ordering the sea, which just now they had to
themselves. On the way they said little; each was occupied with their
thoughts.

Mavis was touched by Harold's devotion; also, by his anxiety not to
obtrude his infirmity upon her notice. She looked at him, to see in his
eyes unfathomable depths of sadness. She repressed an inclination to
shed tears. She had never been so near foregoing her resolve to make
him the instrument of her hatred of his family. But the forces that
decide these matters had other views. Mavis was staring out to sea, in
order to hide her emotion from Harold's distress, when the sight of the
haze where sea and sky met arrested her attention. Something in her
memory struggled for expression, to be assisted by the smell of seaweed
which assailed her nostrils.

In the twinkling of an eye, Mavis, in imagination, was at Llansallas
Bay, with passionate love and boundless trust in her heart for the
lover at her side, to whom she had surrendered so much. The merest
recollection of how her love had been betrayed was enough to dissipate
the consideration that she was beginning to feel for Harold. Her heart
turned to stone; determination possessed her.

"Still silent!" she exclaimed.

"I have to be."

"Who said so?"

"The little sense that's left me."

"Sense is often nonsense."

"It's a bitter truth to me."

"Particularly now?"

"Now and always."

"May I know?"

"Why did you come into my life?" he asked, as if he had not heard her
request.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Why have you? Why have you?"

"You're not the only one who can ask that question," she murmured.

He looked at her for some moments in amazement before saying:

"Say that again."

"I shan't."

"If I were other than I am, I should compel you."

"How could you?"

"With my lips. As it is---"

"Yes--tell me."

"My infirmity stops me from saying and doing what I would."

"Why let it?" asked Mavis in a low voice, while her eyes sought the
ground.

"You--you mean that?" he asked, in the manner of one who scarcely
believed the evidence of his ears.

"I mean it."

He did not speak for such a long time that Mavis began to wonder if he
regretted his words. When she stole a look at him, she saw that his
eyes were staring straight before him, as if his mind were all but
overwhelmed by the subject matter of its concern.

Mavis touched his arm. He shivered slightly and glanced at her as if
surprised, before he realised that she wa