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spinning it out as it came； was a hand…carriage； drawn by a man。
'Yes；' said Miss Niner； 'this really is my shadow； uncle。'
As the carriage approached us and we approached the carriage； I saw
within it an old man； whose head was sunk on his breast； and who was
enveloped in a variety of wrappers。 He was drawn by a very quiet but
very keen…looking man； with iron…gray hair； who was slightly lame。
They had passed us； when the carriage stopped； and the old gentleman
within； putting out his arm； called to me by my name。 I went back； and
was absent from Mr。 Slinkton and his niece for about five minutes。
When I rejoined them； Mr。 Slinkton was the first to speak。 Indeed； he
said to me in a raised voice before I came up with him：
'It is well you have not been longer； or my niece might have died of
curiosity to know who her shadow is； Mr。 Sampson。'
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'An old East India Director；' said I。 'An intimate friend of our friend's；
at whose house I first had the pleasure of meeting you。 A certain Major
Banks。 You have heard of him？'
'Never。'
'Very rich； Miss Niner； but very old； and very crippled。 An amiable
man； sensible … much interested in you。 He has just been expatiating on
the affection that he has observed to exist between you and your uncle。'
Mr。 Slinkton was holding his hat again； and he passed his hand up the
straight walk； as if he himself went up it serenely； after me。
'Mr。 Sampson；' he said； tenderly pressing his niece's arm in his； 'our
affection was always a strong one； for we have had but few near ties。 We
have still fewer now。 We have associations to bring us together； that are
not of this world； Margaret。'
'Dear uncle！' murmured the young lady； and turned her face aside to
hide her tears。
'My niece and I have such remembrances and regrets in common； Mr。
Sampson；' he feelingly pursued； 'that it would be strange indeed if the
relations between us were cold or indifferent。 If I remember a
conversation we once had together； you will understand the reference I
make。 Cheer up； dear Margaret。 Don't droop； don't droop。 My
Margaret！ I cannot bear to see you droop！'
The poor young lady was very much affected； but controlled herself。
His feelings； too； were very acute。 In a word； he found himself under
such great need of a restorative； that he presently went away； to take a bath
of sea…water； leaving the young lady and me sitting by a point of rock； and
probably presuming … but that you will say was a pardonable indulgence in
a luxury … that she would praise him with all her heart。
She did； poor thing！ With all her confiding heart； she praised him to
me； for his care of her dead sister； and for his untiring devotion in her last
illness。 The sister had wasted away very slowly； and wild and terrible
fantasies had come over her toward the end； but he had never been
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impatient with her； or at a loss； had always been gentle； watchful； and self…
possessed。 The sister had known him； as she had known him； to be the
best of men； the kindest of men； and yet a man of such admirable strength
of character； as to be a very tower for the support of their weak natures
while their poor lives endured。
'I shall leave him； Mr。 Sampson； very soon；' said the young lady； 'I
know my life is drawing to an end； and when I am gone； I hope he will
marry and be happy。 I am sure he has lived single so long； only for my
sake； and for my poor； poor sister's。'
The little hand…carriage had made another great loop on the damp sand；
and was coming back again； gradually spinning out a slim figure of eight；
half a mile long。
'Young lady；' said I； looking around； laying my hand upon her arm； and
speaking in a low voice； 'time presses。 You hear the gentle murmur of
that sea？'
She looked at me with the utmost wonder and alarm； saying； 'Yes！'
'And you know what a voice is in it when the storm comes？'
'Yes！'
'You see how quiet and peaceful it lies before us； and you know what
an awful sight of power without pity it might be； this very night！'
'Yes！'
'But if you had never heard or seen it； or heard of it in its cruelty； could
you believe that it beats every inanimate thing in its way to pieces； without
mercy； and destroys life without remorse？'
'You terrify me； sir； by these questions！'
'To save you； young lady； to save you！ For God's sake； collect your
strength and collect your firmness！ If you were here alone； and hemmed
in by the rising tide on the flow to fifty feet above your head； you could
not be in greater danger than the danger you are now to be saved from。'
The figure on the sand was spun out； and straggled off into a crooked
little jerk that ended at the cliff very near us。
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'As I am； before Heaven and the Judge of all mankind； your friend； and
your dead sister's friend； I solemnly entreat you； Miss Niner； without one
moment's loss of time； to come to this gentleman with me！'
If the little carriage had been less near to us； I doubt if I could have got
her away； but it was so near that we were there before she had recovered
the hurry of being urged from the rock。 I did not remain there with her
two minutes。 Certainly within five； I had the inexpressible satisfaction of
seeing her … from the point we had sat on； and to which I had returned …
half supported and half carried up some rude steps notched in the cliff； by
the figure of an active man。 With that figure beside her； I knew she was
safe anywhere。
I sat alone on the rock； awaiting Mr。 Slinkton's return。 The twilight
was deepening and the shadows were heavy； when he came round the
point； with his hat hanging at his button…hole； smoothing his wet hair with
one of his hands； and picking out the old path with the other and a pocket…
comb。
'My niece not here； Mr。 Sampson？' he said； looking about。
'Miss Niner seemed to feel a chill in the air after the sun was down；
and has gone home。'
He looked surprised； as though she were not accustomed to do
anything without him； even to originate so slight a proceeding。
'I persuaded Miss Niner；' I explained。
'Ah！' said he。 'She is easily persuaded … for her good。 Thank you；
Mr。 Sampson； she is better within doors。 The bathing…place was farther
than I thought； to say the truth。'
'Miss Niner is very delicate；' I observed。
He shook his head and drew a deep sigh。 'Very； very； very。 You
may recollect my saying so。 The time that has since intervened has not
strengthened her。 The gloomy shadow that fell upon her sister so early in
life seems； in my anxious eyes； to gather over her； ever darker； ever darker。
Dear Margaret； dear Margaret！ But we must hope。'
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The hand…carriage was spinning away before us at a most indecorous
pace for an invalid vehicle； and was making most irregular curves upon
the sand。 Mr。 Slinkton； noticing it after he had put his handkerchief to
his eyes； said；
'If I may judge from appearances； your friend will be upset； Mr。
Sampson。'
'It looks probable； certainly；' said I。
'The servant must be drunk。'
'The servants of old gentlemen will get drunk sometimes；' said I。
'The major draws very light； Mr。 Sampson。'
'The major does draw light；' said I。
By this time the carriage； much to my relief； was lost in the darkness。
We walked on for a little； side by side over the sand； in silence。 After a
short while he said； in a voice still affected by the emotion that his niece's
state of health had awakened in him；
'Do you stay here long； Mr。 Sampson？'
'Why； no。 I am going away to…night。'