Gwen Wynn: A Romance of the Wye

Arrived at the stile, he makes stop, saying in soliloquy: —

“I take it she be sure to come; but I’d gi’e something to know which o’ the two ways. Bein’ so darkish, an’ that plank a bit dangerous to cross, I ha’ heard – ’tan’t often I cross it – just possible she may choose the roundabout o’ the road. Still, she sayed the big elm, an’ to get there she’ll have to take the path comin’ or goin’ back. If I thought comin’ I’d steer straight there an’ meet her. But s’posin’ she prefers the road, that ’ud make it longer to wait. Wonder which it’s to be.”

With hand rested on the top rail of the stile, he stands considering. Since their stolen interchange of speech at the Harvest Home, Mary has managed to send him word she will make an errand to Rugg’s Ferry; hence his uncertainty. Soon again he resumes his conjectured soliloquy: —

“’Tan’t possible she ha’ been to the Ferry, an’ goed back again? God help me, I hope not! An’ yet there’s just a chance. I weesh the Captain hadn’t kep’ me so long down there. An’ the fresh from the rain that delayed us nigh half a hour, I oughtn’t to a stayed a minute after gettin’ home. But mother cookin’ that nice bit o’ steak; if I hadn’t ate it she’d a been angry, and for certain suspected somethin’. Then listenin’ to all that dismal stuff ’bout the corpse-candle. An’ they believe it in the shire o’ Pembroke! Rot the thing! Tho’ I an’t myself noways superstishus, it gi’ed me the creeps. Queer, her dreamin’ she seed it go out o’ Abergann! I do weesh she hadn’t told me that; an’ I mustn’t say word o’t to Mary. Tho’ she ain’t o’ the fearsome kind, a thing like that’s enough to frighten anyone. Well, what ’d I best do? If she ha’ been to the Ferry an’s goed home again, then I’ve missed her, and no mistake! Still, she said she’d be at the elim, an’s never broke her promise to me when she cud keep it. A man ought to take a woman at her word – a true woman – an’ not be too quick to anticipate. Besides, the surer way’s the safer. She appointed the old place, an’ there I’ll abide her. But what am I thinkin’ o’? She may be there now, a waitin’ for me!”

He doesn’t stay by the stile one instant longer, but, vaulting over it, strikes off along the path.

Despite the obscurity of the night, the narrowness of the track, and the branches obstructing, he proceeds with celerity. With that part he is familiar – knows every inch of it, well as the way from his door to the place where he docks his boat – at least so far as the big elm, under whose spreading branches he and she have oft clandestinely met. It is an ancient patriarch of the forest; its timber is honeycombed with decay, not having tempted the axe by whose stroke its fellows have long ago fallen, and it now stands amid their progeny, towering over all. It is a few paces distant from the footpath, screened from it by a thicket of hollies interposed between, and extending around. From its huge hollow trunk a buttress, horizontally projected, affords a convenient seat for two, making it the very beau ideal of a trysting-tree.

Having got up and under it, Jack Wingate is a little disappointed – almost vexed – at not finding his sweetheart there. He calls her name – in the hope she may be among the hollies – at first cautiously and in a low voice, then louder. No reply; she has either not been, or has and is gone.

As the latter appears probable enough, he once more blames Captain Ryecroft, the rain, the river flood, the beefsteak – above all, that long yarn about the canwyll corph, muttering anathemas against the ghostly superstition.

Still she may come yet. It may be but the darkness that’s delaying her. Besides, she is not likely to have the fixing of her time. She said she would “find a way;” and having the will – as he believes – he flatters himself she will find it, despite all obstructions.

With confidence thus restored, he ceases to pace about impatiently, as he has been doing ever since his arrival at the tree; and, taking a seat on the buttress, sits listening with all ears. His eyes are of little use in the Cimmerian gloom. He can barely make out the forms of the holly bushes, though they are almost within reach of his hand.

But his ears are reliable, sharpened by love; and, ere long they convey a sound, to him sweeter than any other ever heard in that wood – even the songs of its birds. It is a swishing, as of leaves softly brushed by the skirts of a woman’s dress – which it is. He needs no telling who comes. A subtle electricity, seeming to precede, warns him of Mary Morgan’s presence, as though she were already by his side.

All doubts and conjectures at an end, he starts to his feet, and steps out to meet her. Soon as on the path he sees a cloaked figure, drawing nigh with a grace of movement distinguishable even in the dim glimmering light.

“That you, Mary?”

A question mechanical; no answer expected or waited for. Before any could be given she is in his arms, her lips hindered from words by a shower of kisses.

Thus having saluted, he takes her hand and leads her among the hollies. Not from precaution, or fear of being intruded upon. Few besides the farm people of Abergann use the right-of-way path, and unlikely any of them being on it at that hour. It is only from habit they retire to the more secluded spot under the elm, hallowed to them by many a sweet remembrance.

They sit down side by side; and close, for his arm is around her waist. How unlike the lovers in the painted pavilion at Llangorren! Here there is neither concealment of thought nor restraint of speech – no time given to circumlocution – none wasted in silence. There is none to spare, as she has told him at the moment of meeting.

