At The Bay 1921

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921

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I

VERY early morning. T

hidden under a white sea

You could not see whereroad was gone and the pa

dunes covered with reddi

beach and where was the

hung on the bushes and j

stalks, and all the marigo

earth with wetness. Drenc

nasturtium leaves. It look

though one immense wa

waked up in the middle

window and gone again. .

Ah-Aah! sounded the sl

streams flowing, quickly,

basins and out again; an

something else–what was

such silence that it seeme

Round the corner of Cres

of sheep came pattering.

their thin, stick-like legs t

them. Behind them an old

his nose to the ground, b

rocky gateway the shephe

coat that was covered wit

wide-awake with a folded

his belt, the other grasped

time, he kept up a very

mournful and tender. The

ashamed of his levity, an

ran forward in little patte

answered them from unde

the same piece of grou

puddles; the same soakin

http://www.katherinemansfieldsociety.org

AT THE BAY (1921)

By Katherine Mansfield

e sun was not yet risen, and the whole of

-mist. The big bush-covered hills at the bac

they ended and the paddocks and bungalowdocks and bungalows the other side of it; t

sh grass beyond them; there was nothing t

sea. A heavy dew had fallen. The grass w

ust did not fall; the silvery, fluffy toi-toi w

lds and the pinks in the bungalow gardens

hed were the cold fuchsias, round pearls of

ed as though the sea had beaten up softly i

e had come rippling, rippling–how far?

f the night you might have seen a big fis

. .

epy sea. And from the bush there came

lightly, slipping between the smooth stones,

d there was the splashing of big drops on

it?–a faint stirring and shaking, the snapping

some one was listening.

cent Bay, between the piled-up masses of b

hey were huddled together, a small, tossing

rotted along quickly as if the cold and the q

sheep-dog, his soaking paws covered with s

t carelessly, as if thinking of something els

rd himself appeared. He was a lean, upright

a web of tiny drops, velvet trousers tied un

blue handkerchief round the brim. One hand

a beautifully smooth yellow stick. And as he

soft light whistling, an airy, far-away fl

old dog cut an ancient caper or two and t

walked a few dignified paces by his maste

ring rushes; they began to bleat, and ghostl

r the sea. "Baa! Baaa!" For a time they seem

d. There ahead was stretched the sandy

bushes showed on either side and the sam

1

Crescent Bay was

k were smothered.

began. The sandyere were no white

mark which was

as blue. Big drops

s limp on its long

were bowed to the

ew lay on the flat

n the darkness, as

erhaps if you had

flicking in at the

he sound of little

gushing into ferny

large leaves, and

of a twig and then

oken rock, a flock

, woolly mass, and

uiet had frightened

nd, ran along with

e. And then in the

ld man, in a frieze

der the knee, and a

was crammed into

walked, taking his

ting that sounded

en drew up sharp,

r's side. The sheep

y flocks and herds

ed to be always on

road with shallow

shadowy palings.

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Then something immense

stretched out. It was the

there was a strong whiff

The shepherd stopped whand, screwing up his eyes

marvellous how quickly t

rolled up from the bush

jostled and shouldered ea

bright, pure blue-was re

telegraph poles, flashed i

it made one's eyes ache t

acorn, out of his breast p

shavings and stuffed the b

blue smoke wreathed his

"Baa! Baaa!" The sheep s

before the first sleeper t

dreams of little children .

little woolly lambs of sle

Florrie, sitting on the gat

she saw the old sheep-d

head, and seemed to gi

creature!" said Florrie. B

his legs from side to side.

her a silly young female.

The breeze of morning li

mingled with the sharp s

over the shepherd's head

ruffling its small breast fe

charred-looking little wha

strayed over a yellow sw

and headed them for the

towards Daylight Cove. "

drying road. The shepher

little bowl hung over. An

along a ledge of rock aft

pushing, nudging, hurryin

out of sight.

II

A few moments later the

broad-striped bathing suit

tussock grass into the holl

the big porous stones, ov

oil. Splish-Splosh! Splish


came into view; an enormous shock-haired

ig gum-tree outside Mrs. Stubbs' shop, and

f eucalyptus. And now big spots of light gl

istling; he rubbed his red nose and wet bear, glanced in the direction of the sea. The su

he mist thinned, sped away, dissolved from

and was gone as if in a hurry to escape; b

ch other as the silvery beams broadened. T

lected in the puddles, and the drops, sw

to points of light. Now the leaping, glitterin

look at it. The shepherd drew a pipe, the b

cket, fumbled for a chunk of speckled tobac

owl. He was a grave, fine-looking old man.

ead, the dog, watching, looked proud of him

read out into a fan. They were just clear of

rned over and lifted a drowsy head; their

. . who lifted their arms to drag down, to

p. Then the first inhabitant appeared; it w

post, far too early as usual, looking for the

g she sprang up quickly, arched her back,

e a little fastidious shiver. "Ugh! What

t the old sheep-dog, not looking up, waggle

Only one of his ears twitched to prove that h

fted in the bush and the smell of leaves a

ell of the sea. Myriads of birds were singin

and, perching on the tiptop of a spray, it

thers. And now they had passed the fisherm

re where Leila the milk-girl lived with her o

amp and Wag, the sheep-dog, padded after

steeper, narrower rocky pass that led out of

Baa! Baaa!" Faint the cry came as they roc

put away his pipe, dropping it into his breas

straightway the soft airy whistling began

r something that smelled, and ran back aga

g, the sheep rounded the bend and the shep

back door of one of the bungalows opened

flung down the paddock, cleared the stile,

ow, staggered up the sandy hillock, and race

r the cold, wet pebbles, on to the hard san

-Splosh! The water bubbled round his legs

2

iant with his arms

as they passed by

eamed in the mist.

on his wet sleevewas rising. It was

the shallow plain,

ig twists and curls

he far-away sky–a

imming along the

sea was so bright

owl as small as an

o, pared off a few

s he lit up and the

.

he summer colony

ry sounded in the

cuddle the darling

s the Burnells' cat

ir milk-girl. When

drew in her tabby

coarse, revolting

past, flinging out

e saw, and thought

d wet black earth

. A goldfinch flew

turned to the sun,

an's hut, passed the

ld Gran. The sheep

, rounded them up

Crescent Bay and

ked along the fast-

-pocket so that the

gain. Wag ran out

in disgusted. Then

erd followed after

, and a figure in a

rushed through the

d for dear life over

that gleamed like

as Stanley Burnell

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


waded out exulting. First

down to souse his head an

"Hail, brother! All hail, Twater.

Great Scott! Damnation t

an arm lifted. It was Jo

voice.

"Yes, very fine!" said Sta

of the sea? Why should h

lunge and struck out, sw

came, his black hair sleek

"I had an extraordinary dr

What was the matter with

words. And it was always

cranky idea he'd got hold

back and kicked with hi

dreamed I was hanging o

would be! thought Stanle

here, Trout," he said, "I'm

"You're WHAT?" Jonathwater, then reappeared ag

"All I mean is," said Stanl

in a hurry. I've work to do

Jonathan was gone before

and he slid away through

ruined Stanley's bathe. W

again, and then as quick

cheated.

Jonathan stayed a little lo

and letting the sea rock hi

was fond of Stanley Bur

poke fun at him, but at bo

in his determination to ma

out one day, and then wh

wave lifted Jonathan, rod

a beauty! And now there

spending oneself. He got

toes into the firm, wrinkl

flow of life, but to give w


man in as usual! He'd beaten them all agai

d neck.

ou Mighty One!" A velvety bass voice cam

ke it! Stanley lifted up to see a dark head b

athan Trout–there before him! "Glorious

nley briefly. Why the dickens didn't the fell

e come barging over to this exact spot? Sta

imming overarm. But Jonathan was a mat

on his forehead, his short beard sleek.

am last night!" he shouted.

the man? This mania for conversation irrita

the same–always some piffle about a drea

of, or some rot he'd been reading. Stanley

legs till he was a living waterspout. But

ver a terrifically high cliff, shouting to so

y. He could stick no more of it. He stoppe

in rather a hurry this morning."

n was so surprised–or pretended to be–thatin blowing.

ey, "I've no time to–to–to fool about. I want

this morning–see?"

