rigger. You knew that the piece was
on full cock."

"It was altogether an accident. I knew nothing. I was conscious of
nothing, save that I was trying to prevent you from committing a
great crime."

"A great crime!" jeered he. "You thought only how you might save
the life of your love."

Mehetabel stood still and turned to him.

"Jonas, do not say that. You cruelly, you wrongfully misjudge me
I will tell you all, if you will I never would have hidden anything
from you if I had not known how you would take and use what I said.
Iver and I were child friends, almost brother and sister. I always
cared for him, and I think he liked me. He went away and I saw
nothing of him. Then, at our wedding, he returned home; and since
then I have seen him a good many times--you, yourself asked him to
the Punch-Bowl, and bade me stand for him to paint. I cannot deny
that I care for him, and that he likes me."

"As brother and sister?"

"No--not as brother and sister. We are children no longer. But,
Jonas, I have no wish, no thought other than that he should leave
Thursley, and that I should never, never, never see his face again.
Of thought, of word, of act against my duty to you I am guiltless.
Of thoughts, as far as I have been able to hold my thoughts in
chains, of words, of acts I have nothing to reproach myself with,
there have been none but what might be known to you, in a light
clearer than that poured down by this moon. You will believe me,
Jonas."

He looked searchingly into her beautiful, pale face--now white as
snow in the moonlight. After a long pause, he answered, "I do not
believe you."

"I can say no more," she spoke and sighed, and went forward.

He now lagged behind.

They stepped off the sand ridge, and were again in treacherous
soil, neither land nor water, but land and water tossed together
in strips and tags and tatters.

"Go on," he said. "I will step after you."

Presently she looked behind her, and saw him swinging his right
hand, in which was the lump of ironstone.

"Why do you turn your head?" he asked.

"I look for you."

"Are you afraid of me?"

"I am sorry for you, Jonas."

"Sorry--because of my arm?"

"Because you are unable to believe a true woman's word."

"I do not understand you."

"No--I do not suppose you can."

Then he screamed, "No, I do not believe." He leaped forward, and
struck her on the head with the nodule of iron, and felled her at
his feet.

"There," said he;