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In: Romance·Novels·British Literature
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MOONLIGHT ON THE SEA.
"Sing," said Luke Greville, as he leant on his oars and looked at his wife sitting in the stern of the boat.
And Rachel sang.
The boat lay almost still in the silver pathway flung by the moon across the sea. There was scarcely a ripple.
Rachel's voice trembled a little when she began to sing, as a sense of mystery and wonder enveloped her. The dark sea beyond them; the earnest face of her husband lit up by the moonlight; the fact that they were quite alone on the vast waste of water, combined to fill her with awe and to make her voice a little unsteady for a moment.
Her singing thrilled her husband as he sat listening. His dream had come true; and this last evening of their honeymoon they were alone on the sea; in quiet; with God.
Rachel sang; and these were the words that she sang:—
"And love is God, and God is love, And earth beneath and Heaven above Are swathed in it and bathed in it; For every flower of tender grace Hath God and Love writ on its face, And silver shining stars on high Spell Love and God across the sky."
When the last note of her song trembled away across the waters, there was silence between them while they looked at one another as only those who love and trust can look. Words were not needed between them. They were so absolutely united in spirit that outward expression of their love was unnecessary.
Then Luke took up his oars and rowed vigorously towards land.
"All things must have an end," he said, "even the happiest honeymoon that was ever spent. I suppose we must go back to our rooms."
"Must we yet? Let us stay out till the last minute. Perhaps we shall never have such an evening again together, with the moonlight on the sea."
"We'll come here next year," he answered laughing, "and after a year of happiness it ought to be better still. Why are you pessimistic?"
Rachel was silent for a moment, then she said, "I'm afraid of your work."
"Afraid? Why?" He leant towards her in surprise.
"Because I have a feeling that it will take you from me," she answered. She knew perfectly well by this time that his work was his passion. The thought of it had at times absorbed him even during their days of bliss. They had been so happy together, almost like light-hearted children, but Rachel had noticed the last few days that his parish and his people were engaging many of his thoughts and that he was getting a little restless. If his work weighed on his heart even during his wedding tour, thought Rachel, was there not a fear that it would be pre-eminent in his thoughts when in the midst of it, to the exclusion of her?
Luke laughed at her fears, and after a few moments remarked, "There is only one thing I regret and that is that I am not taking you to a comfortable Vicarage. I don't mind a small house myself nor did my mother, but I'm afraid you will feel cramped."
"But they are going to build a vicarage soon," said Rachel.
"They will be a good time about it, I fear. You see the Parish has only just been divided, so it is not in proper working order yet; besides which, I think it may be as well for us to live in a small house, anyway at first. A Vicarage means a certain amount of expenditure not to mention dilapidations. Nevertheless I am sorry that the home I am taking you to is not larger. But after all we don't want to live in the lap of luxury. We are out to fight the great enemy of souls, you and I, and we can do that as well in a small house as in a large one. Perhaps better."
"How I wish I were more capable," sighed Rachel; "I don't know anything at all about Parish work. You ought to have married someone very different."
Luke laughed.
"It's too late to give me that advice. And let me tell you that I prefer a wife who comes to the work fresh, rather than one who is already tired and perhaps discouraged. I said so to my mother."
"I am afraid that your mother would not agree. Did she feel leaving you very much? And are her rooms close by?" Rachel listened for the answer rather anxiously.
"She was wonderfully unselfish about leaving the coast clear for you; but her rooms are not far off. You will soon love her."
"I am sure I shall make no end of mistakes," sighed Rachel, a little depressed at his answer.
"Don't you know that it has been said that a person who makes no mistakes makes nothing else?"
"Yes; but—" she paused, then she suddenly changed her mind, saying—
"Let us forget everything for a moment but the moonlight on the sea, and that we have one another."
Luke rested on his oars and the moon shone down upon their faces alive with love, as if it blessed them.
Rachel leant back in the railway carriage and watched the fields and hedges rapidly passing. But her thoughts were far away. She was going home, but not to the old familiar place she had hitherto called by that name. It was to her new home, and the life that she was to spend there was all untried.
She could not but remember the welcoming smile that her mother always gave her even when she had returned only from a walk among the hills. She knew that whatever new interest might come into her mother's life that she would never cease to think first of her children. She had always made everything subservient to their interests and welfare. Before she became an invalid she had never allowed social or any other claims to interfere with theirs, and since she had had to lead a semi-invalid life their interests had still been hers, their joys and sorrows were felt to be her own.
And now, Rachel would have to make her own way in her new world; and have no mother to fly to in any of her difficulties. Her mother-in-law would certainly not take her place, although Luke had talked of her with complete satisfaction and the greatest love. His mother, in his eyes, was everything a man could wish for. She was apparently perfect. But Rachel had not liked what she had seen of her at the wedding, and felt intuitively that she was not approved of by Luke's mother. Luke was evidently her idol, and no-one could be good enough for him. The few remarks she had exchanged with Mrs. Greville had convinced Rachel that Luke's mother had hoped for another kind of wife for her son; one who was used to Parish work, and capable of managing people. Rachel had told her at once that Parish work would be a new experience and had said a little wistfully that she wished she had done more than she had for their home parish. "But I had mother to take care of," she had added.
"Yes," Mrs. Greville had answered, "it is rather a pity that you have had no experience in that line. I am afraid you will find it difficult."
And Rachel had added almost against her will, "And unfortunate, I am afraid, for Luke. However, I can always learn, I suppose."
Mrs. Greville had looked at her with cold critical eyes, saying, "We can learn anything if we put our mind into it," and thought as she uttered the words, "I only hope she will be useful as well as ornamental." The unspoken thought was so evident in the glance that Mrs. Greville gave her, that for a moment, even though Rachel had just been married to the man who was all the world to her, and for whom she was forsaking her mother and her home, she turned away feeling hurt, and vexed.
It was the thought of the mother-in-law who she would have to meet when she arrived in her new home, that was the cause of the slight feeling of depression and fear of which she was conscious as the train neared its destination. Then she glanced across at her husband.
He was deep in the "Times" and apparently utterly unconscious at the moment of her presence. But the expression of great content and interest on his face, and the sudden laugh that escaped him as he handed the paper across to her to enjoy with him something that had tickled his fancy, drove all depression away. After all she had him—for ever—that is to say till death should part them. What could she want more? And she had not promised to like, and adopt, his mother as hers!
It rained during their railway journey, but as they reached the manufacturing town in which was Luke's Parish, the sun shone out, and it was a happy pair that at last drew up at the door of the little house that was to be henceforth home.
"Here we are," exclaimed Luke as he handed out his wife. At the same moment the door was opened by a minute person with a short frock and white apron and with a little cap perched on her head. She looked at them with a broad smile.
"Who is the child?" asked Rachel.
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