"I hope so, if it is God's will, as you ask me to tell you," said Nelly,
firmly. "I fancied that you were his friend, as you always were mine.
And, Eban, I pray that you may not feel any ill-will towards either of
us, because we love each other, and are sure we shall be happy
together."

"Is that the only answer you have to give me?" exclaimed Eban, hoarsely.

"I can say nothing more nor less," said Nelly, gently. "I am very sorry
that my answer should make you unhappy, but you insisted on having it,
and I can say nothing more."

Eban gazed at her for a moment, and appeared to be about to utter a
threat, but he restrained himself, and turning hastily round rushed out
of the cottage.

She was thankful that he had gone, yet a feeling of undefined fear of
what he might do in his present angry mood stole over her. She was well
aware of his fierce and daring character, and she had heard from her
granny of desperate deeds done by men whose addresses had been rejected
by girls whom they professed to love.

She earnestly wished that the dame would soon come back, that she might
tell her what had occurred and consult what was best to be done.

Had Nelly known what was passing in the dark mind of Eban Cowan she
would indeed have had cause for alarm.

Instead of going homewards he proceeded down towards the mouth of the
harbour. On turning the point he scanned the spot where the
fishing-vessels lay at anchor, and observed that the "Sea-Gull," among
others, was away.

"She will be back early to-night," he muttered, "and Michael will pass
this way homeward by himself, but his home he shall never reach, if I
have my will. I am not going to let him come between me and the girl I
have all my life intended to marry; he has no right to her: she is too
good for a poor hard-working fisherman like him, and he will make her
drudge all the best days of her life. If he were out of the way she
would soon come round and look on me as she used to do."

Much more to the same effect he thought, working himself up to do,
without compunction, the fearful act he meditated.

The pathway between the quay at the mouth of the harbour, where the
fishing-vessels landed their cargoes, and Michael's house, at one place
between the cliffs and the water, became so narrow that two people could
with difficulty pass each other. Close to this spot, however, there
existed a hollow in the rock, in which a person standing was completely
conceale