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away。 Up went the sun at last out of a bank of clouds that
were already disbanding in the east； a herald wind had
already sprung up to sweep the leafy earth and scatter the
congregated dewdrops。 'Alas！' thought Dick Naseby； 'how can
any other day come so distastefully to me？' He still wanted
his experience of the morrow。
CHAPTER VII … THE ELOPEMENT
IT was probably on the stroke of ten； and Dick had been half
asleep for some time against the bank； when Esther came up
the road carrying a bundle。 Some kind of instinct； or
perhaps the distant light footfalls； recalled him； while she
was still a good way off； to the possession of his faculties；
and he half raised himself and blinked upon the world。 It
took him some time to recollect his thoughts。 He had
awakened with a certain blank and childish sense of pleasure；
like a man who had received a legacy overnight； but this
feeling gradually died away； and was then suddenly and
stunningly succeeded by a conviction of the truth。 The whole
story of the past night sprang into his mind with every
detail； as by an exercise of the direct and speedy sense of
sight； and he arose from the ditch and； with rueful courage；
went to meet his love。
She came up to him walking steady and fast； her face still
pale； but to all appearance perfectly composed； and she
showed neither surprise； relief； nor pleasure at finding her
lover on the spot。 Nor did she offer him her hand。
'Here I am；' said he。
'Yes；' she replied； and then； without a pause or any change
of voice； 'I want you to take me away；' she added。
'Away？' he repeated。 'How？ Where？'
'To…day；' she said。 'I do not care where it is； but I want
you to take me away。'
'For how long？ I do not understand；' gasped Dick。
'I shall never come back here any more；' was all she
answered。
Wild words uttered； as these were； with perfect quiet of
manner and voice； exercise a double influence on the hearer's
mind。 Dick was confounded； he recovered from astonishment
only to fall into doubt and alarm。 He looked upon her frozen
attitude； so discouraging for a lover to behold； and recoiled
from the thoughts which it suggested。
'To me？' he asked。 'Are you coming to me； Esther？'
'I want you to take me away；' she repeated with weary
impatience。 'Take me away … take me away from here。'
The situation was not sufficiently defined。 Dick asked
himself with concern whether she were altogether in her right
wits。 To take her away； to marry her； to work off his hands
for her support； Dick was content to do all this； yet he
required some show of love upon her part。 He was not one of
those tough…hided and small…hearted males who would marry
their love at the point of the bayonet rather than not marry
her at all。 He desired that a woman should come to his arms
with an attractive willingness； if not with ardour。 And
Esther's bearing was more that of despair than that of love。
It chilled him and taught him wisdom。
'Dearest；' he urged； 'tell me what you wish； and you shall
have it； tell me your thoughts； and then I can advise you。
But to go from here without a plan； without forethought； in
the heat of a moment； is madder than madness； and can help
nothing。 I am not speaking like a man； but I speak the
truth； and I tell you again； the thing's absurd； and wrong；
and hurtful。'
She looked at him with a lowering； languid look of wrath。
'So you will not take me？' she said。 'Well； I will go
alone。'
And she began to step forward on her way。 But he threw
himself before her。
'Esther； Esther！' he cried。
'Let me go … don't touch me … what right have you to
interfere？ Who are you； to touch me？' she flashed out；
shrill with anger。
Then； being made bold by her violence； he took her firmly；
almost roughly； by the arm； and held her while he spoke。
'You know well who I am； and what I am； and that I love you。
You say I will not help you； but your heart knows the
contrary。 It is you who will not help me； for you will not
tell me what you want。 You see … or you could see； if you
took the pains to look … how I have waited here all night to
be ready at your service。 I only asked information； I only
urged you to consider； and I still urge and beg you to think
better of your fancies。 But if your mind is made up； so be
it； I will beg no longer； I give you my orders； and I will
not allow … not allow you to go hence alone。'
She looked at him for awhile with cold； unkind scrutiny like
one who tries the temper of a tool。
'Well； take me away； then；' she said with a sigh。
'Good；' said Dick。 'Come with me to the stables； there we
shall get the pony…trap and drive to the junction。 To…night
you shall be in London。 I am yours so wholly that no words
can make me more so； and； besides； you know it； and the words
are needless。 May God help me to be good to you； Esther …
may God help me！ for I see that you will not。'
So； without more speech； they set out together； and were
already got some distance from the spot； ere he observed that
she was still carrying the hand…bag。 She gave it up to him；
passively； but when he offered her his arm； merely shook her
head and pursed up her lips。 The sun shone clearly and
pleasantly； the wind was fresh and brisk upon their faces；
and smelt racily of woods and meadows。 As they went down
into the valley of the Thyme； the babble of the stream rose
into the air like a perennial laughter。 On the far…away
hills； sun…burst and shadow raced along the slopes and leaped
from peak to peak。 Earth； air and water； each seemed in
better health and had more of the shrewd salt of life in them
than upon ordinary mornings； and from east to west； from the
lowest glen to the height of heaven； from every look and
touch and scent； a human creature could gather the most
encouraging intelligence as to the durability and spirit of
the universe。
Through all this walked Esther； picking her small steps like
a bird； but silent and with a cloud under her thick eyebrows。
She seemed insensible； not only of nature； but of the
presence of her companion。 She was altogether engrossed in
herself； and looked neither to right nor to left； but
straight before her on the road。 When they came to the
bridge； however； she halted； leaned on the parapet； and
stared for a moment at the clear； brown pool； and swift；
transient snowdrift of the rapids。
'I am going to drink；' she said； and descended the winding
footpath to the margin。
There she drank greedily in her hands and washed her temples
with water。 The coolness seemed to break； for an instant；
the spell that lay upon her； for； instead of hastening
forward again in her dull； indefatigable tramp； she stood
still where she was； for near a minute； looking straight
before her。 And Dick； from above on the bridge where he
stood to watch her； saw a strange； equivocal smile dawn
slowly on her face and pass away again at once and suddenly；
leaving her as grave as ever； and the sense of distance；
which it is so cruel for a lover to endure； pressed with
every moment more heavily on her companion。 Her thoughts
were all secret； her heart was locked and bolted； and he
stood without； vainly wooing her with his eves。
'Do you feel better？' asked Dick； as she at last rejoined
him； and after the constraint of so long a silence； his voice
sounded foreign to his own ears。
She looked at him for an appreciable fraction of a minute ere
she answered； and when she did； it was in the monosyllable …
'Yes。'
Dick's solicitude was nipped and frosted。 His words died
away on his tongue。 Even his eyes； despairing of
encouragement； ceased to attend on hers。 And they went on in
silence through Kirton hamlet； where an old man followed them
with his eyes； and perhaps envied them their youth and love；
and across the Ivy beck