wessex tales-第50章
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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 beautifully！' he said sadly； until he remembered that in
that case he would never have come from his distant home to Nether…
Moynton； and never have known her。
The estrangement between them was not complete； but it was
sufficient to keep them out of each other's company。 Once during
the day he met her in the garden…path； and said； turning a
reproachful eye upon her； 'Do you promise； Lizzy？' But she did not
reply。 The evening drew on； and he knew well enough that Lizzy
would repeat her excursion at nighther half…offended manner had
shown that she had not the slightest intention of altering her plans
at present。 He did not wish to repeat his own share of the
adventure； but； act as he would； his uneasiness on her account
increased with the decline of day。 Supposing that an accident
should befall her； he would never forgive himself for not being
there to help； much as he disliked the idea of seeming to
countenance such unlawful escapades。
CHAPTER VHOW THEY WENT TO LULSTEAD COVE
As he had expected； she left the house at the same hour at night；
this time passing his door without stealth； as if she knew very well
that he would be watching； and were resolved to brave his
displeasure。 He was quite ready； opened the door quickly； and
reached the back door almost as soon as she。
'Then you will go； Lizzy？' he said as he stood on the step beside
her； who now again appeared as a little man with a face altogether
unsuited to his clothes。
'I must；' she said； repressed by his stern manner。
'Then I shall go too；' said he。
'And I am sure you will enjoy it！' she exclaimed in more buoyant
tones。 'Everybody does who tries it。'
'God forbid that I should！' he said。 'But I must look after you。'
They opened the wicket and went up the road abreast of each other；
but at some distance apart； scarcely a word passing between them。
The evening was rather less favourable to smuggling enterprise than
the last had been； the wind being lower； and the sky somewhat clear
towards the north。
'It is rather lighter；' said Stockdale。
''Tis； unfortunately；' said she。 'But it is only from those few
stars over there。 The moon was new to…day at four o'clock； and I
expected clouds。 I hope we shall be able to do it this dark； for
when we have to sink 'em for long it makes the stuff taste bleachy；
and folks don't like it so well。'
Her course was different from that of the preceding night； branching
off to the left over Lord's Barrow as soon as they had got out of
the lane and crossed the highway。 By the time they reached Chaldon
Down； Stockdale； who had been in perplexed thought as to what he
should say to her； decided that he would not attempt expostulation
now； while she was excited by the adventure； but wait till it was
over； and endeavour to keep her from such practices in future。 It
occurred to him once or twice； as they rambled on； that should they
be surprised by the excisemen； his situation would be more awkward
than hers； for it would be difficult to prove his true motive in
coming to the spot； but the risk was a slight consideration beside
his wish to be with her。
They now arrived at a ravine which lay on the outskirts of Chaldon；
a village two miles on their way towards the point of the shore they
sought。 Lizzy broke the silence this time： 'I have to wait here to
meet the carriers。 I don't know if they have come yet。 As I told
you； we go to Lulstead Cove to…night； and it is two miles further
than Ringsworth。'
It turned out that the men had already come； for while she spoke two
or three dozen heads broke the line of the slope； and a company of
them at once descended from the bushes where they had been lying in
wait。 These carriers were men whom Lizzy and other proprietors
regularly employed to bring the tubs from the boat to a hiding…place
inland。 They were all young fellows of Nether…Moynton； Chaldon； and
the neighbourhood； quiet and inoffensive persons； who simply engaged
to carry the cargo for Lizzy and her cousin Owlett； as they would
have engaged in any other labour for which they were fairly well
paid。
At a word from her they closed in together。 'You had better take it
now；' she said to them； and handed to each a packet。 It contained
six shillings； their remuneration for the night's undertaking； which
was paid beforehand without reference to success or failure； but；
besides this； they had the privilege of selling as agents when the
run was successfully made。 As soon as it was done； she said to
them； 'The place is the old one near Lulstead Cove；' the men till
that moment not having been told whither they were bound； for
obvious reasons。 'Owlett will meet you there；' added Lizzy。 'I
shall follow behind； to see that we are not watched。'
The carriers went on； and Stockdale and Mrs。 Newberry followed at a
distance of a stone's throw。 'What do these men do by day？' he
said。
'Twelve or fourteen of them are labouring men。 Some are
brickmakers； some carpenters； some shoe…makers； some thatchers。
They are all known to me very well。 Nine of 'em are of your own
congregation。'
'I can't help that；' said Stockdale。
'O； I know you can't。 I only told you。 The others are more church…
inclined； because they supply the pa'son with all the spirits he
requires； and they don't wish to show unfriendliness to a customer。'
'How do you choose 'em？' said Stockdale。
'We choose 'em for their closeness； and because they are strong and
surefooted； and able to carry a heavy load a long way without being
tired。'
Stockdale sighed as she enumerated each particular； for it proved
how far involved in the business a woman must be who was so well
acquainted with its conditions and needs。 And yet he felt more
tenderly towards her at this moment than he had felt all the
foregoing day。 Perhaps it was that her experienced manner and hold
indifference stirred his admiration in spite of himself。
'Take my arm； Lizzy；' he murmured。
'I don't want it；' she said。 'Besides； we may never be to each
other again what we once have been。'
'That depends upon you；' said he； and they went on again as before。
The hired carriers paced along over Chaldon Down with as little
hesitation as if it had been day； avoiding the cart…way； and leaving
the village of East Chaldon on the left； so as to reach the crest of
the hill at a lonely trackless place not far from the ancient
earthwork called Round Pound。 An hour's brisk walking brought them
within sound of the sea； not many hundred yards from Lulstead Cove。
Here they paused； and Lizzy and Stockdale came up with them； when
they went on together to the verge of the cliff。 One of the men now
produced an iron bar； which he drove firmly into the soil a yard
from the edge； and attached to it a rope that he had uncoiled from
his body。 They all began to descend； partly stepping； partly
sliding down the incline； as the rope slipped through their hands。
'You will not go to the bottom； Lizzy？' said Stockdale anxiously。
'No。 I stay here to watch；' she said。 'Owlett is down there。'
The men remained quite silent when they reached the shore； and the
next thing audible to the two at the top was the dip of heavy oars；
and the dashing of waves against a boat's bow。 In a moment the keel
gently touched the shingle； and Stockdale heard the footsteps of the
thirty…six carriers running forwards over the pebbles towards the
point of landing。
There was a sousing in the water as of a brood of ducks plunging in；
showing that the men had not been particular about keeping their
legs； or even their waists； dry from the brine： but it was
impossible to see what they were doing； and in a few minutes the
shingle was trampled again。 The iron bar sustaining the rope； on
which Stockdale's hand rested； began to swerve a little； and the
carriers one by one appeared climbing up the sloping cliff； dripping
audibly as they came； and sustaining themselves by the guide…rope。
Each man on reaching the top was seen to be carrying a pair of tubs；
one on his
