第14章

Shewaspalewithsuspensewhiletheboatwithmailbagswasmakingtowardsthem。Absorbedinherlettersshedidnotnoticethatshehadleftthe_Euphrosyne_，andfeltnosadnesswhentheshiplifteduphervoiceandbellowedthricelikeacowseparatedfromitscalf。

“Thechildrenarewell！“sheexclaimed。Mr。Pepper，whosatoppositewithagreatmoundofbagandruguponhisknees，said，“Gratifying。“Rachel，towhomtheendofthevoyagemeantacompletechangeofperspective，wastoomuchbewilderedbytheapproachoftheshoretorealisewhatchildrenwerewellorwhyitwasgratifying。Helenwentonreading。

Movingveryslowly，andrearingabsurdlyhighovereachwave，thelittleboatwasnowapproachingawhitecrescentofsand。

Behindthiswasadeepgreenvalley，withdistincthillsoneitherside。

Ontheslopeoftheright-handhillwhitehouseswithbrownroofsweresettled，likenestingsea-birds，andatintervalscypressesstripedthehillwithblackbars。Mountainswhosesideswereflushedwithred，butwhosecrownswerebald，roseasapinnacle，half-concealinganotherpinnaclebehindit。Thehourbeingstillearly，thewholeviewwasexquisitelylightandairy；

thebluesandgreensofskyandtreewereintensebutnotsultry。

Astheydrewnearerandcoulddistinguishdetails，theeffectoftheearthwithitsminuteobjectsandcoloursanddifferentformsoflifewasoverwhelmingafterfourweeksofthesea，andkeptthemsilent。

“Threehundredyearsodd，“saidMr。Peppermeditativelyatlength。

Asnobodysaid，“What？“hemerelyextractedabottleandswallowedapill。ThepieceofinformationthatdiedwithinhimwastotheeffectthatthreehundredyearsagofiveElizabethanbarqueshadanchoredwherethe_Euphrosyne_nowfloated。Half-drawnupuponthebeachlayanequalnumberofSpanishgalleons，unmanned，forthecountrywasstillavirginlandbehindaveil。Slippingacrossthewater，theEnglishsailorsboreawaybarsofsilver，balesoflinen，timbersofcedarwood，goldencrucifixesknobbedwithemeralds。

WhentheSpaniardscamedownfromtheirdrinking，afightensued，thetwopartieschurningupthesand，anddrivingeachotherintothesurf。TheSpaniards，bloatedwithfinelivinguponthefruitsofthemiraculousland，fellinheaps；butthehardyEnglishmen，tawnywithsea-voyaging，hairyforlackofrazors，withmuscleslikewire，fangsgreedyforflesh，andfingersitchingforgold，despatchedthewounded，drovethedyingintothesea，andsoonreducedthenativestoastateofsuperstitiouswonderment。

Hereasettlementwasmade；womenwereimported；childrengrew。

AllseemedtofavourtheexpansionoftheBritishEmpire，andhadtherebeenmenlikeRichardDallowayinthetimeofCharlestheFirst，themapwouldundoubtedlyberedwhereitisnowanodiousgreen。

Butitmustbesupposedthatthepoliticalmindofthatagelackedimagination，and，merelyforwantofafewthousandpoundsandafewthousandmen，thesparkdiedthatshouldhavebeenaconflagration。

FromtheinteriorcameIndianswithsubtlepoisons，nakedbodies，andpaintedidols；fromtheseacamevengefulSpaniardsandrapaciousPortuguese；exposedtoalltheseenemies(thoughtheclimateprovedwonderfullykindandtheearthabundant)theEnglishdwindledawayandallbutdisappeared。Somewhereaboutthemiddleoftheseventeenthcenturyasinglesloopwatcheditsseasonandslippedoutbynight，bearingwithinitallthatwasleftofthegreatBritishcolony，afewmen，afewwomen，andperhapsadozenduskychildren。

Englishhistorythendeniesallknowledgeoftheplace。Owingtoonecauseandanothercivilisationshifteditscentretoaspotsomefourorfivehundredmilestothesouth，andto-daySantaMarinaisnotmuchlargerthanitwasthreehundredyearsago。

Inpopulationitisahappycompromise，forPortuguesefatherswedIndianmothers，andtheirchildrenintermarrywiththeSpanish。

AlthoughtheygettheirploughsfromManchester，theymaketheircoatsfromtheirownsheep，theirsilkfromtheirownworms，andtheirfurniturefromtheirowncedartrees，sothatinartsandindustriestheplaceisstillmuchwhereitwasinElizabethandays。

ThereasonswhichhaddrawntheEnglishacrosstheseatofoundasmallcolonywithinthelasttenyearsarenotsoeasilydescribed，andwillneverperhapsberecordedinhistorybooks。Grantedfacilityoftravel，peace，goodtrade，andsoon，therewasbesidesakindofdissatisfactionamongtheEnglishwiththeoldercountriesandtheenormousaccumulationsofcarvedstone，stainedglass，andrichbrownpaintingwhichtheyofferedtothetourist。

