skirt dirty,
grasping at the wiry grass as she slipped and not caring--simply
because she wanted to escape any chance of meeting the same man who had
inspired those wonderful emotions. The contrast seemed to hit a blow
on her heart, even though she was not going to let it hurt her any
more. But at last she reached the bottom, and stood for a moment to
rest.

The sea, heaving with a strong ground-swell, reflected the pale blue of
the sky in millions of pools of light on the dun-coloured surface. She
was not conscious of looking at it, but she had a feeling of freshness
and consolation--of freedom from herself. The truth was that, without
knowing it, she had made a friend of the sea. She had done so during
all those hours in the pay-box on the promenade when she endured that
hard spiritual experience which turns people from children into men and
women--and the sea remains faithful.

After resting a moment or two she walked on, her path skirting the wet
sea-weed which showed that there had been heavy weather outside the
bay. The brown streamers had blue lights on them like the sea and the
sand was firm and hard. A thick froth churned up from the deeps rested
among the sea-weed, or blew along the shore in front of her before the
south-easterly wind.

She inhaled the smell of fresh sea-weed--not exactly noticing it, but
with her senses influenced by it, as a person's may be by the heavy
scent of roses on a June evening. Less than ever was she going to give
in because she had to do without love. There were plenty of things in
life besides love----

Then, as if in answer to that defiance, she saw part of a man's shadow
thrown by the westering sun on the sand before her. She swerved sharp
round--not startled--not afraid; but filled with an extraordinary fury
against Godfrey which may have been partly caused by these emotions.

"How dare you come creeping up after me on the sand like that?" she
said. "Which way are you going? Tell me, and then I'll go the other."

He looked down at her with amusement and ardour in his glance; but all
the same he bore the marks of some storm only just over in the strained
lines of his face, and in the marks of sleeplessness under his eyes.

"You won't get rid of me so easily as that," he said. "I have come
here to talk things out with you, and I mean to do it."

She turned back towards the promenade. "Of course, I can't prevent you
walking with me if you will," she answere