That all had weathered the night seemed a
circumstance too happy to hope for, but Newlyn hearts rose high as boat
after boat came back in safety. Then a dozen men hastened to Mrs. Tregenza
with the good news that her husband's vessel was in sight.
"She've lost her mizzen by the looks on it," said a fisherman, "an' that's
more'n good reason for her bein' 'mong the last to make home."
But Thomasin's hysterical joy was cut short by the most unexpected
appearance of Mary Chirgwin on the pier. She had visited the white cottage
to find it locked up and empty; she had then joined the concourse at the
pierhead, feeling certain that the Tregenza boat must still be at sea; and
she now added her congratulations to the rest, then told Mrs. Tregenza her
news.
"I be comed to knaw if you've heard or seen anything o' Joan. 'Tis 'mazin'
straange, but her've gone, like a dream, an' us caan't find a sign of her.
What wi' she an' terrible doin's 'pon the land last night, uncle's 'bout
beside hisself. Us left her in the kitchen, an' when we comed back from
tryin' to save the hay she was nowheer. Of coorse, us thot she'd gone to
her bed. But she weern't, an' this mornin' we doan't see a atom of her, but
finds a envelope empty 'pon the kitchen floor. 'Twas addressed to Joan an'
comed from Lunnon."
"Aw jimmery! She've gone to en arter all, then--an' in her state."
"The floods was out, you see.
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