her a few instants in which to collect her thoughts.She did not credit him with all the innocence which was rightfully his,for she imagined that he had heard of their travels, and had followedthem; and though she was enough of a woman to be conscious of a sneakingkindness for such a daring act, she felt that its audacity would have tobe met with displeasure. There would be no help from Kitty. Kitty wasactually trembling, and the best mode of treatment would be to ignorethe presence of anything at all out of the commonplace, and when themoment of recognition came, refuse to see in it more than a chance andquite uneventful coincidence.
The old sailor was in the stern of the boat, steering, while the boymanaged the brown sail. Kitty was next to Stevan, her mother next toher, opposite to her the _cure_, who had taken out a small breviary, andnext to him Everitt. Everitt, having arranged himself and turned up thecollar of his ulster, began to look about him at his companions. MrsLascelles saw a perception that she was English begin to dawn in hismind, then he glanced at Kitty, and she fancied a sudden suspicioncrossed it. She took her resolution in a moment; the flash of knowledgewould have to come sooner or later; and for the girl to starepersistently in an opposite direction would only give him an impressionof consciousness on her part, which, of all things, had better beavoided. She touched her to emphasise her words, pointed directlyopposite, and said--
"Kitty, do you suppose that to be Gavr Innis?"
For an instant the girl hesitated, but she felt and understood hermother's momentary pressure on her arm, and turned her glowing face inEveritt's direction. He was looking full at her, and Mrs Lascelles,who watched him closely, saw his sudden start and that he became pale.Kitty, when she caught his eye, bowed slightly, and he immediatelylifted his hat and looked at Mrs Lascelles, who leaned forward.
"I think," she said, and there was no cordiality in her manner, "that itis Mr Everitt." She was angry, but was quite at her ease; he wasdelighted, and yet felt extremely awkward. He murmured something aboutthe unexpectedness of the meeting. Mrs Lascelles bowed again, and madea remark to her daughter as if the other slight conversation were at anend. But Everitt was not the man to be put on one side in this easyfashion. He moved to the cross-seat, where he was next to MrsLascelles.
"This is a strange meeting, and a strange place for an explanation," hebegan rapidly; "yet I can't afford to let any opportunity slip."
"There is no need of an explanation," said Mrs Lascelles, hastily.
"Oh, there is!" he said, shaking his head and smiling. "Even at therisk of once more seeming to force myself upon you, I must ask you tolet me apologise in the fullest manner possible for a most thoughtlessact."
He did not look at Kitty; the girl leant back, with her eyes fixed onher hands, which lay loosely in her lap. The old brown-faced _patron_was stooping forward, one arm on the tiller, the other on his knee, hiswhole attention absorbed by the still freshening wind, and the long rollof breakers farther out in the bay, the thunder of which came in abovethe rush of wind and rain. As for the _cure_, apparently absorbed inhis breviary, he was not unconscious of the little drama which was beingplayed before him. He now and then glanced from Everitt to Kitty withan air of interest. Mrs Lascelles, however, was not to be melted intocordiality.
"After an apology," she returned, "there is nothing to be said. I hopedthat Mrs Marchmont would have expressed this to you. And, permit me tosay, that since it was, as you describe it, a thoughtless act, it willbe as well now for us to allude to it no more."
"That is easier for you than for me," he said, looking at herappealingly.
But she made no answer. To begin with, she was in difficulties with herumbrella, which threatened to be blown inside out, unless she held it infront of her, and this meant putting it like a barricade between herselfand Everitt. Then she was beyond measure provoked with him for comingand reviving the annoying memories which she intended these three weeksto sweep away out of her Kitty's heart. And added to this was theoffence of his having followed and forced himself upon them in such afashion. Everitt, who was not accustomed to have his advances snubbed,drew back to his seat by the _cure_. The rain drove in wilder gusts;Kitty, under her hooded waterproof, safe miserable. She would haveliked to have said something that might soften her mother's coldness,but what could she say across wet planks, a boatman, and a _cure_? Shefelt utterly helpless, and the last thing that would have occurred toher was that she was looking so pretty, so fresh, and so glowing, thatEveritt's resentment, though he tried to fan it, could not stand againstthe charm of her beauty.
