Warleggan by Winston Graham Page B

if Mr. Francis was still here.
    `Here? Of course not Ross looked at Demelza. `What time did he leave?
    `About an hour after you - He walked up to the mine.' At least-'
    `His horse is still here, sur,' said Gimlett. 'I give him his feed, but didn't think to tell mistress as I reckoned she'd know about it'
    Ross pushed past him and went downstairs. Tabb was standing; in the hall. Tabb explained that Mrs. Poldark had been getting anxious, so she'd sent him over just to make sure Mr. Poldark was come to no harm. Usually, now the nights was drawing in, the squire belonged to be home by seven. Ross went round to the stables. Francis's horse was there right enough and looked up expectantly at the sound' off footsteps.
    Demelza had followed. Ross said': `Did he note say anything when he left? Perhaps he's walked over to Mingoose House." To Tabb he said: 'Ride to Mingoose House, will you. In the meantime I'll go to the mine and see how long he stayed there, and in what direction he left'
    A new moon was out and the misty rain had cleared. Demelza walked with Ross, hopping now and then to keep up, though her own stride, was long. The engine house was lit and there were lights in two of the sheds.
    Ross went into the changing-shed, where a lantern burned low. On a peg were Francis's ordinary clothes Outside, Demelza was thoughtful, waiting, `I think he may be still here.'
    `Here? But, Ross –“
    The stared at each other for a moment; neither spoke.
    Below ground eight hours was the usual core, but tending the engine twelve. This change was made at eight, and the elder Curnow was now in charge; His brother, he said, had told him nothing when he went off. As they we re asking, Captain Henshawe cam e in and Ross explained the situation to him.
    `Well, sur, he may be down there still, forgetful of the time; but I should not suppose so. Hold hard a minute, and I'll fetch a couple of men to go down with us.'
    Demelza stood in the engine house. The curious slow, regular sucking motion of the great engine was like an animal gasping, a giant sea mammal newly landed, breathing out its life on the wet sand. A strange conviction of fatality had come on her. She had no reason for knowing, yet felt as if she knew.
    Other men had come in now, and they watched Ross and Henshawe and Jack Carter and young Joe Nanfan climb into the bucket and lurch bumping out of sight. After they had gone, those that were left clustered in a self-conscious group; and she knew they would have been more at home if she had not been there. She, the miner's daughter become squire's wife, had more than the disadvantage of womanhood.
    But she forced herself to go towards them and ask if none had s een Mr. Francis this afternoon and if someone would go and knock up Daniel Curnow and find out what he knew.
    Then came a long wait. Gimlett had stolen up from the house and stood beside her. `The wind's cold, ma'am, shall I get ee a coat?' `No . . . thank you.' It was not the cold of the night that she felt but an inner cold that no coat would cure. Tabb came galloping back. They'd not seen Mr. Francis at Mingoose. `You'd best go tell Mistress Poldark,' said Demelza. `Very good, ma'am.' `No, wait. Wait a little while.'
    Looking back, Demelza could see the lights in Nampara, the one in their bedroom that she had left. Beyond it and to the right the sea, with a dagger of moonlight, in the black heart of the water. `We can none of us separate ourselves from the consequences of our own behaviour,' Francis had said. `I have been trying to for long enough.'
    One of the men returned from Dan Curnow's cottage. Cur now had seen Mr, Francis go down about four but had not seen him come up. He had not thought of mentioning it to his brother. Peter Curnow spat in disgust.
    A few minutes later a miner came running up the ladder. It was Ellery, who was working on the sixty-fathom level. Some of them had been told and were helping with the search. Francis had not been found but his pick had,