The Silver Lining / A Guernsey Story

quaint

is misfortune. At the end of that time, an ev

n he came near the farm of "Les Marches," he perceived a man, who, seated on a bran

nd Mr. Rougeant (such was this m

be useless to jump into the water, because, when once in, he would not be able to reach the edge of the quarry, for the water's surface was quite four feet below that of the ground. There was not a moment to lose. The man had already gone down twi

is eyes were dilated, his whole countenance p

nd supreme appeal to heaven and earth; but one word, but ah! what a deep prayer

seize this,

down for the third time he threw out his arm once more. It was a forlorn hope, but it was successful. He caught hold of the coat with both his ha

r breath, and exhausted, bu

eant, whom we did not describe when we first met him, was a man of medium height. He had broad shoulders, a powe

looked around him. "Where is my saw?" he que

a leaky one, had g

nished to hear him. He replied: "I supp

strate man, "it was a good s

old Norman French which the young man understood ve

your people?" Frank

u, I think I

y both proceeded to

rank, as he surveyed the strong frame

good thing you were passing near at the time of

ing been of service to

him and nodding. "It's not everybody," he continued,

e was surrounded by stables, pig-sties, a small garden and a conservatory. In front of the house was a parterre, most tastefull

nt led his rescuer into the kitchen. Here was Jea

she caught sight of the pair, "wha

rmer gruffly, "go and prepare some

e did not leave the room, however, withou

ugeant in a voice of th

d me she would not be long," an

Adèle, in none too pleasant a tone; "those

well then. But it's all over now. The man who worked it found a little bit of rubbish in his way, and, like a fool, he got frighten

e ready; I'm comi

am trembling all over now." He had been

ed out: "Of course you will wait till I co

, don't hurry,"

man had time to examine the room. He

was bare. Above it, against the wall, was a shelf on which F

of his examination when someone entered the house by a back door. "Is it the girl of whom Mr. Rougeant spoke?" he wondered. Then he pictured her to himself: a tall overgrown countr

into the kitchen. On perceiving Frank she was a little astonished,

pictured her to be. "A girl of about seventeen," he tells himself, but later on he discovered that she was one year older than that; plainly, but well dressed. Her gown fitted her slender form to perfection. Every detail in her dress was arra

e young lady to Frank who

o far, as to be uncivil; in the presence of Adèle. A young man who has spent most of h

-bred, he was ashamed of himself, but he could not help it. He was full of

face grew redder. It was soon of

ome of it, and, doubtless, things would soon have come to an awkw

saved your life?" said his d

Mr. Rougeant replie

ease, and knowing her father's man

a few words of

and anxious to break the confusing silence, Adèle went on: "

Mathers," interp

Adèle Rougean

ch a kitchen. We must go

tainly primitive furniture. I must

said Frank, "but it really is g

l it a jonquière. It was formerly stuffed with a weed which still grows near the coast; called jonquier-hence its name. T

ile underneath the vessel another one is suspended as a receptacle for the oil which fa

to a wooden rack which hung suspended from the ceiling a

her father. He was pale and trembling. "Ar

well. Make me a tota?e," he said, "then I'll go

did as her fa

m, Frank asked Mr. Rougeant

sted bread soaked in warm cider. You swallow cider and

gaged in toasting the bread, Frank

call. He managed to overcome his timidity sufficiently to raise his eyes as he too

eyes the sou