Stanley had finished. "Pass, friend!" said th

the water with scarcely a ripple . . . But cur

hat an unpractical idiot the man was! Stanle

y swam in again, and away he rushed up

ger in the water. He floated, gently moving

long, skinny body. It was curious, but in spi

ell. True, he had a fiendish desire to tease

ttom he was sorry for the fellow. There was

ke a job of everything. You couldn't help fee

t an almighty cropper he'd come! At that m

past him, and broke along the beach with a j

came another. That was the way to live–car

n to his feet and began to wade towards the

ed sand. To take things easy, not to fight a

ay to it–that was what was needed. It was th

3

. And he swooped

booming over the

obbing far out and

orning!" sang the

w stick to his part

ley gave a kick, a

h for him. Up he

ed Stanley beyond

he'd had, or some

turned over on his

even then . . . "I

eone below." You

splashing. "Look

he sank under the

o get this over. I'm

bass voice gently,

e the fellow! He'd

y struck out to sea

the beach. He felt

his hands like fins,

te of everything he

him sometimes, to

something pathetic

ling he'd be caught

oment an immense

oyful sound. What

elessly, recklessly,

shore, pressing his

gainst the ebb and

is tension that was

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


all wrong. To live–to liv

light, as though laughing

But now he was out of theas though someone was

shivering, all his muscles

III

Beryl was alone in the li

stiff collar and a spotted ti

to town for the day. Drop

plate.

"I've just got twenty-fiveready, Beryl?"

"Mother's just gone for it,

"Thanks!" Stanley took a

the sugar."

"Oh, sorry!" But even the

this mean? As Stanley h

shot a quick glance at his

"Nothing wrong, is there?

Beryl's head was bent; sh

"Nothing," said her light

should there be?"

"O-oh! No reason at all as

At that moment the doo

porridge plate. They werwere bare, and each had

Behind them came Mrs. F

"Carefully, children," sh

loved being allowed to ca

"Yes, grandma." They set

"Good morning, Stanley!"

"Morning, mother! How's


! And the perfect morning, so fresh and f

t its own beauty, seemed to whisper, "Why

water Jonathan turned blue with cold. He acwringing the blood out of him. And stal

ight, he too felt his bathe was spoilt. He'd st

ing-room when Stanley appeared, wearing

e. He looked almost uncannily clean and bru

ing into his chair, he pulled out his watch a

minutes," he said. "You might go and see

said Beryl. She sat down at the table and po

sip. "Hallo!" he said in an astonished voice

n Beryl didn't help him; she pushed the basi

lped himself his blue eyes widened; they se

ister-in-law and leaned back.

" he asked carelessly, fingering his collar.

turned her plate in her fingers.

voice. Then she too looked up, and smiled

far as I know. I thought you seemed rather–

r opened and the three little girls appeare

dressed alike in blue jerseys and knickerer hair plaited and pinned up in what was c

airfield with the tray.

warned. But they were taking the very

ry things. "Have you said good morning to y

led themselves on the bench opposite Stanle

Old Mrs. Fairfield gave him his plate.

the boy?"

4

air, basking in the

ot?"

hed all over; it wasing up the beach,

yed in too long.

blue serge suit, a

shed; he was going

nd put it beside his

if the porridge is

ured out his tea.

, "you've forgotten

n across. What did

med to quiver. He

at Stanley. "Why

, each carrying a

; their brown legsalled a horse's tail.

reatest care. They

our father?"

and Beryl.

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"Splendid! He only woke

paused, her hand on the l

sea sounded. Through t

varnished walls and barmiddle there was an old

and a look of deep conten

"You might cut me a slic

half minutes before the co

"Yes, they're ready for yo

"Oh, Kezia! Why are you

"Me, Aunt Beryl?" Keziadown the middle of her

that every single morning,

"Why can't you eat your

are!

"But Lottie always makes

"I don't," said Isabel sma

finish it. Only babies play

Stanley pushed back his c

"Would you get me those

down to the gate and stop

bowler hat's been put. Wa

"No, father!"

"But I put it here," Stan

corner. Now, who's had i

found."

Even Alice, the servant-gi

the kitchen fire with by an

Stanley dashed into the

can't keep a single posses

"Stick, dear? What stick

Stanley decided. Would n

"Coach! Coach, Stanley!"


up once last night. What a perfect morning

af of bread, to gaze out of the open door i

he wide-open window streamed the sun

floor. Everything on the table flashed analad bowl filled with yellow and red nastur

shone in her eyes.

e of that bread, mother," said Stanley. "I've

ach passes. Has anyone given my shoes to th

." Mrs. Fairfield was quite unruffled.

such a messy child!" cried Beryl despairingl

stared at her. What had she done now? She horridge, filled it, and was eating the banks

and no one had said a word up till now.

food properly like Isabel and Lottie?" Ho

a floating island, don't you, Lottie?"

rtly. "I just sprinkle mine with sugar and p

with their food."

air and got up.

shoes, mother? And, Beryl, if you've finishe

the coach. Run in to your mother, Isabel, an

it a minute–have you children been playing

ey began to bluster. "I remember distinctl

t? There's no time to lose. Look sharp! Th

rl, was drawn into the chase. "You haven't b

y chance?"

edroom where Linda was lying. "Most ext

ion to myself. They've made away with my s

?" Linda's vagueness on these occasions

body sympathize with him?

Beryl's voice cried from the gate.

5

!" The old woman

to the garden. The

on to the yellow

d glittered. In thetiums. She smiled,

only twelve and a

servant girl?"

.

ad only dug a riveraway. But she did

unfair grown-ups

t on the milk and

d, I wish you'd cut

ask her where my

ith my stick?"

putting it in this

e stick's got to be

en using it to poke

raordinary thing. I

tick, now!"

ould not be real,

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


Stanley waved his arm to

as a punishment to her.

He snatched his bowler hYes, the coach was there

at somebody or other just

way they took it for grant

take the trouble to see th

the horses.

"Good-bye, Stanley," call

bye! And there she stoo

Stanley had to shout goo

give a little skip and run b

Yes, she was thankful. In

from her room: "Beryl! H

in his little flannel coatee.

"Gone?"

"Gone!"

Oh, the relief, the differe

were changed as they call

shared a secret. Beryl wehot." She wanted, someho

There was no man to dist

"No, thank you, child," sa

boy up and said "a-goos

girls ran into the paddock

Even Alice, the servant-g

and used the precious tan

"Oh, these men!" said shewater even after it had st

good for them.

IV

"Wait for me, Isa-bel! Ke

There was poor little Lot

get over the stile by herse

she grasped the post. The

decide. And when she di


Linda. "No time to say good-bye!" he cried.

at, dashed out of the house, and swung doaiting, and Beryl, leaning over the open gat

as if nothing had happened. The heartlessn

d it was your job to slave away for them wh

t your walking-stick wasn't lost. Kelly trail

ed Beryl, sweetly and gaily. It was easy en

, idle, shading her eyes with her hand. T

-bye too, for the sake of appearances. The

ack to the house. She was glad to be rid of hi

to the living-room she ran and called "He's

s Stanley gone?" Old Mrs. Fairfield appeare

ce it made to have the man out of the house

d to one another; they sounded warm and l

t over to the table. "Have another cup of tw, to celebrate the fact that they could do w

rb them; the whole perfect day was theirs.

id old Mrs. Fairfield, but the way at that mo

-a-goos-a-ga!" to him meant that she felt t

like chickens let out of a coop.

irl, washing up the dishes in the kitchen, c

water in a perfectly reckless fashion.

, and she plunged the teapot into the bowl aopped bubbling, as if it too was a man and

ia, wait for me!"

ie, left behind again, because she found it s

lf. When she stood on the first step her knee

n you had to put one leg over. But which le

finally put one leg over with a sort of sta

6

And he meant that

n the garden path.e, was laughing up

ss of women! The

ile they didn't even

ed his whip across

ough to say good-

e worst of it was

n he saw her turn,

m!

gone!" Linda cried

d, carrying the boy

. Their very voices

ving and as if they

a, mother. It's stillat they liked now.

ent she tossed the

e same. The little

ught the infection

d held it under thedrowning was too

o fearfully hard to

s began to wobble;

? She never could

p of despair–then

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


the feeling was awful. Sh

clutched the post desperat

"No, don't you wait formaking a fuss. Come on!"

come with me," she said

all by herself. She ran b

breathing heavily.

"Here, put your other foot

"Where?"

Lottie looked down at Ke

"Here where my hand is."

"Oh, there do you mean!"

"Now–sort of turn round

"But there's nothing to sit

She managed it at last, an

"I'm getting better at clim

Lottie's was a very hopefu

The pink and the blue su

slipping hill. At the top t

who was there already.

largely with their spades,

The whole family of Sam

camp-stool and kept orde

cane with which shethemselves or managed t

down the girls' necks or t

Mrs. S. J. and the poor la

to keep them "abused an

games. Everything began

another. There were eve

with a sour little smile

fearfully for the prizes an

pinchers. The only time th

and when she undid thre

couldn't understand why t


was half in the paddock still and half in the

ly and lifted up her voice. "Wait for me!"

er, Kezia!" said Isabel. "She's such a littleAnd she tugged Kezia's jersey. "You can us

indly. "It's bigger than yours." But Kezia c

ack to her. By this time Lottie was very r

over," said Kezia.

ia as if from a mountain height.

