ention, adding here and there a practical touch.

It was he who first suggested exploring the mound, and one day they
dragged heavy spades thither and worked hard for an hour or two
without great result, when suddenly Patricia began shovelling back her
pile of brown earth with feverish haste.

"I don't like it. It is horrid," she panted in return to Christopher's
protests. The idea of desecration was so strong on her that when her
companion still indignantly protested, the black passion leapt up to
life and she flung round at him.

It was then that Christopher made his discovery. He saw the mad flare
in her face and flung his strong arms round her from behind, and held
her against him with her hands in his gripped fast to her breast.

"Steady on, Patricia," he said sharply, "don't get frightened. You
aren't going to get wild this time."

There was no alarm or anger in his voice and a queer, new note of
firmness and force. She struggled ineffectually a moment and then came
the dangerous quietness that waited a chance.

He could feel her muscles strained and rigid still.

"Patricia," he said quite loudly, "drop it. I won't have it, do you
hear? You _can_ stop if you like now, and you've got to."

She bent back her head and looked at him, her child face old and worn
and disfigured with her still burning fury. She looked right in his
eyes: his met hers steady and hard as flints, and through the blind
passion of her look he saw her soul leap up, appealing, piteous, and
by heaven-taught instinct, he answered that.

"It's all right, Patricia, you are safe enough. I'm not going to let
you make a fool of yourself, my dear; don't be afraid. Stop thinking.
Look at the dark shadows over there--on the cornfield. They'll cut
that next week."

Little by little he loosed his grasp on her as he felt the tension
slacken, and presently she stood free, still dazed and bewildered.
Christopher picked up a spade and whistled.

"All the same, you are right, Patricia," he said thoughtfully, "it
does seem a shame to disturb the old Johnny, and creepy too. I'll fill
up."

He continued to work hard, watching her out of the corner of his eye,
but talking cheerfully. Presently she took up her spade and made a
poor pretence of helping him, but she said nothing till they had done
and he suggested a return.

"Do you mind resting a bit, first?"

Her subdued voice called for a scrutinising glance. Then he dropped
his spade and flung him