第1章

PREFACE ThepeninsulacarvedbyTimeoutofasinglestone，whereonmostofthefollowingscenesarelaid，hasbeenforcenturiesimmemorialthehomeofacuriousandwell-nighdistinctpeople，cherishingstrangebeliefsandsingularcustoms，nowforthemostpartobsolescent。Fancies，likecertainsoft-woodedplantswhichcannotbearthesilentinlandfrosts，butthrivebytheseaintheroughestofweather，seemtogrowupnaturallyhere，inparticularamongstthosenativeswhohavenoactiveconcerninthelaboursofthe’Isle。’Henceitisaspotapttogenerateatypeofpersonagelikethecharacterimperfectlysketchedinthesepages——anativeofnatives——whomsomemaychoosetocallafantast（iftheyhonourhimwiththeirconsiderationsofar），butwhomothersmayseeonlyasonethatgaveobjectivecontinuityandanametoadelicatedreamwhichinavaguerformismoreorlesscommontoallmen，andisbynomeansnewtoPlatonicphilosophers。 TothosewhoknowtherockycoignofEnglandheredepicted——overlookingthegreatChannelHighwaywithallitssuggestiveness，andstandingoutsofarintomid-seathattouchesoftheGulfStreamsoftentheairtillFebruary——itismatterofsurprisethattheplacehasnotbeenmorefrequentlychosenastheretreatofartistsandpoetsinsearchofinspiration——foratleastamonthortwointheyear，thetempestuousratherthanthefineseasonsbypreference。Tobesure，onenookthereinistheretreat，attheircountry’sexpense，ofothergeniusesfromadistance；buttheirpresenceishardlydiscoverable。Yetperhapsitisaswellthattheartisticvisitorsdonotcome，ornomorewouldbeheardoflittlefreeholdhousesbeingboughtandsoldthereforacoupleofhundredpounds——builtofsolidstone，anddatingfromthesixteenthcenturyandearlier，withmullions，copings，andcorbelscomplete。Thesetransactions，bytheway，arecarriedoutandcovenanted，orweretilllately，intheparishchurch，inthefaceofthecongregation，suchbeingtheancientcustomoftheIsle。 Asforthestoryitself，itmaybeworthwhiletoremarkthat，differingfromallormostothersoftheseriesinthattheinterestaimedatisofanidealorsubjectivenature，andfranklyimaginative，verisimilitudeinthesequenceofeventshasbeensubordinatedtothesaidaim。 Thefirstpublicationofthistaleinanindependentformwasin1897； butithadappearedintheperiodicalpressin1892，underthetitleof’ThePursuitoftheWell-Beloved。’Afewchaptersofthatexperimentalissuewererewrittenforthepresentandfinalformofthenarrative。 T。H。 August1912。 CONTENTS PARTFIRST——AYOUNGMANOFTWENTY。 I。ASUPPOSITITIOUSPRESENTMENTOFHER II。THEINCARNATIONISASSUMEDTOBETRUE III。THEAPPOINTMENT IV。ALONELYPEDESTRIAN V。ACHARGE VI。ONTHEBRINK VII。HEREARLIERINCARNATIONS VIII。’TOOLIKETHELIGHTNING’ IX。FAMILIARPHENOMENAINTHEDISTANCE PARTSECOND——AYOUNGMANOFFORTY。 I。THEOLDPHANTOMBECOMESDISTINCT II。SHEDRAWSCLOSEANDSATISFIES III。SHEBECOMESANINACCESSIBLEGHOST IV。SHETHREATENSTORESUMECORPOREALSUBSTANCE V。THERESUMPTIONTAKESPLACE VI。THEPASTSHINESINTHEPRESENT VII。THENEWBECOMESESTABLISHED VIII。HISOWNSOULCONFRONTSHIM IX。JUXTAPOSITIONS X。SHEFAILSTOVANISHSTILL XI。THEIMAGEPERSISTS XII。AGRILLEDESCENDSBETWEEN XIII。SHEISENSHROUDEDFROMSIGHT PARTTHIRD——AYOUNGMANOFSIXTY。 I。SHERETURNSFORTHENEWSEASON II。MISGIVINGSONTHERE-EMBODIMENT III。THERENEWEDIMAGEBURNSITSELFIN IV。ADASHFORTHELASTINCARNATION V。ONTHEVERGEOFPOSSESSION VI。THEWELL-BELOVEDIS——WHERE？ VII。ANOLDTABERNACLEINANEWASPECT VIII。’ALASFORTHISGREYSHADOW，ONCEAMAN！’ PARTFIRST——AYOUNGMANOFTWENTY。 ——’Now，ifTimeknowsThatHer，whoseradiantbrowsWeavethemagarlandofmyvows； HerthatdaresbeWhattheselineswishtosee： Iseeknofurther，itisShe。’ ——R。CRASHAW。 1。I。ASUPPOSITITIOUSPRESENTMENTOFHER Apersonwhodifferedfromthelocalwayfarerswasclimbingthesteeproadwhichleadsthroughthesea-skirtedtownletdefinableastheStreetofWells，andformsapassintothatGibraltarofWessex，thesingularpeninsulaonceanisland，andstillcalledsuch，thatstretchesoutliketheheadofabirdintotheEnglishChannel。Itisconnectedwiththemainlandbyalongthinneckofpebbles’castupbyragesofthese，’andunparalleledinitskindinEurope。 Thepedestrianwaswhathelookedlike——ayoungmanfromLondonandthecitiesoftheContinent。Nobodycouldseeatpresentthathisurbanismsatuponhimonlyasagarment。Hewasjustrecollectingwithsomethingofself-reproachthatawholethreeyearsandeightmonthshadflownsincehepaidhislastvisittohisfatheratthislonelyrockofhisbirthplace，theinterveningtimehavingbeenspentamidmanycontrastingsocieties，peoples，manners，andscenes。 Whathadseemedusualintheislewhenhelivedtherealwayslookedquaintandoddafterhislaterimpressions。Morethaneverthespotseemedwhatitwassaidoncetohavebeen，theancientVindiliaIsland，andtheHomeoftheSlingers。Thetoweringrock，thehousesabovehouses，oneman’sdoorsteprisingbehindhisneighbour’schimney，thegardenshungupbyoneedgetothesky，thevegetablesgrowingonapparentlyalmostverticalplanes，theunityofthewholeislandasasolidandsingleblockoflimestonefourmileslong，werenolongerfamiliarandcommonplaceideas。