CHAPTER XXIV. THE SANDS

ill.” “Idonot—Ihavenorighttorequireit,asbeingsofarfromperfectmyself.” Heretheconversationwasinterruptedbyawater-cartlumberingpastus,forwewerenowcometothebusypartofthesandsand,forthenexteightortenminutes,betweencartsandhorses,andasses,andmen,therewaslittleroomforsocialintercourse,tillwehadturnedourbacksuponthesea,andbeguntoascendtheprecipitousroadleadingintothetown.Heremycompanionofferedmehisarm,whichIaccepted,thoughnotwiththeintentionofusingitasasupport. “Youdon’toftencomeontothesands,Ithink,”saidhe,“forIhavewalkedtheremanytimes,bothmorningandevening,sinceIcame,andneverseenyoutillnowandseveraltimes,inpassingthroughthetown,too,Ihavelookedaboutforyourschool—butIdidnotthinkofthe——RoadandonceortwiceImadeinquiries,butwithoutobtainingtherequisiteinformation.” Whenwehadsurmountedtheacclivity,Iwasabouttowithdrawmyarmfromhis,butbyaslighttighteningoftheelbowwastacitlyinformedthatsuchwasnothiswill,andaccordinglydesisted.Discoursingondifferentsubjects,weenteredthetown,andpassedthroughseveralstreets.Isawthathewasgoingoutofhiswaytoaccompanyme,notwithstandingthelongwalkthatwasyetbeforehimand,fearingthathemightbeinconveniencinghimselffrommotivesofpoliteness,Iobserved—“IfearIamtakingyououtofyourway,Mr.Weston—IbelievetheroadtoF——liesquiteinanotherdirection.” “I’llleaveyouattheendofthenextstreet,”saidhe. “Andwhenwillyoucometoseemamma?” “To-morrow—Godwilling.” Theendofthenextstreetwasnearlytheconclusionofmyjourney.Hestoppedthere,however,bidmegood-morning,andcalledSnap,whoseemedalittledoubtfulwhethertofollowhisoldmistressorhisnewmaster,buttrottedawayuponbeingsummonedbythelatter. “Iwon’toffertorestorehimtoyou,MissGrey,”saidMr.Weston,smiling,“becauseIlikehim.” “Oh,Idon’twanthim,”repliedI,“nowthathehasagoodmasterI’mquitesatisfied.” “YoutakeitforgrantedthatIamagoodone,then?” Themanandthedogdeparted,andIreturnedhome,fullofgratitudetoheavenforsomuchbliss,andprayingthatmyhopesmightnotagainbecrushed.