uponit
from
the
standpoint
of
his
present
horrid
knowledge
.
To
an
outsider
his
thought
had
appeared
absolutely
devilish
,
to
the
man
himself
it
was
as
a
buoy
thrown
to
one
drowning
.
The
belief
flooded
his
mind
,
swept
him
away
,
convinced
him
.
Its
nature
presently
appeared
as
he
answered
Thomasin
.
She
was
still
thinking
of
the
thousand
pounds
.
"
Theer
's
no
word
in
the
Book
agin
mercy
,
Michael
.
Joan
's
your
awn
darter
—
froward
or
not
froward
.
"
"
You
'm
wrong
theer
,
"
he
said
.
He
was
now
cool
and
quiet
.
"
I
did
think
so
wance
;
I
did
tell
her
so
when
us
walked
not
two
hour
agone
.
Now
I
sees
differ'nt
.
She
'm
none
o
'
mine
.
She
'm
no
Tregenza
.
Be
Nature
,
as
made
us
God-fearin
'
to
a
man
,
to
a
wummon
,
to
a
cheel
,
gwaine
to
lie
after
generations
'
pon
generations
?
Look
back
at
them
as
bred
me
,
an
'
them
as
bred
them
—
back
,
an
'
back
,
an
'
back
.
All
Tregenzas
was
o
'
the
Lard
's
harvest
;
an
'
should
I
,
as
feared
God
more'n
any
o
'
'
em
,
an
'
fought
for
the
Lard
of
Hosts
'
fore
I
was
higher'n
this
table
—
should
I
—
Michael
Tregenza
,
breed
a
damned
sawl
?
The
thot
's
comed
black
an
'
terrible
'
pon
my
mind
'
fore
to-day
;
an
'
I
've
put
en
away
from
me
,
judgin
'
'
twas
the
devil
.
Now
I
knaw
'
twas
God
spoke
;
now
I
knaw
that
her
's
none
o
'
my
gettin
'
.
'
Who
honoreth
his
faither
shall
'
a
'
joy
o
'
his
awn
childern
.
'
Shall
I
,
as
weer
a
pattern
son
,
be
cussed
wi
'
a
strumpet
for
a
darter
?
"
"
You
'm
speakin
'
a
hard
thing
o
'
dead
bones
,
then
.
The
Chirgwins
is
upland
folks
o
'
long
standin
'
,
knawn
so
far
as
the
Land
's
End
,
an
'
up
Drift
an
'
down
Lizard
likewise
.
"
"
She
've
lied
to
me
,
"
was
his
answer
;
"
she
've
lied
oftentimes
;
she
'm
false
to
whatever
I
did
teach
her
;
she
've
sawld
herself
—
she
've
—
no
more
on
it
—
no
more
on
it
but
awnly
this
:
I
call
'
pon
God
A'mighty
to
bear
witness
she
'm
no
Tregenza
—
never
—
never
.
"
"
'
Tweer
her
mother
in
the
gal
;
but
doa
n't
'
e
say
more
'
bout
that
,
Michael
.
Poor
dear
sawl
,
she
'm
dead
an
'
gone
,
an
'
she
loved
'
e
wi
'
all
her
'
eart
,
as
I
,
what
knawed
her
,
can
testify
to
.
"
"
No
more
o
'
that
,
"
he
said
,
"
the
gal
's
comin
'
.
Thank
God
she
ba
n't
no
cheel
o
'
mine
—
thank
God
,
as
'
ave
tawld
me
'
tedn
'
so
.
He
whispered
it
,
an
'
I
put
it
away
an
'
away
.
Now
I
knaws
.
You
bide
here
,
Thomasin
Tregenza
,
and
I
'll
speak
what
's
fittin
'
.
"
Thus
in
one
moment
this
hideous
conviction
was
stamped
upon
the
man
's
soul
for
life
.
He
judged
the
dead
mother
by
the
daughter
and
visited
the
child
's
sin
upon
the
parent
's
memory
.
Any
conclusion
more
monstrous
,
more
directly
opposed
to
every
natural
instinct
,
can
hardly
be
conceived
,
but
the
man
had
been
strangling
natural
instincts
for
fifty
years
.
Only
pride
of
family
remained
.
There
were
but
few
Tregenzas
left
and
soon
there
would
be
none
unless
Tom
carried
on
the
name
.
Michael
was
the
quintessence
of
the
Tregenza
spirit
,
the
fruit
of
generations
,
the
high-water
mark
.
He
stood
on
that
giddy
pinnacle
which
has
religious
mania
for
its
precipice
.
To
damn
a
dead
woman
was
easier
than
to
accept
a
wanton
daughter
.
Better
an
unfaithful
wife
than
that
any
soul
born
of
Tregenza
blood
should
be
lost
.
So
he
washed
his
hands
of
both
,
thanking
God
,
who
had
launched
the
truth
into
his
mind
at
last
;
and
then
he
rose
to
his
feet
as
Joan
entered
the
room
.
She
stood
for
a
moment
in
the
doorway
with
her
blue
eyes
fixed
in
amazement
upon
the
kitchen
table
.
Then
she
grew
very
red
to
the
roots
of
her
hair
and
came
forward
.
There
was
almost
a
joy
in
her
mind
that
the
long
story
of
falsehood
must
end
at
last
.
She
did
not
fear
her
father
now
and
looked
up
into
his
face
quite
calmly
as
she
approached
the
table
.
"
These
be
mine
,
"
she
said
.
"
Was
it
you
,
faither
,
as
took
'
em
from
wheer
they
was
?
"
"
'
Twas
me
,
Joan
,
"
answered
Mrs.
Tregenza
;
"
an
'
I
judge
the
Lard
led
me
.
"
The
girl
stood
erect
and
scornful
.
"
I
'm
glad
you
found
them
;
now
I
can
tell
the
truth
.
"
"
Truth
!
"
thundered
Michael
.
"
Truth
—
what
do
you
knaw
'
bout
Truth
,
darter
o
'
Baal
?
Your
life
's
a
lie
,
your
tongue
's
rotten
in
your
mouth
wi
'
lyin
'
.
Never
look
in
no
honest
faace
agin
!
"
"
You
'd
do
best
to
bide
still
while
I
tell
'
e
what
this
here
means
,
"
said
Joan
quietly
.
The
man
's
anger
alarmed
her
no
more
than
the
squeak
of
a
caged
rat
.
"
I
ba
n't
no
darter
o
'
Baal
,
an
'
the
money
's
come
by
honest
.
I
've
lied
afore
,
but
never
shall
again
.
An
'
I
've
let
Joe
go
'
is
ways
thinkin
'
I
loved
en
,
which
I
doa
n't
.
I
be
tokened
to
a
furriner
from
London
,
an
'
he
's
took
me
for
his
awn
,
an
'
he
be
gwaine
to
come
down-long
mighty
soon
an
'
take
me
away
.
But
I
could
n't
tell
'
e
nothin
'
of
that
'
cause
he
bid
me
keep
my
mouth
shut
.
So
theer
.
"
"
'
Took
'
e
for
'
is
awn
'
!
Wheer
is
he
,
then
?
Why
be
you
here
?
"
"
He
'm
comin
'
,
I
tell
'
e
.
He
'm
a
true
man
,
an
'
he
shawed
me
what
'
tis
to
love
.
"
"
Bought
you
,
you
damned
harlot
!
"
She
knew
the
word
was
vile
,
but
a
shred
of
John
Barron
's
philosophy
supported
her
.
"
My
awnly
sin
is
I
've
lied
to
you
,
faither
;
an
'
you
've
no
right
to
call
me
evil
names
.
"
"
Never
call
me
faither
no
more
,
lewd
slut
!
I
be
no
faither
o
'
thine
,
nor
never
was
.
God
A'mighty
!
a
Tregenza
a
wanton
!
I
'd
rather
cut
my
hand
off
than
b'lieve
it
so
.
