And you have lost your fish, cried Claude for the line had suddenly become slack.
But have I won you?
No, no. And pray let me go now.
No?
There was so much anguish in the tone in which that one little word was spoken, that it went right to Claudes heart, and as if involuntarily, she added quickly,
I dont know.
Claude,
dearest, he whispered, and his voice trembled as the words were breathed in her ear, for pitys sake dont trifle with me.
I am not trifling with you. I told you the truth. I dont know.
Ah, thats not catching salmon, came sharply from behind them. Claude, dear, dont listen to him. Hes a wicked fortune-hunter.
Chris started away from Claude as if some one had struck him a violent blow.
Mary! cried Claude.
Oh, I beg your pardon. What did I say?
Whizz !
Mr Lisle! Help! cried Claude, for the line had suddenly tightened, the top of the rod bent over in a curve, and the winch sang out as it rapidly revolved.
Take the rod, please, Mr Lisle, continued Claude, in a voice full of emotion; and, as he took it without a word, she saw that he was deadly pale, and that his white teeth were pressing hard upon his nether lip.
He played the fish mechanically, and with Claude steadily looking on, and feeling as if she would like to run home to shut herself in her own room and throw herself upon her knees and sob. But the face before her held her as by a chain, and she turned with a bitter look of reproach upon her cousin, as she saw the way in which Chris was stung.
Dont look at me like that, dear, cried Mary, the words slipped out. I did not mean them, indeed. Its a big fish, isnt it, Mr Lisle? Shall I gaff it for you?
Thank you, he said drearily; and Mary picked up the bamboo staff with the glistening hook at the end.
Oh, I do beg your pardon, Mr Lisle.
Granted, was the laconic reply.
Dont, pray, dont punish me for saying those words, cried Mary. There, finish your lesson in love and fishing. Claude, she whispered, as the young man had to follow the fish a few yards down the stream, youve caught him tightly; shall I gaff him as well?
Yes; you had better finish your lesson, Miss Gartram, said Chris, walking back slowly winding in the line, and speaking in a hard, cold tone.
No; you had better finish, she replied hastily; and then, as she saw the cloud deepening on his brow, she stepped forward quickly, and laid her hand on the rod. Yes, let me finish, Chris, she said, and she gazed at him with her eyes full of faith and trust.
Claude, he whispered, as he gave her the rod, you couldnt think
Hallo! Whats this? cried a harsh voice, and all started, so suddenly had Norman Gartram followed closely by his visitor stepped up to where they stood.
Mr Lisle giving Claude and me a lesson in fishing, said Mary sharply. Now, Claude, dear, wind in and Ill hook him out.
Most interesting group, said Parry Glyddyr, with rather a contemptuous look at the teacher of the art.
Very, said Norman Gartram, frowning. Here, Claude, stop that fooling and come home.
Mary, Mary, what have you done? whispered Claude, as they walked away.
Made a mess of it, darling, Im afraid.
As they turned a corner of the glen, with her fathers guest talking about what she did not know, Claude stole a glance back, to see Christopher Lisle standing with his hands resting upon the rod he held, and a bright, silvery fish lying at his feet.
The girls heart went on beating heavily with pulsations that seemed as full of pleasure as of pain.
Volume One Chapter Four. All to Bits!
contretempsAnd just after what I had said to him, muttered Gartram. The insolent young scoundrel! The miserable, contemptible pauper! How dare he?
But Glyddyrs behaviour was perfect, and excited Gartrams wonder.
He cant have seen what I did, he thought, or he would never talk to her so coolly.
For, ignoring everything, and as if he was blind to what had passed, Glyddyr dashed at once into a series of inquiries about Danmouth, and the weather in the winter.
Do the storms affect the place much? he said, looking at Claude.
Knock the pots off sometimes, and always wash the slates clean, said Mary, before Claude could reply.
Not pleasant for the inhabitants, said Glyddyr, after giving Mary a quick, amused glance before turning again to Claude. But at the Fort, of course, you are too high up for the waves to reach?
Salt spray coats all the windows, and makes the walls shine, interposed Mary.
What will he think of me? thought Claude; and then she wondered that she did not feel sorry, but that all the time, in spite of her fathers fiercely sullen looks, a peculiar kind of joy
The sight of the suffering woman roused Claude to action; and as she took a couple of steps forward, and with the tears falling fast, laid her hand upon the womans shoulder, a low murmur arose among the men, and Glyddyr saw that they drew back respectfully, several turning right away.
Sarah, my poor Sarah, said Claude, bending low.
At the tender words of sympathy and the touch of the gentle hands, the woman let her own fall from her face, and stared up appealingly at the speaker.