m
the blows of the sea upon the foot of the cliff.

Elfride wished it could be a longer time ago that she had sat there
with Stephen as her lover, and agreed to be his wife. The significant
closeness of that time to the present was another item to add to the
list of passionate fears which were chronic with her now.

Yet Knight was very tender this evening, and sustained her close to him
as they sat.

Not a word had been uttered by either since sitting down, when Knight
said musingly, looking still afar--

'I wonder if any lovers in past years ever sat here with arms locked, as
we do now. Probably they have, for the place seems formed for a seat.'

Her recollection of a well-known pair who had, and the much-talked-of
loss which had ensued therefrom, and how the young man had been sent
back to look for the missing article, led Elfride to glance down to her
side, and behind her back. Many people who lose a trinket involuntarily
give a momentary look for it in passing the spot ever so long
afterwards. They do not often find it. Elfride, in turning her head, saw
something shine weakly from a crevice in the rocky sedile. Only for a
few minutes during the day did the sun light the alcove to its innermost
rifts and slits, but these were the minutes now, and its level rays did
Elfride the good or evil turn of revealing the lost ornament.

Elfride's thoughts instantly reverted to the words she had
unintentionally uttered upon what had been going on when the earring was
lost. And she was immediately seized with a misgiving that Knight, on
seeing the object, would be reminded of her words. Her instinctive act
therefore was to secure it privately.

It was so deep in the crack that Elfride could not pull it out with her
hand, though she made several surreptitious trials.

'What are you doing, Elfie?' said Knight, noticing her attempts, and
looking behind him likewise.

She had relinquished the endeavour, but too late.

Knight peered into the joint from which her hand had been withdrawn, and
saw what she had seen. He instantly took a penknife from his pocket,
and by dint of probing and scraping brought the earring out upon open
ground.

'It is not yours, surely?' he inquired.

'Yes, it is,' she said quietly.

'Well, that is a most extraordinary thing, that we should find it like
this!' Knight then remembered more circumstances; 'What, is it the one
you have told me of?'

'Yes.'

The unfortunate remark of hers at th