eam? Not
three yards from her was the tall figure of the man she had been
thinking of--the French master! Yes, it really was he! There were his
threadbare greenish coat and his tightly-strapped trousers, there was
his kind face with its high cheek-bones and short-pointed beard. Had he
indeed come down from the skies? There seemed no other way, for Susan
did not know till afterwards that there were some steps cut zigzag down
the cliff just behind her. But wherever he had come from he was
undoubtedly there, real flesh and blood, and she was no longer alone
with the dreadful roaring sea. It was such a joyful relief that it gave
her new strength; she forgot her bedraggled and woebegone state, and
starting up began to try and explain how she had lost herself. Greatly
to her own surprise, however, something suddenly choked in her throat,
and she was obliged to burst into tears in the middle of her story.

Monsieur looked at the little sobbing figure with much compassion in his
face and some dismay, then he touched her frock gently:

"Ciel! how you are wet!" he exclaimed; "and cold too, without doubt, my
poor leetle friend." He fingered the top button of his coat doubtfully,
as though wishing to take it off and wrap her in it; but although it was
a great-coat there was no other underneath it, and he changed his mind
with a little shake of the head.

"Come, then," he said, taking her small cold hand in his, "we will go
home together. You are now quite safe, and soon we shall be there. Do
not then cry any more."

Susan did her best to stop her tears, and limped along the beach by his
side, clinging tightly on to his hand; but she was tired and worn out,
and her wet boots were so stiff and pressed so painfully upon her feet,
that at last she stumbled and nearly fell. Monsieur looked down at her
with concern.

"Ah!" he said, "the road is rough, and the feet are very small. Voyons!
An idea comes to me! Instead of going to Madame your aunt, which is so
far, we will go to the house of my sister; it is scarcely ten minutes
from here. There I leave you, and go to assure Madame of your safety."

If Susan had not been so worn out with fatigue she would have objected
strongly to this plan of Monsieur's, for his sister was a perfect
stranger to her, and she would much rather have gone home to Aunt
Hannah. But, feeling no strength or spirit left to resist anything, she
nodded her head silently and suffered him to lift