Beatrice

ock. In ordinary weather, even at high tide, the waters scarcely cover this rock, but when there is any sea they wash over it with great violence. On to this rock Geoffr

ut Beatrice, whose hand he still held, fell on to him and, wi

companion lay quiet at her side. She put down her face and called into his ea

she flung herself upon her face, gripping the long tough seaweed with one hand. The other she passed

king shoreward through the darkness. Heavens! there, not a hundred yards away, a light shone upon the waters. It was a boat's light, for it moved up and down. She filled her lungs with air and sent one long cry for help ringing across the sea. A moment passed and she thought that she heard an

s on

he surface and was floating on the stormy water. The wave had passed. Loosing her hold of Geoffrey she slipped her hand upwards, and as he began to sink clutched him by the hair. Then treading water with her feet, for happily for them both she was as goo

ight hanging to her she could not keep above them. It flashed into her mind that if she let him go she might ev

en better if she

heart; "I will hold him till I die." Then came waves of light and

ho was leaning forward in the bows peering into the darkness. "We shall be right on

ng white hair streaming in the wind. "Damn yer, ye cowards. I tells yer I heard her voice-I heard it twice screaming for help.

crew; there were eight of them altogether. They did not put the boa

into the gloom. He was shaking,

turned his he

y! there's someth

beyed wit

oared again-

boat answered, but no

oaned the old man. "You may put about

e appeared in the centre of this illuminated ring. Edward stared at it. It was floating upwards.

r-lend an

rd and together they clutch

Blow me if there ain't another and she's

gunwale. Then they pulled up Geoffrey beside her, for they could not loose

I doubt," said

's the only chance. Now give me that sail to cover them-so. You'll live yet, Miss Beatrice

at stake. They all knew Beatrice and loved her, and they remembered it as they rowed. The gloom was little hindrance to

and the lights of Bryngelly were close before them.

. At last it came, and they gave way together, running the large boat half out of th

iss Beatrice?"

ther too, but I doubt they

ered a voice. "Bri

oak, turned his face away and uttered a groan. Then he followed the ot

the two bodies laid upon them,

he bearers as they

get things ready there in case they should find her

a trot and the cr

other?" so

day. Tell policeman-run to his wife. She's at Mrs. Jones's, and t

he church, which stood dangerously near the edge of the cliff. On the further side of the church, and a little behind it, partly sheltered from the sea gales by a group of stunted firs, was the Vicarage, a low single-storied stone-roofed building, tenan

said one of the bearers to the other in W

ng them into strong relief. Foremost, holding a lantern in his hand, was a man of about sixty, with snow-white hair which fell in confusion over his rugged forehead. He was of middle height and carried himself with something of a stoop. The eyes were small and shifting, and the mouth hard. He wore short whiskers which, together with the eyebrows, were still tinged with

. Beatrice's was noble and open, if at times defiant. Looking at her you knew that she might be a mistaken woman, or a headstrong woman, or both, but she could never be a mean woman. Whichever of the ten commandments she might choose to break, it would not be that which forbids us to bear false witness against our neighbour. Anybody might read it in her eyes. But in her sister's, he might discern her father's shifty hardness watered by woman's weaker will into something li

got them on the stretchers. They are both dead. Oh, Beatri

," said Elizabeth sharply. "

ous of her. But I love her, though we do not understand each other. Here they come. Don't stand s

the doctor answered, roughly shaking

hambers. Following the passage down for some seven paces, it terminated in another which ran at right angles to it for the entire length of the house. On the further side of this passage were several bedroom doors and a room at each end. That at the end to

ace had been cleared of all except the helpers, and the work began. The doctor looked at Beatrice's cold shrunken form, and at the foam upon her lips. He lifted the eyelid, and held a light before the contracted pupil. Then he

n he was immersed he was already insensible, and a person in this condition is very hard to drown. It is your struggling, fighting, breathing creature who is soonest made an end of in deep waters. Therefore it came to pass that when the scrubbing with hot cloths and the artificial respiration had gone on for somewhere about

the assistant to his employer

in the other room, smiled sadly, and called to the assistan

r him, looking at him with a half puzzled and half horrified air. Vaguely he wondered who it might be. The tall form and cold handsome face were so

at you are better. You frightened me out

nd then groaned as a fresh attack of tin

nything to Effie," Ge

eman came she heard him tell Mrs. Jones that you were drowned, and she has been a

istress. "How could you frighten the child so?" he mu

of her shapely shoulders. "Besides, I can do nothing

ll her, Honoria,"

yself;" and she looked at the steaming cloths and shuddered. "Good-bye, Geoffrey. It is an immense relief to find you all right.

" said her husband

by a hair's-breadth from a violent and sudden death, and therefore wanted experience to go on. But it struck him that there was something missing. The lady did not seem to him quit

ot?" she asked. "It will

stant, "he is out of danger, I t

caught a glimpse of Beatrice's rigid form and of the doctor bending over it. Her head was thrown back and the beautiful brown ha

ear such sights. "Will it be necessary

ed, "unless you care to hear w

morning," she said. "Poor

ot help her. She saved your

brave girl. Wil

head. "She may, possibly

ovely face, and what an arm! It is very awful for

ers was still gathered, notwithstanding th

aid one, and they op

a woman audibly. "If it had been my husban

m with your hugging, you

merged from the shadow of the pines. She could not

struggling with emotions which he was unable to c

Miss Grange

se. Beatrice-

know, but t

es-they

she is

s head upon his breast and, turning, van

in love with her. Well, I do not wonder at it. I never saw such a face and arm. What a picture that scene in the room would

Lady Honoria was not wanting in certa