Allnowstooddazzlinglyuniqueandwhiteagainstthetintedsea，andthesunflashedoninfinitelystratifiedwallsofoolite，ThemelancholyruinsOfcancelledcycles，…… withadistinctivenessthatcalledtheeyestoitasstronglyasanyspectaclehehadbeheldafar。 Afteralaboriousclamberhereachedthetop，andwalkedalongtheplateautowardstheeasternvillage。Thetimebeingabouttwoo’clock，inthemiddleofthesummerseason，theroadwasglaringanddusty，anddrawingneartohisfather’shousehesatdowninthesun。 Hestretchedouthishandupontherockbesidehim。Itfeltwarm。 Thatwastheisland’spersonaltemperaturewheninitsafternoonsleepasnow。Helistened，andheardsounds：whirr-whirr，saw-saw-saw。 Thoseweretheisland’ssnores——thenoisesofthequarrymenandstone- sawyers。 Oppositetothespotonwhichhesatwasaroomycottageorhomestead。 Liketheislanditwasallofstone，notonlyinwallsbutinwindow- frames，roof，chimneys，fence，stile，pigstyandstable，almostdoor。 Herememberedwhohadusedtolivethere——andprobablylivedtherenow—— theCarofamily；the’roan-mare’Caros，astheywerecalledtodistinguishthemfromotherbranchesofthesamepedigree，therebeingbuthalf-a-dozenChristianandsurnamesinthewholeisland。Hecrossedtheroadandlookedinattheopendoorway。Yes，theretheywerestill。 Mrs。Caro，whohadseenhimfromthewindow，methimintheentry，andanold-fashionedgreetingtookplacebetweenthem。Amomentafteradoorleadingfromthebackroomswasthrownopen，andayounggirlaboutseventeenoreighteencameboundingin。 ’Why，’TISdearJoce！’sheburstoutjoyfully。Andrunninguptotheyoungman，shekissedhim。 Thedemonstrationwassweetenoughfromtheownerofsuchanaffectionatepairofbrighthazeleyesandbrowntressesofhair。Butitwassosudden，sounexpectedbyamanfreshfromtowns，thathewincedforamomentquiteinvoluntarily；andtherewassomeconstraintinthemannerinwhichhereturnedherkiss，andsaid，’MyprettylittleAvice，howdoyoudoaftersolong？’ Forafewsecondsherimpulsiveinnocencehardlynoticedhisstartofsurprise；butMrs。Caro，thegirl’smother，hadobserveditinstantly。 Withapainedflushsheturnedtoherdaughter。 ’Avice——mydearAvice！Why——whatareyoudoing？Don’tyouknowthatyou’vegrownuptobeawomansinceJocelyn——Mr。Pierston——waslastdownhere？Ofcourseyoumustn’tdonowasyouusedtodothreeorfouryearsago！’ TheawkwardnesswhichhadarisenwashardlyremovedbyPierston’sassurancethathequiteexpectedhertokeepupthepracticeofherchildhood，followedbyseveralminutesofconversationongeneralsubjects。Hewasvexedfromhissoulthathisunawaremovementshouldsohavebetrayedhim。AthisleavingherepeatedthatifAviceregardedhimotherwisethanassheusedtodohewouldneverforgiveher；butthoughtheypartedgoodfriendsherregretattheincidentwasvisibleinherface。Jocelynpassedoutintotheroadandonwardtohisfather’shousehardby。Themotheranddaughterwereleftalone。 ’Iwasquiteamazedat’ee，mychild！’exclaimedtheelder。’AyoungmanfromLondonandforeigncities，usednowtothestrictestcompanymanners，andladieswhoalmostthinkitvulgartosmilebroad！Howcouldyedoit，Avice？’ ’I——Ididn’tthinkabouthowIwasaltered！’saidtheconscience- strickengirl。’Iusedtokisshim，andheusedtokissmebeforehewentaway。’ ’Butthatwasyearsago，mydear！’ ’Oyes，andforthemomentIforgot！Heseemedjustthesametomeasheusedtobe。’ ’Well，itcan’tbehelpednow。Youmustbecarefulinthefuture。 He’sgotlotsofyoungwomen，I’llwarrant，andhasfewthoughtsleftforyou。He’swhattheycallasculptor，andhemeanstobeagreatgeniusinthatlinesomeday，theydosay。’ ’Well，I’vedoneit；anditcan’tbemended！’moanedthegirl。 MeanwhileJocelynPierston，thesculptorofbuddingfame，hadgoneonwardtothehouseofhisfather，aninartisticmanoftradeandcommercemerely，fromwhom，nevertheless，Jocelyncondescendedtoacceptayearlyallowancependingthefamousdaystocome。Buttheelder，havingreceivednowarningofhisson’sintendedvisit，wasnotathometoreceivehim。Jocelynlookedroundthefamiliarpremises，glancedacrosstheCommonatthegreatyardswithinwhicheternalsawsweregoingtoandfrouponeternalblocksofstone——theverysamesawsandtheverysameblocksthathehadseentherewhenlastintheisland，soitseemedtohim——andthenpassedthroughthedwellingintothebackgarden。 Likeallthegardensintheisleitwassurroundedbyawallofdry- jointedspawls，andatitsfurtherextremityitranoutintoacorner，whichadjoinedthegardenoftheCaros。Hehadnosoonerreachedthisspotthanhebecameawareofamurmuringandsobbingontheothersideofthewall。ThevoiceherecognizedinamomentasAvice’s，andsheseemedtobeconfidinghertroubletosomeyoungfriendofherownsex。 ’Oh，whatshallIDO！whatSHALLIdo！’shewassayingbitterly。’Soboldasitwas——soshameless！HowcouldIthinkofsuchathing！Hewillneverforgiveme——never，neverlikemeagain！He’llthinkmeaforwardhussy，andyet——andyetIquiteforgothowmuchIhadgrown。 Butthathe’llneverbelieve！’Theaccentswerethoseofonewhohadforthefirsttimebecomeconsciousofherwomanhood，asanunwontedpossessionwhichshamedandfrightenedher。 ’Didheseemangryatit？’inquiredthefriend。 ’Ono——notangry！Worse。Coldandhaughty。O，he’ssuchafashionablepersonnow——notatallanislandman。Butthere’snouseintalkingofit。IwishIwasdead！’ Pierstonretreatedasquicklyashecould。Hegrievedattheincidentwhichhadbroughtsuchpaintothisinnocentsoul；andyetitwasbeginningtobeasourceofvaguepleasuretohim。Hereturnedtothehouse，andwhenhisfatherhadcomebackandwelcomedhim，andtheyhadsharedamealtogether，Jocelynagainwentout，fullofanearnestdesiretosoothehisyoungneighbour’ssorrowinawayshelittleexpected；though，totellthetruth，hisaffectionforherwasratherthatofafriendthanofalover，andhefeltbynomeanssurethatthemigratory，elusiveidealizationhecalledhisLovewho，eversincehisboyhood，hadflittedfromhumanshelltohumanshellanindefinitenumberoftimes，wasgoingtotakeupherabodeinthebodyofAviceCaro。 1。II。THEINCARNATIONISASSUMEDTOBETRUE Itwasdifficulttomeetheragain，eventhoughonthislumpofrockthedifficultylayasaruleratherinavoidancethaninmeeting。ButAvicehadbeentransformedintoaverydifferentkindofyoungwomanbytheself-consciousnessengenderedofherimpulsivegreeting，and，notwithstandingtheirnearneighbourhood，hecouldnotencounterher，tryashewould。Nosoonerdidheappearaninchbeyondhisfather’sdoorthanshewastoearthlikeafox；sheboltedupstairstoherroom。 Anxioustosootheherafterhisunintentionalslighthecouldnotstandtheseevasionslong。Themannersoftheislewereprimitiveandstraightforward，evenamongthewell-to-do，andnotingherdisappearanceonedayhefollowedherintothehouseandonwardtothefootofthestairs。 ’Avice！’hecalled。 ’Yes，Mr。Pierston。’ ’Whydoyourunupstairslikethat？’ ’Oh——onlybecauseIwantedtocomeupforsomething。’ ’Well，ifyou’vegotit，can’tyoucomedownagain？’ ’No，Ican’tverywell。’ ’Come，DEARAvice。That’swhatyouare，youknow。’ Therewasnoresponse。 ’Well，ifyouwon’t，youwon’t！’hecontinued。’Idon’twanttobotheryou。’AndPierstonwentaway。 Hewasstoppingtolookattheold-fashionedflowersunderthegardenwallswhenheheardavoicebehindhim。 ’Mr。Pierston——Iwasn’tangrywithyou。WhenyouweregoneIthought—— youmightmistakeme，andIfeltIcoulddonolessthancomeandassureyouofmyfriendshipstill。’ TurninghesawtheblushingAviceimmediatelybehindhim。 ’Youareagood，deargirl！’saidhe，and，seizingherhand，setuponhercheekthekindofkissthatshouldhavebeentheresponsetohersonthedayofhiscoming。 ’DarlingAvice，forgivemefortheslightthatday！Sayyoudo。Come，now！AndthenI’llsaytoyouwhatIhaveneversaidtoanyotherwoman，livingordead：\"Willyouhavemeasyourhusband？\"’ ’Ah！——mothersaysIamonlyoneofmany！’ ’Youarenot，dear。YouknewmewhenIwasyoung，andothersdidn’t。’ Somehoworotherherobjectionsweregotover，andthoughshedidnotgiveanimmediateassent，sheagreedtomeethimlaterintheafternoon，whenshewalkedwithhimtothesouthernpointoftheislandcalledtheBeal，or，bystrangers，theBill，pausingoverthetreacherouscavernknownasCaveHole，intowhichthesearoaredandsplashednowasithaddonewhentheyvisitedittogetheraschildren。 Tosteadyherselfwhilelookinginheofferedherhisarm，andshetookit，forthefirsttimeasawoman，forthehundredthtimeashiscompanion。 Theyrambledontothelighthouse，wheretheywouldhavelingeredlongerifAvicehadnotsuddenlyrememberedanengagementtorecitepoetryfromaplatformthatveryeveningattheStreetofWells，thevillagecommandingtheentrancetotheisland——thevillagethathasnowadvancedtobeatown。 ’Recite！’saidhe。’Who’dhavethoughtanybodyoranythingcouldrecitedownhereexceptthereciterwehearawaythere——theneverspeechlesssea。’ ’Obutwearequiteintellectualnow。Inthewinterparticularly。 But，Jocelyn——don’tcometotherecitation，willyou？Itwouldspoilmyperformanceifyouwerethere，andIwanttobeasgoodastherest。’ ’Iwon’tifyoureallywishmenotto。ButIshallmeetyouatthedoorandbringyouhome。’ ’Yes！’shesaid，lookingupintohisface。Avicewasperfectlyhappynow；shecouldneverhavebelievedonthatmortifyingdayofhiscomingthatshewouldbesohappywithhim。Whentheyreachedtheeastsideoftheisletheyparted，thatshemightbesoonenoughtotakeherplaceontheplatform。Pierstonwenthome，andafterdark，whenitwasaboutthehourforaccompanyingherback，hewentalongthemiddleroadnorthwardtotheStreetofWells。 Hewasfullofmisgiving。HehadknownAviceCarosowellofoldthathisfeelingforhernowwasrathercomradeshipthanlove；andwhathehadsaidtoherinamomentofimpulsethatmorningratherappalledhiminitsconsequences。Notthatanyofthemoresophisticatedandaccomplishedwomenwhohadattractedhimsuccessivelywouldbelikelytoriseinconvenientlybetweenthem。Forhehadquitedisabusedhismindoftheassumptionthattheidolofhisfancywasanintegralpartofthepersonalityinwhichithadsojournedforalongorashortwhile。 *** TohisWell-Belovedhehadalwaysbeenfaithful；butshehadhadmanyembodiments。EachindividualityknownasLucy，Jane，Flora，Evangeline，orwhat-not，hadbeenmerelyatransientconditionofher。 