the vanished messenger-第47章
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to the sea。
〃I have sometimes thought；〃 he went on； 〃that it would be glorious
to find a friend to stand by my side at the top of the planks； just
there； when the tide was high； and to bid him loose my chair and to
steer it myself； to steer it down the narrow path into the arms of
the sea。 The first touch of the salt waves； the last touch of life。
Why not？ One sleeps without fear。〃
He lifted his head suddenly。 Meekins had am peared； coming round
from the back of the Tower。 Instantly Mr。 Fentolin's whole manner
changed。 He sat up in his chair。
〃It is arranged； then；〃 he said。 〃You dine with us to…night。 For
the other matters of which you have spoken； well； let them rest in
the hands of the gods。 You are not very kind to me。 I am not sure
whether you would make Esther a good husband。 I am not sure； even；
that I like you。 You take no pains to make yourself agreeable。
Considering that your father was an artist； you seem to me rather a
dull and uninspired young man。 But who can tell？ There may be
things stirring beneath that torpid brain of yours of which no other
person knows save yourself。〃
The concentrated gaze of Mr。 Fentolin's keen eyes was hard to meet；
but Hamel came out of the ordeal without flinching。
〃At eight o'clock； Mr。 Fentolin；〃 he answered。 〃I can see that I
must try to earn your better opinion。
Hamel read steadily for the remainder of the morning。 It was past
one o'clock when he rose stiffly from his seat among the sand
knolls and； strolling back to the Tower； opened the door and
entered。 The cloth was laid for luncheon in the little
sitting…room； but there were no signs of Hannah Cox。 He passed
on into the kitchen and came to a sudden standstill。 Once more
the memory of his own work passed away from him。 Once more he
was back again among that queer； clouded tangle of strange
suspicions； of thrilling； half…formed fears； which had assailed
him at times ever since his arrival at St； David's。 He stopped
quite short。 The words which rose to his lips died away。 He
felt the breathless； compelling need for silence and grew tense in
the effort to make no sound。
Hannah Cox was kneeling on the stone floor。 Her ear was close to
the crack of the door which led into the boat…house。 Her face；
half turned from it； was set in a strange； concentrated passion of
listening； her lips were parted； her eyes half closed。 She took
no more notice of Hamel or his arrival than if he had been some
useless piece of furniture。 Every faculty seemed to be absorbed in
that one intense effort of listening。 There was no need of her
out…stretched finger。 Hamel fell in at once with a mood so mesmeric。
He； too； listened。 The small clock which she had brought with her
from the village ticked away upon the mantelpiece。 The full sea
fell with placid softness upon the high beach outside。 Some slight
noise of cooking came from the stove。 Save for these things there
was silence。 Yet； for a space of time which Hamel could never have
measured； they both listened。 When at last the woman rose to her
feet； Hamel； finding words at last； was surprised to find that his
throat was dry。
〃What is it； Mrs。 Cox？〃 he asked。 〃Why were you listening there？〃
Her face was absolutely expressionless。 She was busying herself
now with a small saucepan； and her back was turned towards him。
〃I spend my life； sir；〃 she said； 〃listening and waiting。 One
never knows when the end may come。〃
〃But the boat…house；〃 Hamel objected。 〃No one has been in there
his morning； have they？〃
〃Who can tell？〃 she answered。 〃He could go anywhere when he chose；
or how he chose … through the keyhole； if he wanted。〃
〃But why listen？〃 Hamel persisted。 〃There is nothing in there now
but some odds and ends of machinery。〃
She turned from the fire and looked at him for a moment。 Her eyes
were colourless； her tone unemotional。
〃Maybe！ There's no harm in listening。〃
〃Did you hear anything which made you want to listen？〃
〃Who can tell？〃 she answered。 〃A woman who lives well…nigh alone；
