sed the door and disappeared. The interior of the room in which
he had left me was bare and chilling. I turned from it to the window.
Almost opposite was a small eminence, and at its summit a rude cross
of Calvary. A dark figure, with clasped hands and bent head, was
slowly descending the path.

Even at that distance I thought I recognised the walk, and as he came
nearer I saw that he was wearing the ordinary garb of a Roman Catholic
priest instead of the monk's robes. I stood close to the window
watching him, and as he crossed the open space before the door he
raised his eyes and saw me. How he started, and how his eyes seemed
to burn in their sockets! Doubtless he would have turned paler, but he
was already deathly white. He stood there, swaying from side to side,
with his eyes fastened wildly upon me, as though an apparition had
appeared before him. Then he took a quick step forward; I heard the
great front door creak and groan upon its hinges, and almost as soon
as I could turn round he was on the threshold before me.

"Adrea! Adrea!" he cried, in a low, suppressed whisper which shook
with passion. "You here! What has happened? Stand in the light! Let me
see your face!"

I moved a step towards him, and raised my veil. "I am lonely," I said
softly. "Was it very wrong of me to come here?"

He stood before me, with hungry, incredulous eyes fastened upon my
face, as though he would see through it into my false heart. Yet I
did not flinch; I was actress enough for my part. I watched him
tremble--watched the colour flush into his face and die away. It was
a very storm of passion which shook him before he could find the words
to answer me.

"Adrea! Adrea! have you come here to mock me? As you are a woman, I
implore you to spare me! Speak the truth!"

I answered him softly, with my eyes fixed upon the ground. "I came
because I was lonely. Let us go away from here! Come home with me!"

"Home with you! Home with you!" He repeated my invitation. He scarcely
seemed to understand.

"Yes! I was very silly the other day! I did not understand you! I did
not understand myself! And you see I have humbled myself very much! I
have come to tell you so! Am I forgiven?"

I raised my eyes to his, and added in a half whisper: "Won't you come
home with me, and read aloud, as we used to on the rocks at Cruta?"

He stood there as though fascinated. I began to feel impatient, but I
dared not show any signs of it.

Suddenly he took