My first relief came on Tuesday when at noon I saw the high dog-cart dash past the gate and draw up short opposite the post-office.
I did not lose any time in reaching the cart so as to be able to help the ladies down. Marjory gave me both her hands and jumped lightly, but the elder lady required a good deal of help. It is always thus; the experience of every young man is the same. Every woman, old or young, except the one whom he likes to lift or carry tenderly, is willing to be lifted or carried in the most leisurely9 or self-denying manner.
“I hope you forgive us for all the trouble we have put you to.”
“No trouble at all,” I answered—and oh! it sounded so tame—“only a pleasure!” “Thank you,” she continued gravely, “that is very nice of you. Now we want you to add to your kindness and take us out again on that rock. I have not yet finished my sketch12, and I don’t like to be baffled.”
“Finished your sketch, my dear,” said Mrs. Jack, in a tone which manifestly showed that the whole thing was new to her. “Why, Marjory, it was washed into the sea before Mr. Hunter came to help us!” The slight, quick blush which rose to her face showed that she understood the false position in which the maladroit13 remark placed her; but she went on pluckily14:
[96]
“Oh, yes, dear, I know! What I mean is, that having set my heart on making that sketch, I want to do it; even if my first effort went wrong. That is, dear Mrs. Jack, if you do not mind our going out there again.”
“Oh, my dear,” said the elder lady, “of course I will do just whatever you wish. But I suppose it will do if I sit on the rock near at hand? Somehow, since our experience there, I seem to prefer the mainland than any place where you may have to swim to get away from it.” Marjory smiled at me as she said to her:
“That will do capitally. And you can keep the lunch basket; and have your eye on me and the rising of the tide all the time.”
So I sent to Whinnyfold to have a boat ready when we should drive over. Whilst the ladies were preparing themselves for the boating trip I went to my room and took in my pocket the papers from the chest and my rescripts. I took also the letter which I had not been able to deliver.
At Whinnyfold Miss Anita and I took the steep zigzag15 to the beach, piloted by one of John Hay’s boys whilst the other took Mrs. Jack across the neck of the headland to the Sand Craigs.
As we went down the steep path, the vision of the procession of ghosts moving steadily16 up it on Lammas Eve, came back to me; instinctively17 I looked round to see if Gormala was watching. I breathed more freely when I saw she was not about.
I should dearly have liked to take Miss Anita alone in the boat, but I feared that such was not safe. Rowing amongst the rocks of the Skares is at the best of times no child’s play, and I was guardian18 of too great a treasure to be willing to run any risks. Young Hay and I pulled, the boy being in the bow and doing the steering20. This position of affairs suited me admirably, for it kept me[97] close to my companion and facing her. It was at all times a pleasure to me as it would have been to any man, to watch her face; but to-day her eager joy at the beauty of all around her made me thrill with delight. The day was ideal for the place; a bright, clear day with just a ripple21 of wind from the water which took the edge from the July heat. The sea quivered with points of light, as though it were strewn with diamonds, and the lines of the racing22 tide threading a way amongst the rocks below were alone an endless source of interest. We rowed slowly which is much the safest way of progression in these waters, and especially when, as now, the tide was running towards the end of the ebb23. As the boy seemed to know every one of the myriad24 rocks which topped the water, and by a sort of instinct even those that lay below, we steered25 a devious26 course. I had told him to take us round by the outer rocks from which thousands of seabirds rose screaming as we approached; and as we crept in under the largest of them we felt that mysterious sense of unworthiness which comes to one in deep water under the shadow of rocks. I could see that Marjory had the sense of doubt, or of possible danger, which made her clutch hard at each gunwale of the boat till her knuckles27 grew white. As we rounded the Reivie o’ Pircappies, and found the tide swirling28 amongst the pointed29 rocks, she grew so deadly pale that I felt concerned. I should have liked to question her, but as I knew from my experience of her courage that she would probably prefer that I remained silent, I pretended not to notice. Male pretence30 does not count for much with women. She saw through me at once, and with a faint smile, which lit the pallor of her face like sunshine on snow, she said in so low a whisper that it did not reach the fisher boy:
“I was thinking what it would have been for us that day—only for you.”
[98]
“I was glad,” I answered in an equally low voice, “to be able to render any help to—to Mrs. Jack and her friend.”
