et the sky above
was an ebon vault without a star, and the gulfs at his feet were pits of
darkness out of which rose the voices of the sea in solemn rhythmic
cadence.

Down in Grande Greve, on his right, the waves rolled in almost without a
sound, as though they feared to disturb the darkness. From the
intervening moments he could tell how slowly they crept to their curve.
Their fall was a soft sibilation, a long-drawn sigh. The ever-restless
sea for once seemed falling to sleep.

And then, as he listened into the darkness, a tiny elfish glimmer
flickered in the void below, flickered and was gone, and he rubbed his
eyes for playing him tricks. But the next wave broke slowly round the
wide curve of the bay in a crescent of lambent flame, and a flood of
soft, blue-green fire ran swelling up the beach and then with a sigh
drew slowly back, and all was dark again. Again and again--each wave was
a miracle of mystic beauty, and he stood there entranced long after his
pipe had gone dead.

And as he stood gazing down at the wonder of it, his ear caught the
sound of quick light footsteps coming towards him across the Coupee, and
he marvelled at the intrepidity of this late traveller. If he had had to
go across there that night, he would have gone step by step, with
caution and a lantern; whereas here was no hesitation, but haste and
assurance.

It was only when she had passed the last bastion, and was almost upon
him, that he made out that it was a girl.

His heart gave a jump. She had been so much in his thought. Yet, even
so, it was almost at a venture that he said--

"Nance?"

And yet, again, he had learned to recognize her footsteps at the farm,
and where the heart is given the senses are subtly acute, and she had
slackened her pace somewhat as she drew near.

"Yes; I am going to the doctor."

"Why--who--?"

"Grannie is ill--in pain. He will give me something to ease her." He had
turned and was walking by her side.

"I am sorry. You will let me go with you?"

"There is no need at all--"

"No need, I know; but all the same it would be a pleasure to me to see
you safely there and back."

She hurried on without speaking. If there had been any light, and he had
dared to peep inside the black sun-bonnet, he might perhaps have found
the hint of a smile overlaying her anxiety on Grannie's account.

By the ampler feel of things, and the easing of the slope, he knew they
were out of the cutting, and presently the