第46章

markedthepositionofthehousesandthebeautyofthevillage。Forthestream，inlieuofanystreet，passingbetweenthehouses，andaffordingperpetualchange，andtwinkling，andreflectionsmoreoverbyitssleepymurmursoothingallthedwellersthere，thisandthesnugnessoftheposition，walledwithrockandspreadwithherbage，madeitlook，inthequietmoonlight，likealittleparadise。Andtothinkofalltheinmatesthere，sleepingwithgoodconsciences，havingpliedtheirusefultradeofmakingothersworkforthem，enjoyinglifewithoutmuchlabour，yetwithgreatrenown。

MasterCharliewentdownthevillage，andIfollowedhimcarefully，keepingasmuchaspossibleintheshadowyplaces，andwatchingthewindowsofeveryhouse，lestanylightshouldbeburning。AsIpassedSirEnsor’shouse，myheartleapedup，forIspiedawindow，higherthantherestabovetheground，andwithafaintlightmoving。Thiscouldhardlyfailtobetheroomwhereinmydarlinglay；forherethatimpudentyoungfellowhadgazedwhilehewaswhistling。Andheremycouragegrewtenfold，andmyspiritfearednoevil——forlo，ifLornahadbeensurrenderedtothatscoundrel，Carver，shewouldnothavebeenathergrandfather’shouse，butinCarver’saccurseddwelling。

Warmwiththisidea，IhurriedafterCharleworthDoone，beingresolvednottoharmhimnow，unlessmyownliferequiredit。AndwhileIwatchedfrombehindatree，thedoorofthefarthesthousewasopened；andsureenoughitwasCarver’sself，whostoodbareheaded，andhalfundressedinthedoorway。Icouldseehisgreatblackchest，andarms，bythelightofthelamphebore。

’Whowantsmethistimeofnight？’hegrumbled，inadeepgruffvoice；’anyyoungscampprowlingafterthemaidsshallhavesorebonesforhistrouble。’

’Allthefairmaidsareforthee，arethey，MasterCarver？’Charlieanswered，laughing；’weyoungscampsmustbewell-contentwithcoarserstuffthanthouwouldsthave。’

’Wouldhave？Ay，andwillhave，’thegreatbeastmutteredangrily。’Ibidemytime；butnotverylong。

Onlyonewordforthygood，Charlie。Iwillflingtheesenselessintotheriver，ifeverIcatchthygirl-facethereagain。’

’Mayhap，MasterCarver，itismorethanthoucouldstdo。ButIwillnotkeepthee；thouartnotpleasantcompanyto-night。AllIwantisalightformylanthorn，andaglassofschnapps，ifthouhastit。’

’Whatisbecomeofthylight，then？GoodfortheeIamnotonduty。’

’AgreatowlflewbetweenmeandPhelps，aswewatchedbesidetheculvern，andsoscaredwasheatourfiercebrighteyesthathefellandknockedthelightout。’

’Likelytale，orlikelylie，Charles!Wewillhavethetruthto-morrow。Heretakethylight，andbegonewiththee。Allvirtuousmenareinbednow。’

’ThensowillIbe，andwhyartthounot？Ha，haveI

earnedmyschnappsnow？’

’Ifthouhast，thouhastpaidabaddebt；thereistoomuchintheealready。Beoff!mypatienceisdonewith。’

Thenheslammedthedoorintheyoungman’sface，havingkindledhislanthornbythistime：andCharliewentuptothewatchplaceagain，mutteringashepassedme，’Badlook-outforallofus，whenthatsurlyoldbeastisCaptain。Nogentlebloodinhim，nohospitality，notevenpleasantlanguage，noragoodnewoathinhisfrowsypate!I’veamindtocutthewholeofit；andbutforthegirlsIwouldso。’

Myheartwasinmymouth，astheysay，whenIstoodintheshadebyLorna’swindow，andwhisperedhernamegently。Thehousewasofonestoryonly，astheotherswere，withpine-endsstandingforththestone，andonlytworoughwindowsuponthatwesternsideofit，andperhapsbothofthemwereLorna’s。TheDooneshadbeentheirownbuilders，fornooneshouldknowtheirinsandouts；andofcoursetheirworkwasclumsy。Asfortheirwindows，theystolethemmostlyfromthehousesroundabout。Butthoughthewindowwasnotveryclose，Imighthavewhisperedlongenough，beforeshewouldhaveansweredme；frightenedasshewas，nodoubtbymanyarudeoverture。AndIdurstnotspeakaloudbecauseIsawanotherwatchmanpostedonthewesterncliff，andcommandingallthevalley。Andnowthisman(havingnocompanionfordrinkingorforgambling)

espiedmeagainstthewallofthehouse，andadvancedtothebrink，andchallengedme。

’Whoareyouthere？A