The Unknown Sea

the heavy-handed storm. For three days and nights the seas were sailless, though the hulks of two wrecks were spied driftin

ight, and themselves snatched gallantly from death; how they had been put ashore at the first port a mastless ship could win

eart of confidence she kept for more than two weary days of difficulty and delay. But when she reached his bed her hope wavered; she saw a shorn head, and a face blanch

s eyelids rose; he looked with recognition at Lois, and moved a hand towards hers; and wit

oda clasped her in a passionate embrac

on his lips, and now past any recall it had been buried, and lay deep under such a weight of sorrow as fat

ill Lois, regarding the future again, had sighed: 'Where shall he go?' 'Home,' said Rhoda. Lois shook her head sadly: 'He could not bear

ng the quay and up the street, while men and women stept out to obser

or gloom a resentful look. And so hard doings were justified; and none intolerant could begrudge him

ly to and fro as he was bid. But Giles was surly to men, and to women Lois was iron cold, and Rhoda had deft ways of insul

e-mild gaze, and his slow labour of speech: it was the mother of Philip. Rhoda found a token of

his?' she aske

ered it-

he return

it-thanked her

studied her face

her was

d, and seized on the poor gift, cast it down, stamped it into the sandy

tone, wondering if his senses told him true. Her anger failing under an agony of pity and remorse, from the unendur

against him. For all who chose to peer in on his blank mind found how shame and rancour could take no

nd delivered only when a right instinct of severity had spoiled him for habitation. Some compunction showed over the mooted point whet

hours some only did not float clean out of mind to be forgotten. This was a deficiency that mended by degrees, and in time bid fair to pass. Where the break began, none who loved him ventured to discover. Once when, as shall be told, Giles i

fort; and it was hard to imagine how it could account for certain scars that his body would carry to the grave; or account for the loss of two boats-the

ed under a milder estimate, an outcast he remained, and none were so hardy as to offer fellowship with him and his. The cost of a boat was more than Giles could contrive on his own poor securities, and none could he find to share fo

necessity had admitted of no delay; but as the younger gained in strength the elder lost; by the month's end his feeble stock of strength, overdrawn, failed suddenly, not enough remaining for him to potter about the q

ring together round him, and no sail near, well m

s boat glided in under dusk, and up he stept with a load. The hearts of both were beating thick f

m. He stood silent and downcast. They saw that one of the cross

stripped off the netting and carried it home, with a gay boast of proving her proficiency, for she had learned net-making from Christian in his idle days of weakness. Half the next day s

but here came a stroke of so deliberate an aim that t

s, few there were when his takings were not conspicuously poor in amount and quality. Such loss was the graver since an instal

ned to it with all her energy. Early and late found her bending over her pillow. No more net-mending for her: for the sake of

h up to near his old level; but Giles declined slowly, Lois g

he would sit and watch, fondly and sadly, her dear bent head and her hands playing over her pillow

of my littl

ed 'Ay,'

not be here long to

r some days, till he was sure that Christian had taken the se

rk, I would like main to hea

ver,' said Chris

is wise: before God's alt

long to be sure of underst

spite of the absolute tone h

me day the wife shall come too to bed with me, how will

od hel

, dear heart, cares for you-now-

she!' he

that she liked in her heart more than he guessed. Until he got shamefully mistook, miscalled, mishandled, when she up and kissed him at open noon i

ould do, and repented of his venture; for it was

es trie

ing? Well, what think you had I at heart t

said, 'I

t and just. That the wife might gainsay, I allowed; b

n me another spring, so while I have the voi

of its father only, I think always, till Rhoda stood before her, the very image of her mother. And with me 'twas just the other way about; and I was main fond of the poor young mother; a sweet, gentle creature she was-a quiet dove, not a brave

e for thinking. I don't deny what may have been in old days before, but for a good seventeen year when I have gone off for a fling now and then, Rhoda has been the better for it, not I the w

ther, and care for his deserted child should best express contrition. But the wife couldn't look that way-and she got from the Book awful things to say against the wicked man and his children; and all she repented on was her wrong ways, in neglect of right worship to affront the man; and I think in her heart she cursed him more bitter than ever. A penance it would have been to her to do violence to her griefs and

tian, what

all the while to be sure he heeded and understood. Christian shook his head

me, Chr

nd home that might have come t

the wife said it was the hand of God. I thought the ha

thing: Giles waite

are of my little

t! ah, I

hink because of you; and because of you I could

u should!' said Christi

wants of her youth blessed that shall lay the rest of her days

t outcome should be; and saw her shaping in the dark towards the happy lot of the sweet little slip she ignored

g for her, so I had to make a risky cast. She was to enter as a passing stranger I had asked t

, why do y

h her

my best to set her affections on you. How shall I lie still in the grave wh

istress. Christian's eyes took to following Rhoda, though

; but instantly she looked up star

ou dearly. Will

athless. Then he looked at her, stood up, and repeat

ont him, and brou

N

a moment in stu

ot be my wi

to make the word clear and

ught her in his arms suddenl

he cried, 'my

ut when it slackened she thrust him back with all her might, broke free, and with a low cry fled away to find solitude, where sh

ut a name and some love titles and passionate entrea

oat lay idle by the quay. B

m,' said Rhoda, when the day closed witho

is about-where h

'Yes,' and then

Giles. Against his breast sh

rgive me! I sai