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thinking of you many times since Mrs。 Barnet went by in the pony…
carriage； and now here you are！'
'Yes； Lucy；' he said。
Then she seemed to recall particulars of their last meeting； and he
believed that she flushed； though it might have been only the fancy
of his own supersensitivenesss。
'I am going to the harbour；' he added。
'Are you？' Lucy remarked simply。 'A great many people begin to go
there now the summer is drawing on。'
Her face had come more into his view as she spoke； and he noticed
how much thinner and paler it was than when he had seen it last。
'Lucy； how weary you look！ tell me； can I help you？' he was going to
cry out。'If I do；' he thought； 'it will be the ruin of us both！'
He merely said that the afternoon was fine； and went on his way。
As he went a sudden blast of air came over the hill as if in
contradiction to his words； and spoilt the previous quiet of the
scene。 The wind had already shifted violently； and now smelt of the
sea。
The harbour…road soon began to justify its name。 A gap appeared in
the rampart of hills which shut out the sea； and on the left of the
opening rose a vertical cliff； coloured a burning orange by the
sunlight； the companion cliff on the right being livid in shade。
Between these cliffs； like the Libyan bay which sheltered the
shipwrecked Trojans； was a little haven； seemingly a beginning made
by Nature herself of a perfect harbour； which appealed to the
passer…by as only requiring a little human industry to finish it and
make it famous； the ground on each side as far back as the daisied
slopes that bounded the interior valley being a mere layer of blown
sand。 But the Port…Bredy burgesses a mile inland had； in the course
of ten centuries； responded many times to that mute appeal； with the
result that the tides had invariably choked up their works with sand
and shingle as soon as completed。 There were but few houses here：
a rough pier； a few boats； some stores； an inn； a residence or two；
a ketch unloading in the harbour； were the chief features of the
settlement。 On the open ground by the shore stood his wife's pony…
carriage； empty； the boy in attendance holding the horse。
When Barnet drew nearer； he saw an indigo…coloured spot moving
swiftly along beneath the radiant base of the eastern cliff； which
proved to be a man in a jersey； running with all his might。 He held
up his hand to Barnet； as it seemed； and they approached each other。
The man was local； but a stranger to him。
'What is it； my man？' said Barnet。
'A terrible calamity！' the boatman hastily explained。 Two ladies
had been capsized in a boatthey were Mrs。 Downe and Mrs。 Barnet of
the old town； they had driven down there that afternoonthey had
alighted； and it was so fine； that； after walking about a little
while； they had been tempted to go out for a short sail round the
cliff。 Just as they were putting in to the shore； the wind shifted
with a sudden gust； the boat listed over； and it was thought they
were both drowned。 How it could have happened was beyond his mind
to fathom； for John Green knew how to sail a boat as well as any man
there。
'Which is the way to the place？' said Barnet。
It was just round the cliff。
'Run to the carriage and tell the boy to bring it to the place as
soon as you can。 Then go to the Harbour Inn and tell them to ride
to town for a doctor。 Have they been got out of the water？'
'One lady has。'
'Which？'
'Mrs。 Barnet。 Mrs。 Downe； it is feared； has fleeted out to sea。'
Barnet ran on to that part of the shore which the cliff had hitherto
obscured from his view； and there discerned； a long way ahead； a
group of fishermen standing。 As soon as he came up one or two
recognized him； and； not liking to meet his eye； turned aside with
misgiving。 He went amidst them and saw a small sailing…boat lying
draggled at the water's edge； and； on the sloping shingle beside it；
a soaked and sandy woman's form in the velvet dress and yellow
gloves of his wife。
CHAPTER V
All had been done that could be done。 Mrs。 Barnet was in her own
house under medical hands； but the result was still uncertain。
Barnet had acted as if devotion to his wife were the dominant
passion of his existence。 There had been much to decidewhether to
attempt restoration of the apparently lifeless body as it lay on the
shorewhether to carry her to the Harbour Innwhether to drive
with her at once to his own house。 The first course； with no
skilled help or appliances near at hand； had seemed hopeless。 The
second course would have occupied nearly as much time as a drive to
the town； owing to the intervening ridges of shingle； and the
necessity of crossing the harbour by boat to get to the house； added
to which much time must have elapsed before a doctor could have
arrived down there。 By bringing her home in the carriage some
precious moments had slipped by； but she had been laid in her own
bed in seven minutes； a doctor called to her side； and every
possible restorative brought to bear upon her。
At what a tearing pace he had driven up that road； through the
yellow evening sunlight； the shadows flapping irksomely into his
eyes as each wayside object rushed past between him and the west！
Tired workmen with their baskets at their backs had turned on their
homeward journey to wonder at his speed。 Halfway between the shore
and Port…Bredy town he had met Charlson； who had been the first
surgeon to hear of the accident。 He was accompanied by his
assistant in a gig。 Barnet had sent on the latter to the coast in
case that Downe's poor wife should by that time have been reclaimed
from the waves； and had brought Charlson back with him to the house。
Barnet's presence was not needed here； and he felt it to be his next
duty to set off at once and find Downe； that no other than himself
might break the news to him。
He was quite sure that no chance had been lost for Mrs。 Downe by his
leaving the shore。 By the time that Mrs。 Barnet had been laid in
the carriage； a much larger group had assembled to lend assistance
in finding her friend； rendering his own help superfluous。 But the
duty of breaking the news was made doubly painful by the
circumstance that the catastrophe which had befallen Mrs。 Downe was
solely the result of her own and her husband's loving…kindness
towards himself。
He found Downe in his office。 When the solicitor comprehended the
intelligence he turned pale； stood up； and remained for a moment
perfectly still； as if bereft of his faculties； then his shoulders
heaved； he pulled out his handkerchief and began to cry like a
child。 His sobs might have been heard in the next room。 He seemed
to have no idea of going to the shore； or of doing anything； but
when Barnet took him gently by the hand and proposed to start at
once； he quietly acquiesced； neither uttering any further word nor
making any effort to repress his tears。
Barnet accompanied him to the shore； where； finding that no trace
had as yet been seen of Mrs。 Downe； and that his stay would be of no
avail； he left Downe with his friends and the young doctor； and once
more hastened back to his own house。
At the do