Yet he would not allow Mrs Lascelles to imagine that she would have himthrust upon them. When the boat reached the little island, Everittsprang out, and stood with as much dignity as a somewhat humiliatingwind would allow, to help Mrs Lascelles and Kitty over the slipperyrocks. When they had arrived at a safe footing, he lifted his hat andwent back to the boat to speak to the _patron_, who was making it fast.The boy ran on to show the two ladies the way to the house where a guidefor the cave was to be found, the _cure_, strode past them.
"Oh, mother!" cried Kitty, the instant they were out of hearing.
Mrs Lascelles laughed without real enjoyment of the situation.
"Yes, it's an odd coincidence, and annoying. But, as he could not haveknown who was in the boat, I hope he will see the propriety of notforcing himself upon us. He didn't behave so badly, Kitty."
"You were so dreadfully stiff."
The mother looked at her with a little surprise.
"Is that what's troubling you? Oh, never mind that! I was only afraidof not being stiff enough. Do open your umbrella; no waterproof canstand this rain. The whole thing is very ludicrous," she added,laughing again in a vexed way. "What do you suppose he has gone to theboat for?"
"To arrange to go back without us," said the girl, walking quickly on.
"Well--if he can," said Mrs Lascelles, lightly. "Is this the place?"
It was a sombre granite house, built strongly to resist the sweep of thegreat winds which roared across the bay and the barren islands. Whenthey went into it, welcomed by a wizened old woman, so deep was thegloom that they paused on the threshold, uncertain where their next stepmight land them, until their eyes became accustomed to the half-light,and they could make out the old oak benches and table, and the cupboardbed high in the wall. A guide for the cavern? Oh yes! her husbandwould be there in a moment. He had seen the boat, and was gettinglights; but it was a wild day for ladies to cross. Would they pleasewrite their names while they were waiting? The _cure_ had come beforethem; her daughter was ill--very ill. Wouldn't they please to dry theirwet clothes? Her husband was ready, but there was plenty of time.
No, Mrs Lascelles said; they would go at once. Like other energeticpeople, she was impatient to finish what she had begun, and she toldherself that if Everitt had the grace to keep out of the way, they hadbetter take advantage of his absence. Kitty was silent; she made noremonstrance, but when the boy prepared to follow, she informed himrather authoritatively that he had better go back to the boat.
The famous cavern is a long narrow passage, traversed with lights, likethe Roman catacombs, and worked with strange and ancient carvings, inwhich the serpent plays a prominent part. There is not much to be toldof them, and Kitty and her mother knew less; they finished theirinvestigations without much sense of gain. Kitty was restless, and yetsilent; her mother was restless and talkative. Once or twice theirguide lifted his hand and listened.
"There was another monsieur," he said, "in the boat. My wife said shewould send him on."
"Perhaps he is not coming," Mrs Lascelles suggested.
The man stared at her.
"There is nothing else to cross to the island for," he said stolidly.
"We will get back as quickly as we can, Kitty," said her mother. "Thewind is certainly higher."
When they came out, indeed, it was evident that the storm had increased.The clouds were darker and more menacing; the water, even under the leeof the islan
d, was surging forward in long heavings which looked likeiron; the wind rushed against them with a fierce persistence, differentfrom the wet squalls which had faced them as they came. The womenhurried on, refusing to take shelter again in the grey house, from thedoorway of which the boatman and the _cure_ were watching for them. OldStevan was brief in his remarks.
Yes, he said, they should start at once. The wind was freshening to agale, and if they delayed--
Where was the other gentleman? Kitty inquired.
He was not coming, it appeared. He intended to wait on the island untila boat could cross for him; and that would not be to-day, Stevananswered, with a shrug. The people who lived there had a boat, ofcourse, but the young son-in-law had taken it to fetch something for thesick wife.
Then Kitty stopped
Two Studios Page 13
