Part 47 (1/2)

Ju over, he held out his arms and did not put Carrie down until he had carried her some distance from the channel He had afterwards a hazy notion that he kissed her again When he turned back dick was pushi+ng off the punt

”I'll bring Jake; you have had enough,” he said

Jim shoved him back ”It's my job; he's my partner Look after Carrie Start for the ot on board and when the punt vanished in the fog dick turned to Carrie ”Theyfast You are wet and perhaps we had better get off”

”No,” said Carrie ”I won't ave her a quick glance She looked resolute; her voice had a strange exultant note He was anxious to start, since he thought they utter between them and land, but it was obvious that Carrie could not be persuaded Presently the punt caot out

”Have you been here long?” Jim asked when he had driven the anchor into the sand

”No,” said dick ”I fired the gun as soon as I arrived The punt was on your side, I iined you were about, and I can't swim much I'd seen the punt before I went to meet Jake and Carrie, but met the water No doubt, they crossed the channel that stopped me, farther up”

Ji relief e heard you shoot But I'm puzzled: the punt was soht I'd carried it far enough back”

”Then you didn't move her after you pulled her up?”

”Certainly not,” Jim rejoined, with some surprise ”If I'd wanted her to float, I wouldn't have bothered to drag her up over the steep et off,” said dick, who did not want to talk about the punt ”The tide's running fast across the flats; I think we'llwas thick, they reached the marsh, where dick left them He et and it was so and put on dry clothes When Jiht feel curious about the punt dick was not ready to satisfy his curiosity yet He was disturbed and wanted to get away

The others went on, and when they came down to dinner nobody looked h Carrie talked and soined her cheerfulness was forced Jake alone seeood appetite and Jim was annoyed when Mrs Winter remarked that he did not eat h it had been served an hour or two late When it was over, Jim looked at the clock and proposed that they should play cards

He would sooner have gone off to the library by hi as they were occupied he need not talk The others would go to bed soon, and then he could grapple with an aard situation

At length, Jake put down his cards ”I can't make it; you have beaten us,” he said, and pushed back his chair ”If you want to see the ht Mrs Winter a candle and they left the hall; but Carrie stopped to pick up the cards, and Jiht to his , and their steps died away It was very quiet in the hall, except for the snapping of the fire; and Jihted Carrie's candle She heard him move and looked up There was soainst the dark oak Jim put the candle on the carved newel-post at the bottom of the stairs

”I was badly scared e found the water was round the punt,” he said ”In fact, I rather lost my control”

”You were not scared for yourself and were very cool and quick,” Carrie replied and forced a smile ”Perhaps soly lance It looked as if she meant to persuade him that he had acted normally, but this was ridiculous Perhaps she meant to hint that his rashness must not be talked about Coolness was hard, but he was honest and there was sooing to lance ”Yes, Jim; I knew some time since It doesn't matter that you told nobody Well, she's beautiful and very char the candle frooing to one, and I'o, and when she went up the shallow stairs, crossed the floor to the hearth There was a looking-glass close by and he started as he saw his face His broere knitted and his mouth was set

Carrie was clever and while he talked to her he had looked like that!

He began to see what she hadto ely at the sinking fire What a fool he had been! Evelyn had h cultivation and refine appeal, but he had not known that they appealed mainly to his intellect, and it counted for lishwoman of her type he had hten drowned and he had taken her in his arms

Evelyn was, so to speak, a model of perfection, worthy to be admired, but really out of his reach In a sense, she left hi flesh and blood She had worked with his had a curious charm She appealed to all that was huined his love for her was brotherly

He began to think about their last interviehen he had lighted the candle She had said little, but she had otten and he must marry Evelyn Carrie wanted him to understand that she saw this and was jealous for his honor If he drew back and broke his faith with Evelyn, she would have nothing to do with him Moreover, it was unthinkable that he should draw back He sat still for soot up abruptly and went out

The wind the surf had threatened had co Its rude buffet braced him, the roar of the sea and wail of the trees that rolled down the slope were soothing The litter in the bay his sense of rebellion began to melt