The pool of St Branok

So Mrs. Bowles was right. There was another funeral. Poor Lizzie! She had been all in white and now she was all in black. She had been devoted to her father and now, from complete bliss, she had been dashed into sorrow.

"I am so glad Ben is with her," said Morwenna. "He is a great comfort to her."

A message came to me from Ben by way of Morwenna.

She said to me: "Ben asked how you were. He said he had not seen you for some time."

"Oh ... no, I suppose not," I replied.

"He said that it was a long time since you had ridden. He wants you to know that Foxey is always at your disposal."

"I don't get time," I said shortly.

Morwenna said: "I feel so guilty living here. I ought to come home."

"Home! Oh, you mean the shack. Don't be a fool, Morwenna. How could Pedrek live in such a place? You have to stay there for his sake."

"That's what I tell myself, but I feel I'm cheating really. Angelet, I don't know how you stand it. I wish you could come to Golden Hall."

"How could I?"

"I am sure Lizzie would love to have you."

"What? As a permanent guest?"

"It just makes me feel guilty. And there is Justin ... I should be with him."

"He is glad you are there. He knows it is best for you."

"How I wish they could find enough gold to satisfy them and we could go home."

"Home!" I said wistfully. But I was beginning to believe that I should be no happier there than here. I had been foolish. I had believed him. I had allowed myself to be caught in a snare and now I was trapped.

Then suddenly it all became clear to me.

I received the news, as usual, through Mrs. Bowles.

"You've heard, of course."

"Heard what?" I asked.

"The find."

"Find? Whose?"

"Gold. On Morley's land. Well, it's Ben's and Lizzie's now. They say that it's already something bigger than anything that's been known before throughout the length and breadth of Australia."

"On Morley's land?" I stammered.

"Yes. Do you know that creek ... not so far from the house ..."

The creek on Morley's land. Memories came back ... sitting there talking to Ben ... listening to his avowal of love, watching the sunlight playing on the water of the creek.

"I ... yes, I know."

"Well, that's where it is. Mr. Ben found it. It's like that time in fifty-one when that man found six hundred ounces in a day in Ballarat. It was there in the creek ... right on the surface ... clear as daylight and no one seeing it till Mr. Ben came along. Trust him. Well, it's a fortune for him now. I don't reckon he'll be here long. He'll be off Home, that's what."

It was all becoming clear to me. This was why he had married Lizzie. He had discovered gold in the creek and from then on he had determined it should be his, no matter how he acquired it. What was there to choose between him and Gervaise? They were both the slaves to their Golden Goddess.

It eased my anger against myself, although it increased it towards him. I had been foolish but I could tell myself I had been fortunate in a way. Suppose I had succumbed, and only now I knew how near I had been to doing so ... and then I had learned that I had linked my life with another gambler ... a different kind it was true, a ruthless, successful one —but the motive was the same.

These men cared first for gold. Everything else came after that.

I heard myself saying to Mrs. Bowles that it was great good fortune.

I could not resist strolling up to the creek.

There were signs of activity. Shafts had already been set up. The peaceful scene was no more. It seemed a long time ago that I had sat there and he had told me he loved me.

I met him as I was coming away.

"Angel," he said softly. "It's ages since I've seen you."

"The last time was at your wedding."

He nodded.

"I hope you'll be happy."

"You know I won't be."

I raised my eyebrows. "I've heard to the contrary."

He looked at me with longing and although it should not have, it raised my spirits.

I tried to pass him but he put out a hand and caught my arm. "I'd like to talk to you, Angel," he said.

"Well, talk. But is there anything you have to say to me?"

"I didn't want it to work out this way."

"I thought your way was to make things go the way you wanted them to."

"This marriage ..."

"You weren't forced into it, were you?" I asked, I hoped ironically.

He was silent for a while, then he said: "You know I wanted you. I shall always want you."

"Hardly what one expects to hear from the newly wedded husband."

I was pleased with myself. I was doing well, acting flippantly when my heart was leaden, feigning indifference when I was more unhappy than I had ever been in my life before.

"You refused me."

"How could I have done anything else? I am married and now you are ... so that makes two of us. Why don't we stop this senseless talk, and if that is all you have to say to me ..."

"Wait a minute. I must tell you ..."

"Let me say Congratulations. The whole town is talking of your discovery. You are the lucky one. That is what you came out for, isn't it? You must feel gratified. You have achieved your purpose. I hear this discovery is one of the biggest ever."