ld face the truth.

"I've learned that he bore everything with the fortitude one would expect
from him--doing his share always with the rest," Nasmyth said. "We got
through a little earlier, and had better weather; but I saw enough to
convince me that the difficulties George had to contend with would have
killed any ordinary man."

"They did not kill Clarence."

Nasmyth once more burned with anger against the transgressor.

"No," he replied in a strained tone; "Clarence escaped."

She flashed a sharp glance at him, and he felt glad that it was too dark
for her to see his face.

"You must tell me the whole story to-night," she requested.

Her companion made no answer. With the reserve that must be maintained on
several points, the story would be difficult to relate; and it could not
fail to be painful to her. The horror she would feel if she ever learned
that her brother might have been saved had his cousin shown more
resolution was a thing he dare not contemplate, and he wondered if the
shock the knowledge must bring could be spared her. This depended upon
Lisle, whom he had promised to assist. Nasmyth could foresee nothing but
trouble, and he was silent for a while as they drove on across the lonely
moor.

CHAPTER VI

NASMYTH TELLS HIS STORY

Dinner was over, and Millicent's elderly companion had discreetly left
them alone, when the girl led Nasmyth into her drawing-room. It was
brightly lighted and was tastefully decorated in delicate colors, and a
wood fire was burning on the hearth; but, for the first time that he
could remember, Nasmyth felt ill at ease in it. He was fresh from the
snow-covered rocks and shadowy woods and the refinement and artistic
luxury of his surroundings rather jarred on him. The story he had to
relate dealt with elemental things--hunger, toil, and death--it would
sound harsher and more ugly amid the evidences of civilization.

"You have a good deal to tell me," Millicent suggested at length.

He stood still a moment, looking at her. She had already seated herself,
and the sweeping lines of her pose suggested vigor and energy held in
quiet control. Her face was warm in coloring, bearing signs of exposure
to wind and sun, but it was chastely molded in a fine oval with the
features firmly lined. Her hair was dark, though there were bronzy gleams
in it, and her eyes, which were deeply brown, had a sparkle in them. As a
whole, her appearance indicated a sanguine, optimistic t