Sabine Baring-Gould

“ Mr. Menaida was drawn along by Judith in her eagerness. They left the road to Pentyre, and struck out over the downs, keeping their eyes on the light. The distance was deceptive. It seemed to have been much nearer than they found it actually to be.
"Look! it is coming back!" exclaimed Judith.
"Yes, it is done wilfully. That is to give the appearance of a vessel tacking up Channel. Stay behind, Judith. I will go on."
"No. I will go with you. You would not find me again in the darkness if we parted."
"The light is coming this way. Stand still. It will come directly on us." ”

“ What brings you here? And you, too, Menaida, old man?" "Nothing simpler," answered Uncle Zachie. "I am accompanying Mrs. Coppinger back to the Glaze."
"What, married in the morning and roving the downs at night?"
"I have been to Polzeath after my workbox—here it is," said Judith.
"Oh, you are out of your road to Pentyre—I suppose you know that," sneered Scantlebray.
"Naturally," replied Mr. Menaida. "It is dark enough for any one to stray. Why! you don't suspect me, do you, of showing false lights and endeavoring to wreck vessels! ”

“ A stationary light might serve as a warning, but a moving light misleads. The captain of a vessel, if he has lost his bearings, as is like enough in the fog, as soon as the mist rises, would see a light gliding along and think it was that of a vessel at sea, and so make in the direction of the light in the belief that there was open water, and so run directly on his destruction."
"Oh, no, no, Uncle, we will not take a light."
Mr. Menaida and Judith went out together, she with her workbox under her arm, he with his stick, and her hand resting on his arm. ”

“ Then again the boom of a gun.
"There is a wreck!" exclaimed Scantlebray. "I thought so—and you, Mistress Orphing, you're guilty." He turned to the men. "We can make nothing of this affair with the lantern. Let us catch the sea-wolves falling on their prey." ”

“ Judith opened her door and went down-stairs. In the hall she found Coppinger with two or three men, but the moment he saw her he started up, came to meet her, and drew her aside into a parlor, then went back into the hall and fetched candles. A fire was burning in this room, ready for her, should she condescend to use it.
"I hope I have not interrupted you," she said, timidly.
"An agreeable interruption. At any time you have only to show yourself and I will at once come to you, and never ask to be dismissed." ”

“ They are diamonds."
Judith took the brooch and earrings in her hand; they sparkled. The diamonds were far from being brilliants, they were of good size and purest water.
"I really do not want to have them. Persuade Captain Coppinger to return them to the jeweller, it is far too costly a gift for me, far—far—I should be happier without them." Then, suddenly—"I do not know that they have been bought? Oh, Aunt Dunes, tell me truly. Have they been bought? I think jewellers always send out their goods in leather cases, and there is none such for these. ”