, like the
booming of a gun, flashes of fire, and a column of smoke--and all that
was left of St. David's Tower was one tottering wall and a scattered
mass of masonry.

"I had an idea," Hamel said quietly, "that St. David's Tower was going
to spoil the landscape for a good many years. My property, you know, and
there's the end of it. I am sick of seeing people for the last few days
come down and take photographs of it for every little rag that goes to
press."

Mr. Dunster pointed out to the line of surf beyond. "If only some hand,"
he remarked, "could plant dynamite below that streak of white, so that
the sea could disgorge its dead! They tell me there's a Spanish galleon
there, and a Dutch warship, besides a score or more of fishing-boats."

Mrs. Fentolin shivered a little. She drew her cloak around her. Gerald,
who had been watching her, sprang to his feet.

"Come," he exclaimed, "we chose the gardens for our last afternoon here,
to be out of the way of these places! We'll go round the hill."

Mrs. Fentolin shook her head once more. Her face had recovered its
serenity. She looked downward gravely but with no sign of fear.

"There is nothing to terrify us there, Gerald," she declared. "The sea
has gathered, and the sea will hold its own."

Hamel held out his hand to Esther.

"I have destroyed the only house in the world which I possess," he said.
"Come and look for violets with me in the spinney, and let us talk
of the houses we are going to build, and the dreams we shall dream in
them."

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