And Miss Penny said "Hear! Hear!" so energetically that Margaret laughed merrily.
"We are both of one mind in the matter, an life is all too short at its longest, and most especially when it offers you all its very best with both hands—"
"Hear! Hear!" said Miss Penny.
"And time is fleeting," concluded the orator1.
"And that kettle is boiling over again," and Miss Penny jumped up and ran to the rescue.
They were spending a long day in Grande Grève—the spot that had special claims upon their liking2 since their landing there after that memorable3 trip to Brecqhou. They had brought a full day's rations4, prepared with solicitous5 discrimination by Graeme himself, and a kettle, and a great round tin can of fresh water from the well at Dixcart, and a smaller one of milk.
So high were their spirits that they had even scoffed6 at Johnnie Vautrin's intimation that he had seen a magpie7 that morning, and it had flown over their house. But magpie or no magpie they were bent8 on enjoyment9, and they left Johnnie and Marielihou muttering black spells into the hawthorn10 hedge, and went off with the dogs down the scented11 lanes, through the valley where the blue-bells draped the hillsides in such masses that they walked as it were between a blue heaven and a blue earth, and so by the meadow-paths to the Coupée.
Their descent of the rough path down the side of the Coupée with all this impedimenta had not been without incident, but eventually every thing and person had been got to the bottom in safety.
Then, while the dogs raced in the lip of the tide and Scamp filled the bay with his barkings, the girls had disappeared among the tumbled rocks under the cliff, and Graeme had sought seclusion12 at the other end of the bay. And presently they had met again on the gleaming stretch of sand; he in orthodox tight-fitting dark-blue elastic13 web which set off his long limbs and broad shoulders to great advantage; Hennie Penny in pale blue, her somewhat plump figure redeemed14 by the merry face which recognised all its owner's deficiencies and more than made up for them all; Margaret, tall, slim, shapely, revealing fresh graces with every movement,—a sea-goddess in pale pink—a sight to set the heart of a marble statue plunging15 with delight.
Hennie Penny persisted in wearing an unbecoming cap like a sponge-bag, which subjected her to comment.
Margaret's crowning glory was coiled in thick plaits on top of her head, and if it got wet it got wet and she heeded16 it not.
Both girls had draped themselves in long towels for the walk down to the water, and Graeme's heart sang with joy at the surpassing beauty of this radiant girl who had given her heart and herself and her life into his keeping.
Dainty clothing counts for much in a girl's appearance. Not every girl shows to advantage in bathing costume. But when she does, she knows it, and the hearts of men are her stepping-stones.
Hennie Penny was a cautious swimmer. She preferred depths soundable at any moment by the dropping of a foot, and if the foot did not instantly touch bottom she fell into a panic and screamed, which added not a little to the hilarity17 of their bathes.
Margaret and Graeme, however, were both at home in the water. They delighted to set their faces to the open and breast steadily18 out to sea, rejoicing in the conquest of the waves. But he always watched over her with solicitous care, for there are currents, and cross-currents, and treacherous19 undertows round those coasts, and the wary20 swimmer is the wiser man.
And the dogs always swam with them, Punch lunging boldly ahead with the ease and grace of a seal, looking round now and again to see if they were coming, and turning the moment they turned. While Scamp, away in the rear, thrashed along spasmodically, with a yelp21 for every stroke, but would not be left out of it. The sight of his anxious little face and twisting nose more than once set Margaret laughing, so that she had to turn on her back and float till she got over it, greatly to the small dog's satisfaction.
Full of life and the mighty22 joy of it, they found the going unusually easy that day. The water was like the kiss of new life, crisp, tonic23, vitalising. There was no more than a breath of wind, no more than a ruffle24 on the backs of the long blue rollers that came sweeping25 slowly in out of the West.
Graeme, as he glanced round in his long side-strokes at the lovely eager face gemmed26 with sparkling water-jewels, took full deep breaths of delight and gratitude27 to the All-Goodness that had vouchsafed28 him such a prize.
The kiss of the life-giving water had induced a tender flush of colour in the soft white neck, as though the pink of her bathing-suit had spread upwards29. He could see the pulsing blue veins30 in neck and temple as she rose to her stroke. A tiny tendril of water-darkened hair lifted and fell on her neck like a filament31 of seaweed on a polished rock. Her eyes were very bright, and seemed larger than usual with the strenuous32 joy of it all. The wonder of her beauty absorbed him. He could hardly turn his face from it. He would have been content to go on swimming so for ever.
