Anna of the Five Towns

of sublime follies. But the man of thirty who loves for the first time is usually the embodiment of cautious discretion. He does not fall in love with a violent descent, but rather

in the main it was a temperate affection, an affection that walked circumspectly, with its eyes open, careful of its dignity, too proud to seem in a hurry; if, by impulse, it chanced now and then to leap forward, the involuntary movement was mastered and checked. Mynors called at Manor Terrace once a week, never on the same day of the week, nor without discussing business with the miser. Occasionally he accompanied Anna from school or chapel. Such methods were precisely to Anna's taste. Like him, she loved prudenc

Sutton had won Ephraim's consent, her vision never stooped to practical details. Then Beatrice called to see her; it was the morning after

usy?' sai

come in. Come into th

el with a long mackintosh, which she

in the hous

eatrice seated herself, with a

to Anna. 'I say, wasn't last night perfectly awful? Henry got wet through in the end, and mother made

said Anna

year, you know-to Port Erin, a lovely little fishing village. All the fishermen know us there. Last year Henry hired a yacht for the fortnight, and we all went mackerel

can tell you,' Anna said. 'Wha

rday

surprised at the pro

n't. Men always pretend to be so frightfully busy, and I believe it's all put on.' Beatrice co

d, with hesitation: 'I suppose

dly, you can't have too many blouses; they're always useful at the seaside. Plain straw-hats are my tip. A coat for nights, and thick boots. There! Of course no

o say. At length she ventured: 'I'm not muc

s to Anna's wealth, no reference made as to the discrepancy between that and th

own frocks?' Bea

es

y do you great credit. There's few peop

r father was still a factor in the case. Since Mrs. Sutton's visit both Anna and the miser avoided the subject of the holiday. 'You can't have too many blouses.' Did Beatrice, th

an?' she accosted her father, in the afternoo

exclaimed

would have given much not to have added

it. I can't think why Suttons asked ye. Ye aren't

t's arranged, I suppo

so set up with

be all right

n't want much. I've no fads and fal-

t Mrs. Sutton tell y

a'. Her said

I shall want

or? Art

.' Her voice shook. She

otten thy own m

e have some of my own money. There'

s I shall let thee have some o' thy own money.

eque; I know how to.' She had conquered the instinct to cry, and unwil

out o' th' bureau,' he said flatly.

re-open the question, and resolved to write a note to Mrs. Sutton saying

he sum. She had obeyed, and then forgotten the affair. Here was the answer. Desperate at the thought of missing the holiday, she cashed the order, bought and made her clothes in secret, and then, two days before the arranged date of departure told her father what she had done. He was enraged; but since his a

ns, in a hired cab, called for Anna at half-past eight, on the way to the main line station at Shawpo

ide with us to the stat

at the door, impelled by an unacknowledged awe of Mrs. S

claimed. 'Let the little t

appiness and happy expectation. All bitterness had disappeared. At least thirty thousand Bursley folk were not going to the Isle of Man that day-their preoccupied and cheerless faces swam in a continuous stream past the cab window-and Anna sympathised with every unit of them. Her spirit overflowed with universal compassion. What haste and exquisite confusion at the station! The train was signalled, and the porter, crossing the line with the luggage, ran his truck perilously under the very buffers of the incoming engine. Mynors was awaiting them, admirably

the best shop. The shilling fell between the footboard and the platform. A scream from Beatrice! The attendant porter promised to rescue the shilling in due course

of blissful bewilderment, stupefied by an overdose of novel and wondrous sensations. They lunched in amazing magnificence at the Bear's Paw, and then walked through the crowded and prodigious streets t

ory, solid and palatial (could all this float?); its high bridge; its hawsers as thick as trees; its funnels like sloping towers; the multitudes of passengers; the whistles, hoots, cries; the far-stret

ol the slum of Eur

!' she excla

the effect produced on her friend's inexperience by these sights. One might have t

an earthquake ran along the deck; handkerchiefs were waved. The voyage had commenced. Mynors found chairs for all the Suttons, and tucke

nors, at her side. 'Suppose we go

ig one, isn't

meet one in the river-but still pretty big. Three hundred and twenty feet over all. I s

h to-day?' Anna

is,' he laughed. 'You do

as a house. No one c

he exclaimed. 'Be

alm, the unruffled mirror of effulgent sunlight. The steamer moved alone on the waters, exultantly, leaving behind it an endless track of white froth in the green, and the shadow of its smoke. The sun, the salt breeze, the living water, the proud gaiety of the ship, produced a feeling of intense, inexplicable joy, a profound satisfaction with the present, and a negligence of past and future. To exist was enough,

te out of sight o

r or so. Just as much out of sight of land

arcely be

eve w

f being out of sight of

still in their deck-chairs, enwrapped and languid. Mr. Sutton and Beatrice were ap

