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appointment with a woman！'
'What's an appointment？' inquired his friend； a town young man； with
a Tussaud complexion and well…pencilled brows half way up his
forehead； so that his upper eyelids appeared to possess the uncommon
quality of tallness。
'Look out here； and you'll see。 By that directing…post； where the
two roads meet。 As a man devoted to art； Ladywell； who has had the
honour of being hung higher up on the Academy walls than any other
living painter； you should take out your sketch…book and dash off
the scene。'
Where nothing particular is going on； one incident makes a drama；
and； interested in that proportion； the art…sportsman puts up his
eyeglass （a form he adhered to before firing at game that had risen；
by which merciful arrangement the bird got safe off）； placed his
face beside his companion's； and also peered through the opening。
The young pupil…teacherfor she was the object of their scrutiny
re…approached the spot whereon she had been accustomed for the last
many weeks of her journey home to meet Christopher； now for the
first time missing； and again she seemed reluctant to pass the hand…
post； for that marked the point where the chance of seeing him
ended。 She glided backwards as before； this time keeping her face
still to the front； as if trying to persuade the world at large； and
her own shamefacedness； that she had not yet approached the place at
all。
'Query； how long will she wait for him （for it is a man to a
certainty）？' resumed the elder of the smokers； at the end of several
minutes of silence； when； full of vacillation and doubt； she became
lost to view behind some bushes。 'Will she reappear？' The smoking
went on； and up she came into open ground as before； and walked by。
'I wonder who the girl is； to come to such a place in this weather？
There she is again；' said the young man called Ladywell。
'Some cottage lass； not yet old enough to make the most of the value
set on her by her follower； small as that appears to be。 Now we may
get an idea of the hour named by the fellow for the appointment；
for； depend upon it； the time when she first cameabout five
minutes agowas the time he should have been there。 It is now
getting on towards fivehalf…past four was doubtless the time
mentioned。'
'She's not come o' purpose： 'tis her way home from school every
day；' said the waterman。
'An experiment on woman's endurance and patience under neglect。 Two
to one against her staying a quarter of an hour。'
'The same odds against her not staying till five would be nearer
probability。 What's half…an…hour to a girl in love？'
'On a moorland in wet weather it is thirty perceptible minutes to
any fireside man； woman； or beast in Christendomminutes that can
be felt； like the Egyptian plague of darkness。 Now； little girl； go
home： he is not worth it。'
Twenty minutes passed； and the girl returned miserably to the hand…
post； still to wander back to her retreat behind the sedge； and lead
any chance comer from the opposite quarter to believe that she had
not yet reached this ultimate point beyond which a meeting with
Christopher was impossible。
'Now you'll find that she means to wait the complete half…hour； and
then off she goes with a broken heart。'
All three now looked through the hole to test the truth of the
prognostication。 The hour of five completed itself on their
watches； the girl again came forward。 And then the three in
ambuscade could see her pull out her handkerchief and place it to
her eyes。
'She's grieving now because he has not come。 Poor little woman；
what a brute he must be； for a broken heart in a woman means a
broken vow in a man； as I infer from a thousand instances in
experience； romance； and history。 Don't open the door till she is
gone； Ladywell； it will only disturb her。'
As they had guessed； the pupil…teacher； hearing the distant town…
clock strike the hour； gave way to her fancy no longer； and launched
into the diverging path。 This lingering for Christopher's arrival
had； as is known； been founded on nothing more of the nature of an
assignation than lay in his regular walk along the plain at that
time every Monday； Wednesday； and Friday of the six previous weeks。
It must be said that he was very far indeed from divining that his
injudicious peace…offering of the flowers had stirred into life such
a wearing； anxious； hopeful； despairing solicitude as this； which
had been latent for some time during his constant meetings with the
little stranger。
She vanished in the mist towards the left； and the loiterers in the
hut began to move and open the door； remarking； 'Now then for
Wyndway House； a change of clothes； and a dinner。'
4。 SANDBOURNE PIER … ROAD TO WYNDWAY … BALL…ROOM IN WYNDWAY HOUSE
The last light of a winter day had gone down behind the houses of
Sandbourne； and night was shut close over all。 Christopher； about
eight o'clock； was standing at the end of the pier with his back
towards the open sea； whence the waves were pushing to the shore in
frills and coils that were just rendered visible in all their bleak
instability by the row of lights along the sides of the jetty； the
rapid motion landward of the wavetips producing upon his eye an
apparent progress of the pier out to sea。 This pier…head was a spot
which Christopher enjoyed visiting on such moaning and sighing
nights as the present； when the sportive and variegated throng that
haunted the pier on autumn days was no longer there； and he seemed
alone with weather and the invincible sea。
Somebody came towards him along the deserted footway； and rays from
the nearest lamp streaked the face of his sister Faith。
'O Christopher； I knew you were here；' she said eagerly。 'You are
wanted； there's a servant come from Wyndway House for you。 He is
sent to ask if you can come immediately to play at a little dance
they have resolved upon this eveningquite suddenly it seems。 If
you can come； you must bring with you any assistant you can lay your
hands upon at a moment's notice； he says。'
'Wyndway House； why should the people send for me above all other
musicians in the town？'
Faith did not know。 'If you really decide to go；' she said； as they
walked homeward； 'you might take me as your assistant。 I should
answer the purpose； should I not； Kit？ since it is only a dance or
two they seem to want。'
'And your harp I suppose you mean。 Yes； you might be competent to
take a part。 It cannot be a regular ball； they would have had the
quadrille band for anything of that sort。 Faithwe'll go。
However； let us see the man first； and inquire particulars。'
Reaching home； Christopher found at his door a horse and wagonette
in charge of a man…servant in livery； who repeated what Faith had
told her brother。 Wyndway House was a well…known country…seat three
or four miles out of the town； and the coachman mentioned that if
they were going it would be well that they should get ready to start
as soon as they conveniently could； since he had been told to return
by ten if possible。 Christopher quickly prepared himself； and put a
new string or two into Faith's harp； by which time she also was
dress