But, glancing past the sweet face one time, he saw that they had gone farther than he knew, and Scamp had turned long since and was yelping33 towards the shore.
"Better turn now," he said quietly, and she floated for a moment's rest, then turned and they headed for the shore, and Punch passed them noiselessly.
They ploughed along in good cheer for a time, and then, of a sudden, it seemed to him that they were making but poor progress.
He fixed34 his eyes on a rock on the shore and swam steadily on.
They had been opposite it. Twenty strokes, and the rock, instead of facing them, had swung slowly to the north. They were making less than no progress. They were drifting. They were in the grip of a current that was carrying them towards the black fangs35 of Pointe la Joue.
A cold sweat broke out among the sea-drops on his brow. Pointe la Joue is an ill place to land, even if they could make it, and the chances were that the current would carry them past.
How to tell her without undue36 upsetting? A panic might bring disaster.
He looked round at her. The bright face was high and resolute37. She was not aware of the danger, but from that look on her face he did not think she would go to pieces when he told her.
The rock he had been watching stood now at an angle to their course.
"Are you tired, Meg?" he asked.
"I'm all right."
"Turn on your back and float for a minute or two," and he set the example, and Punch saw and came slipping back to them.
"We're in a cross current," he said quietly. "And we're making no way—"
"I know. I was watching a rock on the shore. What's the best thing to do?"
"We'll rest for a few minutes and then go with the tide round Pointe la Joue. We can land in Vermandés. You're not cold, are you?"
"Not a bit."
When he lifted his head the Coupée was shortened to a span, and the southern headland folded over it as he looked. They were drifting as fast as a man could walk at his fastest. They were abreast38 the black rocks of La Joue.
"Now, dearest, a little spurt39 and we shall be in the slack. If you get tired, tell me," and they struck out vigorously on a shoreward slant40 in the direction they were going.
There should have been a backwater round the corner of Vermandés. He had counted on it. And there was one, but so swift was the rush of the tide round the out-jutting rocks of La Joue, that for some minutes, as they battled with the rough edge of it, it was touch and go with them.
At a word from her his arm would be at her service. But she fought bravely on, and could admire Punch's graceful41 action even then. The waves smacked42 her rudely in the face. Great writhing43 coils came belching44 up from below and burst under her chin and almost swamped her. One, as strong as a snake, rose suddenly under her, flung her off her stroke, rolled her over, made her for a moment feel utterly45 helpless.
"Jock!"
He had been watching her closely. His arm flashed out in front of her.
"Grip!" and she hung on to it and it felt like a bar of steel.
"Now!"—when she had recovered herself somewhat. "Grip the top of my suit."—She hooked her fingers into it and he struck out through the turmoil46.
It was a tough little fight. She struck out vigorously behind to help him. And, though the losing of the fight might mean tragedy and two white bodies ragging forlornly along the black teeth of Little Sark, she still had time to notice the mighty play of muscles in his back and arms, and the swelling47 veins in his sunburnt neck, and the crisp rippled48 hair above, and she rejoiced mightily49 in him. And—while possible deaths lurked50 all about them—her soul grew large within her at thought of the brave heart in front, and the strenuous will, and the shapely body, and the powerful muscles—all battling for her—all hers—and she theirs. What matter if they were beaten, if they but went out together! What matter Death so long as he did not divide them! So uplifted was she with the joy of him.
And then, with a final wrestle51, they were in slack water, and she loosed her hold and struck out alongside him.
And presently he was helping52 her carefully up a seamed black rock, and the hand she gripped was shaking now, and she knew it was not for himself.
"Thank God!" said Graeme fervently53, as he sank down heavily beside her, and panted while the water ran out of them, and Punch scrambled54 up and lay quietly alongside. "Meg,—we were in peril55."
"Jock," she said jerkily, for her heart was going now quicker than usual, "I do not believe I would have minded—if we'd gone together."
"Ay—together, but, God be thanked, it did not come to that!"
They sat in silence for a time, finding themselves, while the green seas swelled56 up to their feet, and sank out of sight below, and their rock was laced with cascades57 of creamy foam58.
