nsed by what had
passed. She had forgotten where she was. And I beheld her walk straight
into the borders of the quicksand where it is more abrupt and dangerous.
Two or three steps farther and her life would have been in serious
jeopardy, when I slid down the face of the sand-hill, which is there
precipitous, and, running half-way forward, called to her to stop.

She did so, and turned round. There was not a tremor of fear in her
behaviour, and she marched directly up to me like a queen. I was
barefoot, and clad like a common sailor, save for an Egyptian scarf
round my waist; and she probably took me at first for some one from the
fisher village, straying after bait. As for her, when I thus saw her
face to face, her eyes set steadily and imperiously upon mine, I was
filled with admiration and astonishment, and thought her even more
beautiful than I had looked to find her. Nor could I think enough of one
who, acting with so much boldness, yet preserved a maidenly air that was
both quaint and engaging; for my wife kept an old-fashioned precision of
manner through all her admirable life--an excellent thing in woman,
since it sets another value on her sweet familiarities.

"What does this mean?" she asked.

"You were walking," I told her, "directly into Graden Floe."

"You do not belong to these parts," she said again. "You speak like an
educated man."

"I believe I have right to that name," said I, "although in this
disguise."

But her woman's eye had already detected the sash.

"Oh!" she said; "your sash betrays you."

"You have said the word _betray_," I resumed. "May I ask you not to
betray me? I was obliged to disclose myself in your interest; but if
Northmour learned my presence it might be worse than disagreeable for
me."

"Do you know," she asked, "to whom you are speaking?"

"Not to Mr. Northmour's wife?" I asked, by way of answer.

She shook her head. All this while she was studying my face with an
embarrassing intentness. Then she broke out--

"You have an honest face. Be honest like your face, sir, and tell me
what you want and what you are afraid of. Do you think I could hurt you?
I believe you have far more power to injure me! And yet you do not look
unkind. What do you mean--you, a gentleman--by skulking like a spy about
this desolate place? Tell me," she said, "who is it you hate?"

"I hate no one," I answered; "and I fear no one face to face. My name
is Cassilis--Frank Cassilis. I lead the l