, whispering out of her hood. Anna glan

aimed, opening her eyes and

tly vain of her immunity from malaise. Mynors appeared to appoint himself little errands a

ing nearer, and Mynors followed, laughing. What looke

ee something

the Isl

contours of the land grew c

are we

s twent

The conception awed her. There, a morsel in the waste of the deep, a speck under the infinite sunlight, lay the island, mysteriou

were in the diminutive and absurd train which by breathless plunges annihi

she answer

t bein

Tom Kelly, a tall, middle-aged man, with grey beard, small grey eyes, a wrinkled skin of red mahogany, and an enormous fist, was introduced to Anna. He raised his cap, and shook hands. She was touched by the sad, kind look on his face, the melancholy impress of the sea. Then they drove to their lodging, and here again the party was welcomed as being old and tried friends. A fire was burn

and Beatrice made Anna try on the new serge skirt. Through the thin wall came the sound of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton talking, a high voice, then a bass reply, in continual alternation. Beatrice said that these two always discussed the day's doings in such manner. In a fe

piness as to enjoy it. She thought at first, so unusual was it to her as a feature of domestic privacy, that this demeanour was affected, or at any rate a somewhat exaggerated punctilio due to her presence; but she soon came to see that she was mistaken. After breakfast Mr. Sutton suggested that they should attend the Wesleyan Chapel on the hill leading to the Chasms. Here they met the sailors of the night before, arrayed now in marvellous blue Melton coats with velveteen c

Beatrice and Anna. They stood at the gate of the

ng at Anna. 'You know I hate walking,

gether. She did not like it. She flushed under the passing glance with which Beatrice accompanied the words: 'You two go.' Nevertheless, when Mynors placidly remarked: 'Very well,' and his eyes sought

ed the limit of habitation and were on the naked flank of Bradda, following a narrow track which crept upwards amid short mossy turf of the most vivid green. Nothing seemed to flourish on this exposed height except bracken, sheep, and boulders that, from a distance, resembled sheep; there was no tree, scarcely a shrub; the immense contours, stark, grim, and unreli

e, striking across the moor in the

down

er this marble black dots moved slowly to and fro; behind the boats were the houses-dolls' houses-each with a curling wisp of smoke; further away the railway and the high road ran out in a black and white line to Port St. Mary; the sea,

and hung there. She wondered that scenery should cause tears, felt asha

th a thousand unseen wrecks; the lighthouse at Scarlet Point flashed dimly in the dusk; thence the beach curved nearer in an immense arc, without a sign of life, to the little cove of Port St. Mary, and jutted out again into a tongue of land at the end of which lay the Calf of Man with its single white cottage and cart-track. The dangerous Calf Sound, where the vexed tide is forced to run nine hours one way and three the other, seemed like a grey ribbon, and the Chicken Rock

exclaimed, tou

rt, this revelation of the loveliness of the world. Her thoughts went back to Hanbridge and Bursley and her life there; and all the remembered scenes, bathed in the glow of a new ideal, seemed to lose their pain. It was as if she had never been really unhappy, as if there was no real unhappiness on the whole earth.

y because of the steep gradient. At the first cottage the

Agnes!' My

t thinking so,'

e hill,' he continued. 'Sh

last night. You mightn't guess it

of your sister. She's a simply delightful child. And there's a lot in

s,' Anna agreed. 'Sometimes I fancy

any of us,'

nks all the world of you.' And she added: 'My word, w

hem into closer intimacy, and they t

; and then, suddenly looking at her in

' she pr

ler round your neck.' He to

ourself.' She drew a little away fr

se ta

the untidiness of the muffler, of its being something strange to her skin, something with the

s a good fire burning w

delights were in store. Of the holiday, thirteen complete days yet remained, each to be as happy as the one now closing. It was an age! At last they entered the human cosine

downstairs, they found the breakfast odorousl

, I wonder. Any let

r, out on the front

alled: 'Come along, Henry; come alo

ome out here, both of you, and begin t

nd they went out into the road, where Mrs. Sutton kissed them

le, Anna,' s

Anna, 'I don'

night,' Beatrice put in. '

hat moment Mr. Sutton, lumbering

? I've been having a chat with Kelly, and he tells me the fellow that was building them has gone bankrupt, and they're a

. 'Father, I wish you would leave your

s are on the roof. Anna,' he turned to her quickly, as if counting on her sympathy, 'you must come with me and l

s the beginning of a fancy which the Ald

ton, Beatrice, and Anna

on ejaculated in two mono

content ye?'

or ten pounds

eaning back in his chair drew out a fat purse, and passed it to his wife with a preoccupied air.

