第72章

knowthatman!Heisourancientenemy；“andBenita(foreseeingthatalltheirboxeswouldbeturnedinsideout，orcarriedaway)，snatchedthemostvaluableofthejewels，amagnificentnecklaceofdiamonds，andcastitoverthelittlegirl’shead，andburieditunderhertravelling-cloak，hopingtosaveit。Thenagreatwave，crestedwithfoam，rolledin，andthecoachwasthrownonitsside，andthesearushedinatthetopandthewindows，uponshrieking，andclashing，andfaintingaway。

’WhatfollowedBenitaknewnot，asonemightwellsuppose，herselfbeingstunnedbyablowonthehead，besidebeingpalsiedwithterror。“See，Ihavethemarknow，“shesaid，“wherethejambofthedoorcamedownonme!“Butwhensherecoveredhersenses，shefoundherselflyinguponthesand，therobberswereoutofsight，andoneoftheserving-menwasbathingherforeheadwithseawater。Forthissheratedhimwell，havingtakenalreadytoomuchofthatarticle；andthenshearoseandrantohermistress，whowassittinguprightonalittlerock，withherdeadboy’sfacetoherbosom，sometimesgazinguponhim，andsometimesquestingroundfortheotherone。

’Althoughthereweretorchesandlinksaround，andshelookedatherchildbythelightofthem，noonedaredtoapproachthelady，orspeak，ortrytohelpher。

Eachmanwhisperedhisfellowtogo，buteachhungbackhimself，andmutteredthatitwastooawfultomeddlewith。Andthereshewouldhavesatallnight，withthefinelittlefellowstonedeadinherarms，andhertearlesseyesdwellinguponhim，andherheartbutnothermindthinking，onlythattheItalianwomenstoleupsoftlytoherside，andwhispered，“ItisthewillofGod。“

’“Soitalwaysseemstobe，“wereallthewordsthemother’answered；andthenshefellonBenita’sneck；

andthemenwereashamedtobenearherweeping；andasailorlaydownandbellowed。Surelythesemenarethebest。

’BeforethelightofthemorningcamealongthetidetoWatchettmyLadyhadmetherhusband。Theytookherintothetownthatnight，butnottoherowncastle；

andsothepowerofwomanhood(whichisitselfmaternity)cameoverswiftlyuponher。Thelady，whomallpeopleloved(thoughatcertaintimesparticular)，liesinWatchettlittlechurchyard，withsonandheiratherrighthand，andalittlebabe，ofsexunknown，sleepingonherbosom。

’Thisisamiserabletale，’saidJeremySticklesbrightly；’handmeovertheschnapps，myboy。Whatfoolswearetospoiloureyesforotherpeople’stroubles!Enoughofourowntokeepthemclean，althoughweallwerechimney-sweeps。Thereisnothinglikegoodhollands，whenamanbecomestoosensitive。

Restoretheactionoftheglands；thatismyrule，afterweeping。Letmemakeyouanother，John。Youarequitelow-spirited。’

ButalthoughMasterJeremycarriedonso(asbecamehismanhood)，andlaughedatthesailor’sbellowing；blesshisheart，Iknewaswellthattearswereinhisbravekeeneyes，asifIhaddaredtolookforthem，ortoshowmineown。

’Andwhatwasthelady’sname？’Iasked；’andwhatbecameofthelittlegirl？Andwhydidthewomanstaythere？’

’Well!’criedJeremyStickles，onlytoogladtobecheerfulagain：’talkofawomanafterthat!Asweusedtosayatschool——“Whodraggedwhom，howmanytimes，inwhatmanner，roundthewallofwhat？“Buttobegin，lastfirst，myJohn(asbecomesawoman)：Benitastayedinthatblessedplace，becauseshecouldnotgetawayfromit。TheDoones——ifDoonesindeedtheywere，aboutwhichyouofcourseknowbest——tookeverystiveroutofthecarriage：wetordrytheytookit。AndBenitacouldnevergetherwages：forthewholeaffairisinChancery，andtheyhaveappointedareceiver。’

’Whew!’saidI，knowingsomethingofLondon，andsorryforBenita’schance。

’SothepoorthingwascompelledtodropallthoughtofApulia，andsettledownonthebrinkofExmoor，whereyougetallitsevils，withoutthegoodtobalancethem。ShemarriedamanwhoturnedawheelformakingtheblueWatchettware，partlybecausehecouldgiveherahouse，andpartlybecauseheprovedhimselfagoodsoultowardsmyLady。Therethe