England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; English fiction -- 19th century
She had copied the address on to a piece of paper, which she kept
inside her glove; impossible that she should forget, but even
impossibilities must be provided for. When she descended at Eastbourne,
she was so agitated and so perplexed by the novelty of the experience
that with difficulty she found her way into the street. She hurried on
a little way, then remembered that the first thing was to ask a
direction. On inquiring from a woman who stood in a shop-door, she at
once had her course clearly indicated. Forwards then, as quickly as she
could walk. How astonishingly clean the streets were! What great green
trees grew everywhere! How bright and hot was the sunshine!--Yes, this
turn; but to make quite sure she would ask again. A policeman, in an
unfamiliar uniform, reassured her. Now a turn to the right--and of a
sudden everything ceased; there seemed to be nothing but blue sky
before her. Ah, that was the sea, then; its breath came with wondrous
sweetness on her heated face. But what was the sea to her! Along here
to the left again. She must be very near now. Again she asked, and in
so uncertain a voice that she had to repeat her question before it was
understood. Number so-and-so; why, it was just over yonder; the cottage
that seemed to be built of some glistening white stone. And so she
stood at the door.
A child opened, and, without questioning, laughed and said, 'Come in,
please.' She found herself at once in a comfortable kitchen. The child
pointed to an inner door, which, in the same moment, softly opened.
'Lyddy!'
So it had come at last. Once again they were heart to heart, Lydia
cried as though something dreadful had befallen her; Thyrza sobbed once
or twice, but she had shed so many tears for misery that none would
come at the bidding of joy.
They were in a little room which looked through a diamond-paned lattice
upon the flat beach which lies at this side of Eastbourne. In front was
a black, tar-smeared house of wood for the keeping of fishers' nets,
and fishing boats lay about it. When Lydia's emotion had spent itself,
Thyrza drew her to the window, threw back the lattice, and said 'Look!'
'I can't look at anything but you, dearest,' was the answer.
'But let us look together, just for a minute, then we shall come fresh
again to each other's faces. The sea, Lyddy! I love it; it seems to me
the best friend I ever had.'
'You're very pale still, darling. You've been ill, and you wouldn't
send for me. How cruel that was of you, Thyrza! You might have got so
bad you couldn't send; you might have died before I could know
anything. Dear, you don't love me as I love you. I couldn't have given
you that pain, no, not for any one, not for any one in the world. Oh,
why didn't you let me go away with you? I'd have gone anywhere; I'd
have done anything you asked me. Are you sure you're well again? Do you
feel strong?--What is it?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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