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Stockdale went forward and said at once； 'Lizzy； don't be
frightened。 I have been waiting up for you。'
She started； though she had recognized the voice。 'It is Mr。
Stockdale； isn't it？' she said。
'Yes；' he answered； becoming angry now that she was safe indoors；
and not alarmed。 'And a nice game I've found you out in to…night。
You are in man's clothes； and I am ashamed of you！'
Lizzy could hardly find a voice to answer this unexpected reproach。
'I am only partly in man's clothes；' she faltered； shrinking back to
the wall。 'It is only his greatcoat and hat and breeches that I've
got on； which is no harm； as he was my own husband； and I do it only
because a cloak blows about so； and you can't use your arms。 I have
got my own dress under just the sameit is only tucked in！ Will
you go away upstairs and let me pass？ I didn't want you to see me
at such a time as this！'
'But I have a right to see you！ How do you think there can be
anything between us now？' Lizzy was silent。 'You are a smuggler；'
he continued sadly。
'I have only a share in the run；' she said。
'That makes no difference。 Whatever did you engage in such a trade
as that for； and keep it such a secret from me all this time？'
'I don't do it always。 I only do it in winter…time when 'tis new
moon。'
'Well； I suppose that's because it can't be done anywhen else 。 。 。
You have regularly upset me； Lizzy。'
'I am sorry for that；' Lizzy meekly replied。
'Well now；' said he more tenderly； 'no harm is done as yet。 Won't
you for the sake of me give up this blamable and dangerous practice
altogether？'
'I must do my best to save this run；' said she； getting rather husky
in the throat。 'I don't want to give you upyou know that； but I
don't want to lose my venture。 I don't know what to do now！ Why I
have kept it so secret from you is that I was afraid you would be
angry if you knew。'
'I should think so！ I suppose if I had married you without finding
this out you'd have gone on with it just the same？'
'I don't know。 I did not think so far ahead。 I only went to…night
to burn the folks off； because we found that the excisemen knew
where the tubs were to be landed。'
'It is a pretty mess to be in altogether； is this；' said the
distracted young minister。 'Well； what will you do now？'
Lizzy slowly murmured the particulars of their plan； the chief of
which were that they meant to try their luck at some other point of
the shore the next night； that three landing…places were always
agreed upon before the run was attempted； with the understanding
that； if the vessel was 'burnt off' from the first point； which was
Ringsworth； as it had been by her to…night； the crew should attempt
to make the second； which was Lulstead Cove； on the second night；
and if there； too； danger threatened； they should on the third night
try the third place； which was behind a headland further west。
'Suppose the officers hinder them landing there too？' he said； his
attention to this interesting programme displacing for a moment his
concern at her share in it。
'Then we shan't try anywhere else all this darkthat's what we call
the time between moon and moonand perhaps they'll string the tubs
to a stray…line； and sink 'em a little…ways from shore； and take the
bearings； and then when they have a chance they'll go to creep for
'em。'
'What's that？'
'O； they'll go out in a boat and drag a creeperthat's a grapnel
along the bottom till it catch hold of the stray…line。'
The minister stood thinking； and there was no sound within doors but
the tick of the clock on the stairs； and the quick breathing of
Lizzy； partly from her walk and partly from agitation； as she stood
close to the wall； not in such complete darkness but that he could
discern against its whitewashed surface the greatcoat and broad hat
which covered her。
'Lizzy； all this is very wrong；' he said。 'Don't you remember the
lesson of the tribute…money？ 〃Render unto Caesar the things that
are Caesar's。〃 Surely you have heard that read times enough in your
growing up？'
'He's dead；' she pouted。
'But the spirit of the text is in force just the same。'
'My father did it； and so did my grandfather； and almost everybody
in Nether…Moynton lives by it； and life would be so dull if it
wasn't for that； that I should not care to live at all。'
'I am nothing to live for； of course；' he replied bitterly。 'You
would not think it worth while to give up this wild business and
live for me alone？'
'I have never looked at it like that。'
'And you won't promise and wait till I am ready？'
