The pool of St Branok

"Why did this have to happen now? Why did you come here in the first place? Why didn't you come back to Cador?"

"It's no use saying that. It's too late. You know very well you can't go back and change things."

"Oh, Ben ... if only I could."

"We could start from now on. We can make our own way. All we need is the courage to leave this place ... to go home and start afresh."

"What of our families?"

"They would be shocked. We'd live that down. You are too important to your family for them to want to lose you. There would be a fuss at first. But people get used to these things. They always do."

"I can't do it, Ben."

"You could."

"I can't. I'm going to have a child."

"A child! Gervaise's child!"

"Whose else? He is my husband. It makes a difference, doesn't it?"

"It's a complication certainly, but we'd get over that."

"I couldn't, Ben."

"But for this child you would have said yes?"

"I don't know. I couldn't leave Gervaise."

"Why not? He is perpetually in debt. He's playing now ... if not in the saloon in one of the shacks. Justin Cartwright is such another, but he seems to know what he is about. Gervaise is a loser. I happen to know he is in debt at the saloon."

"Oh no!"

"Yes. It will go on like that all your life. Are you going to endure that? Come away with me. We'll go home. There'll be a scandal. My grandfather won't like it, but he has come through worse, I believe. One thing about him, he is no saint, but like most sinners he is not hard on his own kind. It would be all right in time. It would be as it was meant to be from the moment we met. Oh, Angel, don't turn away from our second chance."

"There is the child," I said.

"We'll look after the child together."

"But Gervaise will be its father. How could I explain that?"

"You wouldn't have to. There is no reason why it should know."

"Secrets. Deception. Oh, I know it would be wrong. Ben, I couldn't do it. Gervaise would be so hurt. He thinks everything is right between us."

"He is happy as long as he has the cards in his hands. He's a gambler, Angel."

"If he could only find the gold ... if we could go home ... it would make a difference. I believe I could ..."

"You can't change people, Angel. I can't change you and you can't change me. This is important. This is important ... today ... now ... Angel, I have to know. We belong together. I have to make plans. This is very serious. I must have your answer ... now."

"My answer can only be no."

"Because you don't love me? Because you haven't faith enough in me?"

"You know it is not that. It is just that I cannot do this. I cannot leave Gervaise. Particularly now there is to be a baby."

"You must go home for the child's sake. Remember Morwenna."

"It wouldn't happen to me. I'm stronger than Morwenna."

"I must have your answer, Angel. You understand why I must have it now."

"Ben, I can't. I can't."

He had turned away. He was staring at the creek.

"There is little time," he said. "I must have your answer, Angel. I must, I must."

"It has to be no. I have married Gervaise. I have made my vows. They are sacred to me. And there is the child. Don't you see? I could never be happy ... either way I cannot be happy. I'll be frank. I do love you, Ben. It should have been us. But it didn't work out that way. We were unlucky. Things ... got in the way. And here we are. I suppose it has happened to many people before us."

"We are not concerned with what happens to others. I am offering you happiness. For the last time, Angel ... will you take it?"

"I must go home. There is a meal to cook. I have to think of things like that."

"You should never have been brought to this."

"I am here and things are as they are."

"So you have decided."

"I have to, Ben. I have to."

His mouth set firmly. I thought he was angry; but he was very gentle as he helped me into the saddle.

I had the news from Mrs. Bowles.

I had gone into the shop to buy a few stores. She greeted me warmly.

"And how is that little darling?" she asked.

She was referring to Pedrek in whom she had established proprietorial rights.

I said he was well.

"Should be, living up there off the fat of the land. It will be nice for Mr. Lansdon to have a mistress in the house. It's not good for men to live alone. Mind you, I'm saying nothing against that Meg and Minnie. He couldn't have better to look after him than them. But a wife's a wife and there's no gainsaying that."

"I think he is very well cared for," I said.

"Meg will still be there with the others. She'll want all their help in running the house, that's for certain."

"Meg?" I said. "Why ... ? What . . ?"

Mrs. Bowles burst out laughing. "I was thinking about that Miss Morley."

"What about her?"

"It's clear you haven't heard about the engagement. They say the wedding will be in a few weeks. That's how things go out here ... and Mr. Morley being not in the best of health like ... I reckon he'll be glad to pass his daughter into good hands."

"I'm afraid I'm rather mystified, Mrs. Bowles."