The Dark Stranger (16 page)

“
As important as that?
”

“
Yes,
”
she said with a rush of certainty.
“
As important as that.
”

Tina did not come in to tea and later when Belle went upstairs to get ready for her appointment at the inn, Craig strolled down to the temple where he thought he would find the girl.

She was sitting on the steps reading, and she looked up, as she became aware of him, to say with surprise:

“
Hullo! You
’
re back earlier this evening.
”

There were no traces of tears on her face now and
her manner
was composed and politely attentive.

“I’ve been back
some time,
”
he replied non-committally.
“
What are you reading?
”

She held up the book, smiling.

“
The anthology you gave me when I first went back
to s
chool. You know, Craig, it always surprised me that you chose poetry.
”

“
Did it? I wonder why?
”

“I don’t know. I
suppose I thought that you wouldn
’
t be interested in verse
.”

“
You mean you thought the Pentreaths were hard-headed materialists with small appreciation for beauty,
”
he said and sat down beside, her on the steps.

“
Oh!
”
she said quickly.
“
I didn
’
t mean—well, I didn
’
t know you very well, then.
”

“
I don
’
t think you know me very well, now,
”
he retorted with a faint smile.
“
I
’
m afraid I haven
’
t seen much of you this summer, Tina. We
’
ll have to remedy that now that the press of work is slackening off at the cannery.
”

She glanced a little uncertainly at his dark profile. There was something different about him this evening, a suggestion in his manner that his interest in her welfare held a little more than casual kindness.

“
I wish,
”
she said with sudden shyness,
“
you would find me some job in the cannery. I feel so useless accepting your hospitality and giving nothing in exchange.
”

“
Do you? Well, later on there may be something you can do.
”

“
A job?
”

His eyes were on hers with disconcerting intensity.
“
Not in the way you mean. Tina, you and Belle—do you often quarrel?
”

She edged away from him a little, her face guarded.
“
No,
”
she replied, wondering how much he knew,
“
not often. One doesn
’
t quarrel with Belle.
”

“
Do you remember I once told you to come to me if you were ever in difficulties and not to her?
”

“
Yes, but
—”

“
But you feel you don
’
t know me well enough for confidences?
”

“
I—I haven
’
t anything to confide,
”
she said a little awkwardly.

“
No, probably not,
”
he said with his usual abruptness and got to his feet.
“
Don
’
t sit there too long, will you? We
’
re into October now and the evenings get cool.
”

He was gone before she could think of a reply, and she shut the anthology and sat staring with puzzled eyes at the magnolia.

III

A couple of days later she went by bus to Merrynporth on an errand for Belle. She did not know afterwards whether she had been sent deliberately or not, but
cert
ainly Adwen was waiting for her outside the shop Belle
had specified.

“
Now, isn
’
t this lucky?
”
he said with his impudent grin.
“
I
’
ve got a surprise to show you so hurry up with your shopping and come down to the harbor.
”

She did not want to see him just then. Belle
’
s careless remarks still rankled and her stepmother had doubtless been very amusing at her expense that evening at the Spanish Inn. But it was difficult to shake him off without appearing rude, and she found herself accompanying him along the waterfront where he slipped a casual hand through her arm.

“
A good sailing day,
”
he remarked, ignoring her reluctance.
“
Will you come out in the bay for a bit? It
’
ll soon be too late in the year.
”

“
Oh, I don
’
t think
—”
she began, finishing with
childish curiosity,
“
Where
’
s the surprise?
”

“
There in front of you.
”

He pointed to his boat tied up to the jetty and for a moment she looked puzzled, then with a small exclamation of pleasure, she went nearer to take a second look. The dinghy
’
s old name had been painted out, and her own replaced it in bold scarlet lettering.

“
It
’
s a compliment, you know,
”
he told her, watching her surprised face.
“
You are now immortalized for all the world to see.
”

“
Clementina
...”
she said softly.
“
When did you do it, Adwen?
”

“
A few days ago. Are you pleased?
”

Yes, she was pleased. The small compliment seemed to her a gesture of graciousness, a concrete reminder that to someone she was important.

“
And you
’
ll come on the Clementina
’
s maiden voyage and wish her luck?
”
he said.