Kezia patted the place.

Lottie gave a deep sigh and put the second f

nd sit down and slide," said Kezia.

down on, Kezia," said Lottie.

once it was over she shook herself and bega

ing over stiles, aren't I, Kezia?"

l nature.

bonnet followed Isabel's bright red sunbon

hey paused to decide where to go and to h

een from behind, standing against the sk

hey looked like minute puzzled explorers.

el Josephs was there already with their lady

with a whistle that she wore tied round he

irected operations. The Samuel Josephseir own game. If they did, it ended in the

e girls trying to put little black crabs into th

y-help drew up what she called a "brogram

d out of bischief." It was all competitions

with a piercing blast of the lady-help's whis

prizes–large, rather dirty paper parcels w

rew out of a bulging string kit. The Sam

d cheated and pinched one another's arms–t

e Burnell children ever played with them Ke

bits of paper she found a very small rust

ey made such a fuss. . . .

7

tussock grass. She

silly. She's alwayse my bucket if you

uldn't leave Lottie

d in the face and

ot over.

n to beam.

et up that sliding,

ve a good stare at

line, gesticulating

-help, who sat on a

neck, and a small

never played byoys pouring water

boys' pockets. So

e" every morning

or races or round

tle and ended with

hich the lady-help

el Josephs fought

ey were all expert

zia had got a prize,

button-hook. She

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


But they never played wi

Samuel Josephs were alw

same food. A big washh

washhand jug full of somin the evening with half

front of your open-work

their lawn. No! They wer

On the other side of the

rolled up, twinkled like s

water, filling a small buc

busy digging and Rags w

they were quite close.

"Look!" said Pip. "Loosquashed-looking boot. T

"Whatever are you going

"Keep it, of course!" Pip

Yes, Kezia saw that. All t

"There's lots of things b

wrecks. Treasure. Why–y

"But why does Rags have

"Oh, that's to moisten it,"

And good little Rags ran

"Here, shall I show you

spade into the sand. "Pro

They promised.

"Say, cross my heart strai

The little girls said it.

Pip took something out of

breathed on it and rubbed

"Now turn round!" he ord

They turned round.


th the Samuel Josephs now or even went t

ys giving children's parties at the Bay and th

nd basin of very brown fruit-salad, buns c

ething the lady-help called "Limonadear." Ahe frill torn off your frock or something s

pinafore, leaving the Samuel Josephs leapi

too awful.

each, close down to the water, two little b

piders. One was digging, the other pattere

ket. They were the Trout boys, Pip and Ra

as so busy helping that they didn't see their

what I've discovered." And he showede three little girls stared.

o do with it?" asked Kezia.

as very scornful. "It's a find–see?"

e same. . .

ried in the sand," explained Pip. "They ge

u might find–"

to keep on pouring water in?" asked Lottie.

said Pip, "to make the work a bit easier. Kee

p and down, pouring in the water that turned

hat I found yesterday?" said Pip mysteriousl

ise not to tell."

ht dinkum."

his pocket, rubbed it a long time on the fron

it again.

red.

8

their parties. The

ere was always the

ut into four and a

nd you went awayilled all down the

g like savages on

oys, their knickers

in and out of the

s. But Pip was so

little cousins until

them an old wet,

chucked up from

it up, Rags."

brown like cocoa.

y, and he stuck his

of his jersey, then

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"All look the same way!

And his hand opened; he

was a most lovely green.

"It's a nemeral," said Pip s

"Is it really, Pip?" Even Is

The lovely green thing se

ring, but it was a very sm

V

As the morning lengthenethe beach to bathe. It was

summer colony had the

bathing dresses and cov

children were unbuttoned

the big summer hats, wit

immense shells. It was s

those leaping, laughing fi

dress and a black hat tie

The little Trout boys whi

their grandma sat with o

when she was satisfied th

The firm compact little gi

Pip and Rags, shivering, c

who could swim twelve s

on the strict understandin

at all. She liked to be left

the edge of the water, he

motions with her arms as

than usual, an old whiske

her feet with a face of hor

"Here, mother, keep those

Two rings and a thin gold

"Yes, dear. But aren't you

"No-o," Beryl drawled. S

bathe with Mrs. Harry Ke

"Very well." But Mrs. Fa

knew it.


eep still! Now!"

held up to the light something that flashed

olemnly.

abel was impressed.

emed to dance in Pip's fingers. Aunt Beryl

ll one. This one was as big as a star and far

d whole parties appeared over the sand-hillsunderstood that at eleven o'clock the women

ea to themselves. First the women undress

red their heads in hideous caps like spo

. The beach was strewn with little heaps of

stones on them to keep them from blowing

range that even the sea seemed to sound d

gures ran into the waves. Old Mrs. Fairfiel

under the chin, gathered her little brood a

ped their shirts over their heads, and away t

e hand in her knitting-bag ready to draw o

y were safely in.

rls were not half so brave as the tender, deli

rouching down, slapping the water, never he

rokes, and Kezia, who could nearly swim ei

they were not to be splashed. As for Lotti

to go in her own way, please. And that way

r legs straight, her knees pressed together,

if she expected to be wafted out to sea. But

ry one, came lolloping along in her directio

or and flew up the beach again.

for me, will you?"

chain were dropped into Mrs Fairfield's lap.

going to bathe here?"

he sounded vague. "I'm undressing farther

ber."

irfield's lips set. She disapproved of Mrs Ha

9

, that winked, that

had a nemeral in a

ore beautiful.

and came down onand children of the

d, pulled on their

ge bags; then the

clothes and shoes;

away, looked like

ifferently when all

, in a lilac cotton

d got them ready.

he five sped, while

t the ball of wool

cate-looking boys.

sitated. But Isabel,

ght, only followed

, she didn't follow

was to sit down at

nd to make vague

hen a bigger wave

, she scrambled to

long. I'm going to

rry Kember. Beryl

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Poor old mother, she smil

what joy, what bliss it wa

"You look very pleased,"arms round her knees, sm

"It's such a lovely day," sa

"Oh my dear! " Mrs. Har

But then her voice alway

you did yourself. She wa

Her face, too, was long

looked burnt out and with

smoked incessantly, keep

taking it out when the ashshe was not playing brid

lying in the full glare of t

All the same, it did not s

stones like a piece of toss

very fast. Her lack of vani

them, and the fact that sh

Gladys "Glad-eyes," was

call in her indifferent, tire

if I've got one, will you?

white shoes, came runnin

had no children, and herfervent. How can he hav

money, of course, but eve

Mrs. Kember's husband

handsome that he looked

rather than a man. Black

player, a perfect dancer, a

in his sleep. Men couldn't

his wife just as she ignore

stories! They simply cou

been seen in . . . but nothi

Bay privately thought he'

Kember and took in the a

lay on the beach; but col

mouth.

Mrs. Kember rose, yawn

blouse. And Beryl steppe

white petticoat, and her ca

"Mercy on us," said Mrs.


ed, as she skimmed over the stones. Poor ol

to be young. . . .

said Mrs. Harry Kember. She sat hunched uking.

id Beryl, smiling down at her.

y Kember's voice sounded as though she kn

sounded as though she knew something m

s a long, strange-looking woman with narr

nd narrow and exhausted-looking; even he

ered. She was the only woman at the Bay w

ing the cigarette between her lips while sh

was so long you could not understand why ite–she played bridge every day of her life–

e sun. She could stand any amount of it; she

em to warm her. Parched, withered, cold, s

ed-up driftwood. The women at the Bay tho

ty, her slang, the way she treated men as tho

e didn't care twopence about her house and

disgraceful. Standing on the veranda steps

d voice, "I say, Glad-eyes, you might heave

" And Glad-eyes, a red bow in her hair ins

with an impudent smile. It was an absolute

usband. . . . Here the voices were always re married her? How can he, how can he?

then!

as at least ten years younger than she was,

like a mask or a most perfect illustration in

air, dark blue eyes, red lips, a slow sleepy

nd with it all a mystery. Harry Kember was

stand him, they couldn't get a word out of t

d him. How did he live? Of course there we

dn't be told. The women he's been seen wi

g was ever certain, nothing definite. Some

commit a murder one day. Yes, even while

ful concoction she was wearing, they saw h

d, bloody, and still with a cigarette stuck i

ed, unsnapped her belt buckle, and tugged

out of her skirt and shed her jersey, and st

misole with ribbon bows on the shoulders.

arry Kember, "what a little beauty you are!

