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possession of her hand。 She struggled； and uttered a cry that was
almost a scream。 I sprung to my feet； unmindful of my strange
position； but； ere I had taken a step； I saw Northmour bareheaded
and bowing very low； as if to apologize； and dropped again at once
into my ambush。 A few words were interchanged； and then； with
another bow； he left the beach to return to the pavilion。 He
passed not far from me； and I could see him； flushed and lowering；
and cutting savagely with his cane among the grass。 It was not
without satisfaction that I recognized my own handiwork in a great
cut under his right eye； and a considerable discoloration round the
socket。
For some time the girl remained where he had left her； looking out
past the islet and over the bright sea。 Then with a start； as one
who throws off preoccupation and puts energy again upon its mettle；
she broke into a rapid and decisive walk。 She also was much
incensed 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 most 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
halfway forward； called to her to stop。
She did so； and turned round。 There was not a tremor of fear in
her behavior； 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 lifean 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 a 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 meanyou； a gentlemanby
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 CassilisFrank Cassilis。 I lead the life of a vagabond
for my own good pleasure。 I am one of Northmour's oldest friends；
and three nights ago； when I addressed him on these links； he
stabbed me in the shoulder with a knife。〃
〃It was you！〃 she said。
〃Why he did so；〃 I continued； disregarding the interruption； 〃is
more than I can guess； and more than I care to know。 I have not
many friends； nor am I very susceptible to friendship； but no man
shall drive me from a place by terror。 I had camped in the Graden
Sea…Wood ere he came； I camp in it still。 If you think I mean harm
to you or yours； madame； the remedy is in your hand。 Tell him that
my camp is in the Hemlock Den； and tonight he can stab me in safety
while I sleep。〃
With this I doffed my cap to her； and scrambled up once more among
the sand hills。 I do not know why； but I felt a prodigious sense
of injustice； and felt like a hero and a martyr； while as a matter
of fact； I had not a word to say in my defense； nor so much as one
plausible reason to offer for my conduct。 I had stayed at Graden
out of a curiosity natural enough； but undignified； and though
there was another motive growing in along with the first； it was
not one which； at that period； I could have properly explained to
the lady of my heart。
Certainly； that night； I thought of no one else； and； though her
whole conduct and position seemed suspicious； I could not find it
in my heart to entertain a doubt of her integrity。 I could have
staked my life that she was clear of blame； and； though all was
dark at the present； that the explanation of the mystery would show
her part in these events to be both right and needful。 It was
true； let me cudgel my imagination as I pleased； that I could
invent no theory of her relations to Northmour； but I felt none the
less sure of my conclusion because it was founded on instinct in
place of reason； and； as I may say； went to sleep that night with
the thought of her under my pillow。
Next day she came out about the same hour alone； and； as soon as
the sand hills concealed her from the pavilion； drew nearer to the
edge； and called me by name in guarded tones。 I was astonished to
observe that she was deadly pale； and seemingly under the influence
of strong emotion。
〃Mr。 Cassilis！〃 she cried； 〃Mr。 Cassilis！〃
I appeared at once； and leaped down upon the beach。 A remarkable
air of relief overspread her countenance as soon as she saw me。
〃Oh！〃 she cried； with a hoarse sound； like one whose bosom had been
lightened of a weight。 And then； 〃Thank God you are still safe！〃
she added； 〃I knew； if you were； you would be here。〃 （Was not this
strange？ So swiftly and wisely does Nature prepare our hearts for
these great lifelong intimacies； that both my wife and I had been
given a presentiment on this the second day of our acquaintance。 I
had even then hoped that she would seek me； she had felt sure that
she would find me。） 〃Do not；〃 she went on swiftly； 〃do not stay in
this place。 Promise me that you will sleep no longer in that wood。
You do not know how I suffer； all last night I could not sleep for
thinking of your peril。〃
〃Peril！〃 I repeated。 〃Peril from whom？ From Northmour？〃
〃Not so；〃 she said。 〃Did you think I would tell him after what you
said？〃
〃Not from Northmour？〃 I repeated。 〃Then how？ From whom？ I see
none to be afraid of。〃
〃You must not ask me；〃 was her reply； 〃for I am not free to tell
you。 Only believe me； and go hencebelieve me； and go away
quickly；