id, and her voice was tremulous, 'have given up
a lady--if you had become engaged to her--and then found she had had ONE
kiss before yours--and would you have--gone away and left her?'

'One kiss,--no, hardly for that.'

'Two?'

'Well--I could hardly say inventorially like that. Too much of that sort
of thing certainly would make me dislike a woman. But let us confine our
attention to ourselves, not go thinking of might have beens.'

So Elfride had allowed her thoughts to 'dally with false surmise,' and
every one of Knight's words fell upon her like a weight. After this they
were silent for a long time, gazing upon the black mysterious sea, and
hearing the strange voice of the restless wind. A rocking to and fro
on the waves, when the breeze is not too violent and cold, produces a
soothing effect even upon the most highly-wrought mind. Elfride slowly
sank against Knight, and looking down, he found by her soft regular
breathing that she had fallen asleep. Not wishing to disturb her, he
continued still, and took an intense pleasure in supporting her warm
young form as it rose and fell with her every breath.

Knight fell to dreaming too, though he continued wide awake. It was
pleasant to realize the implicit trust she placed in him, and to think
of the charming innocence of one who could sink to sleep in so simple
and unceremonious a manner. More than all, the musing unpractical
student felt the immense responsibility he was taking upon himself by
becoming the protector and guide of such a trusting creature. The quiet
slumber of her soul lent a quietness to his own. Then she moaned, and
turned herself restlessly. Presently her mutterings became distinct:

'Don't tell him--he will not love me....I did not mean any
disgrace--indeed I did not, so don't tell Harry. We were going to be
married--that was why I ran away....And he says he will not have a
kissed woman....And if you tell him he will go away, and I shall die. I
pray have mercy--Oh!'

Elfride started up wildly.

The previous moment a musical ding-dong had spread into the air from
their right hand, and awakened her.

'What is it?' she exclaimed in terror.

'Only "eight bells,"' said Knight soothingly. 'Don't be frightened,
little bird, you are safe. What have you been dreaming about?'

'I can't tell, I can't tell!' she said with a shudder. 'Oh, I don't know
what to do!'

'Stay quietly with me. We shall soon see the dawn now. Look, the morning
star is lov