fficulty.'

'Has she any one capable of taking your place?'

'Yes. Miss Vesper can do all that's necessary.'

'Even to inspiring the girls with zeal for an independent life?'

'Perhaps even that.'

They went along by the waves, in the warm-coloured twilight, until the
houses of Seascale were hidden. Then Everard stopped.

'To-morrow we go to Coniston?' he said, smiling as he stood before her.

'You are going?'

'Do you think I can leave you?'

Rhoda's eyes fell. She held the long strip of seaweed with both hands
and tightened it.

'Do you _wish_ me to leave you?' he added.

'You mean that we are to go through the lakes together--as we have been
to-day?'

'No. I don't mean that.'

Rhoda took a few steps onward, so that he remained standing behind.
Another moment and his arms had folded about her, his lips were on
hers. She did not resist. His embrace grew stronger, and he pressed
kiss after kiss upon her mouth. With exquisite delight he saw the deep
crimson flush that transfigured her countenance; saw her look for one
instant into his eyes, and was conscious of the triumphant gleam she
met there.

'Do you remember my saying in the letter how I hungered to taste your
lips? I don't know how I have refrained so long--'

'What is your love worth?' asked Rhoda, speaking with a great effort.
She had dropped the seaweed, and one of her hands rested upon his
shoulder, with a slight repelling pressure.

'Worth your whole life!' he answered, with a low, glad laugh.

'That is what I doubt. Convince me of that.'

'Convince you? With more kisses? But what is _your_ love worth?'

'Perhaps more than you yet understand. Perhaps more than you _can_
understand.'

'I will believe that, Rhoda. I know, at all events, that it is
something of inestimable price. The knowledge has grown in me for a
year and more.'

'Let me stand away from you again. There is something more to be said
before--No, let me be quite apart from you.'

He released her after one more kiss.

'Will you answer me a question with perfect truthfulness?'

Her voice was not quite steady, but she succeeded in looking at him
with unflinching eyes.

'Yes. I will answer you _any_ question.'

'That is spoken like a man. Tell me then--is there at this moment any
woman living who has a claim upon you--a moral claim?'

'No such woman exists.'

'But--do we speak the same language?'

'Surely,' he answered with great earnestness. 'There is no woman