Page 166 of A Winter By the Sea
He waved a hand. “No rush.”
Emily seemed to fly home, her feet barely touching the promenade. Yes, she was disappointed not to have a chance to proofread the pages, but she was still eager to see her words in type-set form. She wondered how far along Mr. Denner was in printing the actual books. Perhaps if she found a glaring error, she could run to the print shop and request a correction before it was too late.
Reaching Sea View, she hurried into the library-office and sat at the desk, shrugging off her cloak onto the back of the chair.
She lifted the cover sheet and began to read.
There was the long, frilly title Mr. Marsh had insisted upon, now even lengthier with a few more phrases added:
THE SIDMOUTH GUIDE
And a View of the Place
with an accurate description of the situation, picturesque beauties, and salubrious climature of that much-admired watering place andthe circumjacent country within fifteen miles.
And there, the attribution:Printed for John Marsh at his library and public rooms.
She had known her name would not be included, yet she still felt a bit depressed at seeing the title page in its final form.
Emily turned to the next page and saw he had added a dedication:
To the Nobility and Gentry
whose temporary or permanent
residence at Sidmouth
has contributed so greatly to its
attractions and improvements,
This work is most respcetfully dedicated
by their devoted servant
John Marsh
He had spelledrespectfullywrong, or perhaps the printer had set it that way. She wished again he’d allowed her to proofread it.
But as she read on, she realized with sinking heart that this was not the most jarring change or addition he had made.
After reading through the entire proof copy, sickly remorse filled Emily, and she agonized over it for hours. Mr. Wallis would not be pleased.
Emily recalled telling Sarah and Mamma about the project, explaining her name would not appear in the publication, so hopefully Mr. Wallis wouldn’t discover her involvement. And Sarah had replied,“Few things remain secret ina small town.”
Now, more than ever, Emily very much feared Sarah was right.
She tried to convince herself that she had done nothing wrong, that she had not known Mr. Marsh would make those changes. But her conscience would not be assuaged.
With a heavy sigh, she decided she must warn Mr. Wallis and try to explain before he heard it from someone else or read the guide himself.
Emily dragged her feet to the Marine Library and timidly entered the establishment for the first time in well over a month. His clerk stood assisting two gentlemen at one end of the library, while Mr. Wallis sat at his desk on the other side, bent over some work, as he often did.
Pulse tripping, she walked toward his desk.
He looked up as she approached, his customary welcoming smile absent.
“Miss Summers. I was just thinking about you.”
