第83章 A MERE INTERLUDE(10)

The hour that she reached the island it was as if a material weight had been removed from Baptista's shoulders.Her husband attributed the change to the influence of the local breezes after the hot-house atmosphere of the mainland.However that might be,settled here,a few doors from her mother's dwelling,she recovered in no very long time much of her customary bearing,which was never very demonstrative.She accepted her position calmly,and faintly smiled when her neighbours learned to call her Mrs.Heddegan,and said she seemed likely to become the leader of fashion in Giant's Town.

Her husband was a man who had made considerably more money by trade than her father had done:and perhaps the greater profusion of surroundings at her command than she had heretofore been mistress of,was not without an effect upon her.One week,two weeks,three weeks passed;and,being pre-eminently a young woman who allowed things to drift,she did nothing whatever either to disclose or conceal traces of her first marriage;or to learn if there existed possibilities--which there undoubtedly did--by which that hasty contract might become revealed to those about her at any unexpected moment.

While yet within the first month of her marriage,and on an evening just before sunset,Baptista was standing within her garden adjoining the house,when she saw passing along the road a personage clad in a greasy black coat and battered tall hat,which,common enough in the slums of a city,had an odd appearance in St.Maria's.The tramp,as he seemed to be,marked her at once--bonnetless and unwrapped as she was her features were plainly recognizable--and with an air of friendly surprise came and leant over the wall.

'What!don't you know me?'said he.

She had some dim recollection of his face,but said that she was not acquainted with him.

'Why,your witness to be sure,ma'am.Don't you mind the man that was mending the church-window when you and your intended husband walked up to be made one;and the clerk called me down from the ladder,and I came and did my part by writing my name and occupation?'

Baptista glanced quickly around;her husband was out of earshot.

That would have been of less importance but for the fact that the wedding witnessed by this personage had not been the wedding with Mr.

Heddegan,but the one on the day previous.

'I've had a misfortune since then,that's pulled me under,'continued her friend.'But don't let me damp yer wedded joy by naming the particulars.Yes,I've seen changes since;though 'tis but a short time ago--let me see,only a month next week,I think;for 'twere the first or second day in August.'

'Yes--that's when it was,'said another man,a sailor,who had come up with a pipe in his mouth,and felt it necessary to join in (Baptista having receded to escape further speech).'For that was the first time I set foot in Giant's Town;and her husband took her to him the same day.'

A dialogue then proceeded between the two men outside the wall,which Baptista could not help hearing.

'Ay,I signed the book that made her one flesh,'repeated the decayed glazier.'Where's her goodman?''About the premises somewhere;but you don't see 'em together much,'replied the sailor in an undertone.'You see,he's older than she.'

'Older?I should never have thought it from my own observation,'

said the glazier.'He was a remarkably handsome man.'

'Handsome?Well,there he is--we can see for ourselves.'

David Heddegan had,indeed,just shown himself at the upper end of the garden;and the glazier,looking in bewilderment from the husband to the wife,saw the latter turn pale.

Now that decayed glazier was a far-seeing and cunning man--too far-seeing and cunning to allow himself to thrive by simple and straightforward means--and he held his peace,till he could read more plainly the meaning of this riddle,merely adding carelessly,'Well--marriage do alter a man,'tis true.I should never ha'knowed him!'

He then stared oddly at the disconcerted Baptista,and moving on to where he could again address her,asked her to do him a good turn,since he once had done the same for her.Understanding that he meant money,she handed him some,at which he thanked her,and instantly went away.

CHAPTER VII

She had escaped exposure on this occasion;but the incident had been an awkward one,and should have suggested to Baptista that sooner or later the secret must leak out.As it was,she suspected that at any rate she had not heard the last of the glazier.

In a day or two,when her husband had gone to the old town on the other side of the island,there came a gentle tap at the door,and the worthy witness of her first marriage made his appearance a second time.

'It took me hours to get to the bottom of the mystery--hours!'he said with a gaze of deep confederacy which offended her pride very deeply.'But thanks to a good intellect I've done it.Now,ma'am,I'm not a man to tell tales,even when a tale would be so good as this.But I'm going back to the mainland again,and a little assistance would be as rain on thirsty ground.'

'I helped you two days ago,'began Baptista.

'Yes--but what was that,my good lady?Not enough to pay my passage to Pen-zephyr.I came over on your account,for I thought there was a mystery somewhere.Now I must go back on my own.Mind this--'twould be very awkward for you if your old man were to know.He's a queer temper,though he may be fond.'

She knew as well as her visitor how awkward it would be;and the hush-money she paid was heavy that day.She had,however,the satisfaction of watching the man to the steamer,and seeing him diminish out of sight.But Baptista perceived that the system into which she had been led of purchasing silence thus was one fatal to her peace of mind,particularly if it had to be continued.

Hearing no more from the glazier she hoped the difficulty was past.

But another week only had gone by,when,as she was pacing the Giant's Walk (the name given to the promenade),she met the same personage in the company of a fat woman carrying a bundle.