“It’s kind o’ you comin’, Mary,” he says, as soon as they are seated. “I knew ye would.”

“O Jack! What a work I had to get out – the trick I’ve played mother! You’ll laugh when you hear it.”

“Let’s hear it, darling!”

She relates the catastrophe of the cupboard, at which he does laugh beyond measure, and with a sense of gratification. Six shillings thrown away – spilled upon the floor – and all for him! Where is the man who would not feel flattered, gratified, to be the shrine of such sacrifice, and from such a worshipper?

“You’ve been to the Ferry, then?”

“You see,” she says, holding up the bottle.

“I weesh I’d known that. I could a met ye on the road, and we’d had more time to be thegither. It’s too bad, you havin’ to go straight back.”

“It is. But there’s no help for it. Father Rogier will be there before this, and mother mad impatient.”

Were in light she would see his brow darken at mention of the priest’s name. She does not, nor does he give expression to the thoughts it has called up. In his heart he curses the Jesuit – often has with his tongue, but not now. He is too delicate to outrage her religious susceptibilities. Still he cannot be altogether silent on a theme so much concerning both.

“Mary dear!” he rejoins in grave, serious tone, “I don’t want to say a word against Father Rogier, seein’ how much he be your mother’s friend; or, to speak more truthful, her favourite; for I don’t believe he’s the friend o’ anybody. Sartinly, not mine, nor yours; and I’ve got it on my mind that man will some day make mischief between us.”

“How can he, Jack?”

“Ah, how! A many ways. One, his sayin’ ugly things about me to your mother – tellin’ her tales that ain’t true.”

“Let him – as many as he likes; you don’t suppose I’ll believe them?”

“No, I don’t, darling – ’deed I don’t.” A snatched kiss affirms the sincerity of his words; hers as well, in her lips not being drawn back, but meeting him halfway.

For a short time there is silence. With that sweet exchange thrilling their hearts it is natural.

He is the first to resume speech; and from a thought the kiss has suggested: —

“I know there be a good many who’d give their lives to get the like o’ that from your lips, Mary. A soft word, or only a smile. I’ve heerd talk o’ several. But one’s spoke of, in particular, as bein’ special favourite by your mother, and backed up by the French priest.”

“Who?”

She has an idea who – indeed knows; and the question is only asked to give opportunity of denial.

“I dislike mentionin’ his name. To me it seems like insultin’ ye. The very idea o’ Dick Dempsey – ”

“You needn’t say more,” she exclaims, interrupting him. “I know what you mean. But you surely don’t suppose I could think of him as a sweetheart? That would insult me.”

“I hope it would; pleezed to hear you say’t. For all, he thinks o’ you, Mary; not only in the way o’ sweetheart, but – ”

He hesitates.

“What?”

“I won’t say the word. ’Tain’t fit to be spoke – about him an’ you.”

“If you mean wife– as I suppose you do – listen! Rather than have Richard Dempsey for a husband, I’d die – go down to the river and drown myself! That horrid wretch! I hate him!”

“I’m glad to hear you talk that way – right glad.”

“But why, Jack? You know it couldn’t be otherwise! You should – after all that’s passed. Heaven be my witness! you I love, and you alone. You only shall ever call me wife. If not – then nobody!”

“God bless ye!” he exclaims in answer to her impassioned speech. “God bless you, darling!” in the fervour of his gratitude flinging his arms around, drawing her to his bosom, and showering upon her lips an avalanche of kisses.

With thoughts absorbed in the delirium of love, their souls for a time surrendered to it, they hear not a rustling among the late fallen leaves; or, if hearing, supposed it to proceed from bird or beast – the flight of an owl, with wings touching the twigs; or a fox quartering the cover in search of prey. Still less do they see a form skulking among the hollies, black and boding as their shadows.

Yet such there is; the figure of a man, but with face more like that of demon – for it is he whose name has just been upon their lips. He has overheard all they have said; every word an added torture, every phrase sending hell to his heart. And now, with jealousy in its last dire throe, every remnant of hope extinguished – cruelly crushed out – he stands, after all, unresolved how to act. Trembling, too; for he is at bottom a coward. He might rush at them and kill both – cut them to pieces with the knife he is holding in his hand. But if only one, and that her, what of himself! He has an instinctive fear of Jack Wingate, who has more than once taught him a subduing lesson.

That experience stands the young waterman in stead now, in all likelihood saving his life. For at this moment the moon, rising, flings a faint light through the branches of the trees; and like some ravenous nocturnal prowler that dreads the light of day, Richard Dempsey pushes his knife-blade back into its sheath, slips out from among the hollies, and altogether away from the spot.

But not to go back to Rugg’s Ferry, nor to his own home. Well for Mary Morgan if he had.

By the same glimpse of silvery light warned as to the time, she knows she must needs hasten away; as her lover, that he can no longer detain her. The farewell kiss, so sweet yet painful, but makes their parting more difficult; and, not till after repeating it over and over, do they tear themselves asunder – he standing to look after, she moving off along the woodland path, as nymph or sylphide, with no suspicion that a satyr has preceded her and is waiting not far off, with foul fell intent – no less than the taking of her life.