' Beatrice sai

observe how he was robbed. At last t

pair of sand-shoes, and some cigarettes for Henry. Mrs. Sutton bought a pipe with a nickel cap, such as is used by sailors. When they returned to the house, Mr. Sutton and Henry were smoking on the front. All five walked in a row down to the harbour, the Alderman giving an arm each to Beatrice and Anna. Near the 'Falcon' the procession had to be stopped in order to view the unfinished houses. Tom Kelly had a cabin partly excavated out of the rock behind

utton whispered, handing Mynor

es you to accept

e.' He cut some shreds from his plug with a clasp-knife and charg

moke such horrid, nasty stu

's petulant manner. 'That stuff of Hen

d up to the 'Fay,' which seemed very big and safe in comparison with the dinghy. They clambered on board, and in the deep well of the two-ton yacht Anna contrived to collect her wits. She was reassured by the painted legend in the well, 'Licensed to carry eleven.' Young Tom and Henry busied themselves with ropes, and suddenly a huge white sail began to ascend the mast; it flapped like thunder in the gentle breeze. Tom pulled up the anchor, curling the chain round and round on the forward deck, and then Anna noticed that, although the wind was scarcely perceptible, they were gliding quickly past the embankment. Henry was at the tiller. The next minute Tom had set the jib, and by this time the 'Fay' was approaching the breakwater at a great pace. There was

ould possibly be indisposed in that innocuous weather. At length the lines were ready, but Tom said the yacht was making at least a knot too much for serious fishing, so Henry took a reef in the mainsail, showing Anna how to tie t

utton inquired at interv

nna and I

as a

do?' asked An

a mackerel.' These were the instructions of Beatrice. Anna was becomi

got

thinks at first that the motion of

ng so he held the line for a moment, testing it, and winked at Anna. While Anna and Henry were

ther?' Mrs.

A

flash like silver in the clear water as it neared the surface. Henry held the line

old sugar box at her feet. Young Tom laughed loud at her exclamation. 'They cairn't feel, mis

ommiserate the captured fish. She was obliged, however, to avert her head when Tom cut some skin from the side of one of the mackerel to provide fresh bait; this device seemed

e getting back, Henry

ly was dragging them one by one from the black dinghy on to what

, Miss Tellwright?' Ke

dly danced in her veins. She looked at her short blue skirt which showed three inches of ankle, put forward her brown

lly approved. 'Ye'll make

wl in the menu of dinner. They were called Anna's mackerel, and all the di

h a bandanna handkerchief over his face. The rest went out immediately; t

o paint Bradda Head frightfully. I tried last year, but I got it too

nd watch you,

you won't; you're such a cr

e left all afte

th him, Anna, just to ke

e uncomfortable suspicion that Mynor

to Beatrice. 'Have you de

of the answer seemed to h

et's go and get that dinghy

wing thick, hairy arms. He sculled in a manner almost dramatic, and the dinghy shot about like a water-spider on a brook. Anna had nothing to do except to sit still and enjoy. Everything was drowned in dazzling sunlight, and both Henr

n floor trembled clear under a fathom of blue water. They landed on a jutting rock; Henry pushed his straw hat back, and wiped his forehead. 'Glorious! glorious!' he exclai

with long, powerful strokes. Dozens of boats were mov

loat,' he remarked. 'Why haven't you go

at I want,

p of the rock by the tide. She did so, and saw two fiery cheeks, and a forehead divided

sgraceful?'

, 'they'll never kno

ot be, she decided; but she infinitely preferred it so. She was content. She wished for nothing better than this apparently frivolous and

above them, on the cliffs, they could discern the industrious figure of Beatric

etch?' she

he said s

ve in that sort

'people who can paint. But-- Well, I suppose it's ha

paint, anyway,

ou can't,'

ce was still painting, but in a new spot. She seemed entir

Mynors whispered. 'You go first,

ded; 'how horrid you are, Henry! I

id Henry, now in front of

of that. And I was getting on so sple

nry. 'You've wasted qui

ice's face. Mynors made several attempts to laugh it away, and at dusk these two went for a stroll to Port St. Mary. They returned in a state of deep intimacy. During supper Beatrice was consciously and elaborately angelic, and there was that in her voice and eyes, when s

weakness being the habit of quoting extremely sentimental scraps of verse when walking by the sea-shore. He frankly enjoyed Anna's attention to him, and took pride in her society. Mrs. Sutton, that simple heart, devoted herself to the attainment of absolute quiescence. She had come for a rest, and she achieved her purpose. Her kindliness became for the time passive instead of active. Beatrice was a changing quantity in the domestic equation. Plainly her parents had