10

mother! Old! Oh,

on the stones, her

w better than that.

ore about you than

w hands and feet.

fair curled fringe

o smoked, and she

e talked, and only

did not fall. Whenshe spent her time

never had enough.

e stretched on the

ught she was very,

gh she was one of

called the servant

rs. Kember would

me a handkerchief

tead of a cap, and

scandal! True, she

ised; they becameIt must have been

and so incredibly

n American novel

mile, a fine tennis

ike a man walking

e chap; he ignored

re stories, but such

th, the places he'd

f the women at the

they talked to Mrs.

er, stretched as she

the corner of her

at the tape of her

od up in her short

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"Don't!" said Beryl softl

little beauty.

"My dear–why not?" saidunderclothes! A pair of

somehow of a pillow-cas

waist, and Beryl sprang a

"Lucky little creature," si

Beryl turned her back and

take off her clothes and to

"Oh, my dear–don't mind

shan't be shocked like thogrimaced at the other wo

But Beryl was shy. She n

Kember made her feel it

She glanced quickly at h

fresh cigarette; and a q

recklessly, she drew on t

fastened the twisted butto

"That's better," said Mrs.

"Really, it's a sin for you t

The water was quite war

but the sand at the bottom

puff of gold-dust. Now

outstretched, gazing out,

it seemed it was the wave

"I believe in pretty girls h

you make a mistake,

disappeared, and swam a

began swimming back.being poisoned by this c

horrible! As Mrs. Harry

bathing-cap, with her sle

horrible caricature of her

VI

In a steamer chair, under

Linda Burnell dreamed t

close, dry leaves of the m

yellowish flower dropped


; but, drawing off one stocking and then t

Mrs. Harry Kember, stamping on her own pblue cotton knickers and a linen bodice

. . . . "And you don't wear stays, do you?" S

ay with a small affected cry. Then "Never!"

hed Mrs. Kember, unfastening her own.

began the complicated movements of someo

pull on her bathing-dress all at one and the s

me," said Mrs. Harry Kember. "Why be shy

se other ninnies." And she gave her strangeen.

ver undressed in front of anybody. Was tha

as silly, even something to be ashamed of.

r friend standing so boldly in her torn che

uick, bold, evil feeling started up in her

e limp, sandy-feeling bathing-dress that wa

s.

Harry Kember. They began to go down t

o wear clothes, my dear. Somebody's got to t

. It was that marvellous transparent blue,

looked gold; when you kicked with your to

the waves just reached her breast. Bery

nd as each wave came she gave the slightest

which lifted her so gently.

aving a good time," said Mrs. Harry Kembe

y dear. Enjoy yourself." And suddenly

way quickly, quickly, like a rat. Then she

he was going to say something else. Beryld woman, but she longed to hear. But oh,

Kember came up close she looked, in he

py face lifted above the water, just her ch

usband.

a manuka tree that grew in the middle of th

e morning away. She did nothing. She loo

anuka, at the chinks of blue between, and no

on her. Pretty–yes, if you held one of those f

11

e other, she felt a

tticoat. Really–herhat reminded one

he touched Beryl's

she said firmly.

ne who is trying to

ame time.

I shan't eat you. I

eighing laugh and

t silly? Mrs. Harry

hy be shy indeed!

ise and lighting a

breast. Laughing

not quite dry and

he beach together.

ell you some day."

lecked with silver,

s there rose a little

l stood, her arms

little jump, so that

. "Why not? Don't

she turned turtle,

flicked round and

l felt that she washow strange, how

black waterproof

in touching, like a

front grass patch,

ed up at the dark,

w and again a tiny

lowers on the palm

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


of your hand and looked

petal shone as if each was

gave it the shape of a bel

colour. But as soon as theyour frock as you talked

flower at all? Who takes

wasted. . . . It was uncann

On the grass beside her, l

head turned away from h

like real hair, but his ear

and crossed her feet. It w

that everybody was down

herself; she was alone.

Dazzling white the picot

wreathed the veranda pol

flowers long enough, tim

them! But as soon as one

along came Life and one

light; she felt like a leaf.

had to go. Oh dear, would

. . . Now she sat on the

knee. And he promised,

somewhere, we'll escape.China." Linda saw that ri

yellow hats of the boatme

"Yes, papa."

But just then a very broa

house, and slowly, solem

the way he had.

"Linny's beau," he whispe

"Oh, papa, fancy being m

Well, she was married to

everyone saw, not the ev

down every night to say

he believed in people–as

could not be disloyal; he

anyone–she–was not bein

me!" He flung out the wo

a trapped beast.


at it closely, it was an exquisite small thing

the careful work of a loving hand. The tiny t

l. And when you turned it over the outside

y flowered, they fell and were scattered. Yo; the horrid little things got caught in one'

he trouble–or the joy–to make all these thin

.

ing between two pillows, was the boy. Soun

is mother. His fine dark hair looked more l

as a bright, deep coral. Linda clasped her ha

as very pleasant to know that all these bung

on the beach, out of sight, out of hearing. Sh

es shone; the golden-eyed marigold glitter

s in green and gold flame. If only one had ti

to get over the sense of novelty and strange

paused to part the petals, to discover the un

was swept away. And, lying in her cane c

long came Life like a wind and she was seiz

it always be so? Was there no escape?

veranda of their Tasmanian home, leaning

"As soon as you and I are old enough, L

Two boys together. I have a fancy I'd like ter, very wide, covered with little rafts and

and she heard their high, thin voices as the

d young man with bright ginger hair walke

ly even, uncovered. Linda's father pulled h

red.

rried to Stanley Burnell!"

im. And what was more she loved him. Not

ryday one; but a timid, sensitive, innocent

is prayers, and who longed to be good. Sta

e believed in her, for instance–it was with

could not tell a lie. And how terribly he suf

g dead straight, dead sincere with him! "Th

rds, but his open quivering, distraught look

12

. Each pale yellow

ongue in the centre

was a deep bronze

brushed them off s hair. Why, then,

gs that are wasted,

d asleep he lay, his

ike a shadow than

ds above her head

alows were empty,

e had the garden to

d; the nasturtiums

me to look at these

ness, time to know

er-side of the leaf,

hair, Linda felt so

ed and shaken; she

gainst her father's

inny, we'll cut off

o sail up a river inboats. She saw the

called . . .

slowly past their

er ear teasingly, in

the Stanley whom

Stanley who knelt

ley was simple. If

is whole heart. He

fered if he thought

is is too subtle for

as like the look of

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


But the trouble was–here

was no laughing matter–s

breathing spaces of calm,

couldn't be cured of the hAnd it was always Stanle

in rescuing him, and rest

And what was left of her t

Linda frowned; she sat u

was her real grudge agai

question she asked and as

say it was the common lo

prove that wrong. She w

bearing. And what made i

useless pretending. Evenplayed with the little girls

through on each of those

boy–well, thank Heaven,

who wanted him. She had

that as he lay there . . . Li

The boy had turned over.

baby eyes were open; he

his face dimpled; it broke

"I'm here!" that happy smi

There was something so q

But she checked herself a

"Don't like babies?" The

foolishly at his mother.

Linda dropped off her cha

"Why do you keep on s

about, you wouldn't."

But he only squeezed up

believe a word she said.

"We know all about that!"

Linda was so astonished

That was not what she fel

. The tears danced in her

funny!"


Linda felt almost inclined to laugh, thoug

he saw her Stanley so seldom. There were g

but all the rest of the time it was like livi

abit of catching on fire, on a ship that gotwho was in the thick of the danger. Her wh

oring him, and calming him down, and list

ime was spent in the dread of having childre

quickly in her steamer chair and clasped h

st life; that was what she could not unders

ked, and listened in vain for the answer. It

t of women to bear children. It wasn't true.

as broken, made weak, her courage was g

t doubly hard to bear was, she did not love

if she had had the strength she never woul. No, it was as though a cold breath had chill

wful jour- neys; she had no warmth left to g

other had taken him; he was mother's, or B

hardly held him in her arms. She was so in

da glanced down.

He lay facing her, and he was no longer asl

looked as though he was peeping at his mo

into a wide, toothless smile, a perfect beam,

le seemed to say. "Why don't you like me?"

uaint, so unexpected about that smile that Li

d said to the boy coldly, "I don't like babies.

oy couldn't believe her. "Don't like me? "

ir on to the grass.

iling?" she said severely. "If you knew w

his eyes, slyly, and rolled his head on th

smiled the boy.

at the confidence of this little creature. . . .

; it was something far different, it was some

eyes; she breathed in a small whisper to t

13

Heaven knows it

limpses, moments,

ng in a house that

recked every day.ole time was spent

ening to his story.

