The Unknown Sea

g creature, whose dark h

said, 'this is yo

stonishment. Two faces stiffe

is briefly, 'and so

heel, so he guard

p for womankind; they were alike in the moulding of the bones; but the face of Rhoda gave promise of a richer beauty than could ever have been the portion of Lo

said, 'You know whose child

thank God fo

rwards, when a fuller account of Rhoda's pas

r there was the wife going on, saying things, and there was Rhoda getting scared and white, and putting out a hand to me. And then I go one worse, for I get hold of her, and say, "She takes you for your mother, child," that the wife may get the hang of it; and at that down she sits sudden, all of a shake. But the poor wench says, "My mother!" for-well, I suppose I had lied sometime-she thought she was the truly begotten orphan of an estranged brother. Nothing would come handy but the truth-the wife being there; so I even told it all. Yes, I did, though it did s

Giles's conduct; for he was a comrade of easy imperfection, not insistent of the highe

from a thorn, tha

ow cam

o. Here-clear out, you've left

nfidence. Loyal every inch of him, he respected Giles's re

iage, that her young instinct knew to be prostitution, though the Church and the world sanctioned it as a holy estate. To her this blessed transplantation into a very home gave a n

le make of manhood; some quick shivers of relief that a certain widower with yellow teeth did not possess her. And in Christian thrilled an equivalent response; though he knew not h

with complaisance. 'My bright little bird! There's n

an eye at

off she is flying, when back she skims and will have me too. Oh! but he looked less

are ever on the brew, hot or

h, and a good,' said Gile

ny of Philip's make; an even ble

o this heat, 'but I don't say he would make a b

'but she will walk wit

ou aske

N

e's got a spirit too, and more than one, I wager, won't be backward. Rh

dour and wonder. 'Why is it,' she said, 'that the mother

s because she does not like the colour of my hair.' But Rho

s walked, Rhoda, wil

k me, and I said him no, till my uncle s

e the old man in b

hat can't manage the steep. You m

matter,' she said; '

ressing her to exchange obligation for inclination.

Is it for this? or

ll clear that to you himself if I know h

position and the ordeal

nted both hands to him. With a glowing cheek a

usin! But so? W

nces become a girl's wear, then? You shall

ldish mischief than o

I have to tell

k I have not heard?' and she l

nd his liking for the bright young creature grew warm, in natural degree to

promise by tender honour and fortitude of the finest quality of man; when her own observation told her that in the ranks of youth he was peerless, in strength, in outward fashion, in character, in conduct; generous, gentle, upright; of a sensitive conscienc

, 'where is the Book? Bring

ad, since Rhoda's coming, made unseen departures and returns. Well ple

, child? When it is out of han

and not out of hand. And do you think

h surprise that Rhoda was disillusioned.

'I but listen to your r

recognised the working of the Spirit, she dreaded rather that this was no healthy symptom in Christian's raw development. A cruel stroke to her was this second reserve of independence, invading the fastest hold of a mother's influence. Back came the earlier conviction that

he recommended counsel in any difficulty-not her own, she said sincerely, though

'and I think I have got understanding-at le

s Reve

es

ou are not of

r, of the

ng eyes ex

ot know it of yourself. What ev

ous face. There was that in the fire of it that inspired Lois

miss her B

f Diadyomene had he made his way. There he went high-hearted on a service that sancti

him tell her first that of the nature of a secret, as he said he would some day. And Christian, seeing it was ind

body to kiss! Ah, poor mother!' she said softl

, would you be so far pitiful as

as much at the first?' Then she derided the poor limitation t

l for him. She began by denying any value to her soul; before they ended she challenged him to prove his own ex

t favour, sharp stings by her least resentment, yet

ly: 'A pretty little foot she has. Such

ind: to plant his bare feet over those dints pace by pace-delicate near paces; for the soles of his feet to walk intimate with the mould of hers. T

wench!' was Giles

ian as

ste does not tread

n gave a 'No' of sufficient emphasi

he boughs. 'Young Adam and Eve' slid to Christian's ears. He looked at Giles; saw the fond, complacent smile and the shrewd eye; saw his mother's face, grave, conce