‘Yes.  Such a tower is rare in England,’ said Christopher.

They then dwelt on other features of the building, thence enlarging to the village, and then to the rocks and marine scenery, both avoiding the malady they suffered from—­the marriage of Ethelberta.

’The village streets are very picturesque, and the cliff scenery is good of its kind,’ rejoined Ladywell.  ’The rocks represent the feminine side of grandeur.  Here they are white, with delicate tops.  On the west coast they are higher, black, and with angular summits.  Those represent grandeur in its masculine aspect.  It is merely my own idea, and not very bright, perhaps.’

‘It is very ingenious,’ said Christopher, ‘and perfectly true.’

Ladywell was pleased.  ’I am here at present making sketches for my next subject—­a winter sea.  Otherwise I should not have—­happened to be in the church.’

’You are acquainted with Mrs. Petherwin—­I think you are Mr. Ladywell, who painted her portrait last season?’

‘Yes,’ said Ladywell, colouring.

‘You may have heard her speak of Mr. Julian?’

‘O yes,’ said Ladywell, offering his hand.  Then by degrees their tongues wound closer round the subject of their sadness, each tacitly owning to what he would not tell.

‘I saw it,’ said Ladywell heavily.

‘Did she look troubled?’

’Not in the least—­bright and fresh as a May morning.  She has played me many a bitter trick, and poor Neigh too, a friend of mine.  But I cannot help forgiving her. . . .  I saw a carriage at the door, and strolled in.  The ceremony was just proceeding, so I sat down here.  Well, I have done with Knollsea.  The place has no further interest for me now.  I may own to you as a friend, that if she had not been living here I should have studied at some other coast—­of course that’s in confidence.’

‘I understand, quite.’

’I only arrived in the neighbourhood two days ago, and did not set eyes upon her till this morning, she has kept so entirely indoors.’

Then the young men parted, and half-an-hour later the ingenuous Ladywell came from the visitors’ inn by the shore, a man walking behind him with a quantity of artists’ materials and appliances.  He went on board the steamer, which this morning had performed the passage in safety.  Ethelberta single having been the loadstone in the cliffs that had attracted Ladywell hither, Ethelberta married was the negative pole of the same, sending him away.  And thus did a woman put an end to the only opportunity of distinction, on Art-exhibition walls, that ever offered itself to the tortuous ways, quaint alleys, and marbled bluffs of Knollsea, as accessories in the picture of a winter sea.

Christopher’s interest in the village was of the same evaporating nature.  He looked upon the sea, and the great swell, and the waves sending up a sound like the huzzas of multitudes; but all the wild scene was irksome now.  The ocean-bound steamers far away on the horizon inspired him with no curiosity as to their destination; the house Ethelberta had occupied was positively hateful; and he turned away to wait impatiently for the hour at which he had promised to drive on to meet Sol at Corvsgate.