e leading to the Manor.

"You're walking too quickly, Quinny!" Mary said, holding back.

"I'm sorry, dear," he exclaimed, slackening his pace reluctantly.

He had never had this sensation before ... as if a fear had been stuck
on to him, a fear that was not part of his nature, a thing outside him
trying to get inside him.... He forgot that Mary had complained of the
rapidity with which he was walking, and he set off again. The pine trees
had a black, ominous look, and the sound of the wind blowing through
their needles was like continuous moaning.

"Are you trying to win a race, Quinny?" Mary said.

He laughed nervously. "No. I'm ... I'm sorry!..."

As they passed the copse, he shut his eyes, and so he stumbled over the
rough ground and almost fell.

"What is it, Quinny?" Mary demanded, catching hold of him.

"It's nothing," he said. "I'm tired, that's all...."

7

He shut the door behind him quickly, and fastened the bolts. Mary had
gone into the drawing-room, and when he had secured the door, he
followed her.

"Mother's gone to bed," she said, and then, going to him and putting her
hands on his shoulder, she added, "What is it, Quinny? Something's upset
you. I know it has!"

He looked at her for a few moments without speaking.

"Tell me, please!" she insisted.

He put his arm about her and led her to the armchair by the fire, and
when she was seated, he sat down on the floor beside her.

"I didn't want to tell you until we got home," he said. "I didn't want
to frighten you...."

"What was it? Was there anything there?..."

"I don't know what it was, Mary, but I suddenly felt frightened ... a
queer kind of fright. I was afraid to look round for fear I should see
something ... I don't know what ... on the cliff. I felt that something
wanted me to look round, and I wouldn't. I didn't dare to look round.
All the way up the street, I felt that something wanted me to look
round.... I'm not afraid now!"

"How queer," she said in a low voice.

"I've never felt anything like it before ... half afraid and half not
afraid!..."

He began to talk about Mullally. "He's a toad, that fellow," he said,
"an ... an enlarged toad!"

"I'm going to bed," she interrupted. "Good-night, Quinny!"

She bent her face to his.

"Good-night, my dear!" he said, kissing her fondly.

8

Three days later, when he had almost forgotten his fright on the cliffs,
he went down to the village to get the morning papers.