Read The Stranger From The Sea for Free Online Page B

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    He looked round and saw a fair tall girl standing in the room. She was wearing a white print frock caught at the waist with a scarlet sash, and she was carrying a sheaf of foxgloves. She was clearly as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
    In the silence the fire spat out a burning splinter of wood, but it fell and smoked unheeded on the floor.
    'Who are you? What d'you want? George spoke in a harsh voice he had seldom cause to use these days; people moved at his bidding quickly enough; but this apparition, this intrusion ...
    The girl said: 'I am sorry. I saw the door open and thought perhaps it had blown open.'
    'What business is it of yours?’
    She had a stillness about her, a composure that was not like excessive self-confidence - rather an unawareness of anything untoward or wrong.
    'Oh, I come here sometimes,' she said. 'The foxgloves are handsome on the hedges just now. I've never seen the door open before.'
    He got up. 'D'you know that you're trespassing’
    She came a few paces nearer and laid the flowers on the great dining table, brushed a few leaves and spattering of pollen from her frock.
    'Are you Sir George Warleggan?' she asked.
    Her accent showed she was not a village girl and a terrible suspicion grew in his mind.
    'What is your name?'
    'Mine?' She smiled. 'I'm Clowance Poldark.'

II
    When Clowance returned to Nampara everyone was out. The front door was open, and she went in and whistl ed three clear notes: D, B , A, then ran half up the stairs and whistl ed again. When there was no response she carried her foxgloves through the kitchen into the backyard beyond, filled a pail at the pump where twenty-six years before her mother had been swilled when brought to this house, a starveling brat from Illuggan, and thrust the flowers into the water so that they should not wilt before that same lady came in and had time to arrange them. Then she went in search.
    It was a lovely afternoon and Cl owance was too young to feel the chill of the wind. Spring had been late and dry, and they were haymaking in the Long Field behind the house. She saw a group standing half way up the field and recognized her mother's dark head and dove-grey frock among them. It was refreshment-time, and Demelza had helped Jane Gimlett carry up the cloam pitcher and the mugs. The workers had downed tools and were gathered round Mistress Poldark while she tipped the pitcher and filled each mug with ale. There were eight of them altogether: Moses Vigus, Dick Trevail (Jack Cobbledick's illegitimate son by Nancy Trevail), Cal Trevail (Nancy's legitimate son), Matthew Martin, Ern Lobb, 'Tiny' Small, Sephus Billing and Nat Triggs. They were all laughing at something Demelza had said as Clowance came up. They smiled and grinned and nodded sweatily at the daughter of the house, who smiled back at them.
    'Mug of ale, Miss Cl owance?' Jane Gimlett asked. 'There's a spare one if you've the mind.'
    Clowance had the mind, and they talked in a group until one after another the men turned reluctantly away to take up their scythes again. Last to move was Matthew Martin, who always lingered when Clowance was about. Then mother and daughter began to stroll back towards the house, Clowance with the mugs, Jane bringing up the rear at a discreet distance with the empty pitcher.
    'No shoes again, I see,' said Demelza.
    'No, love. It's summer.'
    'You'll get things in your feet.'
    'They'll come out. They always do.'
    It was a small bone of contention. To Demelza, who had never had shoes until she was fourteen, there was some loss of social status in being barefoot. To Clowance , born into a gentleman's home, there was a pleasurable freedom in kicking them off, even at sixteen.
    'Where is everybody?'
    'Jeremy's out with Paul and Ben.'
    'Not back yet?'
    'I expect the fish are not biting. And if you look over your left shoulder you'll see Mrs Kemp coming off the beach with Bella and Sophie.'
    'Ah yes. And Papa?'
    'He should be back any time.'
    'Was it a bank