It
's
this
—
this
—
blood-money
—
the
price
o
'
a
damned
sawl
!
No
more
lyin
'
.
I
knaw
—
I
knaw
—
an
'
the
picksher
—
the
ship
of
a
true
man
.
It
did
ought
to
break
your
heart
to
see
it
,
if
you
had
wan
.
A
devil-spawned
painting
feller
,
in
coorse
.
An
'
his
black
heart
happy
an
'
content
'
cause
he
've
sent
this
filth
.
You
stare
,
wi
'
your
mother
's
eyes
—
you
stare
,
an
'
stare
.
Hell
's
yawning
for
'
e
,
wretched
wummon
,
an
'
for
him
as
brot
'
e
to
it
!
"
"
He
doa
n't
believe
in
hell
,
no
more
doa
n't
I
,
"
said
Joan
calmly
;
"
an
'
it
ba
n't
a
faither
's
plaace
to
damn
's
awn
flaish
an
'
blood
no
way
.
"
"
Never
name
me
thy
faither
no
more
!
I
ba
n't
your
faither
,
I
tell
'
e
,
an
'
I
do
never
mean
to
see
thy
faace
agin
.
Go
wheer
you
'm
minded
;
but
get
'
e
gone
from
here
.
Tramp
the
broad
road
with
the
crowd
—
the
narrer
path
's
closed
agin
'
e
.
And
this
—
this
—
let
it
burn
same
as
him
what
sent
it
will
.
"
He
picked
up
the
note
nearest
to
him
,
crumpled
it
into
a
ball
and
flung
it
upon
the
fire
.
"
Michael
,
Michael
!
"
cried
his
wife
,
rushing
forward
,
"
for
God
's
love
,
what
be
doin
'
of
?
The
money
ba
n't
damned
;
the
money
's
honest
!
"
But
Joan
did
more
than
speak
.
As
the
gift
flamed
quickly
up
,
then
sunk
to
gray
ash
,
a
tempest
of
passion
carried
her
out
of
herself
.
She
trembled
in
her
limbs
,
grew
deadly
pale
,
and
flew
at
her
father
like
a
tigress
.
No
evil
word
had
ever
crossed
her
lips
till
then
,
though
they
had
echoed
in
her
ears
often
enough
.
But
now
they
jumped
to
her
tongue
,
and
she
cursed
Gray
Michael
and
tore
the
rest
of
the
money
out
of
his
hand
so
quickly
that
his
intention
of
burning
it
was
frustrated
.
"
It
's
mine
,
it
's
mine
,
blast
you
!
"
she
screamed
like
a
fury
,
"
what
right
have
you
to
steal
it
?
It
's
mine
—
gived
me
by
wan
whose
shoe
you
ba
n't
worthy
to
latch
!
He
's
shawed
me
what
you
be
,
an
'
the
likes
o
'
you
,
wi
'
your
hell-fire
an
'
prayin
'
an
'
sour
looks
.
I
ba
n't
afeared
'
o
you
no
more
—
none
o
'
you
.
I
be
sick
o
'
the
smeech
o
'
your
God
.
'
Er
's
a
poor
thing
alongside
o
'
mine
an
'
Mister
Jan
's
.
I
'll
gaw
,
I
'll
gaw
so
far
away
as
ever
I
can
;
an
'
I
'll
never
call
'
e
my
faither
agin
,
s'elp
me
God
!
"
Mrs.
Tregenza
had
thanked
Providence
under
her
breath
when
Joan
rescued
the
notes
,
but
now
,
almost
for
the
first
time
,
she
realized
that
her
own
interest
in
this
pile
of
money
was
as
nothing
.
Every
penny
belonged
to
her
stepdaughter
,
and
her
stepdaughter
evidently
meant
to
keep
it
.
This
discovery
hit
her
hard
,
and
now
the
bitterness
came
forth
in
a
flood
of
words
that
tumbled
each
over
the
other
and
stung
like
hornets
as
they
settled
.
Gray
Michael
's
broadside
had
roared
harmlessly
over
Joan
's
erect
head
;
Thomasin
's
small
shot
did
not
miss
the
mark
.
She
was
furious
;
her
husband
stood
dumb
;
her
virago
tongue
hissed
the
truth
;
and
Joan
,
listening
,
knew
that
it
was
the
truth
.
No
matter
what
the
elder
woman
said
.
She
missed
no
vile
word
of
them
all
.
She
called
Joan
every
name
that
chills
the
ear
of
the
fallen
;
and
she
explained
the
meaning
of
her
expressions
;
she
bid
the
girl
take
herself
and
the
love-child
within
her
from
out
the
sight
of
honest
folks
;
she
told
her
the
man
had
turned
his
back
forever
,
that
only
the
ashy
road
of
the
ruined
remained
for
her
to
tread
.
And
that
was
how
the
great
news
that
Nature
had
looked
upon
her
for
a
mother
came
to
Joan
Tregenza
.
Here
was
the
riddle
of
the
mysterious
voice
unraveled
;
here
was
the
secret
of
her
physical
sorrows
made
clear
.
She
looked
wildly
from
one
to
the
other
—
from
the
man
to
the
woman
;
then
she
tottered
a
step
away
,
clutching
her
money
and
her
little
picture
to
her
breast
;
and
then
she
rolled
over
,
a
huddled
,
senseless
heap
,
upon
the
floor
.
CHAPTER
SIX
DRIFT
When
Joan
recovered
consciousness
she
found
her
head
and
neck
wet
where
her
stepmother
had
flung
cold
water
over
her
.
Thomasin
was
at
that
moment
burning
a
feather
under
her
nose
,
but
she
stopped
and
withdrew
it
as
the
girl
's
eyes
opened
.
"
Theer
,
now
you
'll
be
well
by
night
.
He
've
gone
aboard
.
Best
to
change
your
gownd
,
for
'
tis
wetted
.
Then
I
'll
tell
'
e
what
'
er
said
.
Can
'
e
get
upstairs
?
"
Joan
rose
slowly
and
went
with
swimming
brain
to
her
room
.
She
still
held
her
picture
and
her
money
.
She
took
off
her
wet
clothes
,
then
sat
down
upon
her
bed
to
think
;
and
as
her
mind
grew
clear
,
there
crept
through
the
gloomy
shadows
of
the
past
tragedy
a
joy
.
It
lightened
her
heart
a
moment
,
then
vanished
again
,
like
the
moon
blotted
suddenly
from
the
sky
by
a
rack
of
storm-cloud
.
Joan
was
full
of
the
stupendous
news
.
The
shock
of
hearing
her
most
unsuspected
condition
had
indeed
stricken
her
insensible
,
but
it
was
the
surprise
of
it
more
than
the
dismay
.
Now
she
viewed
the
circumstance
with
uncertainty
,
not
knowing
the
attitude
"
Mister
Jan
"
would
adopt
toward
it
.
She
argued
with
herself
long
hours
,
and
peace
brooded
over
her
at
the
end
;
for
,
as
his
cherished
utterances
passed
in
review
before
her
memory
,
the
sense
and
sum
of
them
seemed
to
promise
well
.
He
would
be
very
glad
to
share
in
the
little
life
that
was
upon
the
way
to
earth
.
He
always
spoke
kindly
of
children
;
he
had
called
them
the
flower-buds
in
Nature
's
lap
.
Yes
,
he
must
be
glad
;
and
Nature
would
smile
too
.
Nature
knew
what
it
was
to
be
a
mother
,
Joan
told
herself
.
She
was
in
Nature
's
hand
henceforth
.
But
her
blue
eyes
grew
cold
when
she
thought
of
the
morning
.
So
much
for
St.
Madron
and
his
holy
water
;
so
much
for
the
good
angels
who
her
dead
parent
had
told
her
were
forever
stretching
loving
,
invisible
hands
to
guard
and
shield
.
