按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the firm； unbroken sands； … nothing before had trampled them since last
night's flowing tide had obliterated the deepest marks of yesterday； and left
them fair and even； except where the subsiding water had left behind it the
traces of dimpled pools and little running streams。
Refreshed； delighted； invigorated； I walked along； forgetting all my
cares； feeling as if I had wings to my feet； and could go at least forty miles
without fatigue； and experiencing a sense of exhilaration to which I had
been an entire stranger since the days of early youth。 About half…past six；
however； the grooms began to come down to air their masters' horses …
first one； and then another； till there were some dozen horses and five or
six riders： but that need not trouble me； for they would not come as far as
the low rocks which I was now approaching。 When I had reached these；
and walked over the moist； slippery sea…weed （at the risk of floundering
into one of the numerous pools of clear； salt water that lay between them）；
to a little mossy promontory with the sea splashing round it； I looked back
again to see who next was stirring。 Still； there were only the early
grooms with their horses； and one gentleman with a little dark speck of a
dog running before him； and one water…cart coming out of the town to get
water for the baths。 In another minute or two； the distant bathing
machines would begin to move； and then the elderly gentlemen of regular
habits and sober quaker ladies would be coming to take their salutary
morning walks。 But however interesting such a scene might be； I could
not wait to witness it； for the sun and the sea so dazzled my eyes in that
direction； that I could but afford one glance； and then I turned again to
delight myself with the sight and the sound of the sea； dashing against my
promontory … with no prodigious force； for the swell was broken by the
tangled sea…weed and the unseen rocks beneath； otherwise I should soon
have been deluged with spray。 But the tide was coming in； the water was
rising； the gulfs and lakes were filling； the straits were widening： it was
time to seek some safer footing； so I walked； skipped； and stumbled back
to the smooth； wide sands； and resolved to proceed to a certain bold
173
… Page 174…
AGNES GREY
projection in the cliffs； and then return。
Presently； I heard a snuffling sound behind me and then a dog came
frisking and wriggling to my feet。 It was my own Snap … the little dark；
wire…haired terrier！ When I spoke his name； he leapt up in my face and
yelled for joy。 Almost as much delighted as himself； I caught the little
creature in my arms； and kissed him repeatedly。 But how came he to be
there？ He could not have dropped from the sky； or come all that way
alone： it must be either his master； the rat…catcher； or somebody else that
had brought him； so； repressing my extravagant caresses； and
endeavouring to repress his likewise； I looked round； and beheld … Mr。
Weston！
'Your dog remembers you well； Miss Grey；' said he； warmly grasping
the hand I offered him without clearly knowing what I was about。 'You
rise early。'
'Not often so early as this；' I replied； with amazing composure；
considering all the circumstances of the case。
'How far do you purpose to extend your walk？'
'I was thinking of returning … it must be almost time； I think。'
He consulted his watch … a gold one now … and told me it was only five
minutes past seven。
'But； doubtless； you have had a long enough walk；' said he； turning
towards the town； to which I now proceeded leisurely to retrace my steps；
and he walked beside me。
'In what part of the town do you live？' asked he。 'I never could
discover。'
Never could discover？ Had he endeavoured to do so then？ I told
him the place of our abode。 He asked how we prospered in our affairs。
I told him we were doing very well … that we had had a considerable
addition to our pupils after the Christmas vacation； and expected a still
further increase at the close of this。
'You must be an accomplished instructor；' he observed。
'No； it is my mother；' I replied； 'she manages things so well； and is so
active； and clever； and kind。'
'I should like to know your mother。 Will you introduce me to her
174
… Page 175…
AGNES GREY
some time； if I call？'
'Yes； willingly。'
'And will you allow me the privilege of an old friend； of looking in
upon you now and then？'
'Yes； if … I suppose so。'
This was a very foolish answer； but the truth was； I considered that I
had no right to invite anyone to my mother's house without her knowledge；
and if I had said； 'Yes； if my mother does not object；' it would appear as if
by his question I understood more than was expected； so； SUPPOSING
she would not； I added； 'I suppose so：' but of course I should have said
something more sensible and more polite； if I had had my wits about me。
We continued our walk for a minute in silence； which； however； was
shortly relieved （no small relief to me） by Mr。 Weston commenting upon
the brightness of the morning and the beauty of the bay； and then upon the
advantages A… possessed over many other fashionable places of resort。
'You don't ask what brings me to A… ' said he。 'You can't suppose I'm
rich enough to come for my own pleasure。'
'I heard you had left Horton。'
'You didn't hear； then； that I had got the living of F…？'
F… was a village about two miles distant from A…。
'No；' said I； 'we live so completely out of the world； even here； that
news seldom reaches me through any quarter； except through the medium
of the … GAZETTE。 But I hope you like your new parish； and that I may
congratulate you on the acquisition？'
'I expect to like my parish better a year or two hence； when I have
worked certain reforms I have set my heart upon … or； at least； progressed
some steps towards such an achievement。 But you may congratulate me
now； for I find it very agreeable to HAVE a parish all to myself； with
nobody to interfere with me … to thwart my plans or cripple my exertions：
and besides； I have a respectable house in a rather pleasant neighbourhood；
and three hundred pounds a year； and； in fact； I have nothing but solitude
to complain of； and nothing but a companion to wish for。'
He looked at me as he concluded： and the flash of his dark eyes
seemed to set my face on fire； greatly to my own discomfiture； for to
175
… Page 176…
AGNES GREY
evince confusion at such a juncture was intolerable。 I made an effort；
therefore； to remedy the evil； and disclaim all personal application of the
remark by a hasty； ill…expressed reply； to the effect that； if he waited till he
was well known in the neighbourhood； he might have numerous
opportunities for supplying his want among the residents of F… and its
vicinity； or the visitors of A…； if he required so ample a choice： not
considering the compliment implied by such an assertion； till his answer
made me aware of it。
'I am not so presumptuous as to believe that；' said he； 'though you tell
it me； but if it were so； I am rather particular in my notions of a
companion for life； and perhaps I might not find one to suit me among the
ladies you mention。'
'If you require perfection； you never will。'
'I do not … I have no right to require it； as being so far from perfect
myself。'
Here the conversation was interrupted by a water…cart lumbering past
us； for we were now come to the busy part of the sands； and； for the next
eight or ten minutes； between carts and horses； and asses；