the　latch；　and　the　door　unfastened；　just　as　he　had　left　them。
Stockdale　closed　the　door　behind　him；　and　waited　silently　in　the
passage。　　In　about　ten　minutes　he　heard　the　same　light　footstep　that
he　had　heard　in　going　out；　it　paused　at　the　gate；　which　opened　and
shut　softly；　and　then　the　door…latch　was　lifted；　and　Lizzy　came　in。

Stockdale　went　forward　and　said　at　once；　'Lizzy；　don't　be
frightened。　　I　have　been　waiting　up　for　you。'

She　started；　though　she　had　recognized　the　voice。　　'It　is　Mr。
Stockdale；　isn't　it？'　she　said。

'Yes；'　he　answered；　becoming　angry　now　that　she　was　safe　indoors；
and　not　alarmed。　　'And　a　nice　game　I've　found　you　out　in　to…night。
You　are　in　man's　clothes；　and　I　am　ashamed　of　you！'

Lizzy　could　hardly　find　a　voice　to　answer　this　unexpected　reproach。

'I　am　only　partly　in　man's　clothes；'　she　faltered；　shrinking　back　to
the　wall。　　'It　is　only　his　greatcoat　and　hat　and　breeches　that　I've
got　on；　which　is　no　harm；　as　he　was　my　own　husband；　and　I　do　it　only
because　a　cloak　blows　about　so；　and　you　can't　use　your　arms。　　I　have
got　my　own　dress　under　just　the　sameit　is　only　tucked　in！　　Will
you　go　away　upstairs　and　let　me　pass？　　I　didn't　want　you　to　see　me
at　such　a　time　as　this！'

'But　I　have　a　right　to　see　you！　　How　do　you　think　there　can　be
anything　between　us　now？'　　Lizzy　was　silent。　　'You　are　a　smuggler；'
he　continued　sadly。

'I　have　only　a　share　in　the　run；'　she　said。

'That　makes　no　difference。　　Whatever　did　you　engage　in　such　a　trade
as　that　for；　and　keep　it　such　a　secret　from　me　all　this　time？'

'I　don't　do　it　always。　　I　only　do　it　in　winter…time　when　'tis　new
moon。'

'Well；　I　suppose　that's　because　it　can't　be　done　anywhen　else　。　。　。
You　have　regularly　upset　me；　Lizzy。'

'I　am　sorry　for　that；'　Lizzy　meekly　replied。

'Well　now；'　said　he　more　tenderly；　'no　harm　is　done　as　yet。　　Won't
you　for　the　sake　of　me　give　up　this　blamable　and　dangerous　practice
altogether？'

'I　must　do　my　best　to　save　this　run；'　said　she；　getting　rather　husky
in　the　throat。　　'I　don't　want　to　give　you　upyou　know　that；　but　I
don't　want　to　lose　my　venture。　　I　don't　know　what　to　do　now！　　Why　I
have　kept　it　so　secret　from　you　is　that　I　was　afraid　you　would　be
angry　if　you　knew。'

'I　should　think　so！　　I　suppose　if　I　had　married　you　without　finding
this　out　you'd　have　gone　on　with　it　just　the　same？'

'I　don't　know。　　I　did　not　think　so　far　ahead。　　I　only　went　to…night
to　burn　the　folks　off；　because　we　found　that　the　excisemen　knew
where　the　tubs　were　to　be　landed。'

'It　is　a　pretty　mess　to　be　in　altogether；　is　this；'　said　the
distracted　young　minister。　　'Well；　what　will　you　do　now？'

Lizzy　slowly　murmured　the　particulars　of　their　plan；　the　chief　of
which　were　that　they　meant　to　try　their　luck　at　some　other　point　of
the　shore　the　next　night；　that　three　landing…places　were　always
agreed　upon　before　the　run　was　attempted；　with　the　understanding
that；　if　the　vessel　was　'burnt　off'　from　the　first　point；　which　was
Ringsworth；　as　it　had　been　by　her　to…night；　the　crew　should　attempt
to　make　the　second；　which　was　Lulstead　Cove；　on　the　second　night；
and　if　there；　too；　danger　threatened；　they　should　on　the　third　night
try　the　third　place；　which　was　behind　a　headland　further　west。

'Suppose　the　officers　hinder　them　landing　there　too？'　he　said；　his
attention　to　this　interesting　programme　displacing　for　a　moment　his
concern　at　her　share　in　it。

'Then　we　shan't　try　anywhere　else　all　this　darkthat's　what　we　call
the　time　between　moon　and　moonand　perhaps　they'll　string　the　tubs
to　a　stray…line；　and　sink　'em　a　little…ways　from　shore；　and　take　the
bearings；　and　then　when　they　have　a　chance　they'll　go　to　creep　for
'em。'

'What's　that？'

'O；　they'll　go　out　in　a　boat　and　drag　a　creeperthat's　a　grapnel
along　the　bottom　till　it　catch　hold　of　the　stray…line。'

The　minister　stood　thinking；　and　there　was　no　sound　within　doors　but
the　tick　of　the　clock　on　the　stairs；　and　the　quick　breathing　of
Lizzy；　partly　from　her　walk　and　partly　from　agitation；　as　she　stood
close　to　the　wall；　not　in　such　complete　darkness　but　that　he　could
discern　against　its　whitewashed　surface　the　greatcoat　and　broad　hat
which　covered　her。

'Lizzy；　all　this　is　very　wrong；'　he　said。　　'Don't　you　remember　the
lesson　of　the　tribute…money？　　〃Render　unto　Caesar　the　things　that
are　Caesar's。〃　　Surely　you　have　heard　that　read　times　enough　in　your
growing　up？'

'He's　dead；'　she　pouted。

'But　the　spirit　of　the　text　is　in　force　just　the　same。'

'My　father　did　it；　and　so　did　my　grandfather；　and　almost　everybody
in　Nether…Moynton　lives　by　it；　and　life　would　be　so　dull　if　it
wasn't　for　that；　that　I　should　not　care　to　live　at　all。'

'I　am　nothing　to　live　for；　of　course；'　he　replied　bitterly。　　'You
would　not　think　it　worth　while　to　give　up　this　wild　business　and
live　for　me　alone？'

'I　have　never　looked　at　it　like　that。'

'And　you　won't　promise　and　wait　till　I　am　ready？'

'I　cannot　give　you　my　word　to…night。'　　And；　looking　thoughtfully
down；　she　gradually　moved　and　moved　away；　going　into　the　adjoining
room；　and　closing　the　door　between　them。　　She　remained　there　in　the
dark　till　he　was　tired　of　waiting；　and　had　gone　up　to　his　own
chamber。

Poor　Stockdale　was　dreadfully　depressed　all　the　next　day　by　the
discoveries　of　the　night　before。　　Lizzy　was　unmistakably　a
fascinating　young　woman；　but　as　a　minister's　wife　she　was　hardly　to
be　contemplated。　　'If　I　had　only　stuck　to　father's　little　grocery
business；　instead　of　going　in　for　the　ministry；　she　would　have
suited　me　beauti