he pressure of Mavis's hand instinctively tighten on his;
it gripped as if she could never let him go: tears fell from her eyes
on to his fingers. With an effort he freed himself and, without saying
a word, walked quickly away. With all her soul, she listened to his
retreating steps. It seemed as if her life were departing, leaving
behind the cold shell of the Mavis she knew, who was now dead to
everything but pain. His consideration for her helplessness illumined
her suffering. The next moment, she was on her knees, her heart welling
with love, gratitude, concern for the man who had left her.

"Bless him! Bless him, oh God! He's good; he's good; he's good! He's
proved it to a poor, weak girl like me!"

Thus she prayed, all unconscious that Perigal's consideration in
leaving her was the high-water mark of his regard for her welfare.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

O LOVE, FOR DELIGHTS!

"Beloved!"

"My own!"

"Are you ready to start?"

"I'll see if they've packed the luncheon."

"One moment. Where are we going today?"

"Llansallas; three miles from here."

"What's it like?" she asked.

"The loveliest place they knew of."

"How wonderful! And we'll have the whole day there?"

"Only you and I," he said softly.

"Be quick. Don't lose a moment, sweetheart. I dislike being alone--now."

"Why?" he asked.

Mavis dropped her eyes.

"Adorable, modest little Mavis," he laughed. "I'll see about the grub."

"You've forgotten something," she pouted, as he moved towards the door.

"Your kiss!"

"Our kiss."

"I hadn't really. I wanted to see if you'd remember."

"As if I'd forget," she protested.

Their lips met; not once, but many times; they seemed reluctant to part.

* * * * *

Mavis was alone. She had spoken truly when she had hinted how she was
averse to the company of her own thoughts. It was then that clouds
seemed disposed to threaten the sun of her joy.

She went to the window of the hotel sitting-room, which overlooked the
narrow road leading to Polperro village; beyond the cottages opposite
was bare rock, which had been blasted to find room for stone
habitations; above the naked stone was blue sky. Mavis tried to think
about the sky in order to exclude a certain weighty matter from her
mind. She had been five days in Cornwall, four of which had been spent
with Perigal in Polperro. Mavis did her best to concentrate her
thoughts upon the cerulean hue of the heavens; s