"
Mister
Jan
's
be
the
awnly
God
,
"
she
thought
,
"
an
'
He
'm
tu
far
aways
to
mind
the
likes
o
'
we
;
so
us
must
trust
to
the
gert
Mother
o
'
the
flowers
.
"
She
accepted
the
position
with
an
open
heart
,
then
turned
her
thoughts
to
her
loved
one
.
Having
now
firmly
convinced
herself
that
her
condition
would
bring
him
gratification
and
draw
them
still
nearer
each
to
the
other
,
Joan
yearned
unutterably
for
his
presence
.
She
puzzled
her
brains
to
know
how
she
might
communicate
with
him
,
how
hasten
his
return
.
She
remembered
that
he
had
once
told
her
his
surname
,
but
she
could
not
recollect
it
now
.
He
had
always
been
"
Mister
Jan
"
to
her
.
She
went
down
to
her
supper
in
the
course
of
the
evening
,
and
the
great
matter
in
her
mind
was
for
a
while
put
aside
before
a
present
necessity
.
Action
,
she
found
,
would
be
immediately
required
of
her
.
Her
father
,
before
going
from
the
kitchen
after
she
had
fainted
,
directed
Thomasin
to
bid
her
never
see
his
face
again
.
She
must
depart
,
according
to
his
direction
,
on
the
following
day
;
for
the
thatched
cottage
upon
the
cliff
could
be
her
home
no
more
.
"
Theer
weer
n't
no
time
for
talkin
'
;
but
I
lay
'
er
'll
sing
differ'nt
when
next
ashore
.
You
bide
quiet
here
till
'
er
's
home
agin
.
'
Tai
n't
nachur
to
bid
's
awn
flaish
an
'
blood
go
its
ways
like
that
.
An
'
,
'
pears
to
me
,
as
'
tedn
'
the
law
neither
.
But
you
bide
till
he
'm
back
.
I
be
sorry
as
I
spawk
so
sharp
,
but
you
was
that
bowldacious
that
my
dander
brawk
loose
.
Aw
Jimmery
!
to
think
as
you
dedn
'
knaw
you
was
cheeldin
'
!
"
"
'
Twas
hearin
'
so
suddint
like
as
made
me
come
over
fainty
.
"
"
Ate
hearty
then
.
An
'
mind
henceforrard
you
'm
feedin
'
an
'
drinkin
'
for
two
.
Best
get
to
bed
so
soon
's
you
can
.
Us
'll
talk
'
bout
this
coil
in
the
marnin
'
.
"
"
Us
'll
talk
now
.
I
be
off
by
light
.
I
'
edn
'
gwaine
to
stop
no
more
.
Faither
sez
I
ba
n't
no
cheel
o
'
his
an
'
he
doa
n't
want
to
see
my
faace
agen
.
Then
he
shaa
n't
.
I
'll
gaw
to
them
as
wo
n't
be
'
shamed
o
'
me
:
my
mother
's
people
.
"
"
Doa
n't
'
e
be
in
no
tearin
'
hurry
,
Joan
,
"
said
Mrs.
Tregenza
,
thinking
of
the
money
.
"
Let
him
,
the
chap
,
knaw
fust
what
's
come
along
o
'
his
carneying
,
an
'
maybe
he
'll
marry
'
e
,
as
you
sez
,
right
away
.
Bide
wi
'
me
till
you
tells
en
.
Let
en
do
what
's
right
an
'
seemly
.
That
's
the
shortest
road
.
"
"
Iss
fay
;
he
'm
a
true
man
.
But
I
ba
n't
gwaine
to
wait
for
en
in
this
'
ouse
.
To-morrow
I
'll
send
my
box
up
Drift
by
the
fust
omblibus
as
belongs
to
Staaft
,
an
'
walk
myself
,
an
'
tell
Uncle
Thomas
all
's
there
is
to
tell
.
He
've
got
a
heart
in
his
breast
,
an
'
I
'll
bide
'
long
wi
'
him
till
Mister
Jan
do
come
back
.
"
"
Wheer
's
he
to
now
?
"
"
To
Lunnon
.
He
've
gone
to
make
his
house
vitty
for
me
.
"
"
Well
,
best
to
get
Uncle
Chirgwin
to
write
to
en
,
onless
you
'd
like
me
to
do
it
for
'
e
.
"
"
No.
He
'll
do
what
's
right
—
a
proper
,
braave
man
.
"
"
An
'
mazin
'
rich
seemin'ly
.
For
the
Lard
's
love
,
if
you
'm
gwaine
up
Drift
,
take
care
o
'
all
that
blessed
money
.
Doa
n't
say
no
word
'
bout
it
till
you
'm
in
the
farm
,
for
theer
's
them
—
the
tinners
out
o
'
work
an
'
sich
—
as
'
ud
knock
'
e
on
the
head
for
half
of
it
.
To
think
as
Michael
burned
a
hunderd
pound
!
Just
a
flicker
o
'
purpley
fire
an
'
a
hunderd
pound
gone
!
'
Tis
'
nough
to
make
a
body
rave
.
"
The
girl
flushed
,
and
something
of
her
father
's
stern
look
seemed
reflected
in
her
face
.
"
He
stawl
my
money
.
No
,
I
judge
his
word
be
truth
:
he
'm
no
faither
o
'
mine
if
the
blood
in
the
veins
do
count
for
anything
.
"
Joan
went
to
bed
abruptly
on
this
remark
,
and
lay
awake
thinking
and
wondering
through
a
long
night
—
thinking
what
she
should
say
to
Uncle
Chirgwin
,
wondering
when
"
Mister
Jan
"
was
coming
back
to
her
,
and
picturing
his
excitement
at
her
intelligence
.
In
the
morning
she
packed
her
box
,
ate
her
breakfast
,
and
then
went
into
the
village
to
find
somebody
who
would
carry
her
scanty
luggage
as
far
as
Penzance
.
From
there
,
an
omnibus
ran
through
Drift
,
past
Mr.
Chirgwin
's
farmhouse
door
.
Joan
herself
designed
to
walk
,
the
distance
by
road
from
Newlyn
being
but
trifling
.
It
chanced
that
the
girl
met
Billy
Jago
,
he
who
in
early
spring
had
cut
down
an
elm
tree
while
John
Barron
watched
.
Him
Joan
knew
,
for
he
had
worked
on
her
uncle
's
farm
for
many
years
.
Mr.
Jago
,
who
could
be
relied
upon
to
do
simple
offices
,
undertook
the
task
readily
enough
and
presently
arrived
with
a
wheelbarrow
.
He
whined
,
as
ever
,
about
his
physical
sufferings
,
but
drank
a
cup
of
tea
with
evident
enjoyment
,
then
fetched
Joan
's
box
from
her
room
and
set
off
with
it
to
meet
the
public
vehicle
.
Her
goods
were
to
be
left
at
Drift
,
and
Joan
herself
started
at
an
early
hour
,
wishing
to
be
at
the
farm
before
her
property
.
She
walked
in
the
garden
for
the
last
time
,
marked
the
magic
progress
of
spring
,
then
took
an
unemotional
leave
of
her
stepmother
.
"
There
'
edn
'
no
call
to
leave
no
message
as
I
can
see
,
"
said
Joan
,
while
she
stood
at
the
door
.
"
He
ba
n't
my
faither
,
he
sez
,
so
I
'll
take
it
for
truth
.
But
I
'll
ask
you
to
kiss
Tom
for
me
.
Us
was
allus
good
brother
an
'
sister
,
whether
or
no
;
an
'
I
loves
en
dearly
.
"
"
Iss
,
I
knaw
.
He
'll
grizzle
an
'
fret
proper
when
he
finds
you
'm
gone
.
Good-by
to
'
e
.
May
the
Lard
forgive
'
e
,
an
'
send
your
man
'
long
smart
;
an
'
for
heaven
's
sake
doa
n't
lose
them
notes
.
"
"
They
be
safe
stawed
next
to
my
skin
.
