The Flood-Tide Read Online Free PDF

rosewood crucifix which had also been brought from England by the first Morland planter.
    ‘The chapel caused a great deal of hostility of first,' he told Charles. 'My grandfather built it at the time when England was busy ejecting James II from the throne, and there were several anti-Catholic riots. The chapel windows were broken again and again, and "No Popery" was daubed on the walls with pitch. But these things die away, given time. Catholicism is frowned upon, but we are left alone, and no one suspects us of drinking the blood of murdered infants any more.’
    Again the flashing white smile, and then de Courcey said, 'But my dear cousin, here I am boring you with a display of my meagre treasures and you are probably fatigued from your journey and longing for some refreshment. We shall dine in—' he drew a beautiful little gold watch from his pocket and studied it, 'in an hour, but perhaps you would like to take some wine in the meantime?’
    Charles, though not in the least fatigued, consented, and was soon established in the drawing room with a passable claret in a fine Italian cup, his eye roving round the strange collection of worthless and valuable. De Courcey, having seen him comfortable, settled himself on the sofa opposite and raised an inquiring eyebrow.
    ‘I was wondering how you managed to acquire pieces from so many different parts of the world,' Charles said. ‘You must have very good trade here on the Chesapeake.'
    ‘We do, as good as anywhere in America, but in fact most of these pieces were brought here by my grandfather. I had better tell you the story. Our common ancestors, who came here from England, left behind them only one daughter, who inherited the original York Plantation. Before they died, they arranged her marriage to a neighbouring planter, Noel Chanter, and the addition of his land made York one of the best properties on the bay.
    ‘But the Chanters had no son, only three daughters, Maria, Louisa, and Philippa. Philippa was much younger than her sisters, and was only a child when her parents died, so it was left to the elder girls to bring her up. This they did, and between caring for her and running the plantation, they never had time to marry. Then one day my grandfather, Gaston de Courcey, arrived. He was the younger son of a rich sugar planter from Martinique, and, being the younger son and having no inheritance to look forward to, he had to make his own way in the world. He had become quite an adventurer. He had a ship of his own, and traded in this and that, and was known to be very rich - rich, moreover, in gold, which was then, and is still, a rare commodity in America. I'm afraid,' the white smile was apologetic, 'that many people said he was no better than a pirate.
    ‘At all events, he heard about the beautiful - and unguarded - Chanter sisters, and managed somehow to make their acquaintance, broke the hearts of the elder two, and ran away with the youngest. I believe he truly loved her. At all events, he would not be parted from her. For ten years she sailed with him, living on shipboard and sharing all hazards, until finally ill health drove him to seek reconciliation with the sisters. They returned to York with an infant son - my father - and a hoard of gold and furniture and other valuables, made their peace and settled down. My grandfather built this house for my grandmother, and died very soon after it was finished. I fear, you see, that it may have been pirate's gold that bought the bricks.’
    It's a wonderful story,' said Charles, not at all minding that he had heard it already from his landlady, though in a spicier form. 'And the house is a wonderful monument to it.'
    ‘Thank you. I wish its future did not hang by so slender a thread, however. I have but one daughter to leave everything to, my wife being dead. That's her picture, over the fireplace. Beside her is my sister Eugenie. Both died of the swamp fever thirteen years ago.'
    ‘Your sister was very