She yielded, laughing, wondering why she had ever been reluctant. There was sun and a stiff breeze and soon it would be autumn and the little boats beached for another year. She watched while he made sail, approving his deft hands and the lean grace of his body, and presently when the canvas filled and the dinghy, running freely with the wind, put out into the bay, she gave herself up to pure enjoyment. Did it matter that Belle made fun of her and
Craig unwittingly taxed her uneasy conscience? Alone with Adwen there was nothing to trouble her but the pleasure of the moment and the look in his eyes which told her he found her desirable.

“
There
’
s a motor boat coming up on us fast,
”
she said suddenly,
“
I believe she
’
s trying to head us off.
”

His eyes followed the direction of hers without much interest then he stiffened.

“
That
’
s no motor boat,
”
he said slowly.
“
It
’
s
Cormorant,
Craig
’
s sloop. She
’
s using her auxiliary engine. Now, I wonder
—”

“
Craig?
”
For a moment she looked dismayed.
“
Is he on board?
”

“
Can
’
t see—there are two of them. You
’
re right, Tina, they
are
after us and—yes, my redoubtable cousin is aboard, and looking as black as thunder. He
’
s coming to bawl me out.
”

Tina sat up very straight and tense on the thwart. The sloop was fast overtaking them and even as she watched, she saw Craig swing himself on the half-deck and stand there, braced against the mast.

“
Down sail!
”
he shouted as soon as they were within hailing distance.

“
Get out of the way, you fool!
”
yelled Adwen, bringing the dinghy
’
s head up into the wind.
“
Your wash will have us over if you cross our bows!
”

“
I
’
m coming alongside,
”
Craig said.
“
If you don
’
t down sail immediately I shall ram.
”

Tina sat on the thwart, looking up at the sloop. Craig stood, immovable on the half-deck, the wind whipping the black hair from the angry, arrogant face, the blue, vivid eyes narrowed against the runs. The face of a pirate, she thought again, adamant of intention, merciless of any refusal to obey. Adwen, suddenly white under his tan, hesitated for a split second then began to down sail without a word.

Zachary at the tiller, brought the sloop alongside and Craig addressed Tina.

“
Get ready to come aboard when I give you a hand,
”
he said.

“
No,
”
she shouted with childish rebellion.

“
You
’
d better be warned by my cousin
’
s behavior,
”
he retorted.
“
I
’
m in no
m
ood to argue with a silly child. Adwen, you
’
ll take that name off your dinghy, or I
’
ll come and break it up for firewood. Now, Tina, are you ready?
”
He jumped down into the cockpit and put out a steadying hand as the two boats touched.

“
Better hurry if you don
’
t want to fall in the drink,
”
he rapped out, and she stood up unsteadily in the dinghy and took the outstretched hand he offered her. He swung her over the side with a jerk that was strong, but not gentle, and she fell into the cockpit breathless and a little frightened.

“
Keep away from her in future, do you hear?
”
he shouted to Adwen.
“
If you see her again I
’
ll come and give you the hiding of your life, and remember—take her name off your blasted boat!
”

Zachary had re-started the engine and Craig turned to take the tiller.

“
All right, I
’
ll take over,
”
he said and in a few moments the sloop came about in a wide circle, and gathered speed, leaving a spume of foam behind her.

Tina sat huddled against Zachary in the
stern
.

“
I warned you,
”
he said in her ear.
“
I said maister wouldn
’
t be pleased.
”

Yes, he had warned her, but she had been unprepared for action of this kind. She had been unprepared for anger which could threaten violence regardless of the consequences. Had Adwen not given in they might both at this moment be struggling in
the
sea.

They went home in the Lancia, each as silent as the other, Craig and Zachary in front, Tina thrust into the back like a child in disgrace.

“
Leave her in the drive,
”
Craig told Zachary when they
’
got back to Tremawvan,
“
I
’
ll go back to the cannery later. Tina, come with me.
”

She followed him into the house and the big empty
living r
oom where he wheeled round upon her, and she saw that his anger was still running high.

“
Now, then, how long have you been seeing Adwen?
”
he demanded.

“
A month—six weeks.
”

“
And why did you never mention the fact?
”

“
Belle knew,
”
she said defiantly.
“
She had no objection.
”