"Friend, the Lord hath set--"
"Leave Him out!" quoth I.
"What, Martin--will ye blaspheme now? Oh, shame on ye! "The mouth o" the blasphemer is as an open sepulchre!" But as I say, the Lord hath set you here i" this flowery garden like Adam and her like Eve--"
"And yourself like the serpent!" said I.
"Ha" done, Martin, ha" done! "The Lord shall root out deceitful lips and the tongue that speaks proud things!" mark that!"
"And mark you this, Resolution, an you fill Joanna"s head with aught of such folly, whatsoever sorrow or evil befalls her is upon your head."
"Why, observe, friend and brother, for any man shall cause Joanna such, I have this, d"ye see!" And he showed me the b.u.t.t of the pistol in his pocket; whereat I cursed him for meddlesome fool and turning my back went on with my labour, though my pleasure in it was gone. Howbeit I wrought this, rather than sit with idle hands, wasting myself in profitless repining. And presently, being intent on the business, I forgot all else and seeing this little bower was turning out much better than I had hoped, I fell a-whistling, until, hearing a step, I turned to find Joanna leaning upon Resolution"s arm and in her eyes such a look of yearning tenderness as filled me with a mighty disquiet.
"And have you--made this for--me, Martino?" she questioned, a little breathlessly.
"Aye," I nodded, "because I do hate idleness--"
"Hark to him!" said Resolution. "And him picturing to me how snug you would lie here--"
"As to that, Resolution," said I, scowling, "you can lie anywhere."
"Why, true," said he, ignoring my meaning. "Since Jo sleeps here, I shall sleep "neath the tree hard by, leaving you the cave yonder, friend."
That night Joanna lay in the bower and from this time she mended apace, but as for me, with every hour my impatience to be gone grew upon me beyond all measure, and as the time pa.s.sed I waxed surly and morose, insomuch that upon a day as I sat frowning at the sea, Joanna stole upon me and stooping, kissed my hand or ever I might stay her.
"Do I offend?" she questioned with a strange, new humility. "Ah, prithee, why art grown so strange to me?"
"I am as I always was!"
"Nay, in my sickness thou wert kind and gentle--"
"So should I have been to any other!"
"You builded me my little house?"
"I had naught else to do."
"Martino," said she, sinking on her knees beside me. "Oh, _caro mio_, if--if you could kiss me in my sickness when I knew naught of it--wherefore not now when I am all awake and full of life--"
"I never did!" said I, speaking on rageful impulse "If Resolution told you this, he lies!" At this she shrank as I had struck her.
"And did you not--kiss me in my sickness--once, no?"
"Never once!"
Here, bowing her head upon her hands, she rested silent awhile.
"Nay, Joanna, wherefore seek the impossible. In these latter days I have learned to--to respect you--"
"Respect!" cried she, clenching her fists, "Rather give me hate; "twere easier endured--"
"Why, then, this island is a rendezvous for the Brotherhood, soon will you have friends and comrades; give me then the boat and let me go--"
"To seek her? Nay, that you shall never do. I will kill you first, yes--for the cold, pa.s.sionless thing you are!" So she left me and knowing that she wept, I felt greatly heartsick and ashamed.
Now the little cave wherein I slept gave upon that stretch of sandy beach where lay the boat and this night the weather being very hot and no wind stirring, I came without the cave and sat to watch the play of moonlight on the placid waters and hearken to their cool plash and ripple. Long time I sat thus, my mind full of foreboding, mightily cast down and hot with anger against Resolution, whose subtle lies had set Joanna on this vain folly of love, teaching her hopes for that which might never be; and guessing some of her pain therefor, I grieved for her and felt myself humbled that I (though all unwitting) should cause her this sorrow.
Sitting thus, full of heavy thoughts, my gaze by chance lighted upon the boat and, obeying sudden impulse, I arose and coming hither, fell to sudden temptation, for here she lay afloat; once aboard it needed but to slip her moorings and all these my present troubles would be resolved. And yet (thinks I) by so doing I should leave two people on this solitary island cut off from their kind. And yet again they run no chance of hardship or starvation, G.o.d knows, and this being a known meeting-place for their fellows, they shall not lack for company very long.
I was yet debating this in my mind when, roused by a sound behind me, I turned to find Resolution scowling on me and pistol in hand.
"Ha!" said he "twixt shut teeth, "I ha" been expecting this and watched according. So you"ll steal the boat, will ye--leave us marooned here, will ye?"
"I haven"t decided yet!" quoth I.
"And what"s to let me from shooting ye?"
"Nought in the world," said I, watching for a chance to close with him, "only bear witness I have not touched rope or timber yet--"
""Tis a rule o" the Coast to shoot or hang the like o" you!" quoth he, and I heard the sharp click of the pistol as he c.o.c.ked it and then with a flutter of petticoats Joanna burst upon us.
"Resolution, what is"t?" she questioned breathlessly, looking from one to other of us.
"He was for stealing the boat, Jo!"
"Is this true?" she demanded, her face set and very pale. But here, seeing speech was vain, I shook my head and turning my back on them came into my cave and cast myself down on my rough bed. Lying thus I heard the murmur of their talk a great while, yet I nothing heeded until Joanna spoke close without the cave.
"Bide you there, Resolution!" Then the moonlight was dimmed and I saw her form outlined in the mouth of the cave.
"What would you, Joanna?" said I, starting up.
"Talk with you a small while," said she and came where we might behold each other. "Nay, do not fear. I will come no nearer, only I would speak to you now as I would speak if I lay a-dying, I would have you answer as you would if--if Death stood ready to strike these our bodies and bear our souls out to the infinite and a better life."
"Speak!" said I, wondering to see her shaken as by an ague-fit.
"You do not--love me, then? No?"
"No."
"You--never could love me, mind and heart and body? No?"
"No."
"You could not endure me beside you, to--to live--with me near you?"
""Twould mean only pain, Joanna."
"Then go!" cried she. "I am not so base-souled to weep and wheedle, to scheme and pray for thing that can never be truly mine, or to keep you here in hated bondage--go! The boat lieth yonder; take her and what you will--only--get you gone!"