But, as she bent over the unconscious form, a foolish moisture gathered
in her eyes which had nothing to do with forgetfulness of alcohol. For
indeed there lay sprawling anyhow in catlike grace beneath them the
most romantic figure of a youth that the sight of maiden ladies ever
rested on. He had long black hair, a perfectly chiselled face, a
preposterously feminine mouth which, partly open, showed white young
teeth, and the most delicate, long-fingered hands in the world. Miss
Ursula murmured that he was like a young Greek god. Miss Widdington
sighed. The fellow was ridiculous. He was also dank with sea water,
and moaned as if he were in pain. But as gazing wrapt in wonder and
admiration at young Greek gods is not much good to them when they are
half-drowned, Miss Widdington despatched her sister in search of help.
"The tide is still low enough for you to get round the cliff to the
village. Mrs. Pendered will give you some brandy, and her husband and
Luke will bring a stretcher. You might also send Joe Gullow on his
bicycle for Dr. Mead."
Miss Widdington, as behoved one who has the charge of an orphaned
younger sister, did not allow the sentimental to weaken the practical.
Miss Ursula, though she would have preferred to stay by the side of the
beautiful youth, was docile, and went forthwith on her errand. Miss
Widdington, left alone with him, rolled up her jacket and pillowed his
head on it, brought his limbs into an attitude suggestive of comfort,
and tried by chafing to restore him to animation. Being unsuccessful
in this, she at last desisted, and sat on the rocks near by and
wondered who on earth he was and where in the world he came from. His
garments consisted in a nondescript pair of trousers and a flannel
shirt with a collar, which was fastened at the neck, not by button or
stud, but by a tasselled cord; and he was barefoot. Miss Widdington
glanced modestly at his feet, which were shapely; and the soles were
soft and pink like the palms of his hands. Now, had he been the
coarsest and most callosity-stricken shell-back half-alive, Janet
Widdington would have tended him with the same devotion; but the
lingering though unoffending Eve in her rejoiced that hands and feet
betokened gentler avocations than that of sailor or fisherman. And
why? Heaven knows, save that the stranded creature had a pretty face
and that his long black hair was flung over his forehead in a most
interesting manner. She wished he would open his eyes. But as he kept
them shut and gave no sign of returning consciousness, she sat there
waiting patiently; in front of her the rough, sun-kissed Atlantic, at
her feet the semicircular patch of golden sand, behind her the sheer
white cliffs, and by her side on the slab of rock this good-looking
piece of jetsam.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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