a detour, leaving their ponies tethered to a granite post in the sandhills and coming on the beach where the undulant sandhills gave way to a buttress of low cliff on which the mine, Wheal Leisure, was working. Where they came out they could just see the chimneys of Nampara House about a mile and a half away.
Late June set fair, wit h easterly airs, so light that they were only just perceptible. Morwenna and Geoffrey Charles went quite often to this beach with, of course, a groom; but him they left with the pon ies. Geoffrey Charles had dis covered the joys of paddling, and they would both walk along, thrushing their feet through the water as it licked its slow way in. They would occasionally meet people, who would give them good afternoon as they passed; scavengers looking for anything of possible value that the tide might bring in: women bent double in premature age, ragged ex-miners with ominous coughs, underfed waifs, mothers with a straggle of children at their heels; now and then a working miner down from the mine taking a quiet stroll or, emptying refuse for the tide to eat. But the numbers of such were few, especially on calmer days when the sea was too quiet to bring anything in. The groom did not like letting them go off alone, but, as Geoffrey Charles rightly said, the horses wer e a far more valuable property to steal than they were, and anyway from where Keigwin stood he could usually keep them in sight. Once to begin with they had galloped on the beach, but getting the ponies on the beach and off again at this point was a hazardous process with a steep little drop to negotiate.
On a Wednesday at the beginning of July they saw a man coming towards them and Geoffrey Charles recognized him as one of the youths they had surprised carrying the ship's timber across their land. As they came nearer he too recognized them and came trotting across the damp sand towards them and touched his hand to his head.
`Why, Master Geoffrey. And Miss Chynoweth. This is a rare surprise! Day to ee both. Proper weather this, eh?' They exchanged a few words, then he said: `Going for a stroll? Might I walk along with ee for a few paces?'
He fell in without waiting for their consent. He was bareheaded and barefoot, drill trousers rolled up above the knee and tied there with hemp. Morwenna knew she should not tolerate his free and easy manner, but there seemed no actual lack of respect, and with Geoffrey Charles so clearly welcoming it was difficult for her.
`Oft times I d'come on this beach for a stroll just so soon as I may get an hour off. The finest beach ever I been on. I've not seen you before. Ride over or walk, did you? Maybe you know it all far better'n me.'
Geoffrey Charles wanted to know about the building of the cottage, whether the beam had fitted and how they had secured it. Construction of any, sort fascinated,, him. Drake tried to explain the problems they had had to face. Mr Geoffrey must come and see it some time. It was back over the hill only a mile or so from here. If Miss Chynoweth would not mind. Geoffrey Cha rles said of course he would com e and of course Miss Chynoweth would not mind.
Drake said then : `Have ye seen the Holy Well? But then you will've. I'm the stranger on the scene ...'
Geoffrey Charles had heard of a holy well but had not been to it,
`Well, tis better part of a half-mile along here over along towards the Dark Cliffs. Ten minutes and you'll be there. See that there buttress of cliff standing out?' He moved nearer to Morwenna and pointed it out to her.
`Yes, I see. But it is too far for today.'
'Oh, no,' said Geoffrey Charles. `We've only been on the beach ten minutes, Wenna! We haven't even paddled yet. We can do it easily. Keigwin will not mind. I'll run and tell him what we are going to do.'
`I don't think your mother would wish us to wander so far from hum-'
`I'll see ee come to no harm, Miss Chynoweth,' said Drake, looking at her in respectful admiration, `Twill take little or no
Late June set fair, wit h easterly airs, so light that they were only just perceptible. Morwenna and Geoffrey Charles went quite often to this beach with, of course, a groom; but him they left with the pon ies. Geoffrey Charles had dis covered the joys of paddling, and they would both walk along, thrushing their feet through the water as it licked its slow way in. They would occasionally meet people, who would give them good afternoon as they passed; scavengers looking for anything of possible value that the tide might bring in: women bent double in premature age, ragged ex-miners with ominous coughs, underfed waifs, mothers with a straggle of children at their heels; now and then a working miner down from the mine taking a quiet stroll or, emptying refuse for the tide to eat. But the numbers of such were few, especially on calmer days when the sea was too quiet to bring anything in. The groom did not like letting them go off alone, but, as Geoffrey Charles rightly said, the horses wer e a far more valuable property to steal than they were, and anyway from where Keigwin stood he could usually keep them in sight. Once to begin with they had galloped on the beach, but getting the ponies on the beach and off again at this point was a hazardous process with a steep little drop to negotiate.
On a Wednesday at the beginning of July they saw a man coming towards them and Geoffrey Charles recognized him as one of the youths they had surprised carrying the ship's timber across their land. As they came nearer he too recognized them and came trotting across the damp sand towards them and touched his hand to his head.
`Why, Master Geoffrey. And Miss Chynoweth. This is a rare surprise! Day to ee both. Proper weather this, eh?' They exchanged a few words, then he said: `Going for a stroll? Might I walk along with ee for a few paces?'
He fell in without waiting for their consent. He was bareheaded and barefoot, drill trousers rolled up above the knee and tied there with hemp. Morwenna knew she should not tolerate his free and easy manner, but there seemed no actual lack of respect, and with Geoffrey Charles so clearly welcoming it was difficult for her.
`Oft times I d'come on this beach for a stroll just so soon as I may get an hour off. The finest beach ever I been on. I've not seen you before. Ride over or walk, did you? Maybe you know it all far better'n me.'
Geoffrey Charles wanted to know about the building of the cottage, whether the beam had fitted and how they had secured it. Construction of any, sort fascinated,, him. Drake tried to explain the problems they had had to face. Mr Geoffrey must come and see it some time. It was back over the hill only a mile or so from here. If Miss Chynoweth would not mind. Geoffrey Cha rles said of course he would com e and of course Miss Chynoweth would not mind.
Drake said then : `Have ye seen the Holy Well? But then you will've. I'm the stranger on the scene ...'
Geoffrey Charles had heard of a holy well but had not been to it,
`Well, tis better part of a half-mile along here over along towards the Dark Cliffs. Ten minutes and you'll be there. See that there buttress of cliff standing out?' He moved nearer to Morwenna and pointed it out to her.
`Yes, I see. But it is too far for today.'
'Oh, no,' said Geoffrey Charles. `We've only been on the beach ten minutes, Wenna! We haven't even paddled yet. We can do it easily. Keigwin will not mind. I'll run and tell him what we are going to do.'
`I don't think your mother would wish us to wander so far from hum-'
`I'll see ee come to no harm, Miss Chynoweth,' said Drake, looking at her in respectful admiration, `Twill take little or no
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