'But if ye'd put what ye both have together ye'd make a comfortablehome for one of ye--and Sarah!' She eyed the men keenly, with hercunning eyes half shut, as she spoke; then satisfied from her scrutinythat the idea was accepted she went on quickly, as if to preventargument:
'The girl likes ye both, and mayhap it's
hard for her to choose. Whydon't ye toss up for her? First put your money together--ye've eachgot a bit put by, I know. Let the lucky man take the lot and tradewith it a bit, and then come home and marry her. Neither of ye'safraid, I suppose! And neither of ye'll say that he won't do that muchfor the girl that ye both say ye love!'
Abel broke the silence:
'It don't seem the square thing to toss for the girl! She wouldn'tlike it herself, and it doesn't seem--seem respectful like to her--'Eric interrupted. He was conscious that his chance was not so good asAbel's in case Sarah should wish to choose between them:
'Are ye afraid of the hazard?'
'Not me!' said Abel, boldly. Mrs. Trefusis, seeing that her idea wasbeginning to work, followed up the advantage.
'It is settled that ye put yer money together to make a home for her,whether ye toss for her or leave it for her to choose?'
'Yes,' said Eric quickly, and Abel agreed with equal sturdiness. Mrs.Trefusis' little cunning eyes twinkled. She heard Sarah's step in theyard, and said:
'Well! here she comes, and I leave it to her.' And she went out.
During her brief walk on the hillside Sarah had been trying to make upher mind. She was feeling almost angry with both men for being thecause of her difficulty, and as she came into the room said shortly:
'I want to have a word with you both--come to the Flagstaff Rock,where we can be alone.' She took her hat and went out of the house upthe winding path to the steep rock crowned with a high flagstaff,where once the wreckers' fire basket used to burn. This was the rockwhich formed the northern jaw of the little harbour. There was onlyroom on the path for two abreast, and it marked the state of thingspretty well when, by a sort of implied arrangement, Sarah went first,and the two men followed, walking abreast and keeping step. By thistime, each man's heart was boiling with jealousy. When they came tothe top of the rock, Sarah stood against the flagstaff, and the twoyoung men stood opposite her. She had chosen her position withknowledge and intention, for there was no room for anyone to standbeside her. They were all silent for a while; then Sarah began tolaugh and said:--
'I promised the both of you to give you an answer to-day. I've beenthinking and thinking and thinking, till I began to get angry with youboth for plaguing me so; and even now I don't seem any nearer thanever I was to making up my mind.' Eric said suddenly:
'Let us toss for it, lass!' Sarah showed no indignation whatever atthe proposition; her mother's eternal suggestion had schooled her tothe acceptance of something of the kind, and her weak nature made iteasy to her to grasp at any way out of the difficulty. She stood withdowncast eyes idly picking at the sleeve of her dress, seeming tohave tacitly acquiesced in the proposal. Both men instinctivelyrealising this pulled each a coin from his pocket, spun it in the air,and dropped his other hand over the palm on which it lay. For a fewseconds they remained thus, all silent; then Abel, who was the morethoughtful of the men, spoke:
'Sarah! is this good?' As he spoke he removed the upper hand from thecoin and placed the latter back in his pocket. Sarah was nettled.
'Good or bad, it's good enough for me! Take it or leave it as youlike,' she said, to which he replied quickly:
'Nay lass! Aught that concerns you is good enow for me. I did butthink of you lest you might have pain or disappointment hereafter. Ifyou love Eric better nor me, in God's name say so, and I think I'm manenow to stand aside. Likewise, if I'm the one, don't make us bothmiserable for life!' Face to face with a difficulty, Sarah's weaknature proclaimed itself; she put her hands before her face and beganto cry, saying--
'It was my mother. She keeps telling me!' The silence which followedwas broken by Eric, who said hotly to Abel:
'Let the lass alone, can't you? If she wants to choose this way, lether. It's good enough for me--and for you, too! She's said it now, andmust abide by it!' Hereupon Sarah turned upon him in sudden fury, andcried:
'Hold your tongue! what is it to you, at any rate?' and she resumedher crying. Eric was so flabbergasted that he had not a word to say,but stood looking particularly foolish, with his mouth open and hishands held out with the coin still between them. All were silent tillSarah, taking her hands from her face laughed hysterically and said:
'As you two can't make up your minds, I'm going home!' and she turnedto go.
'Stop,' said Abel, in an authoritative voice. 'Eric, you hold thecoin, and I'll cry. Now, before we settle it, let us clearlyunderstand: the man who wins takes all the money that we both havegot, brings it to Bristol and ships on a voyage and trades with it.Then he comes back and marries Sarah, and they two keep all, whateverthere may be, as the result of the trading. Is this what weunderstand?'
'Yes,' said Eric.
'I'll marry him on my next birthday,' said Sarah. Having said it theintolerably mercenary spirit of her action seemed to strike her, andimpulsively she turned away with a bright blush. Fire seemed tosparkle in the eyes of both men. Said Eric: 'A year so be! The manthat wins is to have one year.'
'Toss!' cried Abel, and the coin spun in the air. Eric caught it, andagain held it between his outstretched hands.
'Heads!' cried Abel, a pallor sweeping over his face as he spoke. Ashe leaned forward to look Sarah leaned forward too, and their headsalmost touched. He could feel her hair blowing on his cheek, and itthrilled through him like fire. Eric lifted his upper hand; the coinlay with its head up. Abel stepped forward and took Sarah in his arms.With a curse Eric hurled the coin far into the sea. Then he leanedagainst the flagstaff and scowled at the others with his hands thrustdeep into his pockets. Abel whispered wild words of passion anddelight into Sarah's ears, and as she listened she began to believethat fortune had rightly interpreted the wishes of her secret heart,and that she loved Abel best.
Presently Abel looked up and caught sight of Eric's face as the lastray of sunset struck it. The red light intensified the naturalruddiness of his complexion, and he looked as though he were steepedin blood. Abel did not mind his scowl, for now that his own heart wasat rest he could feel unalloyed pity for his friend. He stepped overmeaning to comfort him, and held out his hand, saying:
'It was my chance, old lad. Don't grudge it me. I'll try to make Saraha happy woman, and you shall be a brother to us both!'
'Brother be damned!' was all the answer Eric made, as he turned away.When he had gone a few steps down the rocky path he turned and cameback. Standing before Abel and Sarah, who had their arms round eachother, he said:
'You have a year. Make the most of it! And be sure you're in time toclaim your wife! Be back to have your banns up in time to be marriedon the 11th April. If you're not, I tell you I shall have my banns up,and you may get back too late.'