Hedidnotrecognizethisasanexcuseorasadefence，butasafactsimply。Essentiallyshewasperhapsofnotangiblesubstance；aspirit，adream，afrenzy，aconception，anaroma，anepitomizedsex，alightoftheeye，apartingofthelips。Godonlyknewwhatshereallywas；Pierstondidnot。Shewasindescribable。 Nevermuchconsideringthatshewasasubjectivephenomenonvivifiedbytheweirdinfluencesofhisdescentandbirthplace，thediscoveryofherghostliness，ofherindependenceofphysicallawsandfailings，hadoccasionallygivenhimasenseoffear。Heneverknewwhereshenextwouldbe，whithershewouldleadhim，havingherselfinstantaccesstoallranksandclasses，toeveryabodeofmen。Sometimesatnighthedreamtthatshewas’thewile-weavingDaughterofhighZeus’inperson，bentontormentinghimforhissinsagainstherbeautyinhisart——theimplacableAphroditeherselfindeed。Heknewthathelovedthemasqueradingcreaturewhereverhefoundher，whetherwithblueeyes，blackeyes，orbrown；whetherpresentingherselfastall，fragile，orplump。Shewasneverintwoplacesatonce；buthithertoshehadneverbeeninoneplacelong。 Bymakingthiscleartohismindsometimebeforeto-day，hehadescapedagooddealofuglyself-reproach。Itwassimplythatshewhoalwaysattractedhim，andledhimwhithershewouldasbyasilkenthread，hadnotremainedtheoccupantofthesamefleshlytabernacleinhercareersofar。Whethershewouldultimatelysettledowntoonehecouldnotsay。 HadhefeltthatshewasbecomingmanifestinAvice，hewouldhavetriedtobelievethatthiswastheterminalspotofhermigrations，andhavebeencontenttoabidebyhiswords。ButdidheseetheWell- BelovedinAviceatall？Thequestionwassomewhatdisturbing。 Hehadreachedthebrowofthehill，anddescendedtowardsthevillage，whereinthelongstraightRomanstreethesoonfoundthelightedhall。 Theperformancewasnotyetover；andbygoingroundtothesideofthebuildingandstandingonamoundhecouldseetheinteriorasfardownastheplatformlevel。Avice’sturn，orsecondturn，cameonalmostimmediately。Herprettyembarrassmentonfacingtheaudienceratherwonhimawayfromhisdoubts。Shewas，intruth，whatiscalleda’nice’girl；attractive，certainly，butaboveallthingsnice——oneoftheclasswithwhomtherisksofmatrimonyapproximatemostnearlytozero。Herintelligenteyes，herbroadforehead，herthoughtfulcarriage，ensuredonething，thatofallthegirlshehadknownhehadnevermetonewithmorecharmingandsolidqualitiesthanAviceCaro’s。 Thiswasnotamereconjecture——hehadknownherlongandthoroughly； hereverymoodandtemper。 Aheavywagonpassingwithoutdrownedhersmallsoftvoiceforhim；buttheaudiencewerepleased，andsheblushedattheirapplause。Henowtookhisstationatthedoor，andwhenthepeoplehaddonepouringouthefoundherwithinawaitinghim。 TheyclimbedhomewardslowlybytheOldRoad，Pierstondragginghimselfupthesteepbythewaysidehand-railandpullingAviceafterhimuponhisarm。Atthetoptheyturnedandstoodstill。Totheleftofthemtheskywasstreakedlikeafanwiththelighthouserays，andundertheirfront，atperiodsofaquarterofaminute，therearoseadeep，hollowstrokelikethesinglebeatofadrum，theintervalsbeingfilledwithalong-drawnrattling，asofbonesbetweenhugecaninejaws。ItcamefromthevastconcaveofDeadman’sBay，risingandfallingagainstthepebbledyke。 Theeveningandnightwindsherewere，toPierston’smind，chargedwithasomethingthatdidnotburdenthemelsewhere。TheybroughtitupfromthatsinisterBaytothewest，whosemovementsheandhewerehearingnow。Itwasapresence——animaginaryshapeoressencefromthehumanmultitudelyingbelow：thosewhohadgonedowninvesselsofwar，EastIndiamen，barges，brigs，andshipsoftheArmada——selectpeople，common，anddebased，whoseinterestsandhopeshadbeenaswideasunderasthepoles，butwhohadrolledeachothertoonenessonthatrestlesssea-bed。Therecouldalmostbefeltthebrushoftheirhugecompositeghostasitranashapelessfigureovertheisle，shriekingforsomegoodgodwhowoulddisuniteitagain。 Thetwainwanderedalongwaythatnightamidtheseinfluences——sofarastotheoldHopeChurchyard，whichlayinaravineformedbyalandslipagesago。Thechurchhadslippeddownwiththerestofthecliff，andhadlongbeenaruin。ItseemedtosaythatinthislastlocalstrongholdofthePagandivinities，wherePagancustomslingeredyet，Christianityhadestablisheditselfprecariouslyatbest。InthatsolemnspotPierstonkissedher。 ThekisswasbynomeansonAvice’sinitiativethistime。Herformerdemonstrativenessseemedtohaveincreasedherpresentreserve。 *** Thatdaywasthebeginningofapleasantmonthpassedmainlyineachother’ssociety。Hefoundthatshecouldnotonlyrecitepoetryatintellectualgatherings，butplaythepianofairly，andsingtoherownaccompaniment。 Heobservedthateveryaimofthosewhohadbroughtheruphadbeentogetherawaymentallyasfaraspossiblefromhernaturalandindividuallifeasaninhabitantofapeculiarisland：tomakeheranexactcopyoftensofthousandsofotherpeople，inwhosecircumstancestherewasnothingspecial，distinctive，orpicturesque；toteachhertoforgetalltheexperiencesofherancestors；todrownthelocalballadsbysongspurchasedattheBudmouthfashionablemusic-sellers’，andthelocalvocabularybyagoverness-tongueofnocountryatall。