Uncle
Chirgwin
'll
look
to
them
;
an
'
you
need
n't
be
axin
'
God
A'mighty
to
forgive
me
,
'
cause
I
abbun
done
nothin
'
to
want
it
.
I
be
Nature
's
cheel
now
;
an
'
I
be
in
kindly
hands
.
You
caa
n't
understand
that
,
but
I
knaws
what
I
knaws
through
bein
'
taught
.
Good-by
to
'
e
.
Maybe
us
'll
see
each
other
bimebye
.
"
Joan
held
out
her
hand
and
Mrs.
Tregenza
shook
it
.
Then
she
stood
and
watched
her
stepdaughter
walk
away
into
Newlyn
.
The
day
was
cold
and
unpleasant
,
with
high
winds
and
driving
mists
.
The
village
looked
grayer
than
usual
;
the
boats
were
nearly
all
away
;
the
gulls
fluttered
in
the
harbor
making
their
eternal
music
.
Seaward
,
white
horses
flecked
the
leaden
water
;
a
steamer
hooted
hoarsely
,
looming
large
under
the
low
,
sullen
sky
,
as
it
came
between
the
pierheads
.
Presently
a
scat
of
heavy
rain
on
a
squall
of
wind
shut
out
the
harbor
for
a
time
.
Mrs.
Tregenza
waited
until
Joan
had
disappeared
,
then
went
back
to
her
kitchen
,
closed
the
door
,
sat
in
Gray
Michael
's
great
chair
by
the
hearth
,
put
her
apron
over
her
head
and
wept
.
But
the
exact
reason
for
her
tears
she
could
not
have
explained
,
for
she
did
not
know
it
.
Mingled
emotions
possessed
her
.
Disappointment
had
something
to
do
with
this
present
grief
;
sorrow
for
Joan
was
also
responsible
for
it
in
a
measure
.
That
the
girl
should
have
asked
her
to
kiss
Tom
was
good
,
Thomasin
thought
,
and
the
reflection
moved
her
to
further
tears
;
while
that
Joan
was
going
to
put
her
money
into
the
keeping
of
a
simple
old
fool
like
Uncle
Chirgwin
seemed
a
highly
pathetic
circumstance
to
Mrs.
Tregenza
.
Indeed
,
the
more
she
speculated
upon
it
the
sadder
it
appeared
.
Meanwhile
Joan
,
leaving
Newlyn
and
turning
inland
along
the
little
lane
which
has
St.
Peter
's
church
and
the
Newlyn
brook
upon
its
right
,
escaped
the
wind
and
found
herself
walking
through
an
emerald
woodland
world
all
wrapped
in
haze
and
rain
.
Past
the
smelting
works
,
where
purple
smoke
made
wonderful
color
in
rising
against
the
young
green
,
over
the
brook
and
under
the
avenue
of
great
elms
went
Joan
.
Her
heart
ached
this
morning
,
and
she
thought
of
yesterday
.
It
seemed
as
though
a
hundred
years
of
experience
had
passed
over
her
since
she
knelt
by
St.
Madron
's
stone
altar
.
She
told
herself
bitterly
how
much
wiser
she
was
to-day
,
and
,
so
thinking
strange
thoughts
,
tramped
forward
over
Buryas
Bridge
,
and
faced
the
winding
hill
beyond
.
Then
came
doubts
.
Perhaps
after
all
St.
Madron
had
answered
her
prayer
.
Else
why
the
underlying
joy
that
now
fringed
her
sorrows
with
happiness
?
Drift
is
a
place
well
named
,
when
seen
,
as
then
,
gray
through
sad-colored
curtains
of
rain
on
the
bare
hilltop
.
But
the
orchard
lands
of
the
coomb
below
were
fair
,
and
many
primroses
twinkled
in
the
soaking
green
of
the
tall
hedge-banks
.
Joan
splashed
along
through
the
mud
,
and
presently
a
lump
rose
in
her
throat
,
born
of
thoughts
.
It
had
seemed
nothing
to
leave
the
nest
on
the
cliff
,
and
she
held
her
head
high
and
thanked
God
for
a
great
deliverance
.
That
was
less
than
an
hour
ago
;
yet
here
,
on
the
last
hill
to
Drift
and
within
sight
of
the
stone
houses
clustering
at
the
summit
,
her
head
sank
lower
and
lower
,
and
it
was
not
the
rain
which
dimmed
her
eyes
.
She
much
doubted
the
value
of
further
prayers
now
,
yet
every
frantic
hope
and
aspiration
found
its
vent
in
a
petition
to
her
new
God
,
as
Joan
mounted
the
hill
.
She
prayed
,
because
she
could
think
of
no
other
way
to
soothe
her
heart
;
but
her
mind
was
very
weary
and
sad
—
not
at
the
spectacle
of
the
future
,
for
that
she
knew
was
going
to
be
fair
enough
—
but
at
the
vision
of
the
past
,
at
the
years
ended
forever
,
at
the
early
pages
of
life
closed
and
locked
,
to
be
opened
again
no
more
.
A
childhood
,
mostly
quite
happy
,
was
over
;
she
would
probably
visit
the
house
wherein
she
was
born
never
again
.
But
even
in
her
sorrow
,
the
girl
wondered
why
she
should
be
sad
.
Mr.
Chirgwin
's
farm
fronted
the
highway
,
and
its
gray
stone
face
was
separated
therefrom
by
a
small
and
neat
patch
of
garden
.
Below
the
house
a
gate
opened
into
the
farmyard
,
and
Uncle
Chirgwin
's
land
chiefly
sloped
away
into
the
coomb
behind
,
though
certain
fields
upon
the
opposite
side
of
the
highroad
also
pertained
to
him
.
The
farmhouse
was
time-stained
,
and
the
stone
had
taken
some
wealth
of
color
where
black
and
golden
lichens
fretted
it
.
The
slates
of
the
roof
shone
with
wet
and
reflected
a
streak
of
white
light
that
now
broke
the
clouds
near
the
hidden
sun
.
The
drippings
from
the
eaves
had
made
a
neat
row
of
little
regular
holes
among
the
crocuses
in
the
garden
.
Tall
jonquils
also
bent
their
heads
there
,
heavy
with
water
,
and
the
white
violets
which
stood
in
patches
upon
either
side
of
the
front
door
had
each
a
raindrop
glimmering
within
its
cup
.
A
japonica
splashed
one
gray
wall
with
crimson
blossoms
and
young
green
leaves
;
but
,
for
the
rest
,
this
house-front
was
quite
bare
.
Joan
saw
Mary
Chirgwin
's
neat
hand
in
the
snowy
short
blinds
which
crossed
the
upper
windows
;
and
she
knew
that
the
geraniums
behind
the
diamond
panes
of
the
parlor
were
her
uncle
's
care
.
They
dwelt
indoors
,
winter
and
summer
,
and
their
lanky
,
straggling
limbs
shut
out
much
light
.
The
visitor
did
not
go
to
the
front
door
,
whither
a
narrow
path
,
flanked
with
handsome
masses
of
"
Cornish
diamonds
,
"
or
quartz
crystals
,
directly
led
from
the
wicket
,
but
entered
at
a
larger
gate
which
led
into
the
farmyard
.
Here
cattle-byres
and
shippons
ranged
snugly
on
three
sides
of
an
open
space
,
their
venerable
slates
yellow
with
lichens
,
their
thatches
green
with
moss
.
In
the
center
of
the
yard
a
great
manure
heap
made
comfortable
lying
for
pigs
and
poultry
;
while
the
farmhouse
stretched
back
upon
the
fourth
side
.
Another
gate
opened
beyond
it
,
and
led
to
the
land
upon
the
sloping
hill
and
in
the
valley
below
.
Joan
passed
a
row
of
cream
pans
,
shining
like
frosted
silver
in
the
mist
,
then
turned
from
the
bleak
and
dripping
world
.
