CHAPTER XXXIX
HOW MY DEAR LADY CAME BACK TO ME
I was sitting in one of our armchairs amid the leafy shade watching herknead dough with her two pretty fists. To this end she had rolled upthe sleeves of her splendid gown; and thus I, hearkening to her story,must needs stare at her soft, round arms and yearn mightily to kisstheir velvety smoothness and, instantly be-rating myself therefor,shifted my gaze from these temptations to my own unlovely figure,contrasting myself and my worn garments with her rich attire and proudand radiant beauty; she was again the great lady and far removed abovesuch poor wretch as I, for all her pitiful tenderness.
"... and so when I plunged from the rock," she was saying, "I neverthought to see this dear place again or the blessed sun! And I sank ...O deep--deep! Then, Martin, I seemed to be caught in some current, fardown there in the darkness, that whirled and tossed me and swept me upbehind the torrent. And in the rock was a great cavern sloping to thewater, and there this current threw me, all breathless and nigh dead,Martin."
"God be thanked!" says I fervently.
"And there I lay all night, Martin, very sick and fearful. When daycame I saw this great cave opened into a smaller and this into yetanother. So I came to a passage in the rock, and because there wasnone other way for me, I followed this--and then--O Martin!"
"What?" quoth I, leaning forward.
"Have you ever been to the palace at Versailles, Martin!"
"Once, as a boy with my father."
"Well, Martin, the cave--the hall I came to at last was more splendidthan any Versailles can show. And then I knew that I had found--BlackBartlemy's Treasure!"
"Ha!" quoth I. "And is it indeed so great?"
"Beyond description!" says she, clasping her floury hands and turningon me with shining eyes. "I have held in my hands, jewels--O by thehandful! Great pearls and diamonds, rubies, emeralds,sapphires--beyond price!"
"Aye!" I nodded, "But was this all?"
"All, Martin?" says she, staring.
"Why, according to Adam there should be all manner of stores," says I,"powder and shot, tools--a carpenter's chest--"
"They are all there, with provisions of every kind; as witness thisflour, Martin, but I heeded only these wondrous jewels!" Hereupon sheturns to her work again, describing to me the splendour of theseprecious stones and the wonder of Bartlemy's treasure, whiles I,viewing her loveliness, would have given such foolish treasure athousand times for but her little finger, as watching the play of herround arms again, I fell a-sighing, whereupon she turns, all anxiousquestioning.
"Doth your wound trouble you, Martin?"
"Nay, indeed," says I, shaking my head, "I am very well, I thank you!"
"Then wherefore sigh so deep and oft?"
"I am a vasty fool!"
"Are you, Martin--why?" But in place of answer I rose and, comingbeside her, scowled to see the tender flesh of her arms all black andbruised:
"What is this?" I demanded.
"Nought to matter!"
"Who did it?"
"You, Martin. In your raving you were very strong, mistaking me forthe poor Spanish lady."
"O forgive me!" I cried, and stooping to this pretty arm would havetouched my lips thereto for mere pity but checked myself, fearing togrieve her; perceiving this she comes a little nearer:
"You may--an you so desire, Martin," says she, "though 'tis allfloury!" So I kissed her arm, tenderly and very reverently, as it hadbeen some holy thing (as indeed so I thought it).
"I'm glad 'twas I did this, comrade."
"Glad, Martin?"
"Aye! I had rather 'twas myself than yon evil rogues--nay forgetthem," says I, seeing her shiver, "plague on me for reminding you."
"Hush, Martin!"
"Why then, forget them--and I have their weapons to cope with 'emshould they return."
"Now thank God!" cries she, clasping my hand in both of hers. "ThankGod, Martin! I feared you had killed them all!"
