The hour that she reached the island it was as if a material weight had been removed from Baptista’s shoulders.  Her husband attributed the change to the influence of the local breezes after the hot-house atmosphere of the mainland.  However that might be, settled here, a few doors from her mother’s dwelling, she recovered in no very long time much of her customary bearing, which was never very demonstrative.  She accepted her position calmly, and faintly smiled when her neighbours learned to call her Mrs Heddegan, and said she seemed likely to become the leader of fashion in Giant’s Town.

Her husband was a man who had made considerably more money by trade than her father had done:  and perhaps the greater profusion of surroundings at her command than she had heretofore been mistress of, was not without an effect upon her.  One week, two weeks, three weeks passed; and, being pre-eminently a young woman who allowed things to drift, she did nothing whatever either to disclose or conceal traces of her first marriage; or to learn if there existed possibilities—­which there undoubtedly did—­by which that hasty contract might become revealed to those about her at any unexpected moment.

While yet within the first month of her marriage, and on an evening just before sunset, Baptista was standing within her garden adjoining the house, when she saw passing along the road a personage clad in a greasy black coat and battered tall hat, which, common enough in the slums of a city, had an odd appearance in St Maria’s.  The tramp, as he seemed to be, marked her at once—­bonnetless and unwrapped as she was her features were plainly recognizable—­and with an air of friendly surprise came and leant over the wall.

‘What! don’t you know me?’ said he.

She had some dim recollection of his face, but said that she was not acquainted with him.

’Why, your witness to be sure, ma’am.  Don’t you mind the man that was mending the church-window when you and your intended husband walked up to be made one; and the clerk called me down from the ladder, and I came and did my part by writing my name and occupation?’

Baptista glanced quickly around; her husband was out of earshot.  That would have been of less importance but for the fact that the wedding witnessed by this personage had not been the wedding with Mr. Heddegan, but the one on the day previous.

‘I’ve had a misfortune since then, that’s pulled me under,’ continued her friend.  ’But don’t let me damp yer wedded joy by naming the particulars.  Yes, I’ve seen changes since; though ’tis but a short time ago—­let me see, only a month next week, I think; for ’twere the first or second day in August.’

‘Yes—­that’s when it was,’ said another man, a sailor, who had come up with a pipe in his mouth, and felt it necessary to join in (Baptista having receded to escape further speech).  ’For that was the first time I set foot in Giant’s Town; and her husband took her to him the same day.’