Themovementinsearchofsomethingnewwasofcourseinfinitelysmall，affectingonlyahandfulofwell-to-dopeople。ItbeganbyafewschoolmastersservingtheirpassageouttoSouthAmericaasthepursersoftrampsteamers。Theyreturnedintimeforthesummerterm，whentheirstoriesofthesplendoursandhardshipsoflifeatsea，thehumoursofsea-captains，thewondersofnightanddawn，andthemarvelsoftheplacedelightedoutsiders，andsometimesfoundtheirwayintoprint。Thecountryitselftaxedalltheirpowersofdescription，fortheysaiditwasmuchbiggerthanItaly，andreallynoblerthanGreece。Again，theydeclaredthatthenativeswerestrangelybeautiful，verybiginstature，dark，passionate，andquicktoseizetheknife。Theplaceseemednewandfullofnewformsofbeauty，inproofofwhichtheyshowedhandkerchiefswhichthewomenhadwornroundtheirheads，andprimitivecarvingscolouredbrightgreensandblues。Somehoworother，asfashionsdo，thefashionspread；

anoldmonasterywasquicklyturnedintoahotel，whileafamouslineofsteamshipsaltereditsroutefortheconvenienceofpassengers。

OddlyenoughithappenedthattheleastsatisfactoryofHelenAmbrose’sbrothershadbeensentoutyearsbeforetomakehisfortune，atanyratetokeepclearofrace-horses，intheveryspotwhichhadnowbecomesopopular。Often，leaninguponthecolumnintheverandah，hehadwatchedtheEnglishshipswithEnglishschoolmastersforpurserssteamingintothebay。Havingatlengthearnedenoughtotakeaholiday，andbeingsickoftheplace，heproposedtoputhisvilla，ontheslopeofthemountain，athissister’sdisposal。She，too，hadbeenalittlestirredbythetalkofanewworld，wheretherewasalwayssunandneverafog，whichwentonaroundher，andthechance，whentheywereplanningwheretospendthewinteroutofEngland，seemedtoogoodtobemissed。

ForthesereasonsshedeterminedtoacceptWilloughby’sofferoffreepassagesonhisship，toplacethechildrenwiththeirgrand-parents，andtodothethingthoroughlywhileshewasaboutit。

Takingseatsinacarriagedrawnbylong-tailedhorseswithpheasants’

featherserectbetweentheirears，theAmbroses，Mr。Pepper，andRachelrattledoutoftheharbour。Thedayincreasedinheatastheydroveupthehill。Theroadpassedthroughthetown，wheremenseemedtobebeatingbrassandcrying“Water，“wherethepassagewasblockedbymulesandclearedbywhipsandcurses，wherethewomenwalkedbarefoot，theirheadsbalancingbaskets，andcrippleshastilydisplayedmutilatedmembers；itissuedamongsteepgreenfields，notsogreenbutthattheearthshowedthrough。

Greattreesnowshadedallbutthecentreoftheroad，andamountainstream，soshallowandsoswiftthatitplaiteditselfintostrandsasitran，racedalongtheedge。Highertheywent，untilRidleyandRachelwalkedbehind；nexttheyturnedalongalanescatteredwithstones，whereMr。Pepperraisedhisstickandsilentlyindicatedashrub，bearingamongsparseleavesavoluminouspurpleblossom；andataricketycanterthelaststageofthewaywasaccomplished。

Thevillawasaroomywhitehouse，which，asisthecasewithmostcontinentalhouses，lookedtoanEnglisheyefrail，ramshackle，andabsurdlyfrivolous，morelikeapagodainatea-gardenthanaplacewhereoneslept。Thegardencalledurgentlyfortheservicesofgardener。Busheswavedtheirbranchesacrossthepaths，andthebladesofgrass，withspacesofearthbetweenthem，couldbecounted。Inthecircularpieceofgroundinfrontoftheverandahweretwocrackedvases，fromwhichredflowersdrooped，withastonefountainbetweenthem，nowparchedinthesun。

Thecirculargardenledtoalonggarden，wherethegardener’sshearshadscarcelybeen，unlessnowandthen，whenhecutaboughofblossomforhisbeloved。Afewtalltreesshadedit，androundbusheswithwax-likeflowersmobbedtheirheadstogetherinarow。

Agardensmoothlylaidwithturf，dividedbythickhedges，withraisedbedsofbrightflowers，suchaswekeepwithinwallsinEngland，wouldhavebeenoutofplaceuponthesideofthisbarehill。

Therewasnouglinesstoshutout，andthevillalookedstraightacrosstheshoulderofaslope，ribbedwitholivetrees，tothesea。