as I live； in a quiet place； hears things so often that other folk
never listen to。 There's always something in my ears； night or day。
Sometimes I am not sure whether it's in this world or the other。 It
was like that with me just then。 It was for that reason I listened。
Your luncheon's ready； sir。〃
Hamel walked thoughtfully back into his sitting…room。 He seated
himself before a spotless cloth and watched Hannah Cox spread out
his well…cooked； cleanly…served meal。
〃If there's anything you want； sir；〃 she said； 〃I shall hear you at
a word。 The kitchen door is open。〃
〃One moment； Mrs。 Cox。〃
She lingered there patiently； with the tray in her hand。
〃There was some sound；〃 Hamel continued； 〃perhaps a real sound；
perhaps a fancy； which made you go down on your knees in the kitchen。
Tell me what it was。〃
〃The sound I always hear； sir；〃 she answered quietly。 〃I hear it in
the night； and I hear it when I stand by the sea and look out。 I
have heard it for so many years that who can tell whether it comes
from this world or the other … the cry of men who die！〃
She passed out。 Hamel looked after her； for a moment； like a man
in a dream； In his fancy he could see her back again once more in
the kitchen； kneeling on the stone floor；… listening！
CHAPTER XXIX
A cold twilight had fallen upon the land when Hamel left the Tower
that evening and walked briskly along the foot…way to the Hall。
Little patches of mist hung over the creeks； the sky was almost
frosty。 The lights from St。 David's Hall shone like cheerful
beacons before him。 He hastened up the stone steps； crossed the
terrace； and passed into the hall。 A servant conducted him at once
to the drawing…room。 Mrs。 Fentolin； in a pink evening dress； with
a pink ornament in her hair； held out both her hands。 In the
background； Mr。 Fentolin； in his queerly…cut evening clothes； sat
with folded arms； leaning back in his carriage。 He listened grimly
to his sister…in…law as she stood with Hamel's hands in hers。
〃My dear Mr。 Hamel！〃 she exclaimed。 〃How perfectly charming of you
to come up and relieve a little our sad loneliness！ Delightful； I
call it； of you。 I was just saying so to Miles。〃
Hamel looked around the room。 Already his heart was beginning to
sink。
〃Miss Fentolin is well； I hope？〃 he asked。
〃Well； but a very naughty girl；〃 her mother declared。 〃I let her
go to Lady Saxthorpe's to lunch； and now we have had simply the
firmest letter from Lady Saxthorpe。 They insist upon keeping Esther
to dine and sleep。 I have had to send her evening clothes； but you
can't tell； Mr。 Hamel； how I miss her。〃
Hamel's disappointment was a little too obvious to pass unnoticed。
There was a shade of annoyance； too； in his face。 Mr。 Fentolin
smoothly intervened。
〃Let us be quite candid with Mr。 Hamel； dear Florence；〃 he begged。
〃I have spoken to my sister…in…law and told her the substance of
our conversation this morning；〃 he proceeded； wheeling his chair
nearer to Hamel。 〃She is thunderstruck。 She wishes to reflect； to
consider。 Esther chanced to be away。 We have encouraged her
absence for a few more hours。〃
〃I hope； Mrs； Fentolin；〃 Hamel said simply； 〃 that you will give
her to me。 I am not a rich man； but I am fairly well off。 I should
be willing to live exactly where Esther wishes； and I would do my
best to make her happy。〃
Mrs； Fentolin opened her lips once and closed them again。 She
laughed a little … a high…pitched； semi…hysterical laugh。 The hand
which gripped her fan was straining so that the blue veins stood out
almost like whipcord。
〃Esther is very young； Mr。 Hamel。 We must talk this over。 You have
known her for such a very short time。〃
A servant announced dinner； and Hamel offered his arm to his hostess。
〃Is Gerald away； too？〃 he asked。
〃We do indeed owe you our apologies；〃 Mr。 Fentolin declared。
〃Gerald is spending a couple of days at the Dormy House at
Brancaster … a golf arrangement made some time back。〃
〃He promised to play with me to…morrow；〃 Hamel remarked thoughtfully。
〃He said nothing about going away。〃
〃I fea