Shelivedinahousethatwouldhavebeenthefortuneofanartist，andlearnttodrawLondonsuburbanvillasfromprintedcopies。 Avicehadseenallthisbeforehepointeditout，but，withagirl’stractability，hadacquiesced。Byconstitutionshewaslocaltothebone，butshecouldnotescapethetendencyoftheage。 ThetimeforJocelyn’sdeparturedrewnear，andshelookedforwardtoitsadly，butserenely，theirengagementbeingnowasettledthing。 Pierstonthoughtofthenativecustomonsuchoccasions，whichhadprevailedinhisandherfamilyforcenturies，bothbeingoftheoldstockoftheisle。Theinfluxof’kimberlins，’or’foreigners’（asstrangersfromthemainlandofWessexwerecalled），hadledinalargemeasuretoitsdiscontinuance；butunderneaththeveneerofAvice’seducationmanyanold-fashionedidealayslumbering，andhewonderedif，inhernaturalmelancholyathisleaving，sheregrettedthechangingmannerswhichmadeunpopulartheformalratificationofabetrothal，accordingtotheprecedentoftheirsiresandgrandsires。 1。III。THEAPPOINTMENT ’Well，’saidhe，’hereweare，arrivedatthefag-endofmyholiday。 Whatapleasantsurprisemyoldhome，whichIhavenotthoughtworthcomingtoseeforthreeorfouryears，hadinstoreforme！’ ’Youmustgoto-morrow？’sheaskeduneasily。 ’Yes。’ Somethingseemedtooverweighthem；somethingmorethanthenaturalsadnessofapartingwhichwasnottobelong；andhedecidedthatinsteadofleavinginthedaytimeashehadintended，hewoulddeferhisdeparturetillnight，andgobythemail-trainfromBudmouth。Thiswouldgivehimtimetolookintohisfather’squarries，andenableher，ifshechose，towalkwithhimalongthebeachasfarastoHenrytheEighth’sCastleabovethesands，wheretheycouldlingerandwatchthemoonriseoverthesea。Shesaidshethoughtshecouldcome。 SoafterspendingthenextdaywithhisfatherinthequarriesJocelynpreparedtoleave，andatthetimeappointedsetoutfromthestonehouseofhisbirthinthisstoneisletowalktoBudmouth-Regisbythepathalongthebeach，AvicehavingsometimeearliergonedowntoseesomefriendsintheStreetofWells，whichwashalfwaytowardsthespotoftheirtryst。Thedescentsoonbroughthimtothepebblebank，andleavingbehindhimthelasthousesoftheisle，andtheruinsofthevillagedestroyedbytheNovembergaleof1824，hestruckoutalongthenarrowthreadofland。Whenhehadwalkedahundredyardshestopped，turnedasidetothepebbleridgewhichwalledoutthesea，andsatdowntowaitforher。 Betweenhimandthelightsoftheshipsridingatanchorintheroadsteadtwomenpassedslowlyinthedirectionheintendedtopursue。 OneofthemrecognizedJocelyn，andbadehimgood-night，adding，’Wishyoujoy，sir，ofyourchoice，andhopetheweddenwillbesoon！’ ’Thankyou，Seaborn。Well——weshallseewhatChristmaswilldotowardsbringingitabout。’ ’Mywifeopeneduponitthismornen：\"PleaseGod，I’llupandseethattherewedden，\"saysshe，\"knowing’embothfromtheircrawlingdays。\"’ Themenmovedon，andwhentheywereoutofPierston’shearingtheonewhohadnotspokensaidtohisfriend，’Whowasthatyoungkimberlin？ Hedon’tseemoneo’we。’ ’Oh，heis，though，everyincho’en。He’sMr。JocelynPierston，thestwone-merchant’sonlysonupatEastQuarriers。He’stobemarriedtoastylishyoungbody；hermother，awidowwoman，carriesonthesamebusinessaswellasshecan；buttheirtradeisnotatwentiethpartofPierston’s。He’sworththousandsandthousands，theysay，though’adoliveoninthesamewoldwayupinthesamewoldhouse。ThissonisdoengreatthingsinLondonasa’image-carver；andIcanmindwhen，asaboy，’afirsttooktocarvingsoldiersouto’bitso’stwonefromthesoft-bedofhisfather’squarries；andthen’amadeaseto’stwonenchess-men，andso’agoton。He’squitethegentinLondon，theytellme；andthewonderisthat’acaredtocomebackhereandpickuplittleAviceCaro——nicemaidassheisnotwithstanding……Hullo！ there’stobeachangeintheweathersoon。’ Meanwhilethesubjectoftheirremarkswaitedattheappointedplacetillseveno’clock，thehournamedbetweenhimselfandhisaffianced，hadstruck。Almostatthemomenthesawafigurecomingforwardfromthelastlampatthebottomofthehill。Butthefigurespeedilyresolveditselfintothatofaboy，who，advancingtoJocelyn，inquiredifhewereMr。Pierston，andhandedhimanote。 1。IV。ALONELYPEDESTRIAN WhentheboyhadgoneJocelynretracedhisstepstothelastlamp，andread，inAvice’shand： ’MYDEAREST，——IshallbesorryifIgrieveyouatallinwhatIamgoingtosayaboutourarrangementtomeetto-nightintheSandsfootruin。ButIhavefanciedthatmyseeingyouagainandagainlatelyisincliningyourfathertoinsist，andyouashisheirtofeel，thatweoughttocarryoutIslandCustominourcourting——yourpeoplebeingsucholdinhabitantsinanunbrokenline。Truthtosay，mothersupposesthatyourfather，fornaturalreasons，mayhavehintedtoyouthatweought。Now，thethingiscontrarytomyfeelings：itisnearlyleftoff；andIdonotthinkitgood，evenwherethereisproperty，asinyourcase，tojustifyit，inameasure。IwouldrathertrustinProvidence。 ’Onthewhole，therefore，itisbestthatIshouldnotcome——ifonlyforappearances——andmeetyouatatimeandplacesuggestingthecustom，toothersthanourselves，atleast，ifknown。 ’Iamsurethatthisdecisionwillnotdisturbyoumuch；thatyouwillunderstandmymodernfeelings，andthinknoworseofmeforthem。Anddear，ifitweretobedone，andwewereunfortunateinit，wemightbothhaveenougholdfamilyfeelingtothink，likeourforefathers，andpossiblyyourfather，thatwecouldnotmarryhonourably；andhencewemightbemadeunhappy。 ’However，youwillcomeagainshortly，willyounot，dearJocelyn？——andthenthetimewillsoondrawonwhennomoregood-byeswillberequired。——Alwaysandeveryours，’AVICE。’ Jocelyn，havingreadtheletter，wassurprisedatthenaiveteitshowed，andatAviceandhermother’santiquatedsimplicityinsupposingthattobestillagraveandoperatingprinciplewhichwasabygonebarbarismtohimselfandotherabsenteesfromtheisland。Hisfather，asamoney-maker，mighthavepracticalwishesonthematterofdescendantswhichlentplausibilitytotheconjectureofAviceandhermother；buttoJocelynhehadneverexpressedhimselfinfavouroftheancientways，old-fashionedashewas。 Amusedthereforeatherregardofherselfasmodern，Jocelynwasdisappointed，andalittlevexed，thatsuchanunforeseenreasonshouldhavedeprivedhimofhercompany。Howtheoldideassurvivedundertheneweducation！ Thereaderisaskedtorememberthatthedate，thoughrecentinthehistoryoftheIsleofSlingers，wasmorethanfortyyearsago。 *** Findingthattheeveningseemedlouring，yetindisposedtogobackandhireavehicle，hewentonquicklyalone。Insuchanexposedspotthenightwindwasgusty，andtheseabehindthepebblebarrierkickedandflouncedincomplexrhythms，whichcouldbetranslatedequallywellasshocksofbattleorshoutsofthanksgiving。 Presentlyonthepaleroadbeforehimhediscernedafigure，thefigureofawoman。HerememberedthatawomanpassedhimwhilehewasreadingAvice’sletterbythelastlamp，andnowhewasovertakingher。 HedidhopeforamomentthatitmightbeAvice，withachangedmind。 Butitwasnotshe，noranybodylikeher。Itwasataller，squarerformthanthatofhisbetrothed，andalthoughtheseasonwasonlyautumnshewaswrappedinfurs，orinthickandheavyclothingofsomekind。 Hesoonadvancedabreastofher，andcouldgetglimpsesofherprofileagainsttheroadsteadlights。Itwasdignified，arresting，thatofaveryJuno。Nothingmoreclassicalhadheeverseen。Shewalkedataswingingpace，yetwithsucheaseandpowerthattherewasbutlittledifferenceintheirrateofspeedforseveralminutes；andduringthistimeheregardedandconjectured。However，hewasabouttopassherbywhenshesuddenlyturnedandaddressedhim。 ’MrPierston，Ithink，ofEastQuarriers？’ Heassented，andcouldjustdiscernwhatahandsome，commanding，imperiousfaceitwas——quiteofapiecewiththeproudtonesofhervoice。Shewasanewtypealtogetherinhisexperience；andheraccentwasnotsolocalasAvice’s。 ’Canyoutellmethetime，please？’ Helookedathiswatchbytheaidofalight，andintellingherthatitwasaquarterpastsevenobserved，bythemomentarygleamofhismatch，thathereyeslookedalittleredandchafed，asifwithweeping。 ’Mr。Pierston，willyouforgivewhatwillappearverystrangetoyou，I daresay？Thatis，mayIaskyoutolendmesomemoneyforadayortwo？Ihavebeensofoolishastoleavemypurseonthedressing- table。’ Itdidappearstrange：andyettherewerefeaturesintheyounglady’spersonalitywhichassuredhiminamomentthatshewasnotanimpostor。 Heyieldedtoherrequest，andputhishandinhispocket。Hereitremainedforamoment。Howmuchdidshemeanbythewords’somemoney’？TheJunonianqualityofherformandmannermadehimthrowhimselfbyanimpulseintoharmonywithher，andherespondedregally。 Hescentedaromance。Hehandedherfivepounds。 Hismunificencecausedhernoapparentsurprise。’Itisquiteenough，thankyou，’sheremarkedquietly，asheannouncedthesum，lestsheshouldbeunabletoseeitforherself。 Whileovertakingandconversingwithherhehadnotobservedthattherisingwind，whichhadproceededfrompuffingtogrowling，andfromgrowlingtoscreeching，withtheaccustomedsuddennessofitschangeshere，hadatlengthbroughtwhatitpromisedbythesevagaries——rain。 Thedrops，whichhadatfirsthittheirleftcheekslikethepelletsofapopgun，soonassumedthecharacterofarakingfusilladefromthebankadjoining，oneshotofwhichwassufficientlysmarttogothroughJocelyn’ssleeve。Thetallgirlturned，andseemedtobesomewhatconcernedatanonsetwhichshehadplainlynotforeseenbeforeherstarting。 ’Wemusttakeshelter，’saidJocelyn。 ’Butwhere？’saidshe。 Towindwardwasthelong，monotonousbank，tooobtuselypiledtoaffordascreen，overwhichtheycouldhearthecaninecrunchingofpebblesbytheseawithout；ontheirrightstretchedtheinnerbayorroadstead，thedistantriding-lightsoftheshipsnowdimandglimmering；behindthemafaintsparkhereandthereinthelowerskyshowedwheretheislandrose；beforetherewasnothingdefinite，andcouldbenothing，tilltheyreachedaprecariouswoodbridge，amilefurtheron，HenrytheEighth’sCastlebeingalittlefurtherstill。 Butjustwithinthesummitofthebank，whitherithadapparentlybeenhauledtobeoutofthewayofthewaves，wasoneofthelocalboatscalledlerrets，bottomupwards。