"Why, I did my best," I sighed, shaking my head, "but they were toostrong for me! Would to God I had indeed slain--"
"Hush, Martin, O hush!" And here she claps her pretty hand to my lips,where I straightway 'prisoned it to my kisses. "Though truly," saysshe the whiles this was a-doing, "from your raving I feared them allslain at your hand, so do I rejoice to know you innocent of theirdeaths!" Here, her hand released, she fell a-laughing (albeit a littletremulously) to see my face all patched with flour; and so, back to herlabour.
"But, Martin," says she, turning to glance at me in a while, "You mustbe very terrible to drive away these four great men, and very brave!"
"Here was no bravery!" quoth I, "Methought you surely dead and I meantthem to slay me also."
"Did you--miss me--so greatly?" she questioned and not looking at me.
"Yes!"
"You fought them in Skeleton Cove, beyond Deliverance, Martin?"
"Aye! You found their guns there?"
"And the sand all trampled and hatefully stained. 'Tis an evil place,Martin."
"And so it is!" says I. "But as to these weapons, there were two goodfirelocks I mind, and besides--"
"They are all here, Martin, guns and swords and pistols. You raved forthem in your sickness so I fetched them while you slept. Though indeedyou have no need of these, there be weapons of every sort in theTreasure cave, 'tis like an arsenal."
"Ha, with good store of powder and shot, comrade?"
"Yes, Martin."
"How many weeks have I lain sick, comrade?"
"Nay, 'twas only four days."
At this I fell to marvelling that so much of agony might be endured inso little time.
"And you--tended me, Damaris?"
"Why, to be sure, Martin."
"And so saved my life."
"So I pray may it be a life lived to noble purpose, Martin."
And now I sat awhile very thoughtful and watched her shape the doughinto little cakes and set them to bake.
"I must contrive you an oven and this at once!" says I.
"When you are strong again, Martin."
"Nay, I'm well, thanks to your care of me. And truly 'twill bewonderful to eat bread again."
"But I warned you I had no yeast!" says she, looking at me a littleanxiously, "Nay, sir, why must you smile?"
"'Tis strange to see you at such labour and clad so vastly fine!"
"Indeed, sir needs must this your cook-maid go bedight like any queensince nought is there in Black Bartlemy's Treasure that is notsumptuous and splendid. Have you no desire to behold these wonders foryourself?"
"Not a tittle!" says I.
"But, Martin, three months are nigh sped and Master Penfeather notcome, and according to his letter, three-quarters of this greattreasure is yours."
"Why then, my lady, I do freely bestow it on you."
"Nay, this have I taken already because I needed it, look!" So sayingshe drew a comb from her hair and showed me how it was all fashioned ofwrought gold and set with great gems, pearls and sapphires and rubiesmarvellous to see.
"'Tis mighty handsome," quoth I, "and beyond price, I judge."
"And yet," says she, "I would rather have my wooden pin in its stead,for surely there was none like to it in all this world."
Hereupon, groping in my pocket I brought out that three-pronged pin Ihad carved for her; beholding which, she uttered a little cry of gladsurprise, and letting fall her golden comb, took the pin to turn itthis way and that, viewing it as it had been the very wonder of theworld rather than the poor thing it was.
"Why, Martin!" says she at last, "Why, Martin, where found you this?"So I told her; and though my words were lame and halting I think sheguessed somewhat of the agony of that hour, for I felt her hand touchmy shoulder like a caress.
"Death's shadow hath been over us of late, Martin," says she, "and hathmade us wiser methinks."
"Death?" says I, "'Tis mayhap but the beginning of a greater lifewherein shall be no more partings, I pray."
"'Tis a sweet thought, Martin!"
"And you have never feared death!" says I.
"Aye, but I do, Martin--I do!" cries she. "I am grown craven thesedays, mayhap--"
"Yet you sought death."
"Because there was no other way, Martin. But when Death clutched at mefrom those black depths I agonised for life."
"Is life then--become so--sweet to you, Damaris?"
"Yes, Martin!" says she softly.