"How shall we get back?" asked Margaret at last. "Hennie will be in desperation. She will think we are drowned."
"We can climb the head and round into Grande Grève, but it would be pretty rough on the feet. Or we can wait till the tide turns and swim in again—"
"When will it turn?"
"It's full at noon," he said, studying the waters in front. "But how that affects matters here none but a Sarkman could say. Tides here are a law unto themselves, like the people."
"How would that do?" asked Margaret, as a black boat came slowly round the rocks from Les Fontaines, sculled by an elderly fisherman.
"It is old Billy Mollet after his lobster-pots," and he stood up and coo-eed to the new-comer, and waved his arms till Billy saw them and stared hard and then turned leisurely59 their way.
"Guyablle!" said the old man, as he drew in. "What you doin' there now?"
"Got carried out of Grande Grève by a current, Mr. Mollet. Will you take us back in your boat?"
"Ay, ay!" and he brought the boat as near to the rock as he dared, and his weather-stained old eyes settled hypnotically on the fairest burden his old tub had ever carried, as Graeme handed her carefully down and helped her to spring into the dancing craft, and then sprang in himself with bleeding feet and shins, while Punch leaped lightly after him and crawled under a thwart60.
"Ye must ha' been well out for tide to catch ye," said Billy, with no eyes for anything but the vision in clinging pink.
"Yes, we were too far out and couldn't get back."
"Tide runs round them rocks."
He dropped his oar61 into the rowlock and Graeme took the other, and in five minutes they were speeding across the sands of Grande Grève—Margaret to cover, Graeme to his pocket for Billy's reward.
Miss Penny had a driftwood fire roaring among the rocks, and the kettle was boiling.
"Where on earth have you two been?" she cried, at sight of Margaret skipping over the stones to her dressing-room, and got only the wave of a white arm in reply.
And presently Graeme came along in easy piratical costume of shirt and trousers and red sash, and sat down and lit a pipe.
"We went a bit farther than we intended," he explained, but did not tell her how nearly they had gone out of bounds altogether.
"You'll enjoy a cup of tea. You look as if you'd been working hard."
"There is a bit of a current round that point."
"Ah, you should follow a good example and keep within touch of the bottom. Here you are, Meg—fresh made for every customer. Help yourself, Mr. Graeme. I've had mine, I couldn't wait. Tea never tastes so good as when you're half full of salt-water, and I got right out of my depth once and swallowed tons. I screamed to you two to come and save me, but you never paid the slightest attention, and for all you cared I might have been drowned five times over."
"One would have been quite once too many," said Graeme, holding out his cup. "For then you couldn't have lighted that fire and made this tea. And I'm half inclined to think we wouldn't be enjoying it a quarter so much if a little blue corpse62 lay out there on the shining sand, and we'd had to turn to and make it ourselves."
"Horrible!" said Miss Penny, with a little shiver. "With your little blue corpses63! It's all very well to joke about it, but I assure you, for a minute or so, I thought I was done for. The bottom seemed to have sunk, and I was just going after it when my foot came on a rock and that helped me to kick ashore64."
"A narrow escape," said Graeme, with a sympathetic wag of the head. "You've no right to risk your life that way. We still need you. What do you say to being bridesmaid at a Sark wedding?"
"It is the hope of my life," said Miss Penny, sparkling like Mars in a clear evening sky.
"I really don't see any reason why we should wait"—said Graeme, looking very earnestly at Margaret, and behind the look was the thought, born of what they had just come through together, that life spills many a full cup before the thirsty lips have tasted it. "What do you say, Margaret?"
And she, knowing well what was in him, and being of the same mind, said, "I am ready, Jock. When you will."
"I'll call on the Vicar to-morrow," he said joyfully65. "It would be such a pity to disappoint the hope of Miss Penny's life,"—as that young person came back with the merry kettle.
"I am indebted to you," said Hennie Penny. "What about dresses, Meg?"
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1
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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magpie
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| n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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hawthorn
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| 山楂 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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16
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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gemmed
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| 点缀（gem的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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filament
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| n.细丝；长丝；灯丝 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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42
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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belching
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| n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式 | |
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45
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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48
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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50
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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51
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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52
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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54
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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56
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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57
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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58
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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62
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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64
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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