Assoonastheysawitthepairranupthepebblyslopetowardsitbyasimultaneousimpulse。Theythenperceivedthatithadlaintherealongtime，andwerecomfortedtofinditcapableofaffordingmoreprotectionthananybodywouldhaveexpectedfromadistantview。Itformedashelterorstoreforthefishermen，thebottomofthelerretbeingtarredasaroof。Bycreepingunderthebows，whichoverhungthebankonpropstoleeward，theymadetheirwaywithin，where，uponsomethwarts，oars，andotherfragmentarywoodwork，layamassofdrynetting——awholesein。Uponthistheyscrambledandsatdown，throughinabilitytostandupright。 1。V。ACHARGE Therainfelluponthekeeloftheoldlerretlikecornthrowninhandfulsbysomecolossalsower，anddarknesssetintoitsfullshade。 Theycrouchedsoclosetoeachotherthathecouldfeelherfursagainsthim。Neitherhadspokensincetheylefttheroadwaytillshesaid，withattemptedunconcern：’Thisisunfortunate。’ Headmittedthatitwas，andfound，afterafewfurtherremarkshadpassed，thatshecertainlyhadbeenweeping，therebeingasuppressedgaspofpassionatenessinherutterancenowandthen。 ’Itismoreunfortunateforyou，perhaps，thanforme，’hesaid，’andI amverysorrythatitshouldbeso。’ Sherepliednothingtothis，andheaddedthatitwasratheradesolateplaceforawoman，aloneandafoot。Hehopednothingserioushadhappenedtodragheroutatsuchanuntowardtime。 Atfirstsheseemednotatalldisposedtoshowanycandouronherownaffairs，andhewaslefttoconjectureastoherhistoryandname，andhowshecouldpossiblyhaveknownhim。But，astheraingavenottheleastsignofcessation，heobserved：’Ithinkweshallhavetogoback。’ ’Never！’saidshe，andthefirmnesswithwhichsheclosedherlipswasaudibleintheword。 ’Whynot？’heinquired。 ’Therearegoodreasons。’ ’Icannotunderstandhowyoushouldknowme，whileIhavenoknowledgeofyou。’ ’Oh，butyouknowme——aboutme，atleast。’ ’IndeedIdon’t。HowshouldI？Youareakimberlin。’ ’Iamnot。Iamarealislander——orwas，rather……Haven’tyouheardoftheBest-BedStoneCompany？’ ’Ishouldthinkso！Theytriedtoruinmyfatherbygettingawayhistrade——or，atleast，thefounderofthecompanydid——oldBencomb。’ ’He’smyfather！’ ’Indeed。IamsorryIshouldhavespokensodisrespectfullyofhim，forIneverknewhimpersonally。Aftermakingoverhislargebusinesstothecompany，heretired，Ibelieve，toLondon？’ ’Yes。Ourhouse，orratherhis，notmine，isatSouthKensington。Wehavelivedthereforyears。ButwehavebeentenantsofSylvaniaCastle，ontheislandhere，thisseason。Wetookitforamonthortwooftheowner，whoisaway。’ ’ThenIhavebeenstayingquitenearyou，MissBencomb。Myfather’sisacomparativelyhumbleresidencehardby。’ ’Buthecouldaffordamuchbiggeroneifhechose。’ ’Youhaveheardso？Idon’tknow。Hedoesn’ttellmemuchofhisaffairs。’ ’Myfather，’sheburstoutsuddenly，’isalwaysscoldingmeformyextravagance！Andhehasbeendoingitto-daymorethanever。HesaidIgoshoppingintowntosimplyadiabolicalextent，andexceedmyallowance！’ ’Wasthatthisevening？’ ’Yes。AndthenitreachedsuchastormofpassionbetweenusthatI pretendedtoretiretomyroomfortherestoftheevening，butI slippedout；andIamnevergoingbackhomeagain。’ ’Whatwillyoudo？’ ’IshallgofirsttomyauntinLondon；andifshewon’thaveme，I’llworkforaliving。Ihaveleftmyfatherforever！WhatIshouldhavedoneifIhadnotmetyouIcannottell——ImusthavewalkedallthewaytoLondon，Isuppose。NowIshalltakethetrainassoonasIreachthemainland。’ ’Ifyoueverdointhishurricane。’ ’Imustsitheretillitstops。’ Andthereonthenetstheysat。PierstonknewofoldBencombashisfather’sbitterestenemy，whohadmadeagreatfortunebyswallowingupthesmallstone-merchants，buthadfoundJocelyn’ssireatrifletoobigtodigest——thelatterbeing，infact，thechiefrivaloftheBest- BedCompanytothatday。JocelynthoughtitstrangethatheshouldbethrownbyfateintoapositiontoplaythesonoftheMontaguestothisdaughteroftheCapulets。 Astheytalkedtherewasamutualinstincttodroptheirvoices，andonthisaccounttheroarofthestormnecessitatedtheirdrawingquiteclosetogether。Somethingtendercameintotheirtonesasquarter-hourafterquarter-hourwenton，andtheyforgotthelapseoftime。Itwasquitelatewhenshestartedup，alarmedatherposition。 ’Rainornorain，Icanstaynolonger，’shesaid。 ’Docomeback，’saidhe，takingherhand。’I’llreturnwithyou。Mytrainhasgone。’ ’No；Ishallgoon，andgetalodginginBudmouthtown，ifeverIreachit。’ ’Itissolatethattherewillbenohouseopen，exceptalittleplacenearthestationwhereyouwon’tcaretostay。However，ifyouaredeterminedIwillshowyoutheway。Icannotleaveyou。Itwouldbetooawkwardforyoutogotherealone。’ Shepersisted，andtheystartedthroughthetwangingandspinningstorm。Thesearolledandrosesohighontheirleft，andwassonearthemontheirright，thatitseemedasiftheyweretraversingitsbottomliketheChildrenofIsrael。Nothingbutthefrailbankofpebblesdividedthemfromtheraginggulfwithout，andateverybangofthetideagainstitthegroundshook，theshingleclashed，thesprayrosevertically，andwasblownovertheirheads。