The two girls were standing in the outermost seaward corner of the
breakwater, as though they had never moved, when the _Assistance_ came
nosing round Les Lâches next morning, and made for the harbour. And to
Graeme, the sight of his wife, after a separation of eighteen hours,
was like a life-giving stream to a pilgrim of the desert, or the
blessing of light to a darkened soul. His heart swelled almost to
paining-point for very joy of her. He took deep breaths of gratitude
for this sweet crowning of his life. He wondered vaguely why he should
be so blest above all other men. He vowed his vows again and his eyes
were misty.
They saw him standing by the captain, and waved glad welcomes, and
presently, his glimpse into the depths of Margaret's eyes as he kissed
her, told him that he had been missed even as he had missed.
"I am glad I went with him," he said, as they climbed the steep Creux
Road. "It did him good to talk. He's feeling it terribly."
He did not tell them that they had got the previous day's papers in
St. Peter Port, and that their scathing comments on a peculiarly bad
failure, and on the remarkable contrast between the profession and the
practice of Jeremiah Pixley's life, had driven Charles Svendt almost
crazy. The wound was raw in their hearts. There was no need to turn
the knife in it.
"We shall see him back here with Mrs. Pixley before the middle of next
week, unless I'm very much mistaken," he said. "He says there's
nothing doing on the Stock Exchange, and he can fix things with his
partner to get away for a time, and it seems the wisest thing to do."
"I have liked Charles better this time than I ever did in my life
before," said Margaret. "And I am very very sorry for him and Mrs.
Pixley."
"He's not half a bad fellow," said Graeme heartily.
And perhaps, if it had been put to Miss Penny, she would have improved
even upon that.
"I hope you're not very set on being a rich woman, Meg," said Graeme,
when they were alone together.
"Oh, but I am," she said, with a smile which all the riches in the
world could not have bought from her, or brought to her.
"Yes, I know,"--and he gathered the smile with a kiss. "But in coarse
material wealth, I mean."
"I'm just as set on it as you are. I want just as much as will make
you happy. You mean Mr. Pixley has made away with it all?"
"I'm very much afraid so, but I guess we can get along all right
without it."
"Of course we can--splendidly. I'm a famous housekeeper and you'll be
a famous author. There couldn't be a better team. It will bring out
the very best that's in us."
"We can never come to actual want anyway, for my little bit--which, by
the way, Lady Elspeth once took the trouble to impress upon me was
just about enough to pay Mr. Pixley's servants' wages--is in Consols,
and they're not likely to crack up. And my last book brought me about
fifty pounds--"
"It ought to have brought you five thousand. I'm sure it was good
enough."
"Of course it was, but it takes time to work up to the five thousand
point. Some get there, I suppose. But I should imagine more starve off
at the fifty line."
"We could live like princes on a couple of hundred a year in Sark
here."
"It would pall on you in time, I'm afraid."
"You've been here twice as long as I have. Has it begun to pall on you
yet?"
"I don't think it would ever pall on me, if I lived here for a
century. But then I've got my work, you see."
"And I've got you, my dear. When you and Sark begin to pall I'll
promise to let you know. It's heavenly."
"Oh, I don't claim all that, you know. Don't expect _too_ much--"
"Will Charles be involved at all, do you think, Jock?"
"I don't think so. They had not much to do with one another in
business matters."
"I'm glad of that. Do you know"--with an introspective look in her
eyes--"I've an idea--"
"Hennie Penny?"
Margaret nodded.
"That would be capital. She'd make him an excellent wife."
"I'm sure she would. She's just what he needs. She's as good as gold,
and she has more genuine common-sense than anyone I know."
"Thousand thanks!"
"Oh, we're exceptions to all rules. But I do hope something--I mean
everything--may come of it. And we would all have reason to bless this
blessed little island all our days."
"Some of us will, anyway. It certainly shall not go unblest."