The Miller's Dance Read Free

meself.'
    'Well, now you've got me,' she said, looking at her captive hand.
    'To little use, I reckon. With half a hundred folk crowdin' around us!'
    'And all observing the claim you are putting upon me .' 'Should I not? Must I not?' ‘ Not in public. Not just yet.'
    'Clowance, I'm tired of waiting. We see little or naught of each other-'
    'Oh, Friday you came to sup with us. Thursday we talked for time enough at the mine. Tuesday -' 'But that's among people. It is not among people that I wish to meet you, as you well know. 'Why, last year, afore ever I went away, we was more alone than this!' .
    She wriggled her hand out of his grasp. 'Yes, I suppose.'
    'You know well. When can we meet in Trenwith again?'
    'Ah. I don't know ...'
    A portly gentleman in a white stock and a black tail-coat but with leather boots over his stockings and knee-breeches came up to Ross. They had spoken earlier in the day when Ross had boarded the Henry from Nampara Girl. Mr Harvey. Mr Henry Harvey, after whom the brig was named. At 37, chief partner in the firm of Blewett, Harvey, Vivian & Co. of Hayle, where the mine engine had been built. He was the driving power behind the foundry's rapid expansion. Indeed, soon to be the sole owner, if litigation went well.
    He did not personally superintend the delivery of all such engines built by his firm, but this commission had special areas of interest. Firstly Captain Poldark was not just an ordinary mining venturer. Secondly his son, Jeremy, had dented the social traditions of the time by becoming more than half way to practical engineer and-by being responsible for the final design of the engine they had built.
    'I think all is well now, Captain Poldark. Safely gathered in, if one might say so without irreverence.'
    'Yes. We'll get it up the cliff tomorrow.' At the very last the trolley had slid off the track at one side and was quite immovable. But it had done its work. For the last few yards the beam could be levered forward on its own.
    'So ... If I should now take my leave ...' 'You'd be welcome to sup with us, Mr Harvey. We have all been oh a starvation diet today. Indeed, stay the night, if you wish. It would be a pleasure.'
    'It would be a pleasure to me, sir. And an honour. But I should neither eat nor sleep peaceable with my three vessels off this dangerous shore. Perhaps another time.'
    'Indeed. Your brother Francis stayed with us once before his-his accident.'
    'He would have been forty-four this year. I have lost two other brothers and a sister since then. Natural causes with them, of course, natural causes ... Yes, but strong steam has to come in spite of the risks, as your talented son recognizes. I shall watch the performance and duty of this -. engine with most particular interest.'
    Ross looked at the darkening sky. It was like a mourning card.
    'I think you're wise to go. There'll be no trouble tonight. But one can't be sure of tomorrow.'
    They shook hands. A part of the purchase price of the engine had already been paid over; the balance was due on delivery, but it was not between gentlemen that this should be discussed. As the swearing horses were relieved of their harness, men at the sea's edge were already beginning to lift the sleeper track. Ross walked with Mr Harvey down to the sea as far as his dinghy, where two men waited to push him out through the frothy little surf to join his brig and return to Hayle.
    '... Tomorrow?' asked Stephen Carrington. 'What?' said Clowance. 'ForTrenwith.'
    'It is dangerous. People will see us.'
    'Let 'em.'
    'No. You have not lived here long, Stephen. I would hate the whispering, the dirty rumours. It would - contaminate what ... what I don't wish to have contaminated.'
    'Where, then? Where, then?'
    'Trenwith maybe. But it would be better about dusk.'
    'That suits me.'
    'Yes, well ... But it means ... more deceit ... more lying.’
    'Not my choice. I would shout it out in the open for all to hear.'
    Clowance gave a little irritable shrug. It was