The
kitchen
door
was
open
,
and
revealed
a
large
,
low
chamber
whose
rafters
were
studded
with
orange-colored
hams
,
whose
fireplace
was
vast
and
black
save
for
a
small
wood
fire
filling
but
a
quarter
of
the
hearth
.
Grocer
's
almanacs
brought
brave
color
to
the
walls
,
sharing
the
same
with
a
big
dresser
where
the
china
made
a
play
of
reflected
light
from
the
windows
.
Above
the
lofty
mantel-piece
there
hung
an
old
fowling-piece
,
and
a
row
of
faded
Daguerreotypes
,
into
most
of
which
damp
had
eaten
dull
yellow
patches
.
The
mantel-shelf
carried
some
rough
stoneware
ornaments
,
an
eight-day
clock
,
a
tobacco
jar
,
and
divers
small
utensils
of
polished
tin
.
A
big
table
covered
with
American
cloth
filled
the
center
of
the
kitchen
,
a
low
settle
crossed
the
alcove
of
the
window
,
and
a
leather
screen
,
of
four
folds
and
five
feet
high
,
surrounded
Uncle
Chirgwin
's
own
roomy
armchair
in
the
chimney-corner
.
Strips
of
cocoanut
fiber
lay
upon
the
ground
,
but
between
them
appeared
the
bare
floor
.
It
was
paved
with
blue
stone
for
the
most
part
,
though
here
and
there
a
square
of
white
broke
the
color
;
and
the
white
patches
had
worn
lower
than
the
rest
under
many
generations
of
hobnailed
boots
.
A
faint
odor
of
hams
was
in
the
air
,
and
the
slight
,
stuffy
smell
of
feathers
.
A
woman
sat
in
the
window
as
Joan
entered
.
She
had
her
back
to
the
door
,
and
not
hearing
the
footfall
,
went
on
with
her
work
,
which
was
the
plucking
of
a
fowl
.
A
cloth
lay
spread
over
the
floor
at
her
feet
,
and
each
moment
the
pile
of
feathers
upon
it
increased
as
the
plucker
worked
with
rhythmic
regularity
and
sang
to
herself
the
while
.
Mary
Chirgwin
was
a
dark
,
good-looking
girl
,
with
a
face
in
which
strong
character
appeared
too
prominently
shadowed
to
leave
room
for
absolute
beauty
.
But
her
features
were
regular
if
swarthy
;
her
eyes
were
splendid
,
and
her
brow
,
from
which
black
hair
was
smoothly
and
plainly
parted
away
,
rose
broad
and
low
.
There
was
nothing
to
mark
kinship
between
the
cousins
save
that
both
held
their
heads
finely
and
possessed
something
of
the
same
distinction
of
carriage
.
Mary
was
eight-and-twenty
,
and
,
whatever
might
be
thought
about
her
face
,
there
could
be
but
one
opinion
upon
her
feminine
splendor
of
figure
.
Her
broad
chest
produced
a
strange
speaking
and
singing
voice
—
mellow
as
Joan
's
,
but
far
deeper
in
the
notes
.
Mary
gloried
in
congregational
melodies
,
and
those
who
had
not
before
heard
her
efforts
at
church
on
Sundays
would
often
mistake
her
voice
for
a
man
's
.
She
was
dressed
in
print
with
a
big
apron
overall
;
and
her
sleeves
,
turned
up
to
her
elbows
,
showed
a
pair
of
fine
arms
,
perfect
as
to
shape
,
but
brown
of
color
as
the
woman
's
face
.
Joan
stood
motionless
,
then
her
cousin
looked
round
suddenly
and
started
almost
out
of
her
chair
at
a
sight
so
unexpected
.
But
she
composed
herself
again
instantly
,
put
down
the
semi-naked
fowl
and
came
forward
.
They
had
not
seen
each
other
since
the
time
when
Joe
Noy
flung
over
Mary
for
Joan
;
and
the
latter
,
remembering
this
circumstance
very
well
,
had
hoped
she
might
escape
from
meeting
her
cousin
until
after
some
talk
with
Uncle
Thomas
.
But
Mary
hid
her
emotion
from
Joan
's
sight
,
and
they
shook
hands
and
looked
into
one
another
's
faces
,
each
noting
marked
changes
there
since
the
last
occasion
of
their
meeting
.
The
elder
spoke
first
,
and
went
straight
to
the
past
.
It
was
her
nature
to
have
every
connection
and
concern
of
life
upon
a
definite
and
clear
understanding
.
She
hated
mystery
,
she
disliked
things
hidden
,
she
never
allowed
the
relations
between
herself
and
any
living
being
to
stand
otherwise
than
absolutely
defined
.
"
You
'm
come
,
Joan
,
at
last
,
though
'
twas
a
soft
day
to
choose
.
Listen
to
me
,
will
'
e
?
Then
us
can
let
the
past
lie
,
same
as
us
lets
sleepin
'
dogs
.
I
called
'
pon
God
to
blight
your
life
,
Joan
Tregenza
,
when
—
you
knaw
.
I
thot
I
weer
gwaine
to
die
,
an
'
I
read
the
cussin
'
psalm
[
Footnote
:
The
Cursing
Psalm
—
Psalm
CIX
.
If
read
by
a
wronged
person
before
death
,
it
was
,
and
is
sometimes
yet
,
supposed
to
bring
punishment
upon
the
evil-doer
.
]
agin
you
.
'
Feared
to
me
as
you
'd
stawl
the
awnly
thing
as
ever
brot
a
bit
o
'
brightness
to
my
life
.
But
that
's
all
over
.
Love
weer
n't
for
me
;
I
awnly
dreamed
it
weer
.
An
'
I
larned
better
an
'
did
n't
die
;
an
'
prayed
to
God
a
many
times
to
forgive
that
first
prayer
agin
you
.
The
likes
o
'
you
doa
n't
know
nort
'
bout
the
grim
side
o
'
life
or
what
it
is
to
lose
the
glory
o
'
lovin
'
.
But
I
doa
n't
harbor
no
ill
agin
you
no
more
.
"
"
You
'm
good
to
hear
,
Polly
,
an
'
kind
words
is
better'n
food
to
me
now
.
I
'll
tell
'
e
'
bout
myself
bimebye
.
But
I
must
speak
to
uncle
fust
.
Things
has
happened
.
"
"
Nothin
'
wrong
wi
'
your
folks
?
"
"
I
ai
n't
got
no
folks
no
more
.
But
I
'll
tell
'
e
so
soon
's
I
've
tawld
Uncle
Thomas
.
"
"
He
'm
in
the
croft
somewheers
.
Better
bide
till
dinner
.
Uncle
'll
be
back
by
then
.
"
"
I
caa
n't
,
Mary
—
not
till
I
've
spoke
wi
'
en
.
I
'll
gaw
long
down
Green
Lane
,
then
I
shall
meet
en
for
sure
.
An
'
if
a
box
o
'
mine
comes
by
the
omblibus
,
'
tis
right
.
"
"
A
box
!
Whatever
is
there
in
it
,
Joan
?
"
"
All
's
I
've
gotten
in
the
world
—
leastways
nearly
.
Doa
n't
ax
me
nothin
'
now
.
You
'll
knaw
as
soon
as
need
be
.
"
Without
waiting
for
more
words
Joan
departed
,
hastened
through
the
gate
on
the
inner
wall
of
the
farmyard
and
walked
along
the
steep
hillside
by
a
lane
which
wound
muddily
downward
to
the
grasslands
,
under
high
hazel
hedges
.
The
new
leaves
dripped
showers
at
every
gust
of
the
wind
,
then
a
gleam
of
wan
sunlight
brightened
distant
vistas
of
the
way
,
while
Joan
heard
the
patter
of
a
hundred
hoofs
in
the
mud
,
the
bleat
of
lambs
,
the
deeper
answer
of
ewes
,
the
barking
of
a
shepherd
's
dog
.
