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Updated: June 20, 2025
He had begun to court Ellenor persistently, and she, as persistently, shunned him. One evening, as he was returning from Rocquaine Bay after a long day's fishing, he met Ellenor in a shady lane. She had been milking and carried on her arm the large shining can which it was her pride to keep like silver. "What's the matter, Ellenor?" he said at once, "you look as white as death! Is it you are ill?"
The rest shrugged their shoulders and said that Christmas Day was not meant to be wasted in such a search, for such a queer wild girl as Ellenor Cartier. At last a child found in a hedge a paper bag: it contained a spray of artificial flowers, a few drenched roses. The child's mother guessed this must be the finery Ellenor had gone to buy, for everyone knew the pitiful story by now.
Every woman had brought gâche, biscuits and special vraicquing cakes: while the rich farmers had provided a plentiful supply of cider which had been brought down in little barrels swung to the carts. It was a merry time, and Blaisette Le Mierre was looked upon as the queen of the feast. Very few spoke to Ellenor, for she was shunned as a marked character.
The inmates of Les Casquets Cottage ate their humble Christmas dinner of a small piece of beef and a rough kind of raisin pudding; then Jean and his wife composed themselves to the unusual luxury of an afternoon sleep. Ellenor was too restless to stay at home. She wandered over the cliffs and insensibly she made, at last, for the Haunted House.
Dominic was not only furious, but fearful of disclosures. He rose unsteadily to his feet, and pointed at Ellenor. "Be off with you!" he cried, "how dare you come here, you impudante!" The girl of Les Casquets Cottage stood as if turned to stone. She did not know what she had expected when she entered the room. Blind, mad impulse had moved her to a mad act.
For a long while Ellenor did not speak: then she said wearily, "But it seems to me I don't love him any more. It seems he killed my love the night of Les Brandons. It was awful when he died. And all I could think of was to get away from Guernsey and all the people I knew. In Sark, I forgot about him a little. But now I'm back, it seems I can't think of nothing else. I am so frightened of him.
At that very hour she was running quickly along the high road to Orvillière. The moon, full and soft as pearl, rode high in the cloudless sky. The stars glinted like silver fires. But the beauty of the night was lost upon Ellenor. It seemed to her as if she would never reach her destination. At last, at last, she was at the top of the valley which sloped to the farm!
Now, perhaps, you will all believe I fear nothing! and if there was need for it I would go bareheaded to Saint Peter Port in this deluge!" and she pointed to the sheets of rain which swept over the moorland. Then a small, insignificant voice, coming from a woman who sat in the hearth corner, spoke irritably. "You know, Ellenor, if your father was here, he would not let you play such tricks!"
He met Ellenor secretly; and was often at Colomberie Farm, where he was a welcome visitor, not only to the daughter, but to the father, who valued the advice and skill of the master of Orvillière in all things pertaining to the management of the farm.
Perrin stepped forward, and, with a well-planted blow and a skilful twist of his leg, he threw Dominic to the ground. "See to the drunken brute!" he cried. Then he turned to the trembling girl. "Come, Ellenor," he said, with tender reverence, "come with me, I will take you home."
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