“Mrs. Jack—and her friend—are very much obliged to you,” she answered gaily31 in her natural voice and tone. I could see that she had fully32 regained33 her courage, as involuntarily she took her hands from the sides of the boat. We kept now well out from the rocks and in deep water, and shortly sighted the Sand Craigs. As we could see Mrs. Jack and her escort trudging34 leisurely along the sand, and as we did not wish to hurry her, I asked young Hay with my companion’s consent, to keep round the outermost35 of the Sand Craigs, which was now grey-white with sea-gulls. On our approach the birds all rose and wheeled round with myriad screaming; the wonder and admiration36 of the girl’s eyes as they eagerly followed the sweep of the cloud of birds was good to see.
We hung around the great pointed rock till we saw Mrs. Jack making her way cautiously along the rocks. We rowed at once to the inner rock and placed the luncheon37 basket in a safe place. We then prepared a little sheltered nook for Mrs. Jack, with rugs and cushions so that she might be quite at ease. Miss Anita chose the place herself. I am bound to say it was not just as I should have selected; for when she sat down, her back was towards the rock from which she had been rescued. It was doubtless the young girl’s thoughtfulness in keeping her mind away from a place fraught38 with such unpleasant memories.
When she was safely installed we dismissed the boys till the half tide. Mrs. Jack was somewhat tired with her trudge39 over the sand, and even when we left her she was nodding her head with coming sleep. Then Miss Anita got out her little easel which I fixed40 for her as she[99] directed; when her camp stool was rightly placed and her palette prepared I sat down on the rock at her feet and looked at her whilst she began her work. For a little while she painted in silence: then turning to me she said suddenly:
“What about those papers? Have you found anything yet?” It was only then I bethought me of the letter in my pocket. Without a word I took it out and handed it to her. There was a slight blush as well as a smile on her face as she took it. When she saw the date she said impulsively41:
“Why did I not get it before?”
“Because I had not got your address, and did not know how to reach you.”
“I see!” she answered abstractedly as she began to read. When she had gone right through it she handed it to me and said:
“Now you read it out loud to me whilst I paint; and let me ask questions so that I may understand.” So I read; and now and again she asked me searching questions. Twice or three times I had to read over the memorandum42; but each time she began to understand better and better, and at last said eagerly:
“Have you ever worked out such reductions?”
“Not yet, but I could do so. I have been so busy trying to decipher the secret writing that I have not had time to try any such writing myself.”
“Have you succeeded in any way?”
“No!” I answered. “I am sorry to say that as yet I have nothing definite; though I am bound to say I am satisfied that there is a cipher43.”
“Have you tried both the numbers and the dots?”
“Both,” I answered; “but as yet I want a jumping-off place.”
“Do you really think from what you have studied[100] that the cipher is a biliteral one, or on the basis of a biliteral cipher?”
“I do! I can’t say exactly how I came to think so; but I certainly do.”
“Are there combinations of five?”
“Not that I can see.”
“Are there combinations of less than five?”
“There may be. There are certainly.”
“Then why on earth don’t you begin by reducing the biliteral cipher to the lowest dimensions you can manage? You may light on something that way.”
A light began to dawn upon me, and I determined44 that my task—so soon as my friends had left Cruden—would be to reduce Bacon’s biliteral. It was with genuine admiration for her suggestion that I answered Miss Anita:
“Your woman’s intuition is quicker than my man’s ratiocination45. ‘I shall in all my best obey you, Madam!’” She painted away steadily for some time. I was looking at her, covertly46 but steadily when an odd flash of memory came to me; without thinking I spoke47:
“When I first saw you, as you and Mrs. Jack stood on the rock, and away beyond you the rocks were all fringed with foam48, your head looked as if it was decked with flowers.” For a moment or two she paused before asking:
“What kind of flowers?”
Once again in our brief acquaintance I stood on guard. There was something in her voice which made me pause. It made my brain whirl, too, but there was a note of warning. At this time, God knows, I did not want any spurring. I was head over heels in love with the girl, and my only fear was lest by precipitancy I should spoil it all. Not for the wide world would I have cancelled the hopes that were dawning in me and filling me with a feverish49 anxiety. I could not help a sort of satisfied feeling as I answered:
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“White flowers!”