.

r ankles. Yes, that

and. That was the

as all very well to

he, for one, could

ne, through child-

er children. It was

d have nursed anded her through and

ive them. As to the

ryl's, or anybody's

ifferent about him

ep. His dark-blue,

her. And suddenly

o less.

nda smiled herself.

"

e waved his arms

hat I was thinking

pillow. He didn't

Ah no, be sincere.

thing so new, so . .

e boy, "Hallo, my

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


velvet pincushion, and a s

and another even more sp

watch to curl up in.

"Tell me, grandma," said

The old woman sighed,

needle through. She was c

"I was thinking of your U

"My Australian Uncle Wi

"Yes, of course."

"The one I never saw?"

"That was the one."

"Well, what happened to

again.

"He went to the mines, an

Kezia blinked and consi

soldier by the side of the

"Does it make you sad to

It was the old woman's t

stare down the years, as

long after they were out o

"No, Kezia."

"But why?" asked Kezia.

"Why did Uncle William

Mrs. Fairfield began cou

absorbed voice.

"Does everybody have to

"Everybody!"

" Me? " Kezia sounded fea

"Some day, my darling."


pecial shell which Kezia had given her gran

cial which she had thought would make a v

ezia.

hipped the wool twice round her thumb,

asting on.

cle William, darling," she said quietly.

liam?" said Kezia. She had another.

him?" Kezia knew perfectly well, but she

he got a sunstroke there and died," said old

ered the picture again . . . a little man fal

ig black hole.

hink about him, grandma?" She hated her gr

rn to consider. Did it make her sad? To l

ezia had seen her doing. To look after them

sight. Did it make her sad? No, life was like

She lifted one bare arm and began to dra

ave to die? He wasn't old."

ting the stitches in threes. "It just happen

ie?" asked Kezia.

rfully incredulous.

15

dma for a pin-tray,

ry nice place for a

nd drew the bone

wanted to be told

Mrs. Fairfield.

len over like a tin

ndma to be sad.

ok back, back. To

as a woman does,

that.

things in the air.

d," she said in an

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"But, grandma." Kezia wa

I just won't?"

The old woman sighed ag

"We're not asked, Kezia,"

Kezia lay still thinking thi

here, leave everywhere, f

"Grandma," she said in a

"What, my pet!"

"You're not to die." Kezia

"Ah, Kezia"–her grandm

about it."

"But you're not to. You c

"Promise me you won't ev

The old woman went on k

"Promise me! Say never!"

But still her grandma was

Kezia rolled off her bed;

grandma's knees, clasped

under the chin, behind the

"Say never . . . say never

began, very softly and lig

"Kezia!" The old woman

to tickle Kezia. "Say nevlaughing in each other's a

pony!" said old Mrs. Fairf

Both of them had forgotte

VIII

The sun was still full on t

and a very gay figure wa

dressed for her afternoon

it and so many that they


ved her left leg and waggled the toes. They

in and drew a long thread from the ball.

she said sadly. "It happens to all of us soone

s over. She didn't want to die. It meant she

r ever, leave–leave her grandma. She rolled

tartled voice.

was very decided.

looked up and smiled and shook her he

ouldn't leave me. You couldn't not be there

er do it, grandma," pleaded Kezia.

nitting.

silent.

she couldn't bear it any longer, and lightly

her hand round the old woman's throat and

ear, and blowing down her neck.

. . . say never–" She gasped between the ki

tly, to tickle her grandma.

dropped her knitting. She swung back in the

er, say never, say never," gurgled Kezia, wms. "Come, that's enough, my squirrel! That

ield, setting her cap straight. "Pick up my kni

n what the "never" was about.

e garden when the back door of the Burnell

lked down the path to the gate. It was Alic

out. She wore a white cotton dress with suc

made you shudder, white shoes and a legho

16

elt sandy. "What if

or later."

ould have to leave

ver quickly.

d–"don't let's talk

." This was awful.

he leapt on to her

began kissing her,

sses. And then she

rocker. She began

hile they lay there's enough, my wild

tting."

' shut with a bang,

e, the servant-girl,

large red spots on

rn turned up under

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


the brim with poppies. O

with iron-mould, and in o

referred to as her perishal

Beryl, sitting in the windo

such a guy. If Alice had o

the picture would have be

this? The heart-shaped Fij

Alice had picked up so

together. Pity to have ma

Alice in that rig-out.

But no, Beryl was unfair

"invite" by the little boy

Stubbs ever since the first

"Dear heart!" Mrs. Stubb

eaten. You might have be

Alice did wish there'd b

having nobody behind he

someone wasn't watching

pulled up her gloves, hum

now." But that was hardly

Mrs. Stubbs's shop waswindows for eyes, a broa

STUBBS'S, was like a litt

On the veranda there hun

they'd just been rescued f

hung a cluster of sand-sh

tear apart and forcibly se

left that belonged to the

shoe that fitted and one th

something of everything.

were crammed so tight, p

from toppling over. In th

gelatine lozenges, there w

LOST! HANSOME GOL

SOLID GOLD

ON OR NEAR BEACH

REWARD OFFERED

Alice pressed open the d

Stubbs appeared. With he

like a friendly brigand. Al


course she wore gloves, white ones, staine

ne hand she carried a very dashed-looking s

.

w, fanning her freshly-washed hair, thought

nly blacked her face with a piece of cork bef

en complete. And where did a girl like that

ian fan beat scornfully at that lovely bright

e horrible common larrikin and they'd go

e herself so conspicuous; they'd have hard

. Alice was going to tea with Mrs Stubbs,

ho called for orders. She had taken ever su

time she went to the shop to get something f

s had clapped her hand to her side. "I nev

n attacked by canningbals."

en a bit of life on the road though. Made

. Made her feel all weak in the spine. She c

her. And yet it was silly to turn round; it g

med to herself and said to the distant gum-tr

company.

perched on a little hillock just off the rod veranda for a hat, and the sign on the ro

le card stuck rakishly in the hat crown.

g a long string of bathing-dresses, clinging

rom the sea rather than waiting to go in, an

oes so extraordinarily mixed that to get at o

arate at least fifty. Even then it was the rare

ight. So many people had lost patience and

at was a little too big. . . . Mrs. Stubbs prided

he two windows, arranged in the form of pr

iled so high, that it seemed only a conjurer

e left-hand corner of one window, glued t

as–and there had been from time immemoria

BROOCH

oor. The bell jangled, the red serge curtain

r broad smile and the long bacon knife in he

ice was welcomed so warmly that she found

17

d at the fastenings

unshade which she

she had never seen

ore she started out,

o to in a place like

ane. She supposed

off into the bush

work to hide with

who'd sent her an

ch a liking to Mrs.

r her mosquitoes.

er seen anyone so

her feel so queer,

uldn't believe that

ve you away. She

ee, "Shan't be long

d. It had two bigf, scrawled MRS.

together as though

beside them there

ne pair you had to

st thing to find the

gone off with one

herself on keeping

ecarious pyramids,

ould prevent them

the pane by four

l–a notice.

s parted, and Mrs.

r hand, she looked

it quite difficult to

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


keep up her "manners." T

gloves, tweaks at her skir

understanding what was s

Tea was laid on the parl

large johnny cake that it

But the Primus stove roar

down on the edge of a

Suddenly Mrs. Stubbs wh

parcel.

"I've just had some new

me what you think of the

In a very dainty, refinedone. Life! How many ther

the light.

Mrs. Stubbs sat in an arm

astonishment on her large

on a carpet, to the left of

water-fall. On her right s

and in the background to

"It is a nice style, isn't it?

when the roaring of the Prin a silence that was frigh

"Draw up your chair, my

thoughtfully, as she han

enlargemint. All very wel

myself. You get no comfo

Alice quite saw what she

"Size," said Mrs. Stubbs.

always saying. He couldn'may seem my dear"–her

memory–"it was dropsy t

and a half pints from 'im a

Alice burned to know ex

suppose it was water."

But Mrs. Stubbs fixed A

dear."


hey consisted of persistent little coughs and

t, and a curious difficulty in seeing what w

id.

ur table–ham, sardines, a whole pound of

looked like an advertisement for somebod

ed so loudly that it was useless to try to talk

asket-chair while Mrs. Stubbs pumped the

ipped the cushion off a chair and disclosed a

hoters taken, my dear," she shouted cheerf

."

ay Alice wet her finger and put the tissuee were! There were three dozzing at least. A

chair, leaning very much to one side. There

face. and well there might be. For though t

it, miraculously skirting the carpet-border, t

ood a Grecian pillar with a giant fern-tree

ered a gaunt mountain, pale with snow.