'I cannot give you my word to…night。' And； looking thoughtfully
down； she gradually moved and moved away； going into the adjoining
room； and closing the door between them。 She remained there in the
dark till he was tired of waiting； and had gone up to his own
chamber。
Poor Stockdale was dreadfully depressed all the next day by the
discoveries of the night before。 Lizzy was unmistakably a
fascinating young woman； but as a minister's wife she was hardly to
be contemplated。 'If I had only stuck to father's little grocery
business； instead of going in for the ministry； she would have
suited me beautifully！' he said sadly； until he remembered that in
that case he would never have come from his distant home to Nether…
Moynton； and never have known her。
The estrangement between them was not complete； but it was
sufficient to keep them out of each other's company。 Once during
the day he met her in the garden…path； and said； turning a
reproachful eye upon her； 'Do you promise； Lizzy？' But she did not
reply。 The evening drew on； and he knew well enough that Lizzy
would repeat her excursion at nighther half…offended manner had
shown that she had not the slightest intention of altering her plans
at present。 He did not wish to repeat his own share of the
adventure； but； act as he would； his uneasiness on her account
increased with the decline of day。 Supposing that an accident
should befall her； he would never forgive himself for not being
there to help； much as he disliked the idea of seeming to
countenance such unlawful escapades。
CHAPTER VHOW THEY WENT TO LULSTEAD COVE
As he had expected； she left the house at the same hour at night；
this time passing his door without stealth； as if she knew very well
that he would be watching； and were resolved to brave his
displeasure。 He was quite ready； opened the door quickly； and
reached the back door almost as soon as she。
'Then you will go； Lizzy？' he said as he stood on the step beside
her； who now again appeared as a little man with a face altogether
unsuited to his clothes。
'I must；' she said； repressed by his stern manner。
'Then I shall go too；' said he。
'And I am sure you will enjoy it！' she exclaimed in more buoyant
tones。 'Everybody does who tries it。'
'God forbid that I should！' he said。 'But I must look after you。'
They opened the wicket and went up the road abreast of each other；
but at some distance apart； scarcely a word passing between them。
The evening was rather less favourable to smuggling enterprise than
the last had been； the wind being lower； and the sky somewhat clear
towards the north。
'It is rather lighter；' said Stockdale。
''Tis； unfortunately；' said she。 'But it is only from those few
stars over there。 The moon was new to…day at four o'clock； and I
expected clouds。 I hope we shall be able to do it this dark； for
when we have to sink 'em for long it makes the stuff taste bleachy；
and folks don't like it so well。'
Her course was different from that of the preceding night； branching
off to the left over Lord's Barrow as soon as they had got out of
the lane and crossed the highway。 By the time they reached Chaldon
Down； Stockdale； who had been in perplexed thought as to what he
should say to her； decided that he would not attempt expostulation
now； while she was excited by the adventure； but wait till it was
over； and endeavour to keep her from such practices in future。 It
occurred to him once or twice； as they rambled on； that should they
be surprised by the excisemen； his situation would be more awkward
than hers； for it would be difficult to prove his true motive in
coming to the spot； but the risk was a slight consideration beside
his wish to be with her。
They now arrived at a ravine which lay on the outskirts of Chaldon；
a village two miles on their way towards the point of the shore they
sought。 Lizzy broke the silence this time： 'I have to wait here to
meet the carriers。 I don't know if they have come yet。 As I told
you； we go to Lulstead Cove to…night； and it is two miles further
than Ringsworth。'
It turned out that the men had already come； for while she spoke two
or three dozen heads broke the line of the slope； and a company of
them at once descended from the bushes where they had been lying in
wait。 These carriers were men whom Lizzy and other proprietors
regularly employed to bring the tubs from the boat to a hiding…place
inland。 They were all young fellows of Nether…Moynton； Chaldon； and
the neighbourhood； quiet and inoffensive persons； who simply engaged
to carry the ca