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The previous day or two having been wet； the inference was
irresistible that the wearer had quite recently been walking some
considerable distance about the lanes and fields。 Stockdale opened
the window and looked out； and Mrs。 Newberry turned her head。 Her
face became slowly red； she never had looked prettier； or more
incomprehensible； he waved his hand affectionately； and said good…
morning； she answered with embarrassment； having ceased her
occupation on the instant that she saw him； and rolled up the coat
half…cleaned。
Stockdale shut the window。 Some simple explanation of her
proceeding was doubtless within the bounds of possibility； but he
himself could not think of one； and he wished that she had placed
the matter beyond conjecture by voluntarily saying something about
it there and then。
But； though Lizzy had not offered an explanation at the moment； the
subject was brought forward by her at the next time of their
meeting。 She was chatting to him concerning some other event； and
remarked that it happened about the time when she was dusting some
old clothes that had belonged to her poor husband。
'You keep them clean out of respect to his memory？' said Stockdale
tentatively。
'I air and dust them sometimes；' she said； with the most charming
innocence in the world。
'Do dead men come out of their graves and walk in mud？' murmured the
minister； in a cold sweat at the deception that she was practising。
'What did you say？' asked Lizzy。
'Nothing； nothing；' said he mournfully。 'Mere wordsa phrase that
will do for my sermon next Sunday。' It was too plain that Lizzy was
unaware that he had seen actual pedestrian splashes upon the skirts
of the tell…tale overcoat； and that she imagined him to believe it
had come direct from some chest or drawer。
The aspect of the case was now considerably darker。 Stockdale was
so much depressed by it that he did not challenge her explanation；
or threaten to go off as a missionary to benighted islanders； or
reproach her in any way whatever。 He simply parted from her when
she had done talking； and lived on in perplexity； till by degrees
his natural manner became sad and constrained。
CHAPTER IVAT THE TIME OF THE NEW MOON
The following Thursday was changeable； damp； and gloomy； and the
night threatened to be windy and unpleasant。 Stockdale had gone
away to Knollsea in the morning； to be present at some commemoration
service there； and on his return he was met by the attractive Lizzy
in the passage。 Whether influenced by the tide of cheerfulness
which had attended him that day； or by the drive through the open
air； or whether from a natural disposition to let bygones alone； he
allowed himself to be fascinated into forgetfulness of the greatcoat
incident； and upon the whole passed a pleasant evening； not so much
in her society as within sound of her voice； as she sat talking in
the back parlour to her mother； till the latter went to bed。
Shortly after this Mrs。 Newberry retired； and then Stockdale
prepared to go upstairs himself。 But before he left the room he
remained standing by the dying embers awhile； thinking long of one
thing and another； and was only aroused by the flickering of his
candle in the socket as it suddenly declined and went out。 Knowing
that there were a tinder…box； matches； and another candle in his
bedroom； he felt his way upstairs without a light。 On reaching his
chamber he laid his hand on every possible ledge and corner for the
tinderbox； but for a long time in vain。 Discovering it at length；
Stockdale produced a spark； and was kindling the brimstone； when he
fancied that he heard a movement in the passage。 He blew harder at
the lint； the match flared up； and looking by aid of the blue light
through the door； which had been standing open all this time； he was
surprised to see a male figure vanishing round the top of the
staircase with the evident intention of escaping unobserved。 The
personage wore the clothes which Lizzy had been brushing； and
something in the outline and gait suggested to the minister that the
wearer was Lizzy herself。
But he was not sure of this； and； greatly excited； Stockdale
determined to investigate the mystery； and to adopt his own way for
doing it。 He blew out the match without lighting the candle； went
into the passage； and proceeded on tiptoe towards Lizzy's room。 A
faint grey square of light in the direction of the chamber…window as
he approached told him that the door was open； and at once suggested
that the occupant was gone。 He turned and brought down his fist
upon the handrail of the staircase： 'It was she； in her late
husband's coat and hat！'
Somewhat relieved to find that there was no intruder in the case；
yet none the less surprised； the minister crept down the stairs；
softly put on his boots； overcoat； and hat； and tried the front
door。 It was fastened as usual： he went to the back door； found
this unlocked； and emerged into the garden。 The night was mild and
moonless； and rain had lately been falling； though for the present
it had ceased。 There was a sudden dropping from the trees and
bushes every now and then； as each passing wind shook their boughs。
Among these sounds Stockdale heard the faint fall of feet upon the
road outside； and he guessed from the step that it was Lizzy's。 He
followed the sound； and； helped by the circumstance of the wind
blowing from the direction in which the pedestrian moved； he got
nearly close to her； and kept there； without risk of being
overheard。 While he thus followed her up the street or lane； as it
might indifferently be called； there being more hedge than houses on
either side； a figure came forward to her from one of the cottage
doors。 Lizzy stopped； the minister stepped upon the grass and
stopped also。
'Is that Mrs。 Newberry？' said the man who had come out； whose voice
Stockdale recognized as that of one of the most devout members of
his congregation。
'It is；' said Lizzy。
'I be quite readyI've been here this quarter…hour。'
'Ah； John；' said she； 'I have bad news； there is danger to…night for
our venture。'
'And d'ye tell o't！ I dreamed there might be。'
'Yes；' she said hurriedly； 'and you must go at once round to where
the chaps are waiting； and tell them they will not be wanted till
to…morrow night at the same time。 I go to burn the lugger off。'
'I will；' he said； and instantly went off through a gate； Lizzy
continuing her way。
On she tripped at a quickening pace till the lane turned into the
turnpike…road； which she crossed； and got into the track for
Ringsworth。 Here she ascended the hill without the least
hesitation； passed the lonely hamlet of Holworth； and went down the
vale on the other side。 Stockdale had never taken any extensive
walks in this direction； but he was aware that if she persisted in
her course much longer she would draw near to the coast； which was
here between two and three miles distant from Nether…Moynton； and as
it had been about a quarter…past eleven o'clock when they set out；
her intention seemed to be to reach the shore about midnight。
Lizzy soon ascended a small mound； which Stockdale at the same time
adroitly skirted on the left； and a dull monotonous roar burst upon
his ear。 The hillock was about fifty yards from the top of the
cliffs； and by day it apparently commanded a full view of the bay。
There was light enough in the sky to show her disguised figure
against it when she reached the top； where she paused； and
afterwards sat down。 Stockdale； not wishing on any account to alarm
her at this moment； yet desirous of being near her； sank upon his
hands and knees； crept a little higher up； and there stayed still。
The wind was chilly； the ground damp； and his position one in which
he did not care to remain long。 However； before he had decided to
leave it； the young man heard voices behind him。 What they
signified he did not know； but； fearing that Lizzy was in danger； he
was about to run forward and warn her that she might be seen； when
she crept to the shelter of a little bush which maintained a
precarious existence in that exposed spot； and her form was absorbed
in its dark