Quantitiesofsea- watertrickledthroughthepebblewall，andraninrivuletsacrosstheirpathtojointheseawithin。The’Island’wasanislandstill。 Theyhadnotrealizedtheforceoftheelementstillnow。Pedestrianshadoftenbeenblownintotheseahereabout，anddrowned，owingtoasuddenbreachinthebank；which，however，hadsomethingofasupernaturalpowerinbeingabletocloseupandjoinitselftogetheragainaftersuchdisruption，likeSatan’sformwhen，cutintwobytheswordofMichael，’Theetherealsubstanceclosed，Notlongdivisible。’ Herclothingofferedmoreresistancetothewindthanhis，andshewasconsequentlyinthegreaterdanger。Itwasimpossibletorefusehisprofferedaid。Firsthegavehisarm，butthewindtorethemapartaseasilyascoupledcherries。Hesteadiedherbodilybyencirclingherwaistwithhisarm；andshemadenoobjection。 *** Somewhereaboutthistime——itmighthavebeensooner，itmighthavebeenlater——hebecameconsciousofasensationwhich，initsincipientandunrecognizedform，hadlurkedwithinhimfromsomeunnoticedmomentwhenhewassittingclosetohisnewfriendunderthelerret。Thoughayoungman，hewastoooldahandnottoknowwhatthiswas，andfeltalarmed——evendismayed。ItmeantapossiblemigrationoftheWell- Beloved。Thethinghadnot，however，takenplace；andhewentonthinkinghowsoftandwarmtheladywasinherfurcovering，asheheldhersotightly；theonlydryspotsintheclothingofeitherbeingherleftsideandhisright，wheretheyexcludedtherainbytheirmutualpressure。 Assoonastheyhadcrossedtheferry-bridgetherewasalittlemoreshelter，buthedidnotrelinquishhisholdtillsherequestedhim。 Theypassedtheruinedcastle，andhavinglefttheislandfarbehindthemtrodmileaftermiletilltheydrewneartotheoutskirtsoftheneighbouringwatering-place。Intoittheyploddedwithoutpause，crossingtheharbourbridgeaboutmidnight，wettotheskin。 Hepitiedher，and，whilehewonderedatit，admiredherdetermination。 Thehousesfacingthebaynowshelteredthemcompletely，andtheyreachedthevicinityofthenewrailwayterminus（whichthestationwasatthisdate）withoutdifficulty。Ashehadsaid，therewasonlyonehouseopenhereabout，alittletemperanceinn，wherethepeoplestayedupforthearrivalofthemorningmailandpassengersfromtheChannelboats。Theirapplicationforadmissionledtothewithdrawalofabolt，andtheystoodwithinthegaslightofthepassage。 Hecouldseenowthatthoughshewassuchafinefigure，quiteastallashimself，shewasbutinthebloomofyoungwomanhood。Herfacewascertainlystriking，thoughratherbyitsimperiousnessthanitsbeauty； andthebeatingofthewindandrainandsprayhadinflamedhercheekstopeonyhues。 ShepersistedinthedeterminationtogoontoLondonbyanearlymorningtrain，andhethereforeofferedadviceonlessermattersonly。 ’Inthatcase，’hesaid，’youmustgouptoyourroomandsenddownyourthings，thattheymaybedriedbythefireimmediately，ortheywillnotbeready。Iwilltelltheservanttodothis，andsendyouupsomethingtoeat。’ Sheassentedtohisproposal，without，however，showinganymarksofgratitude；andwhenshehadgonePierstondespatchedherthelightsupperpromisedbythesleepygirlwhowas’nightporter’atthisestablishment。Hefeltravenouslyhungryhimself，andsetaboutdryinghisclothesaswellashecould，andeatingatthesametime。 Atfirsthewasindoubtwhattodo，butsoondecidedtostaywherehewastillthemorrow。Bytheaidofsometemporarywraps，andsomeslippersfromthecupboard，hewascontrivingtomakehimselfcomfortablewhenthemaid-servantcamedownstairswithadamparmfulofwoman’sraiment。 Pierstonwithdrewfromthefire。Themaid-servantkneltdownbeforetheblazeandheldupwithextendedarmsoneofthehabilimentsoftheJunoupstairs，fromwhichacloudofsteambegantorise。Assheknelt，thegirlnoddedforward，recoveredherself，andnoddedagain。 ’Youaresleepy，mygirl，’saidPierston。 ’Yes，sir；Ihavebeenupalongtime。WhennobodycomesIliedownonthecouchintheotherroom。’ ’ThenI’llrelieveyouofthat；goandliedownintheotherroom，justasifwewerenothere。I’lldrytheclothingandputthearticleshereinaheap，whichyoucantakeuptotheyoungladyinthemorning。’ The’nightporter’thankedhimandlefttheroom，andhesoonheardhersnoringfromtheadjoiningapartment。ThenJocelynopenedproceedings，overhaulingtherobesandextendingthemonebyone。Asthesteamwentuphefellintoareverie。Heagainbecameconsciousofthechangewhichhadbeeninitiatedduringthewalk。TheWell-Belovedwasmovinghouse——hadgoneovertothewearerofthisattire。 Inthecourseoftenminutesheadoredher。 AndhowaboutlittleAviceCaro？Hedidnotthinkofherasbefore。 HewasnotsurethathehadeverseentherealBelovedinthatfriendofhisyouth，solicitousashewasforherwelfare。But，lovingherornot，heperceivedthatthespirit，emanation，idealism，whichcalleditselfhisLovewasflittingstealthilyfromsomeremoterfiguretothenearoneinthechamberoverhead。 Avicehadnotkeptherengagementtomeethiminthelonelyruin，fearingherownimaginings。Buthe，infact，morethanshe，hadbeeneducatedoutoftheislandinnocencethathadupheldoldmanners；andthiswasthestrangeconsequenceofAvice’smisapprehension。