`I think we may as well steer in a general way towards the interior of the country, where we can hide for a time, and are less likely to be looked for than anywhere near the coast,' Clare remarked.`Later on, when they have forgotten us, we can make for some port.'
She made no reply to this beyond that of grasping him more tightly, and straight inland they went.Though the season was an English May the weather was serenely bright, and during the afternoon it was quite warm.
Through the latter miles of their walk their footpath had taken them into the depths of the New Forest, and towards evening, turning the corner of a lane, they perceived behind a brook and bridge a large board on which was painted in white letters, `This desirable Mansion to be Let Furnished';particulars following, with directions to apply to some London agents.
Passing through the gate they could see the house, an old brick building of regular design and large accommodation.
`I know it,' said Clare.`It is Bramshurst Court.You can see that it is shut up, and grass is growing on the drive.'
`Some of the windows are open,' said Tess.
`Just to air the rooms, I suppose.'
`All these rooms empty, and we without a roof to our heads!'
`You are getting tired, my Tess!' he said.`We'll stop soon.' And kissing her sad mouth he again led her onwards.
He was growing weary likewise, for they had wandered a dozen or fifteen miles, and it became necessary to consider what they should do for rest.
They looked from afar at isolated cottages and little inns, and were inclined to approach one of the latter, when their hearts failed them, and they sheered off.At length their gait dragged, and they stood still.
`Could we sleep under the trees?' she asked.
He thought the season insufficiently advanced.
`I have been thinking of that empty mansion we passed,' he said.`Let us go back towards it again.'
They retraced their steps, but it was half an hour before they stood without the entrance-gate as earlier.He then requested her to stay where she was, whilst he went to see who was within.
She sat down among the bushes within the gate, and Clare crept towards the house.His absence lasted some considerable time, and when he returned Tess was wildly anxious, not for herself, but for him.He had found out from a boy that there was only an old woman in charge as caretaker, and she only came there on fine days, from the hamlet near, to open and shut the windows.She would come to shut them at sunset.`Now, we can get in through one of the lower windows, and rest there,' said he.
Under his escort she went tardily forward to the main front, whose shuttered windows, like sightless eyeballs, excluded the possibility of watchers.
The door was reached a few steps further, and one of the windows beside it was open.Clare clambered in, and pulled Tess in after him.
Except the hall the rooms were all in darkness, and they ascended the staircase.Up here also the shutters were tightly closed, the ventilation being perfunctorily done, for this day at least, by opening the hall-window in front and an upper window behind.Clare unlatched the door of a large chamber, felt his way across it, and parted the shutters to the width of two or three inches.A shaft of dazzling sunlight glanced into the room, revealing heavy, old-fashioned furniture, crimson damask hangings, and an enormous four-post bedstead, along the head of which were carved running figures, apparently Atalanta's race.
`Rest at last!' said he, setting down his bag and the parcel of viands.
They remained in great quietness till the caretaker should have come to shut the windows: as a precaution, putting themselves in total darkness by barring the shutters as before, lest the woman should open the door of their chamber for any casual reason.Between six and seven o'clock she came, but did not approach the wing they were in.They heard her close the windows, fasten them, lock the door, and go away.Then Clare again stole a chink of light from the window, and they shared another meal, till by-and-by they were enveloped in the shades of night which they had no candle to disperse.
Chapter 58 The night was strangely solemn and still.In the small hours she whispered to him the whole story of how he had walked in his sleep with her in his arms across the Froom stream, at the imminent risk of both their lives, and laid her down in the stone coffin at the ruined abbey.He had never known of that till now.
`Why didn't you tell me next day?' he said.`It might have prevented much misunderstanding and woe.'
`Don't think of what's past!' said she.`I am not going to think outside of now.Why should we! Who knows what to-morrow has in store?'
But it apparently had no sorrow.The morning was wet and foggy, and Clare, rightly informed that the caretaker only opened the windows on fine days, ventured to creep out of their chamber, and explore the house, leaving Tess asleep.There was no food on the premises, but there was water, and he took advantage of the fog to emerge from the mansion, and fetch tea, bread, and butter from a shop in a little place two miles beyond, as also a small tin kettle and spirit-lamp, that they might get fire without smoke.
His re-entry awoke her; and they breakfasted on what he had brought.
They were indisposed to stir abroad, and the day passed, and the night following, and the next, and next; till, almost without their being aware, five days had slipped by in absolute seclusion, not a sight or sound of a human being disturbing their peacefulness, such as it was.The changes of the weather were their only events, the birds of the New Forest their only company.By tacit consent they hardly once spoke of any incident of the past subsequent to their wedding-day.The gloomy intervening time seemed to sink into chaos, over which the present and prior times closed as if it never had been.Whenever he suggested that they should leave their shelter, and go forwards towards Southampton or London, she showed a strange unwillingness to move.
