The Tale of Timber Town

ot's Da

den of roses, and stood with her hand on a green gar

d house stood; her fragrant, small domain carefully secreted behind a tall, clipped hedge, over the top of w

ch as may be seen any day in the villages which nestle beneath the Sussex Downs, under whose shadow she was born; her forehead was broad and white; her eyes blue; her cheeks the colour of the blush roses in her garden; her mouth small, with lips coloured pink like a shell

hand she carried a light, silver-mounted whip. She jumped lightly

and met her near the tethering-po

am glad t

intonation was deep, and she pronounced every syllable

e lunch. You must be famis

ot hungry. Tai

girls, a contrast of blonde and brunet

things about you,"

uld have risked a good deal to save him if you had been th

All the town is talking about you." The white face looked at the bro

"There is no hope for me, if you are a

ly awful? We heard you

er, then there would have been no hope. But I know every rock, every channel, w

many

d the one drowne

? Of course, he will marry you as soon as the water i

atira, well-born, as my husband ought to be. I really don't know

burden yourself. You were jus

andah, where they sat on a

er of things. There are ready-made clothes for everyone in the pa, boots, tea, tobacco, sugar, everything that the people want-all brough

ding-habit, and drew out a little packet.

aling, to take what reall

d see for yourself,"

and disclosed a black leather-cove

s in a tin-lined box," said the Maor

ided in the middle, and there lay exposed a

d a bright colour on her cheeks, lips which showed indulgence in every curve

her eyes on

me this?" she a

e over. On its back was wr

ath caught in her throat. "This must be my mother," she sai

the brown face close to the fair,

y good," said Amiria, "

was s

u would have received it, for the Collector of Customs has the packing-case in whi

s is the only picture of my mother I have seen. I never k

lt Amiria's warm lips on her cheek. The two girls had been playmates as children, they had been at school together, and had always shared each other's confidences, but this matte

keep silence. She looks good, doesn't she, Amiria? I think she was good, but my father destroyed everything belonging to her: he even took the trouble to change my name from Annabel to Rose-that was

somewhat narrow flight of stairs, and into a bedroom which was in one of the many gables of the wooden house. The Maori girl took off her hat and gloves, and Rose, drawing

riding, had escaped from its fastening

hing will hold it-it is like wire. The

of pins; you don't use enough of them. Pins, I expect, are scarce in the pa." She had fastened up one long

osebud, I say! What

d of the beach-road. They walked slowly, with heavy steps and swaying gait, after the manner

to the big burly man on his left, "I stood off and on, West-Nor'-West and East-Sou'-East, waiting for the gale

e bulky man gruffly. "Why, damme, I'd ha' b

the

dark, I

h on the Three Sisters' reefs, or Frenchman's Is

urself on to

ouse and the flowers while the two captains paused to argue

glass an' a snack." And then it was that he had roared for his daughter, who

o gentlemen I've brought you, two shipwrecked sailors-Cap'n Sartoris, of The Mersey Witch, and Mr. Scar

h the girl, first the captain, and then the tall, uncomfortable-

an't I? I'm Pilot o' this port, an't I?-an' Harbour Master, in a manner o' speaking? Very good, my gal. In all those capacities-regardless that I'm your dad-I tell you to make these gen'lemen comfo

y were shown into the parlour, where they sat with their host upon

ered; and Scarlett bore himself like one who laboured under a load of misery almost too great to be borne, but he had wisely rejected the voluminous coat p

r the Pilot's table, whilst Rose Summerhayes bustled about the room. She took glasses from the side

"as it's quite two hours to dinner, w

n, and from the garden was

with her hands folded upon her snowy apron, a

s that on the driv

replied hi

after my heart. I'

n Sartoris from the depths of the

d Rose, "but I've t

d to say the correct thing. "Most right an' proper. Perso

ch is to say the c

have all we want. Me an' these gen'leme

er father had discarded for a pair of car

of Timber Town, "we'll dri

tied them in solemn silence, and put them almost

rawn breath. "Four over proof. Soft as mi

partner of the firm, Mr. Scarlett. 'Cap'n Sartoris,' he says, 'I wish you good luck and a prosperous voyage, but take care o' that port wine for my brother. There's dukes couldn't buy it.' 'No, sir,' I says to him,

is face was crimson with excitemen

ked, whoever the owner may be. None's more sorry than me to see the bones of your ship piled on that reef. But when you talk about bringing me a present o' wine from my brother,

ed with astonishment at th

continued the Pilot, "let him

f I'd ha' got into port, I'd ha' been

u a hand, Captain

et me ask a question. What on this earth could your brother, Mr. Summerhayes, ha' done to make you reject six cases o' port-re

r handling o' that ship-I say you'll have to puzzle it out. But I ask this: If you

uality," said the skipper-"the qu

ner of your firm

ght. I don

th with it! Look you here, Sartoris: you bring back the anger I thought was buried this long while; you open the wound that twelve thousand miles of sea and this new country were healing. But-but I thank God I never touched him. I thank God I never proved as big a blackguard as he. But don't mention his name to me. If you think s

ed his face in his hands. When he again raised his head, the skipper without a sh

ssed out of the French window into t

p'raps straighten us up a bit, and help us to see what we've gone an' done. For myself, I ow

match. That's how it is, Captain. These many years he's been a s

ime, looked seriously at each other; but not

e," said Sartoris, looking wistfully at the Pilot's tobacco-pipes on th

udible titter

he gets shipwrecked," said Scarlett: "then he k

r, and the young lady with the brown

you two men are so funny and miserable, that I can't help myself,"-she laughed good-naturedly-"and

of the situation struck them, and they laughed in unison; and Amiria, shakin

s that make the man. Thank God for that, Scarlett.

what will rig you out to look less like a Guy Fawkes. You had yo

hore," said the Maori girl, "what

intently at the

dress for a new character every day? Does she make a practice of this sort of thing

and I have not found out which of them I like

be your father, my dear. I was glad to meet you on the beach-no one could ha' been gladder-but I'm proud to meet you in the house of my old friend, Cap'n Summerhay

g from the sofa. "My horse is o

ed arms with Rose, whilst the two strange figures f

bite. He had passed round the creature's neck a piece of tarred rope, which he was making fast to the

e hand, tripped merrily forward and too

r, and then lash him to the post? There, there, Robin." She patted the hors

," said Rose. "Dinner's ready, and I'm sure

elf," said Sartoris, "-- we've not had