Soon
the
cavalcade
came
into
view
—
a
flock
of
sheep
first
,
a
black
and
white
dog
with
a
black
and
white
pup
,
which
was
learning
his
business
,
next
,
and
Uncle
Chirgwin
himself
bringing
up
the
rear
.
The
first
sunshine
of
the
day
seemed
to
have
found
him
out
.
It
shone
over
his
round
red
face
and
twinkled
in
the
dew
on
his
white
whiskers
.
He
stumped
along
upon
short
,
gaitered
legs
,
but
went
not
fast
,
and
stayed
at
the
steep
shoulder
of
the
hill
that
his
lambs
might
have
rest
and
time
to
suck
.
Mary
Chirgwin
meantime
speculated
on
this
sudden
mystery
of
her
cousin
's
arrival
.
She
spread
the
cloth
for
dinner
,
bid
her
maid
lay
another
place
for
Joan
and
wondered
much
what
manner
of
news
she
brought
.
There
were
changes
in
Joan
's
face
since
she
saw
it
last
—
not
changes
which
might
have
been
attributed
to
the
possession
of
Joe
Noy
,
but
an
alteration
of
expression
betokening
thought
,
a
look
of
increased
age
,
of
experiences
not
wholly
happy
in
their
nature
.
And
Joan
had
also
marked
the
changes
in
Mary
.
These
indications
were
clear
enough
and
filled
her
with
sorrow
.
A
river
of
tears
will
leave
its
bed
marked
upon
a
woman
's
face
;
and
Joan
,
who
had
never
thought
overmuch
of
her
cousin
's
sorrows
until
then
,
began
to
feel
her
heart
fill
and
run
over
with
sudden
sympathy
.
She
asked
herself
what
life
would
look
like
for
her
if
"
Mister
Jan
"
;
changed
his
mind
now
and
never
came
back
again
.
That
was
how
Mary
felt
doubtless
when
Joe
Noy
left
her
.
Already
Joan
grew
zealous
in
thought
for
Mary
.
She
would
teach
her
something
of
that
sweet
wisdom
which
was
to
support
her
own
burden
in
the
future
;
she
would
tell
her
about
Nature
—
the
"
All-Mother
"
as
"
Mister
Jan
"
called
her
once
.
And
,
concerning
Joe
Noy
—
might
it
be
within
the
bounds
of
possibility
,
within
the
power
of
time
to
bring
these
two
together
again
?
The
thought
was
good
to
Joan
,
and
wholly
occupied
her
mind
until
the
sight
of
Uncle
Chirgwin
with
his
sheep
brought
her
back
to
the
present
moment
and
her
own
affairs
.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
A
PROBLEM
When
Mr.
Chirgwin
caught
sight
of
Joan
his
astonishment
knew
no
bounds
,
and
his
first
thought
was
that
something
must
certainly
be
amiss
.
He
stood
in
the
roadway
,
a
picture
of
surprise
,
and
,
for
a
moment
,
forgot
both
his
sheep
and
lambs
.
"
My
stars
,
Joan
!
Be
it
you
really
?
Whatever
do
'
e
make
at
Drift
,
'
pon
such
a
day
as
this
?
No
evil
news
,
I
hope
?
"
"
Uncle
,
"
she
answered
,
"
go
slow
a
bit
an
'
listen
to
what
I
've
got
to
say
.
You
be
a
kind
,
good
sawl
as
judges
nobody
,
ba
n't
you
?
And
you
love
me
'
cause
your
sister
was
my
mother
?
"
"
Surely
,
surely
,
Joan
;
an
'
I
love
you
for
yourself
tu
—
nobody
better
in
this
world
.
"
"
You
wouldn
'
go
for
to
send
me
to
hell-fire
,
would
'
e
?
"
"
God
forbid
,
lass
!
Why
,
whatever
be
talkin
'
'
bout
?
"
"
Uncle
Thomas
,
faither
's
not
my
faither
no
more
now
.
He
've
turned
me
out
his
house
an
'
denied
me
.
I
ba
n't
no
darter
of
his
henceforrard
;
an
'
he
'm
no
faither
o
'
mine
.
He
do
n't
mean
never
to
look
'
pon
my
faace
agin
,
nor
me
'
pon
his
.
The
cottage
edn
'
no
home
for
me
no
more
.
"
"
Joan
,
gal
alive
!
what
talk
be
this
?
"
"
'
Tis
gospel
.
I
'm
a
damned
wummon
,
'
cordin
'
to
my
faither
as
was
.
"
"
God
A'mighty
!
You
—
paart
a
Chirgwin
—
as
comed
,
o
'
wan
side
,
from
her
as
loved
the
Lard
so
dear
,
an
'
,
'
pon
t'other
,
from
him
as
feared
un
so
much
.
Never
,
Joan
!
"
"
Uncle
Thomas
,
I
be
in
the
fam'ly
way
;
an
'
faither
's
damned
me
,
an
'
likewise
the
man
as
loves
me
,
an
'
the
cheel
I
be
gwaine
to
bring
in
the
world
.
I
've
comed
to
hear
you
speak
.
Will
you
say
the
same
?
If
you
will
,
I
'll
pack
off
this
instant
moment
.
"
The
old
man
stood
perfectly
still
and
his
jaw
went
down
while
he
breathed
heavily
;
a
world
of
amazement
and
piteous
sorrow
sat
upon
his
face
;
his
voice
shook
and
whistled
in
the
sound
as
he
answered
.
"
Joan
!
My
poor
Joan
!
My
awn
gal
,
this
be
black
news
—
black
news
.
Thank
God
she
'm
not
here
to
knaw
—
your
mother
.
"
"
I
've
done
no
wrong
,
uncle
;
I
ba
n't
'
shamed
of
it
.
He
'm
a
true
,
good
man
,
and
he
'm
comin
'
to
marry
me
quick
.
"
"
Joe
Noy
?
"
"
No
,
no
,
not
him
.
I
thot
I
loved
en
well
till
Mister
Jan
comed
,
an
'
opened
my
blind
eyes
,
an
'
shawed
me
what
love
was
.
Mister
Jan
's
a
gen'leman
—
a
furriner
.
He
caa
n't
live
wi'out
me
no
more
;
he
's
said
as
he
caa
n't
.
An
'
I
'm
droopin
'
an
'
longin
'
for
the
sight
o
'
en
.
An
'
I
caa
n't
bide
in
the
streets
,
so
I
axes
you
to
keep
me
till
Mister
Jan
do
come
to
fetch
me
.
I
find
words
hard
to
use
to
'
splain
things
,
but
his
God
's
differ'nt
to
what
the
Luke
Gosp'lers
'
is
,
an
'
I
lay
'
tis
differ'nt
to
yourn
.
But
his
God
's
mine
anyways
,
an
'
I
'm
not
afeared
o
'
what
I
done
,
nor
'
shamed
to
look
folks
in
the
faace
.
That
's
how
'
tis
,
Uncle
Thomas
.
'
Tis
Nature
,
you
mind
,
an
'
I
be
Nature
's
cheel
no
—
wi
'
no
faither
nor
mother
but
her
.
"
The
old
man
was
snuffling
,
and
a
tear
or
two
rolled
down
his
red
face
,
gathered
the
damp
already
there
and
fell
.
He
groaned
to
himself
,
then
brought
forth
a
big
,
red
pocket-handkerchief
,
and
wept
outright
,
while
Joan
stood
silently
regarding
him
.
"
I
'd
rather
a
met
death
than
this
;
I
'd
rather
a
knawn
you
was
coffined
.
"
"
Oh
,
if
I
could
awnly
'
splain
!
"
she
cried
,
frantically
;
"
if
I
awnly
could
find
his
words
'
pon
my
tongue
,
but
I
caa
n't
.
