our
frock from the point. Now put your right hand round my neck while I
raise myself a little. Yes, that way. Now, hold on tight!"

Regina made a steady effort, lifting fully half Aurora's weight with
her, as she got first upon one knee and then upon both.

[Illustration: "REGINA MADE A STEADY EFFORT, LIFTING FULLY HALF AURORA'S
WEIGHT WITH HER."]

"There! Take breath and then scramble over the edge," she said.

A few seconds, another effort, and Aurora sank exhausted beside Regina,
half sitting, half lying, and resting on one hand.

She looked up sideways at the dark woman's face; for Regina stood
upright, gazing down into the valley. Aurora turned her eyes away, and
then looked up again; she had recovered her breath now.

"Thank you," she said, with an effort.

"It is nothing," Regina answered in an indifferent tone, and without so
much as moving her head; she was no more out of breath than if she had
been sitting still.

The fair girl hated her at that moment as she had never hated any one in
her short life, nor had ever dreamed of hating. The flush of anger rose
again and again to her forehead, to the very roots of her auburn hair,
and lingered a second and sank again. Regina stood perfectly motionless,
her face as unchanging as marble.

Aurora rose to her feet, and leaned against the rock. She had suddenly
felt herself at a disadvantage in remaining seated on the ground while
her adversary was standing. It was the instinct of the animal that
expects to be attacked. When two people who hate each other or love each
other very much meet without warning in a very lonely place, the fierce
old passions of the stone age may take hold of them and sway them, even
nowadays.

For a time that seemed long, there was silence; without words each knew
that the other had recognised her. The peasant woman spoke first, though
with an evident effort, and without turning her eyes.

"When you are rested, we will go down," she said.

Aurora moved a step towards the side on which Regina had climbed up.

"I think I can get down alone," she answered coldly.

Regina looked at her and laughed with a little contempt.

"You will break your neck if you try," she said. "You cannot climb at
all!"

"I think I can get down," Aurora repeated.

She went to the edge and was going to begin the attempt when Regina
seized her by the wrist and dragged her back in spite of her resistance.

"I have something to tell you first," Regina s