Part 7 (1/2)
”Just that,” she replied. ”I ha'ant a vollied the fortins of this eer ous for nothin', and I say expect.”
”A stranger and a storm,” repeated my father. ”The storm would be nothing to wonder at, the weather is so changeable, but the stranger----”
”Es a woman,” said the old crone, ”and a young woman. I cud tell--but I wa'ant.”
”Could tell what?”
”Clouds, and storms, and darkness!”
”Come, tell us.”
”No, Maaster Trewinion, I be'ant zackly sure, but this I zay, git yer booats ready to help the peris.h.i.+n', and it may be as ow the stranger and the storm'll be together, like.”
The old woman went away at this, while father, always heedful of what Deborah might tell him, asked me to order some men to get the strongest and best boats in readiness.
As I went down to the village which lies in the hollow near our house, I remembered the curious looks that pa.s.sed between my mother and Wilfred while Deborah had been talking, and then I thought of my promise to meet Deborah at nine o'clock the next night. I wondered whether I ought to do so or not, and as the night gathered around I almost shuddered at the thought of meeting her alone. Had she, I asked myself, intercourse with evil spirits? Had she given herself to the devil for knowledge and evil power, as it was reported she had done?
I reached the village at length and went in search of the men my father had mentioned. There was a harbour near, and as at the time of which I write a good number of people lived in the village, most of whom managed to do a great deal of fis.h.i.+ng throughout the year, a number of boats had been built.
After telling the men to make preparations for a storm, I was about to go back to the Manor House, when the question of Deborah Teague came into my mind again. What had she to tell me? And ought I to listen to what she had to say?
I could not for a long time make up my mind. On the one hand was a great curiosity as to what she had to tell me, besides an anxiety to please the old woman; on the other I felt sure she gained her knowledge by unlawful means.
I decided at length. I would go to the vicar that very night. It was not late yet, only half-past eight, and daylight had barely gone.
Surely the Rev. Thomas Polperrow would settle the matter for me. If her power were evil he could guard me against it; if it were good, then all was well.
It was a beautiful night. The moon was nearly full, although it was encircled by a large misty ring, which betokened a change in the weather; but the sea was calm and bright, and shone like gla.s.s. All along the coast I could see the misty outlines of the cliffs, while here and there a giant rock jutted into the water.
What was that? A wail!
Was it the night cry of a sea bird telling of the foretold storm? Or was it----stop!
A figure all in white stood near me!
I could not move. I was riveted to the place. Surely it was a visitant from the spirit land!
Slowly it moved away. It went to the edge of the cliffs and disappeared from my sight.
I was not so much surprised at this, for there was more than one spot along the coast where those acquainted with the place could disappear as if by magic. Still, my nerves were shaken. Perhaps some evil was portended. I would rather have returned home, but I felt drawn to go to the vicar. He could explain. He could tell me what I wanted to know.
Does anything happen in one's life without a meaning? Is the Great Spirit of G.o.d in every event, ever trying to warn us from evil and draw us towards good? If so, these things of which I am now writing must be in some way connected with the after events of my life. But I shall not try to connect them now. All I purpose to do is to write just what happened, so that my children and my children's children may learn lessons from my history.
I hurried on to the vicarage, therefore, and was soon admitted to the study, I anxious to ask Mr. Polperrow's advice, he evidently wondering what I had to say to him.
CHAPTER III
THE MARCH OF EVENTS