" shouted Mrs. Stubbs; and Alice had just s

imus stove died down, fizzled out, ceased, aening.

dear," said Mrs. Stubbs, beginning to pour o

ed the tea, "but I don't care about the si

l for Christmas cards, but I never was the on

rt out of them. To say the truth, I find them d

eant.

"Give me size. That was what my poor

't stand anything small. Gave him the creepsMrs. Stubbs creaked and seemed to exp

at carried him off at the larst. Many's the ti

t the 'ospital . . . It seemed like a judgemint."

actly what it was that was drawn from hi

lice with her eyes and replied meaningly,

18

hems, pulls at her

s set before her or

butter, and such a

's baking-powder.

above it. Alice sat

stove still higher.

large brown-paper

lly to Alice. "Tell

back from the firstd she held it up to

was a look of mild

he arm-chair stood

ere was a dashing

n either side of it,

reamed "Sweetly"

d she said "Pretty"

ut. "Yes," she said

ze. I'm having an

e for small photers

is'eartening."

dear husband was

. And, strange as itand herself at the

e they drawn one

. She ventured, "I

"It was liquid , my

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


Liquid! Alice jumped aw

wary.

"That's 'im!" said Mrs. Sshoulders of a burly man

you think of a curl of co

ground, were the words, "

"It's ever such a fine face,

The pale-blue bow on th

plump neck. What a neck

to warm apricot, and that

"All the same, my dear,"sounded like a purr. "Free

Freedom! Alice gave a lo

her own kitching. Ever so

IX

A strange company assem

sat a bull, a rooster, a don

washhouse was the perfe

noise as they liked, andfrom the bungalow. Agai

with a basket of clothes-

had a piece of candle and

crossed overhead and, h

horseshoe. The table was i

"You can't be a bee, Kezi

"Oh, but I do want to be a

with striped legs. She dre

was a bee.

"A ninseck must be an ani

"I'm a bull, I'm a bull!"

make that noise?–that Lot

"I'll be a sheep," said little

"How do you know?"


ay from the word like a cat and came bac

tubbs, and she pointed dramatically to thewith a dead white rose in the button-hole of

ld mutting fat. Just below, in silver letters

e not afraid, it is I."

said Alice faintly.

top of Mrs. Stubbs's fair frizzy hair quiver

she had! It was bright pink where it began a

aded to the colour of a brown egg and then t

she said surprisingly, "freedom's best!" Hom's best," said Mrs. Stubbs again.

ud, silly little titter. She felt awkward. Her

queer! She wanted to be back in it again.

bled in the Burnells' washhouse after tea. R

key that kept forgetting it was a donkey, a sh

t place for such a meeting because they co

obody ever interrupted. It was a small tin sst the wall there was a deep trough and in t

egs on top of it. The little window, spun o

a mouse-trap on the dusty sill. There were

anging from a peg on the wall, a very

n the middle with a form at either side.

. A bee's not an animal. It's a ninseck."

bee frightfully," wailed Kezia. . . . A tiny be

w her legs up under her and leaned over the

mal," she said stoutly. "It makes a noise. It's

ried Pip. And he gave such a tremendous

ie looked quite alarmed.

Rags. "A whole lot of sheep went past this

19

to it, nosing and

life-size head andhis coat that made

n a red cardboard

d. She arched her

nd then it changed

a deep creamy.

r soft, fat chuckle

mind flew back to

und the table there

eep and a bee. The

uld make as much

hed standing aparthe corner a copper

ver with cobwebs,

clothes-lines criss-

ig, a huge, rusty

e, all yellow-furry,

table. She felt she

not like a fish."

ellow–how did he

orning."

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"Dad heard them. Baa!"

wait to be carried.

"Cock-a-doodle-do!" shrila rooster.

"What'll I be?" Lottie as

decide for her. It had to b

"Be a donkey, Lottie." It

"Hee-haw!" said Lottie so

"I'll explain, I'll explain,"

round his head. "All be qHe turned up a card. "It's

and somebody else has o

yours."

"Mine?" Lottie was round

"No, silly. Just for the ga

her.

"Oh, Lottie, you are a littl

Lottie looked at both of t

play," she whispered. Th

knew what that meant. S

her pinny thrown over her

"Yes, you do, Lottie. It's q

And Isabel, repentant, sai

learn."

"Cheer up, Lot," said Pip.really, but I'll give it to y

Lottie.

Lottie revived at that. But

said; "I want one badly, to

"Here, Lottie, you can us

very wet-looking one, kn

corner. Don't undo it. I've


e sounded like the little lamb that trots be

led Isabel. With her red cheeks and bright e

ed everybody, and she sat there smiling,

an easy one.

as Kezia's suggestion. "Hee-haw! You can't

lemnly. "When do I have to say it?"

said the bull. It was he who had the card

uiet! All listen!" And he waited for them. "ot two spots on it–see? Now, if you put that

ne with two spots as well, you say 'Hee-h

-eyed. "To keep?"

e, see? Just while we're playing." The bull

e silly," said the proud rooster.

em. Then she hung her head; her lip quiver

others glanced at one another like conspi

e would go away and be discovered somew

head, in a corner, or against a wall, or even

uite easy," said Kezia.

d exactly like a grown-up, "Watch me, Lott

"There, I know what I'll do. I'll give you theou. Here you are." And he slammed the car

now she was in another difficulty. "I haven'

o."

e mine." Rags dipped into his sailor blouse

tted together. "Be very careful," he warned

got a little starfish inside I'm going to try an

20

hind and seems to

es she looked like

aiting for them to

forget that."

s. He waved them

ook here, Lottie."card in the middle

w,' and the card's

as very cross with

d. "I don't want to

ators. All of them

here standing with

ehind a chair.

ie, and you'll soon

first one. It's mine,d down in front of

t got a hanky," she

and brought up a

her. "Only use that

tame."

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"Oh, come on, you girls,

You've got to keep your h

Smack went the cards routoo quick for them. It wa

could do not to burst into

"Now, Lottie, you begin."

Timidly Lottie stretched o

it was plain she was count

"No, Lottie, you can't do

over."

"But then everybody will

Mooe-ooo-er! The bull

cards up.

Bss-ss! said the bee.

Cock-a-doodle-do! Isabel

Baa! Little Rags put dow

the King of Spain. She ha

"Why don't you call out,

"I've forgotten what I am,

"Well, change! Be a dog i

"Oh yes. That's much eas

one Kezia waited on purp

very red; she looked bewi

"Ss! Wait a minute!" Thholding up his hand. "Wh

"What noise? What do yo

"Ss! Shut up! Listen!" T

said the bull.

"What was it like?" asked

No answer.


" said the bull. "And mind–you're not to l

ands under the table till I say 'Go.'"

nd the table. They tried with all their mights very exciting, sitting there in the washho

little chorus of animals before Pip had finis

ut a hand, took the top card off her pack, ha

ing the spots–and put it down.

that. You mustn't look first. You must tur

see it the same time as me," said Lottie. Th

as terrible. He charged over the table and

stood up in her excitement and moved her el

the King of Diamonds and Lottie put down

hardly any cards left.

ottie?"

said the donkey woefully.

nstead! Bow-wow!"

ier." Lottie smiled again. But when she an

ose. The others made signs to Lottie and poi

dered, and at last she said, "Hee-haw! Ke-zi

ey were in the very thick of it when thet's that? What's that noise?"

mean?" asked the rooster.

ey were mouse-still. "I thought I heard a–a

the sheep faintly.

21

ook at your cards.

to see, but Pip wasse; it was all they

hed dealing.

a good look at it–

n it the other way

e game proceeded.

seemed to eat the

ows like wings.

the one they called

Kezia both had a

nted. Lottie turned

."

ull stopped them,

sort of knocking,"

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The bee gave a shudder.

why had they shut the doo

While they were playing,And now the quick dark

You were frightened to l

with all your might. And

were being pulled down; t

"It would be awful now,"

table, wouldn't it?"

"Spiders don't fall from ce

"Yes, they do. Our Min tolike a gooseberry."

Quickly all the little hea

together.

"Why doesn't somebody c

Oh, those grown-ups, lau

They'd forgotten about th

They had decided to leave

Suddenly Lottie gave suc

them screamed too. "A fa

It was true, it was real. P

beard.