“Oh!” she said impulsively, and then with a blush continued, painting hard as she spoke:
“That is what they put on the dead! I see!” This was a counter-stroke with a vengeance50. It would not do to let it pass so I added:
“There is another ‘first-column’ function also in which white flowers are used. Besides, they don’t put flowers on the head of corpses51.”
“Of whom then?” The note of warning sounded again in the meekness52 of the voice. But I did not heed53 it. I did not want to heed it. I answered:
“Of Brides!” She made no reply—in words. She simply raised her eyes and sent one flashing glance through me, and then went on with her work. That glance was to a certain degree encouragement; but it was to a much greater degree dangerous, for it was full of warning. Although my brain was whirling, I kept my head and let her change the conversation with what meekness I could.
We accordingly went back to the cipher. She asked me many questions, and I promised to show her the secret writings when we should go back to the hotel. Here she struck in:
“We have ordered dinner at the hotel; and you are to dine with us.” I tried not to tremble as I answered:
“I shall be delighted.”
“And now,” she said “if we are to have lunch here to-day we had better go and wake Mrs. Jack. See! the tide has been rising all the time we have been talking. It is time to feed the animals.”
Mrs. Jack was surprised when we wakened her; but she too was ready for lunch. We enjoyed the meal hugely.
At half-tide the Hay boys came back. Miss Anita[102] thought that there was enough work for them both in carrying the basket and helping54 Mrs. Jack back to the carriage. “You will be able to row all right, will you not?” she said, turning to me. “You know the way now and can steer19. I shall not be afraid!”
When we were well out beyond the rock and could see the figures of Mrs. Jack and the boys getting further away each step, I took my courage in both hands; I was getting reckless now, and said to her:
“When a man is very anxious about a thing, and is afraid that just for omitting to say what he would like to say, he may lose something that he would give all the rest of the world to have a chance of getting—do—do you think he should remain silent?” I could see that she, too, could realise a note of warning. There was a primness55 and a want of the usual reality in her voice as she answered me:
“Silence, they say, is golden.” I laughed with a dash of bitterness which I could not help feeling as I replied:
“Then in this world the gold of true happiness is only for the dumb!” she said nothing but looked out with a sort of steadfast56 introspective eagerness over the million flashing diamonds of the sea; I rowed on with all my strength, glad to let go on something. Presently she turned to me, and with all the lambency of her spirit in her face, said with a sweetness which tingled57 through me:
“Are you not rowing too hard? You seem anxious to get to Whinnyfold. I fear we shall be there too soon. There is no hurry; we shall meet the others there in good time. Had you not better keep outside the dangerous rocks. There is not a sail in sight; not one, so far as I know, over the whole horizon, so you need not fear any collision. Remember, I do not advise you to cease rowing; for, after all, the current may bear us[103] away if we are merely passive. But row easily; and we may reach the harbour safely and in good time!”
Her speech filled me with a flood of feeling which has no name. It was not love; it was not respect; it was not worship; it was not, gratitude58. But it was compounded of them all. I had been of late studying secret writing so earnestly that there was now a possible secret meaning in everything I read. But oh! the poverty of written words beside the gracious richness of speech! No man who had a heart to feel or a brain to understand could have mistaken her meaning. She gave warning, and hope, and courage, and advice; all that wife could give husband, or friend give friend. I only looked at her, and without a word held out my hand. She placed hers in it frankly59; for a brief, blissful moment my soul was at one with the brightness of sea and sky.
There, in the very spot where I had seen Lauchlane Macleod go down into the deep, my own life took a new being.
[104]
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1
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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6
engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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7
cryptogram
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| n.密码 | |
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8
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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10
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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11
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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12
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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13
maladroit
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| adj.笨拙的 | |
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pluckily
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| adv.有勇气地，大胆地 | |
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15
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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16
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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18
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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19
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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20
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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21
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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22
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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24
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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25
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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26
devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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27
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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28
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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29
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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30
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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31
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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32
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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33
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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34
trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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35
outermost
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| adj.最外面的，远离中心的 | |
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36
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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37
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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38
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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39
trudge
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| v.步履艰难地走；n.跋涉，费力艰难的步行 | |
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40
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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41
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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42
memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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43
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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44
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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45
ratiocination
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| n.推理；推断 | |
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46
covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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48
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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49
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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50
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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51
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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52
meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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53
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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54
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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55
primness
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| n.循规蹈矩，整洁 | |
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56
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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57
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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59
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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