SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
I. A NEW-COMER
II. WHICH CONTAINS A FEW DETAILS
III. MRS. REFFOLD LEARNS HER LESSON
IV. CONCERNING WARLI AND MARIE
V. THE DISAGREEABLE MAN
VI. THE TRAVELLER AND THE TEMPLE OF KNOWLEDGE
VII. BERNARDINE
VIII. THE STORY MOVES ON AT LAST
IX. BERNARDINE PREACHES
X. THE DISAGREEABLE MAN IS SEEN IN A NEW LIGHT
XI. "IF ONE HAS MADE THE ONE GREAT SACRIFICE"
XII. THE DISAGREEABLE MAN MAKES A LOAN
XIII. A DOMESTIC SCENE
XIV. CONCERNING THE CARETAKERS
XV. WHICH CONTAINS NOTHING
XVI. WHEN THE SOUL KNOWS ITS OWN REMORSE
XVII. A RETURN TO OLD PASTURES
XVIII. A BETROTHAL
XIX. SHIPS THAT SPEAK EACH OTHER IN PASSING
XX. A LOVE-LETTER
PART II.
I. THE DUSTING OF THE BOOKS
II. BERNARDINE BEGINS HER BOOK
III. FAILURE AND SUCCESS: A PROLOGUE
IV. THE DISAGREEABLE MAN GIVES UP HIS FREEDOM
V. THE BUILDING OF THE BRIDGE
SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT.
PART I.
CHAPTER I.
A NEW-COMER.
"YES, indeed," remarked one of the guests at the English table, "yes,indeed, we start life thinking that we shall build a great cathedral,a crowning glory to architecture, and we end by contriving a mud hut!"
"I am glad you think so well of human nature," said the Disagreeable Man,suddenly looking up from the newspaper which he always read during meal-time. "I should be more inclined to say that we end by being content todig a hole, and get into it, like the earth men."
A silence followed these words; the English community at that end of thetable was struck with astonishment at hearing the Disagreeable Man speak.The few sentences he had spoken during the last four years at Petershofwere on record; this was decidedly the longest of them all.
"He is going to speak again," whispered beautiful Mrs. Reffold to herneighbour.
The Disagreeable Man once more looked up from his newspaper.
"Please, pass me the Yorkshire relish," he said in his rough way to agirl sitting next to him.
The spell was broken, and the conversation started afresh. But the girlwho had passed the Yorkshire relish sat silent and listless, her fooduntouched, and her wine untasted. She was small and thin; her facelooked haggard. She was a new-comer, and had, indeed, arrived atPetershof only two hours before the table-d'hôte bell rang. But theredid not seem to be any nervous shrinking in her manner, nor any shynessat having to face the two hundred and fifty guests of the Kurhaus. Sheseemed rather to be unaware of their presence; or, if aware of,certainly indifferent to the scrutiny under which she was being placed.She was recalled to reality by the voice of the Disagreeable Man. Shedid not hear what he said, but she mechanically stretched out her handand passed him the mustard-pot.
"Is that what you asked for?" she said half dreamily; "or was it thewater-bo