The pool of St Branok

Justin had taken a partner with whom he worked—John Higgs, who would take over the claim when he left. They had shored up the mine afresh and everyone declared it was as "safe as houses" now—however safe they were.

I believe it must have been something of an ordeal to descend the mine after what had happened to him; but he did. I daresay he was spurred on by the hope that he would find gold after all. What a wonderful conclusion to his life at Golden Creek that would be ... to have escaped death to find a fortune.

Nothing so spectacular happened; there were the trivial finds now and then—just enough to raise hopes. He played cards occasionally. I wondered if he cheated. I did not ask. I did not want to know.

I no longer wanted to make hasty judgments of people. One could not know them ... ever, it seemed. I thought often of Gervaise ... sadly, nostalgically, remembering so much of him that I had loved. Whenever I thought of our escape from the auberge I would supplant that image with one of the hero and remember the last glimpse I had had of him, the dirt caking his hair and streaking down his face—Gervaise the elegant man about town as I had first seen him. I would always remember the look of triumph on his face when he had brought up Justin. He had gambled bis life and lost it but he had won in the end because his goal had been to save Justin, the man whom he despised as a cheat.

My thoughts were now centered on my baby which was the best thing that could happen to me.

I did not want to dwell on the past. I wanted to put all that behind me. I did not want to think of Ben and Lizzie. I did not want to remember how I might so easily have been unfaithful to Gervaise; I did not want to think of the disappointment and disillusion I had suffered from Gervaise. It was all over. The new life with the baby was about to begin.

One day when I was in the store Mrs. Bowles said to me: "I've arranged everything. We're going to have the rooms Mrs. Cartwright had when young Pedrek was born."

"What!" I said.

"Now ... now ... this is a time when you don't have to think at all.

You leave everything to me. I'm to have the room next to yours and we'll go there a week before the baby is due. It's all been fixed."

”I haven't fixed it, Mrs. Bowles."

"I have ... with Mr. Lansdon and Miss Lizzie. We're going to send for Dr. Field. He'll be staying for a night or two at the Hall. The first signs of the baby and Jacob will ride over to fetch him."

"I can't ... have all these arrangements made for me, Mrs. Bowles."

"Here. Don't you get into a fratchet. Not good for the little 'un ... that sort of thing. We don't want him poking his nose out to see what all the fuss is about do we ... not before we're ready for him."

"But I want to be in my own place."

"No place for a baby. What could have happened to Mrs. Cartwright, do you think ... if she hadn't been in the right place ... with the right people there on the spot?"

"I'm different."

"No, you're not. Women is all one and the same all the world over ... specially at times like this. Now you stop worrying. It's all fixed. Why, if you go on like this folks'll think you've got something against them there up at the Hall."

Then I realized that I had to give in—for the baby's sake as well as for "what folks would think."

I have to admit I did so with a certain relief. Morwenna had been extremely worried at the prospect of my having the baby here—and so had I.

I would forget from whom the hospitality came. After all, my child's life was more important than my pride.

My time was near. I was greatly looking forward to having my child. And soon we should be leaving. I longed for the time to pass.

I heard a good deal of talk about Morley's Mine. Presumably it was more productive than even had been thought in the first place. Ben had always been the most respected man in the town; now he assumed an almost godlike aura. He had found gold; he had contrived to make it his. It was something they all admired.

They knew, of course, that he had married Lizzie for it. Lizzie must have known, too. But as they were both satisfied with the bargain, I remarked to Morwenna, what did it matter what was the motive behind it?

Morwenna was romantic. "I would rather think that he had fallen in love with Lizzie and married her for that reason ... and then discovered gold on the land. After all she is pretty and appealing and so sweet-natured. I don't think she has ever had an evil thought against anyone in her life. And he would want to protect her. Strong men like to have someone to protect."

I smiled at her. She was so innocent. I rejoiced that we had managed to keep Justin's disgrace from her.

In due course I went to Golden Hall. Ben was there with Lizzie, when I arrived in the company of Mrs. Bowles.

"I'm glad you have come," said Ben.

"It was not really necessary. It was all arranged for me."

He just put a hand on my shoulder and said, "Lizzie insisted."