"Grandma! Mother! Some

But they had not got to t

Jonathan. He had come to

X

He had meant to be there

up and down the grass, s

something to lean agains

again, with her little air

fringed shawl from the Ch

"Hallo, Jonathan!" called

against his breast, droppe


Whatever did we shut the door for?" she sa

r?

the day had faded; the gorgeous sunset hacame racing over the sea, over the sand-hill

ok in the corners of the washhouse, and y

omewhere, far away, grandma was lighting

he kitchen fire leapt in the tins on the mantel

said the bull, "if a spider was to fall from t

ilings."

ld us she'd seen a spider as big as a saucer,

s were jerked up; all the little bodies dre

ome and call us?" cried the rooster.

hing and snug, sitting in the lamp-light, dri

m. No, not really forgotten. That was what

them there all by themselves.

a piercing scream that all of them jumped

e–a face looking!" shrieked Lottie.

essed against the window was a pale face,

body!"

e door, tumbling over one another, before i

take the little boys home.

efore, but in the front garden he had come u

topping to pick off a dead pink or give a t

, or to take a deep breath of something, an

f remoteness. Over her white frock she w

inaman's shop.

inda. And Jonathan whipped off his shabby

on one knee, and kissed Linda's hand.

22

id softly. Oh, why,

d blazed and died.s, up the paddock.

t you had to look

a lamp. The blinds

iece.

e ceiling on to the

ith long hairs on it

together, pressed

nking out of cups!

their smile meant.

ff the forms, all of

lack eyes, a black

opened for Uncle

pon Linda walking

p-heavy carnation

d then walking on

re a yellow, pink-

panama, pressed it

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"Greeting, my Fair One!

gently. "Where are the oth

"Beryl's out playing bridgborrow something?"

The Trouts were for ever

last moment.

But Jonathan only answer

in-law's side.

Linda dropped into Bery

himself on the grass besi

each other well. The voiccart shook along the san

muffled as though the do

soft swish of the sea at ful

"And so you go back to th

"On Monday the cage d

months and a week," ans

Linda swung a little. "It m

"Would ye have me laugh

Linda was so accustomed

"I suppose," she said vagu

"Does one? Hum!" the "

ground. "I wonder how it'

Looking at him as he lay

to think that he was onlyhe. What was the matter

And yet one felt he was

spare penny he had went

nothing came of it all. Th

as he explained, describe

in and there was nothing

his black eyes. At these ti

in church–he was the lea

meanest hymn put on an u


reeting, my Celestial Peach Blossom!" boo

er noble dames?"

e and mother's giving the boy his bath. . . .

running out of things and sending across to

d, "A little love, a little kindness;" and he w

l's hammock under the manuka tree, and

de her, pulled a long stalk and began che

s of children cried from the other gardens.y road, and from far away they heard a d

had its head in a sack. If you listened you

l tide sweeping the pebbles. The sun was sin

e office on Monday, do you, Jonathan?" aske

oor opens and clangs to upon the victim

ered Jonathan.

ust be awful," she said slowly.

, my fair sister? Would ye have me weep?"

to Jonathan's way of talking that she paid no

ely, "one gets used to it. One gets used to an

Hum" was so deep it seemed to boom fr

done," brooded Jonathan; "I've never mana

here, Linda thought again how attractive he

an ordinary clerk, that Stanley earned twicewith Jonathan? He had no ambition; she su

gifted, exceptional. He was passionately fo

n books. He was always full of new ideas, s

new fire blazed in Jonathan; you almost he

and dilated on the new thing; but a momen

but ashes, and Jonathan went about with a l

es he exaggerated his absurd manner of spe

der of the choir–with such fearful dramati

nholy splendour.

23

ed the bass voice

Have you come to

the Burnells' at the

alked by his sister-

Jonathan stretched

ing it. They knew

fisherman's lightog barking; it was

could just hear the

ing.

d Linda.

or another eleven

attention to it.

thing."

m underneath the

ed it."

was. It was strange

as much money asposed that was it.

d of music; every

chemes, plans. But

rd it roaring softly

t later it had fallen

ook like hunger in

aking, and he sang

intensity that the

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"It seems to me just as im

said Jonathan, "as it alwa

one's life sitting on a stoo

use to make of one's . . . oon the grass and looked u

that of an ordinary prison

nobody's ever going to let

I'd been–pushed in, again

rate in five years or so, I

flight of flies or counting

variations of tread and so

own accord. I dash again

do everything on God's ea

like that moth, or that but

life!' I've only one nightthere, undiscovered, unex

"But, if you feel like that,

" Ah! " cried Jonathan. A

me. Why? Why indeed?

again? There's the windo

shut–is it? Why don't I fi

no time to answer.

"I'm exactly like that inwords–"it's not allowed,

flopping and crawling up

don't I seriously consider,

It's not as though I'm trem

boys. I could cut off to se

said in a changed voice,

No anchor. No guiding p

out:"

Would ye hear the story

How it unfolds itself . . .

and they were silent.

The sun had set. In the w

clouds. Broad beams of li

cover the whole sky. Ove

against it gleamed dark a

show in the sky they are

jealous God, the Almigh

remember that at His co

cold, bright angels will d

what could be explained


becile, just as infernal, to have to go to the

ys has done and always will do. To spend a

from nine to five, scratching in somebody's

ne and only life, isn't it? Or do I fondly dreaat Linda. "Tell me, what is the difference b

r? The only difference I can see is that I pu

me out. That's a more intolerable situation t

st my will–kicking, even–once the door wa

ight have accepted the fact and begun to ta

the warder's steps along the passage with pa

on. But as it is, I'm like an insect that's flow

t the walls, dash against the windows, flop

rth, in fact, except fly out again. And all the

erfly, or whatever it is, 'The shortness of lif

r one day, and there's this vast dangerouslored."

why–" began Linda quickly.

d that "ah!" was somehow almost exultan

here's the maddening, mysterious question.

or the door or whatever it was I came in by.

d it and be off? Answer me that, little siste

sect again. For some reason"–Jonathan pit's forbidden, it's against the insect law, to

the pane even for an instant. Why don't I lea

this moment, for instance, what it is that pr

endously tied. I've two boys to provide for, b

, or get a job up-country, or–" Suddenly he s

s if he were confiding a secret, "Weak . . .

rinciple, let us call it." But then the dark v

stern sky there were great masses of crushe

ght shone through the clouds and beyond the

head the blue faded; it turned a pale gold, an

nd brilliant like metal. Sometimes when th

very awful. They remind you that up ther

y, Whose eye is upon you, ever watchful,

ing the whole earth will shake into one rui

ive you this way and that, and there will be

so simply. . . . But tonight it seemed t

24

ffice on Monday,"

ll the best years of

ledger! It's a queer

?" He rolled overtween my life and

myself in jail and

an the other. For if

locked, or at any

e an interest in the

ticular attention to

into a room of its

against the ceiling,

while I'm thinking,

! The shortness of

arden, waiting out

. "There you have

hy don't I fly out

It's not hopelessly

." But he gave her

used between thestop banging and

e the office? Why

vents me leaving?

ut, after all, they're

miled at Linda and

weak. No stamina.

lvety voice rolled

d-up rose-coloured

m as if they would

the bush outlined

ose beams of light

sits Jehovah, the

never weary. You

ned graveyard; the

no time to explain

Linda there was

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


something infinitely joyf

from the sea. It breathed

bosom.

"It's all wrong, it's all wr

it's not the setting for . . . t

Linda knew that he would

"I'm old–I'm old," intone

head. "Look!" His black h

a black fowl.

Linda was surprised. She

and sighed and stretched,careless, but touched alre

the thought crossed her mi

Jonathan stooped again an

"Heaven reward thy swe

heirs to my fame and fort

XI

Light shone in the windopinks and the peaked ma

the top step, her white pa

though she had been waiti

"Thank goodness, it's gett

Her greengage eyes opene

Presently there sounded t

enough for one to hear

stopped at the Burnells' g

Stanley was half-way up t

"Yes, Stanley."

He leapt across the flow

familiar, eager, strong em

"Forgive me, darling, for

chin and lifted her face to

"Forgive you?" smiled Li


l and loving in those silver beams. And n

oftly as if it would draw that tender, joyful

ng," came the shadowy voice of Jonathan.

hree stools, three desks, three ink pots and a

never change, but she said, "Is it too late, ev

Jonathan. He bent towards her, he passed

air was speckled all over with silver, like th

ad no idea that he was grey. And yet, as he

she saw him, for the first time, not resoluady with age. He looked very tall on the da

nd, "He is like a weed."

d kissed her fingers.

t patience, lady mine," he murmured. "I

ne. . . ." He was gone.

s of the bungalow. Two square patches of igolds. Florrie, the cat, came out on to the

s close together, her tail curled round. She

ng for this moment all day.

ing late," said Florrie. "Thank goodness, the

d.

e rumble of the coach, the crack of Kelly's

he voices of the men from town, talking

te.

he path before he saw Linda. "Is that you, da

er-bed and seized her in his arms. She wa

race.

give me," stammered Stanley, and he put

him.

da. "But whatever for?"