TheindecencyofthewholeplacestruckMrs。Chaileyforcibly。

Therewerenoblindstoshutoutthesun，norwasthereanyfurnituretospeakofforthesuntospoil。Standinginthebarestonehall，andsurveyingastaircaseofsuperbbreadth，butcrackedandcarpetless，shefurtherventuredtheopinionthattherewererats，aslargeasterriersathome，andthatifoneputone’sfootdownwithanyforceonewouldcomethroughthefloor。Asforhotwater——atthispointherinvestigationsleftherspeechless。

“Poorcreature！“shemurmuredtothesallowSpanishservant-girlwhocameoutwiththepigsandhenstoreceivethem，“nowonderyouhardlylooklikeahumanbeing！“MariaacceptedthecomplimentwithanexquisiteSpanishgrace。InChailey’sopiniontheywouldhavedonebettertostayonboardanEnglishship，butnoneknewbetterthanshethatherdutycommandedhertostay。

Whentheyweresettledin，andintraintofinddailyoccupation，therewassomespeculationastothereasonswhichinducedMr。Peppertostay，takinguphislodgingintheAmbroses’house。

EffortshadbeenmadeforsomedaysbeforelandingtoimpressuponhimtheadvantagesoftheAmazons。

“Thatgreatstream！“Helenwouldbegin，gazingasifshesawavisionarycascade，“I’veagoodmindtogowithyoumyself，Willoughby——onlyIcan’t。Thinkofthesunsetsandthemoonrises——

Ibelievethecoloursareunimaginable。“

“Therearewildpeacocks，“Rachelhazarded。

“Andmarvellouscreaturesinthewater，“Helenasserted。

“Onemightdiscoveranewreptile，“Rachelcontinued。

“There’scertaintobearevolution，I’mtold，“Helenurged。

TheeffectofthesesubterfugeswasalittledashedbyRidley，who，afterregardingPepperforsomemoments，sighedaloud，“Poorfellow！“

andinwardlyspeculatedupontheunkindnessofwomen。

Hestayed，however，inapparentcontentmentforsixdays，playingwithamicroscopeandanotebookinoneofthemanysparselyfurnishedsitting-rooms，butontheeveningoftheseventhday，astheysatatdinner，heappearedmorerestlessthanusual。

Thedinner-tablewassetbetweentwolongwindowswhichwereleftuncurtainedbyHelen’sorders。Darknessfellassharplyasaknifeinthisclimate，andthetownthensprangoutincirclesandlinesofbrightdotsbeneaththem。Buildingswhichnevershowedbydayshowedbynight，andtheseaflowedrightoverthelandjudgingbythemovinglightsofthesteamers。ThesightfulfilledthesamepurposeasanorchestrainaLondonrestaurant，andsilencehaditssetting。WilliamPepperobserveditforsometime；

heputonhisspectaclestocontemplatethescene。

“I’veidentifiedthebigblocktotheleft，“heobserved，andpointedwithhisforkatasquareformedbyseveralrowsoflights。

“Oneshouldinferthattheycancookvegetables，“headded。

“Anhotel？“saidHelen。

“Onceamonastery，“saidMr。Pepper。

Nothingmorewassaidthen，but，thedayafter，Mr。Pepperreturnedfromamiddaywalk，andstoodsilentlybeforeHelenwhowasreadingintheverandah。

“I’vetakenaroomoverthere，“hesaid。

“You’renotgoing？“sheexclaimed。

“Onthewhole——yes，“heremarked。“Noprivatecook_can_cookvegetables。“

Knowinghisdislikeofquestions，whichshetosomeextentshared，Helenaskednomore。Still，anuneasysuspicionlurkedinhermindthatWilliamwashidingawound。Sheflushedtothinkthatherwords，orherhusband’s，orRachel’shadpenetratedandstung。Shewashalf-movedtocry，“Stop，William；explain！“andwouldhavereturnedtothesubjectatluncheonifWilliamhadnotshownhimselfinscrutableandchill，liftingfragmentsofsaladonthepointofhisfork，withthegestureofamanprongingseaweed，detectinggravel，suspectinggerms。

“IfyoualldieoftyphoidIwon’tberesponsible！“hesnapped。

“Ifyoudieofdulness，neitherwillI，“Helenechoedinherheart。

Shereflectedthatshehadneveryetaskedhimwhetherhehadbeeninlove。Theyhadgotfurtherandfurtherfromthatsubjectinsteadofdrawingnearertoit，andshecouldnothelpfeelingitareliefwhenWilliamPepper，withallhisknowledge，hismicroscope，hisnote-books，hisgenuinekindlinessandgoodsense，butacertaindrynessofsoul，tookhisdeparture。Alsoshecouldnothelpfeelingitsadthatfriendshipsshouldendthus，althoughinthiscasetohavetheroomemptywassomethingofacomfort，andshetriedtoconsoleherselfwiththereflectionthatoneneverknowshowfarotherpeoplefeelthethingstheymightbesupposedtofeel。