Part 14 (1/2)

Uniacke's heart grew heavier at the words.

In the morning Sir Graham said to him, with a curious calmness:

”I think perhaps you are right, Uniacke. I have been considering your words, your advice.”

”And you will take it?” Uniacke said, with a sudden enormous sense of gratefulness.

”I think I shall.”

”Think--Sir Graham!”

”I'll decide to-night. I must have the day to consider. But--yes, you are right. That--that horrible appearance. I suppose it must be evoked by the trickery of my own brain.”

”Undoubtedly.”

”There can be no other reason for it?”

”None--none.”

”Then--then, yes, I had better go from here. But you will come with me?”

”To London?”

”Anywhere--it does not matter.”

He looked round him wistfully.

”If I am to leave the island,” he said sorrowfully, ”it does not matter where I go.”

”To London then,” Uniacke said, almost joyously. ”I will make my arrangements.”

”To-morrow?”

”To-morrow. Yes. Excuse me for the present. I must run over to the mainland to settle about the Sunday services. I shall be back in a few hours.”

He went out, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from brain and heart. So good could come out of evil. Had he not done right to lie? He began to believe that he had. As he crossed to the mainland he wrapped himself in warm and comfortable sophistries. The wickedness of subterfuge vanished now that subterfuge was found to be successful in attaining a desired end. For that which is successful seldom appears wholly evil. To-day Uniacke glowed in the fires of his sinfulness.

He transacted his business on the mainland and set out on his return home, driving through the shallow sea in a high cart. The day, which had opened in suns.h.i.+ne, was now become grey, very still and depressing. An intense and brooding silence reigned, broken by the splas.h.i.+ng of the horse's hoofs in the scarcely ruffled water, and by the occasional peevish cackle of a gull hovering, on purposeless wings, between the waters and the mists. The low island lay in the dull distance ahead, wan and deprecatory of aspect, like a thing desiring to be left alone in the morose embrace of solitude. Uniacke, gazing towards it out of the midst of the sea, longed ardently for the morrow when Sir Graham would be caught away from this pale land of terror. He no longer blamed himself for what he had done. Conscience was asleep. He exulted, and had a strange feeling that G.o.d smiled on him with approval of his sin.

As he reached the island, the grey pall slightly lifted and light broke through the mist. He came up out of the sea, and, whipping the wet and weary horse, drove along the narrow lanes towards the Rectory. But when he came within hail of the churchyard all his abnormal exultation was suddenly quenched, and the oppressive sense of threatening danger which had for so long a time persecuted him, returned with painful force. He saw ahead of him Sir Graham seated before his easel painting. Behind the artist, bending down, his eyes fixed intently on the canvas, his huge hands gripping one another across his chest, stood the mad Skipper. As the wheels of the cart ground the rough road by the churchyard wall, Sir Graham looked up and smiled.

”I'm doing a last day's work,” he called.

Uniacke stopped the cart and jumped out. The Skipper never moved. His eyes never left the canvas. He seemed utterly absorbed.

”You are not working on the picture?” said Uniacke hastily.

”No.”

”Thank G.o.d.”

”Why d'you say that?”