25

w no sound came

eauty into its own

"It's not the scene,

wire blind."

n now?"

his hand over his

breast plumage of

tood up beside her

e, not gallant, notrkening grass, and

ust go seek those

gold fell upon theeranda, and sat on

looked content, as

long day is over."

whip. It came near

loudly together. It

ling?"

s enfolded in that

is hand under her

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"Good God! You can't h

else all day. I've had the h

then I thought the wire mi

"But, Stanley," said Linda

"Linda!"–Stanley was ver

without saying good-bye t

thing. My confounded te

arms again–"I've suffered

"What's that you've got in

"Oh, just a cheap pair of

wearing some in the coacgot myself a pair. What ar

"On the con -trary, darlin

She pulled one of the la

turning it this way and tha

Stanley wanted to say, "I

but for some reason he co

XII

Why does one feel so

everybody else is asleep?

more wakeful, as though

new, wonderful, far more

this queer sensation that

room. You take somethin

And everything, even the

You're not very fond of y

the door opens and slamchange your shoes and d

powder your nose and of

funny room. It's yours. O

"My very own for ever?"

"Yes." Their lips met.

No, of course, that had n

spite of herself, Beryl sa

arms were round his nec


ve forgotten," cried Stanley Burnell. "I've

ell of a day. I made up my mind to dash out

ghtn't reach you before I did. I've been in tor

, "what must I forgive you for?"

y hurt–"didn't you realize–you must have re

o you this morning? I can't imagine how I ca

per, of course. But–well"–and he sighed a

for it enough today."

your hand?" asked Linda. "New gloves? Let

wash-leather ones," said Stanley humbly. "

h this morning, so, as I was passing the she you smiling at? You don't think it was wro

," said Linda, "I think it was most sensible."

rge, pale gloves on her own fingers and l

t. She was still smiling.

as thinking of you the whole time I bought

ldn't say it. "Let's go in," said he.

ifferent at night? Why is it so exciting t

Late–it is very late! And yet every moment

you were slowly, almost with every breath

thrilling and exciting world than the dayligh

you're a conspirator? Lightly, stealthily yo

off the dressing-table and put it down agai

bed-post, knows you, responds, shares your s

our room by day. You never think about it.

, the cupboard creaks. You sit down on thsh out again. A dive down to the glass, tw

again. But now–it's suddenly dear to you.

, what a joy it is to own things! Mine–my o

thing to do with it. That was all nonsense a

so plainly two people standing in the middl

; he held her. And now he whispered, "M

26

hought of nothing

and telegraph, and

ures, Linda."

lized–I went away

n have done such a

nd took her in his

me see."

I noticed Bell was

p, I dashed in andg of me, do you?"

oked at her hand,

them." It was true,

o be awake when

you feel more and

, waking up into a

t one. And what is

move about your

n without a sound.

ecret. . . .

You're in and out,

side of your bed,pins in your hair,

It's a darling little

n!

nd rubbish. But, in

e of her room. Her

y beauty, my little

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


beauty!" She jumped off

seat, with her elbows on

leaf, even the white pali

moon that the flowers wlily-like leaves and wide-

bent by the southerly win

But when Beryl looked at

"We are dumb trees, rea

sorrowful bush.

It is true when you are b

excitement and so on ha

silence, somebody called

"Yes, I'm here. I'm Beryl.

"Beryl!"

"Let me come."

It is lonely living by one

that's not what she means.

know, who will expect he

"Take me away from all t

life, all new, all ours, fro

eat together. Let us have l

And the thought was almo

. . . "Oh, go on! Don't be

my advice." And a hig

indifferent neigh.

You see, it's so frightfullyYou can't just be rude.

stuffy like the other ninni

over people. Yes, that is f

Oh why, oh why doesn't "

If I go on living here, tho

"But how do you know he


her bed, ran over to the window and kneel

the sill. But the beautiful night, the garden,

gs, even the stars, were conspirators too.

re bright as by day; the shadow of the nasopen flowers, lay across the silvery veranda.

s, was like a bird on one leg stretching out a

the bush, it seemed to her the bush was sad.

hing up in the night, imploring we know

y yourself and you think about life, it is al

s a way of suddenly leaving you, and it's

our name, and you heard your name for the

Who wants me?"

elf. Of course, there are relations, friends,

She wants someone who will find the Beryl

to be that Beryl always. She wants a lover.

hese other people, my love. Let us go far a

the very beginning. Let us make our fire.

ng talks at night."

st, "Save me, my love. Save me!"

prude, my dear. You enjoy yourself while y

rush of silly laughter joined Mrs. Har

difficult when you've nobody. You're so at tnd you've always this horror of seeming

es at the Bay. And–and it's fascinating to k

scinating. . . .

he" come soon?

ght Beryl, anything may happen to me.

is coming at all?" mocked a small voice wit

27

d on the window-

every bush, every

So bright was the

turtiums, exquisiteThe manuka-tree,

wing.

ot what," said the

ways sad. All that

as though, in the

irst time. "Beryl!"

eaps of them; but

they none of them

ay. Let us live our

Let us sit down to

ou're young. That's

y Kember's loud,

e mercy of things.inexperienced and

now you've power

in her.

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But Beryl dismissed it. S

possible to think that Ber

"Do you remember Beryl

"Remember her! As if I

She was standing on the

cream"–no, black–"straw

"She's as lovely as ever,

Beryl smiled, bit her lip,

man, leave the road, step

straight towards her. He

burglar, certainly not a bleapt; it seemed to turn rig

"Good evening, Miss Ber

"Good evening."

"Won't you come for a litt

Come for a walk–at that

asleep."

"Oh," said the voice lig

everybody matter? Do co

Beryl shook her head. But

The voice said, "Frighten

"Not in the least," said sh

grow suddenly tremendou

And just as if this was quifinally, "Come along!"

Beryl stepped over her lo

He was there before her.

"That's right," breathed t

not frightened?"

She was; now she was

different. The moonlight

hand was taken.


e couldn't be left. Other people, perhaps, bu

l Fairfield never married, that lovely fascinat

Fairfield?"

ould forget her! It was one summer at the

beach in a blue"–no, pink–"muslin frock,

at. But it's years ago now."

ore so if anything."

nd gazed over the garden. As she gazed, sh

along the paddock beside their palings as

heart beat. Who was it? Who could it b

rglar, for he was smoking and he strolled liht over, and then to stop. She recognized hi

l," said the voice softly.

le walk?" it drawled.

time of night! "I couldn't. Everybody's in

tly, and a whiff of sweet smoke reache

e! It's such a fine night. There's not a soul a

already something stirred in her, something

d?" It mocked, "Poor little girl!"

. As she spoke that weak thing within her s

sly strong; she longed to go!

te understood by the other, the voice said, ge

window, crossed the veranda, ran down th

e voice, and it teased, "You're not frightene

ere she was terrified, and it seemed to h

stared and glittered; the shadows were lik

28

t not she. It wasn't

ing girl.

ay that I saw her.

holding on a big

saw somebody, a

if he was coming

? It couldn't be a

htly. Beryl's heart.

bed. Everybody's

her. "What does

out."

reared its head.

emed to uncoil, to

ntly and softly, but

e grass to the gate.

d, are you? You're

er everything was

bars of iron. Her

7/30/2019 At The Bay 1921


"Not in the least," she sai

Her hand was pulled gentl

"No, I'm not coming any

"Oh, rot!" Harry Kember

fuchsia bush. Come along

The fuchsia bush was tal

darkness beneath.

"No, really, I don't want t

For a moment Harry Kesmiled and said quickly, "

His smile was somethin

terrifying smile froze her

stern garden asked her as

through and snatched her

"Cold little devil! Cold lit

But Beryl was strong. She

"You are vile, vile," said s

"Then why in God's name

Nobody answered him.

XIII

A cloud, small, serene,

sounded deep, troubled.

vague murmur, as though

lightly. "Why should I be?"

y, tugged. She held back.

arther," said Beryl.

didn't believe her. "Come along! We'll jus

!"

l. It fell over the fence in a shower. There

," said Beryl.

ber didn't answer. Then he came close toon't be silly! Don't be silly!"

she'd never seen before. Was he drunk?

with horror. What was she doing? How ha

the gate pushed open, and quick as a cat H

o him.

le devil!" said the hateful voice.

slipped, ducked, wrenched free.

he.

did you come?" stammered Harry Kember.

loated across the moon. In that moment o

hen the cloud sailed away, and the soun

it waked out of a dark dream. All was still.

t go as far as that

was a little pit of

her, turned to her,

hat bright, blind,

she got here? the

arry Kember came

darkness the sea

of the sea was a

Documents

At The Bay 1921