"Since when?" I questioned, "Since when?" But instead of answering shefalls a-singing softly and keeping her back to me; thus I saw that shehad set the pin back in her hair, whereat I grew all suddenly andbeyond reason glad. Though indeed the thing accorded but ill with herfine gown, as I told her forthwith.
"Think you so, Martin?" says she gravely, but with a dimple in hercheek.
"I do! 'Tis manifestly out of keeping with your 'broideries, yourpleats, tags, lappets, pearl-buttons, galoons and the rest on't."
"'Twould almost seem you do not like me thus," says she frowning downat her finery but with the dimple showing plainer than ever.
"Why truly," says I, stooping to take up the jewelled comb where itlay, "I liked your ragged gown better."
"Because your own clothes are so worn and sorry, sir. 'Tis time youhad better, I must see to it--"
"Nay, never trouble!"
"'Twill be joy!" says she sweetly, but setting her chin at me. "Andthen--good lack, your hair, Martin!"
"What of it?"
"All elf-lox. And then, your beard!"
"What o' my beard?"
"So wild and shaggy! And 'tis so completely out o' the mode."
"Mode?" says I, frowning.
"Mode, Martin. Your spade beard was, then came your dagger or stilettoand now--"
"Hum!" says I, "It may be your broadsword or half-pike for aught Icare. But as to yon gown--"
"Alas, poor thing! 'Twill soon look worn and ragged as you can wish,Martin. I have already lost three pearl studs, and should grieve forthem were there not a coffer full of better that I wot of. O Martin,when I think of all these wonders, these great diamonds, emeralds,sapphires, pearls and rubies--I do tingle!"
"And can these toys so please you?" says I.
"Yes!" cries she, "Yes, and so would they any other that was not astock or a stone or--Martin Conisby who is above such vanities!"
"Vanities indeed!" says I, "In this wilderness more especially."
"How if we should find the world again?"
"Hum!" says I. "But this powder and shot now--"
"Pho!" cries she, and stamping her foot turns her back on me. "Here amI yearning to show you all these hidden marvels, Martin, but I neverwill until you beg me--no, never! And now 'tis time you took yourmedicine."
"What medicine?" I questioned, wondering.
"'Tis a soothing draught I have decocted from some of my simples--itwill make you sleep."
"But I have no mind to sleep!"
"'Tis why you must drink your potion."
"Never in this world!" says I, mighty determined.
"Why yes you will, dear Martin," says she gently, but setting herdimpled chin at me. "I'll go fetch it." And away she goes forthwithand is presently back bearing an embossed cup (like unto a littleporringer) and of gold curiously ornamented.
"Here is a noble cup!" says I.
"In these secret caves, Martin, is nothing that is not beautiful. Thewalls are all hung with rich arras, the floors adorned with marvellousrugs and carpets. And there are many pictures excellent well painted.Pirate and wicked as he was, Black Bartlemy understood and lovedbeautiful things."
"Aye, he did so!" says I, scowling.
"And amongst these pictures is one of himself."
"How should you know this?"
"Because, were you shaven, Martin, this might pass for picture of you,though to be sure your expression is different--except when you scowlas you do now, sir. Come, take your medicine like a good Martin!" Andhere she sets the cup to my lips.
"No!" says I.
"Yes, Martin! 'Tis sleep you need, and sleep you shall have. Forindeed I do long to hear you at work again and whistling. So drink itfor my sake, Martin! Indeed, 'tis none so very bitter!"
So in the end I swallowed the stuff to be done with it. And in a while(sure enough) I grew drowsy, and limping into the cave, stared tobehold my bed no longer a heap of bracken but a real bed with sheetsand pillows, such indeed as I had not slept in for many a long day.Thus, instead of throwing myself down all dressed, as I had beenminded, I laid aside my rough clothes lest they soil this dainty gear,and, getting into bed, joyed in the feel of these cool, white sheets,and closing my eyes, fell to dreamless slumber.