They
be
hid
down
deep
in
me
,
an
'
by
them
I
lives
from
day
to
day
;
but
how
can
I
make
others
see
same
as
I
see
?
I
awnly
brings
sorrer
'
pon
sorrer
now
.
Theer
's
nothin
'
left
but
him
.
If
you
could
a
heard
Mister
Jan
!
You
would
understand
,
wi
'
your
warm
heart
,
but
I
caa
n't
make
'
e
;
I
've
no
terrible
,
braave
,
butivul
words
.
I
'll
gaw
my
ways
then
.
If
any
sawl
had
tawld
me
as
I
'd
ever
bring
tears
down
your
faace
I
'd
never
b'lieved
'
em
—
never
;
but
so
I
have
,
an
'
that
's
bitterness
to
me
.
"
He
took
her
by
the
hand
and
pressed
it
,
then
put
his
arm
round
her
and
kissed
her
.
His
white
bristles
hurt
,
but
Joan
rejoiced
exceedingly
,
and
now
it
was
her
turn
to
shed
tears
.
"
He
'll
come
back
—
he
'm
a
true
man
,
"
she
sobbed
;
"
theer
ba
n't
the
likes
o
'
Mister
Jan
in
Carnwall
,
an
'
—
an
'
if
you
knawed
en
,
you
'd
say
no
less
.
You
'm
the
fust
as
have
got
to
my
heart
since
he
went
;
an
'
he
'd
bless
'
e
if
he
knawed
.
"
"
Come
along
with
me
,
Joan
,
"
answered
Uncle
Chirgwin
,
straightening
himself
and
applying
his
big
handkerchief
to
her
face
.
"
God
send
the
man
'll
be
'
longside
'
e
right
soon
,
as
you
sez
.
Till
he
do
come
,
you
shaa
n't
leave
me
no
more
.
Drift
's
home
for
you
while
you
'm
pleased
to
bide
theer
.
An
'
I
'll
see
your
faither
presently
,
though
I
wish
'
twas
any
other
man
.
"
"
I
knawed
you
was
all
us
the
same
;
I
knawed
you
'd
take
me
in
.
An
'
Mister
Jan
shall
knaw
.
An
'
he
'll
love
you
for't
when
he
do
.
"
"
Come
an
'
see
me
put
the
ewes
an
'
lambs
in
the
croft
;
then
us
'll
gaw
to
dinner
,
an
'
I
'll
hear
you
tell
me
all
'
bout
en
.
"
He
tried
hard
to
put
a
hopeful
face
upon
the
position
and
,
himself
as
simple
as
a
child
,
presently
found
Joan
's
story
not
hopeless
at
all
.
He
seemed
indeed
to
catch
some
of
her
spirit
as
she
proceeded
and
painted
the
manifold
glories
of
"
Mister
Jan
"
in
the
best
language
at
her
command
.
To
love
Nature
was
no
sin
;
Mr.
Chirgwin
himself
did
so
;
and
as
for
the
money
,
instead
of
reading
the
truth
of
it
,
he
told
himself
very
wisely
that
the
giver
of
a
sum
so
tremendous
must
at
least
be
in
earnest
.
The
amount
astounded
him
.
Fired
by
Joan
's
words
,
for
as
he
played
the
ready
listener
her
eloquence
increased
,
he
fell
to
thinking
as
she
thought
,
and
even
speaking
hopefully
.
The
old
farmer
's
reflections
merely
echoed
his
own
simple
trust
in
men
and
had
best
not
been
uttered
,
for
they
raised
Joan
's
spirits
to
a
futile
height
.
But
he
caught
the
contagion
from
her
and
spoke
with
sanguine
words
of
the
future
,
and
even
prayed
Joan
that
,
if
wealth
and
a
noble
position
awaited
her
,
she
would
endeavor
to
brighten
the
lives
of
the
poor
as
became
a
good
Cornish
woman
.
This
she
solemnly
promised
,
and
they
built
castles
in
the
air
:
two
children
together
.
His
sheep
driven
to
their
new
pasture
,
Uncle
Chirgwin
led
the
way
home
and
listened
as
he
walked
to
Joan
's
story
.
She
quite
convinced
him
before
he
reached
his
kitchen
door
—
partly
because
he
was
very
well
content
to
be
convinced
,
partly
because
he
could
honestly
imagine
no
man
base
enough
to
betray
this
particular
blue-eyed
child
.
Mr.
Chirgwin
's
extremely
unworldly
review
of
the
position
was
balm
to
Joan
.
Her
heart
grew
warm
again
,
and
the
old
man
's
philosophy
brightened
her
face
,
as
the
sun
,
now
making
a
great
clearness
after
rain
,
brightened
the
face
of
the
land
.
But
the
recollection
of
Mary
Chirgwin
sobered
her
uncle
not
a
little
.
How
she
would
take
this
tremendous
intelligence
he
failed
to
guess
remotely
.
Opportunity
to
impart
it
occurred
sooner
than
he
expected
,
for
Joan
's
box
had
just
arrived
.
During
dinner
the
old
man
explained
that
his
niece
was
to
be
a
visitor
at
Drift
for
a
term
of
uncertain
duration
;
and
after
the
meal
,
when
Joan
disappeared
to
unpack
her
box
and
make
tidy
a
little
apple-room
,
which
was
now
empty
and
at
her
service
,
Uncle
Chirgwin
had
speech
with
Mary
.
He
braced
himself
to
the
trying
task
,
waited
until
the
kitchen
was
empty
of
those
among
his
servants
who
ate
at
his
table
,
and
then
replied
to
the
question
which
his
niece
promptly
put
.
"
What
do
this
mean
,
Uncle
Thomas
?
What
's
come
o
'
Joan
that
she
do
drop
in
'
pon
us
like
this
here
wi
'
never
a
word
to
say
she
was
comin
'
?
"
"
Polly
,
"
he
answered
,
"
your
cousin
Joan
have
seen
sore
trouble
,
in
a
manner
o
'
speakin
'
,
an
'
you
'd
best
to
knaw
fust
as
last
.
Us
must
be
large-minded
'
bout
a
thing
like
this
She
'm
tokened
to
a
gen'leman
from
Lunnon
.
"
"
What
!
An
'
him
—
Joe
Noy
?
"
"
To
be
plain
wi
'
you
,
Polly
,
she
've
thrawed
en
over
.
Listen
'
fore
you
speaks
.
'
Twas
a
match
o
'
Michael
Tregenza
's
makin
'
,
I
reckon
,
an
'
,
so
like
's
not
,
Joe
weer
n't
any
more
heart-struck
than
Joan
.
I
finds
it
hard
to
feel
as
I
ought
to
Gray
Michael
,
more
shame
to
me
.
But
Joan
's
failed
in
love
wi
'
a
gen'leman
,
an
'
he
with
her
,
an
'
he
'm
comin
'
any
mornin
'
to
fetch
'
er
—
an
'
—
an
'
—
you
must
be
tawld
—
'
tis
time
as
he
did
come
.
An
'
he
've
sent
Joan
a
thousand
pound
o
'
paper
money
to
shaw
as
'
e
means
the
right
thing
.
"
But
the
woman
's
mind
had
not
followed
these
last
facts
.
Her
face
was
white
to
the
lips
;
her
hands
were
shaking
.
She
put
her
head
down
upon
them
as
she
sat
by
the
fire
,
and
a
groan
which
no
power
could
strangle
broke
from
her
deep
bosom
.
She
spoke
,
and
regretted
her
words
a
moment
later
.
"
Oh
,
my
God
!
an
'
he
brawk
off
wi
'
me
for
the
likes
o
'
she
!
"
"
Theer
,
theer
,
lass
Mary
,
doa
n't
'
e
,
doa
n't
'
e
.
You
've
hid
your
tears
that
cunnin
'
,
but
my
old
eyes
has
seen
the
marks
this
many
day
an
'
sorrered
for
'
e
.