n the plea that the light was of a suitable grey for painting. Mr. Sutton had slipped off alone, unseen by Anna and Henry, who had meant to acco

decent work this aftern

lied shortly; 'I hav

you were going

, I d

Port St. Mary, instead of breaking y

t want me

ted: 'I think

self-willed, not to sa

rice protested seri

diplomatic pronouncement. Beatri

o agree, of course. You'

he window, and there was a

going out to sketch it.' She snatched up her hat and sketching-block, and ran hastily from the room. The other two saw her s

came in. Tea was served. Mynors called to Beatrice through th

, without turning her head. 'Don't wait

. Sutton after another interval.

the sketcher's side, and observed nothin

ear what I sa

red in di

ntil dusk had fallen. Then they returned to the sitting-room, where a fire had been lighted, and Beatrice at length

old,' said her mother, si

mother-what a f

ou know very well. As you've had no tea, you shall h

esolved, and in half an hour she had t

o the bedroom Be

eep?' she inq

in a feeble voice, 'I

Anna that Beatrice had had a bad night, and would take breakfast in bed. She carried the invali

nical thermometer?

chemist's,' she replied eagerly. In a fe

eneral rule,' she added, as if in defence, to Anna. 'I brought Beatrice through measles and scarlet fever without a doctor-we never used to think of having a doctor in t

run for a doctor

an decided. 'We'll see how she goes

ton; 'it's no use crying

ronounced it a case of influenza, severe, demanding very careful treatment. Instantly the normal movement of the household was changed. The sickroom became a mysterious centre round which everything revolved, and the parlour, without the alteration of a single chair, took on a deserted, forlorn appearance. Meals were eaten like the passover, with loins girded for any sudden summons. Mrs. Sutton and Anna, as nurses, grew importan

do that,'

of it,' Mrs. Sutt

and reliability, and perhaps impressed also by her business-like appearance as, arrayed in a w

s,' said the Alderman to his

ndered, 'if I can leave h

iled appr

ure was 104°, and the patient slightly delirious. Anna left the sickroom

dear,' said the Alde

well,' she replied

fraid of catching

; 'there's no fear

o you

t's all. I'm

ay to keep well,' t

lf for ever in their esteem. After breakfast, in obedience to them, she slept for several hours on Mrs.

ast,' he rema

. Sutton said, 'it

with a smile, 'I've left i

he had feared lest vocal piety might form a prominent feature of their daily life, but her fear had proved groundless. She, too, from reaso

er temperature was almost correct. Anna went to bed in the afternoon and slept soundly till supper-time, when she awoke very hungry. Fo

a trivet in a few day

ks,' said

Mynors, 'you'll

on answered. 'I might have to run over to th' Five Towns for a

go tomorrow,'

an stay over

e to take my pl

-morrow, too,' sa

Anna!' the Ald

l expect me. You know I came for a

ill be a

They saw that

ested to her, with singular gravity, after su

nquiringly a

for it. Eh, Anna, but it's a shame to send

ice, without any preface, 'I was awfully silly and cross the other afternoon, before a

e was very happy. Beatrice, victim of a temperament which had the childishness and the impu

tinguish neither the sky nor the sea; but the faint, restless murmur of the sea ca

akwater?' he said, and she concurred. 'Won't you take my muffler-a

f love-making. She was filled with the proud satisfaction of a duty accomplished. She did not seek to minimise to herself the fact that she had been of real value to her friends in the last few days, had probably saved Mrs. Sutton from illness, had certainly laid them all under an obligation. Their gratitude, unexpressed, but patent on each face, gave her infinite pleasure. She had won their respect by the manner in which she had risen to the height of an emergency that demanded more than devotion. She had

ack and gently heaving surface of the sea. The eye was foiled by the intense gloom; the ear could make nothing of the strange night-noises of the bay and the

ay to-morrow,' h

as the proposal imminent, and she had not suspected. In a flash of insight she perceived that the very event which had separated them for three days had also impelled the lover forw

g a long story of it. I'm tremendou

l holding her hand. S

ntured. 'Didn

she murmured stupidly,

but I simply never met anyone like you. From the very first moment I saw you,

lite, somewhat conventional tone. To Anna he

ings; she could not even think. She was adrift. At

rs instead of one, that would have made no difference.' She drew her hand timidly away,

' she

at one of the first acts of her freedom should be to releas

She felt as she had felt on the way down, except that she was sorely perturbed. There was no inef

she could not bring herself to use his Christian name. It was proper for

one here.' He merely kissed her on