The Miller's Dance by Winston Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

going part way but have a message for Sally Chill-off in Sawle.'
    'I be gwan that way, sur,' said Music, beaming. 'I be gwan right 'ome.'
    Dwight slowed his horse to keep pace with them. It was this companionableness that endeared him to the villagers. He had not changed a de gree since he was an unsophisti cated, barely fledged boy of twenty-four, living in Captain Poldark's tiny Gatehouse, with no experience of doctoring except what he had learned from books and as a student in London, and very little more experience of women or human nature either. Now, forty-nine years of age, widely experienced, correspondent of famous men, called up to London sometimes for consultation, it was rumoured, and married to an heiress and living in one of the big houses, he still made time to slow his horse and chat.
    'If you wonder for me spade,' volunteered Stephen, 'I work two days a week on St Ann's pier. It is in a poor way after the storms. Many of the granite blocks is part dislodged.'
    'I doubt they'll ever make it secure against the worst gales,' Dwight said. 'There's not enough of a natural barrier provided by the cliffs. At least not from the northwest. The wind brings the waves directly in upon it.'
    'He'll never stand,' said Music in his thin alto voice; 'the wind bring the waves directl y in upon him.'
    'I came round this way,' Stephen said, 'to leave a message for Music. Music works in the stables at Place House, y' know.'
    'Yes, I know.'
    'His brothers be going to take out their boat tonight -they have her at St Ann's - but Art has taken this fever that is abroad, so he can't go. They want - John and his mates want Music to take his place.'
    'Gwan fetch my gear,' said Music. 'He'm all over to Grambler, you. Brother say, be over by sundown. Can just do that, I reckon.'
    Dwight looked at the sky. 'There's wind about somewhere.'
    Music smiled. 'Nay, tis narthin'. He'm only dappled mackerel, sur. He'll pipe up for a while when the sun d'
    drop, but twill all be over in a hour or two.'
    "Wish I was going with 'em,' said Stephen. 'I've never had aught to do with fishing but I'd like a night afloat'
    'Shall you go back to sea in the end?'
    Stephen glanced at Dwight to see if the question was loaded. Concluding it was not, he said: it depends, Dr Enys. Sooner or later maybe. But living here, it is like being at sea.' 'On the whole I prefer to be a landlubber.' 'You can hardly call yourself that, surgeon.' 'What d'you mean?'
    'Well, you being once in the Navy.’
    Dwight laughed, it seems a long time ago.' The direct track to Sawle Combe came into view, and Stephen, went off down it, spade on shoulder, his gait, it seemed, a little more rolling for the talk of being afloat. Music's gait continued as of a man making a carefree way t hrough a minefield. 'Surgeon.' ‘ Yes?'
    'That's what Stephen Carrington d'call ee. Surgeon. I like that. Could I call ee surgeon too?' if you wish.'
    'You bein' once in the Navy, sur.' 'That's true.'
    Dwight watched Stephen disappear down the hill. He wondered why Stephen had seemed a little over-anxious to explain his presence near Place House. Why should he? What did it matter? Or was he imagining something that hadn't been there?
     
    'What's amiss wi' me, surgeon?' Music Thomas asked, smiling.
    'Amiss? I don't know that anything is. Are you not well?'
    'Oh, ais. Brave. Sur. Surgeon ... Ha! Sur be short for surgeon, eh?'
    if you like to look on it that way.'
    ‘I don't mean to be insolent, sur. You d'know Parson Odgers?... You d'know what he d'say 'bout me once? He say I be in the front rank of the insolent squad. Ted ’ n my intention, like! Ted ’ n my wish to be in the insolent squad! It be just that I don't always knows just 'ow to be'ave, see?'
    'Of course.'
    'So if I d'say surgeon when I didn't ought to, tis not a wish I'ave to be in the insolent squad ...' He ti ptoed a few yards in silence.'Sur, what be amiss wi' me?'
    'You haven't told me what is wrong with you?'
    ‘I never 'ad no sickness