'
Tis
a
hard
matter
viewed
from
the
point
what
you
looks
'
pon
it
;
but
I
knaws
you
,
my
awn
good
gal
;
I
knaws
your
Saviour
's
done
a
'
mazin
'
deal
to
hold
you
up
.
An
'
'
twont
be
for
long
,
'
cause
the
man
'll
come
for
her
mighty
soon
seemin'ly
.
Can
'
e
faace
it
,
the
Lard
helpin
'
?
Poor
Joan
's
bin
kicked
out
the
house
by
her
faither
.
I
do
not
like
en
—
never
did
.
What
do
'
e
say
?
She
doa
n't
count
it
no
sin
,
mind
you
,
an
'
doa
n't
look
for
no
reprovin
'
,
'
cause
the
gen'leman
have
taught
her
terrible
coorious
ideas
;
but
'
tis
just
this
:
we
'm
all
sinners
,
eh
,
Polly
?
An
'
us
caa
n't
say
'
sactly
what
size
a
sin
do
look
to
God
A'mighty
's
eye
.
An
'
us
have
got
the
Lard
's
way
o
'
handlin
'
sich
like
troubles
writ
out
clear
—
eh
?
Eh
,
Polly
?
He
dedn
'
preach
no
sermon
at
the
time
neither
.
"
The
old
man
prattled
on
,
setting
out
the
position
in
the
most
favorable
light
to
Joan
that
seemed
possible
to
him
.
But
his
listener
was
one
no
longer
.
She
had
forgotten
her
cousin
and
the
present
circumstances
,
for
her
thoughts
were
with
a
sailor
at
sea
.
One
tremendous
moment
of
savage
joy
gripped
her
heart
,
but
the
primitive
passion
perished
in
its
birth-pang
and
left
her
cold
and
faint
and
ashamed
.
She
wondered
from
what
unknown
,
unsecured
corner
of
her
soul
the
vile
thing
came
.
It
died
on
the
instant
,
but
the
corpse
fouled
her
thoughts
and
tainted
them
and
made
her
feel
faint
again
.
The
irony
of
chance
burst
like
a
storm
on
the
woman
,
and
mazes
of
tangled
thoughts
made
her
brain
whirl
in
a
chaos
of
bewilderment
.
She
sat
motionless
,
her
face
dark
,
and
much
mystery
in
her
wonderful
eyes
,
while
Mr.
Chirgwin
,
with
shaking
head
and
scriptural
quotation
and
tears
,
babbled
on
,
pleading
for
Joan
with
all
his
strength
.
Mary
heard
little
of
what
he
said
.
She
was
occupied
with
facts
and
asking
herself
her
duty
.
From
the
storm
in
her
mind
arose
a
clear
question
at
last
,
and
she
could
not
answer
it
.
The
point
had
appeared
unimportant
to
anybody
but
Mary
Chirgwin
,
but
no
question
of
conduct
ever
looked
trivial
to
her
.
At
least
the
doubt
was
definite
and
afforded
mental
occupation
.
She
wondered
now
whether
it
was
well
or
possible
that
she
and
Joan
could
live
together
under
the
same
roof
.
Why
such
a
problem
had
arisen
she
knew
not
;
but
it
stood
in
the
path
,
a
fact
to
be
dealt
with
.
Her
heart
told
her
that
Joan
and
her
uncle
alike
erred
in
the
supposition
that
the
girl
's
seducer
would
ever
return
.
She
read
the
great
gift
of
money
as
Thomasin
had
read
it
—
rightly
;
and
the
thought
of
living
with
Joan
was
at
first
horrible
to
her
.
Mr.
Chirgwin
talked
and
Mary
reflected
.
Then
she
rose
to
leave
the
room
.
"
'
Tis
tu
gert
a
thing
for
me
to
say
—
no
wummon
was
ever
plaaced
like
what
I
be
now
.
I
do
mean
to
see
passon
at
Sancreed
,
uncle
.
He
'll
knaw
what
's
right
for
me
.
If
he
bids
me
stay
,
I
'll
stay
.
'
Tis
the
thot
o
'
Joe
Noy
maddens
me
.
My
head
'll
burst
if
I
think
any
more
.
I
'll
go
to
passon
.
"
"
Whether
you
'll
stay
,
Polly
!
Why
should
n't
'
e
stay
?
Surely
it
do
—
"
"
Doa
n't
'
e
talk
no
more
'
tall
,
uncle
.
You
caa
n't
knaw
what
this
is
to
me
,
you
doa
n't
understan
'
a
wummon
faaced
wi
'
a
coil
like
this
here
.
Joe
—
Joe
as
loved
'
er
,
I
s'pose
,
differ'nt
to
what
'
e
did
me
.
An
'
she
,
when
his
back
weer
turned
—
an
'
—
an
'
—
me
—
God
help
me
!
—
as
never
could
do
less
than
love
en
through
all
!
"
She
was
gone
before
he
had
time
to
answer
,
but
he
realized
her
mighty
agony
of
mind
and
stood
dumb
and
frightened
before
it
.
Then
a
thought
came
concerning
Joan
and
he
felt
that
,
at
all
costs
,
he
must
speak
to
Mary
again
before
she
went
out
.
Mr.
Chirgwin
waited
quietly
at
the
stair-foot
until
she
came
down
.
The
turmoil
was
in
her
eyes
still
,
but
she
spoke
calmly
and
listened
to
him
when
he
replied
.
"
Doa
n't
'
e
say
nuthin
'
to
Joan
,
Uncle
Thomas
.
I
be
gwaine
to
larn
my
duty
,
as
is
hidden
from
me
.
An
'
my
duty
I
will
do
.
"
"
An
'
so
you
alias
have
,
Polly
,
since
you
was
a
grawed
gal
;
an
'
God
knaws
it
.
But
—
do'e
think
as
you
could
—
in
a
manner
o
'
speakin
'
—
hide
names
from
passon
?
Ba
n't
no
call
to
tell
what
's
fallen
out
to
other
folks
.
Joan
—
eh
,
Polly
?
Might
'
e
speak
in
a
parable
like
—
same
as
Scripture
—
wi'out
namin
'
no
names
.
For
Joan
's
sake
,
Mary
—
eh
?
"
She
was
silent
a
full
minute
,
then
answered
slowly
.
"
I
see
what
you
mean
,
uncle
.
I
hadn
'
thot
o
'
she
just
then
.
Iss
fay
,
you
'm
right
theer
.
Ba
n't
no
work
o
'
mine
to
tell
'
bout
her
.
"
She
hesitated
,
and
the
old
man
spoke
again
.
"
I
s'pose
that
a
bit
o
'
prayer
wouldn
'
shaw
light
on
it
—
eh
,
Polly
?
Wi'out
gwaine
to
Sancreed
.
The
Lard
knaws
your
fix
better'n
what
any
words
'
ud
put
it
clear
to
passon
.
An
'
theer
's
yourself
tu
.
'
Pears
to
me
,
axin
'
your
pardon
,
for
you
'm
clever'n
what
I
am
,
that
'
tedn
'
a
tale
what
you
can
put
out
'
fore
any
other
body
'
sactly
—
even
a
holy
man
like
him
.
"
She
saw
at
once
that
it
was
not
.
Her
custom
had
been
to
get
the
kind-hearted
old
clergyman
of
her
parish
church
to
soothe
the
doubts
and
perplexities
which
not
seldom
rose
within
her
strenuous
mind
.
And
before
this
great
,
crushing
problem
,
with
the
pretext
of
the
one
difficulty
which
had
tumbled
uppermost
from
the
chaos
and
so
been
grasped
as
a
reality
,
she
had
naturally
turned
to
her
guide
and
friend
.
But
,
as
her
uncle
spoke
,
she
saw
that
in
truth
this
matter
could
not
be
laid
naked
before
any
man
.
Another
's
hidden
life
was
involved
;
another
's
secret
must
come
out
if
all
was
told
,
and
Mary
