Rosa Mundi and Other Stories

pe. Ronnie was not in sight, but she scarcely thought of him. The light was failing fast, and she knew that it would soon be quite dark, save for a white streak of moon

ut in the terror of the moment she felt no pain. She only had the sense to run straight on, with gasping breath and faili

d and made a convulsive effort to crawl to one side. Sh

e uttered a gasping cry, all her na

word to his animal, stooped over her. S

he sobbed. He answered he

the matter? Some

her, and she yielded herself

she said faintly.

eemed unable to stand, and waited for her to recover herself. She trembled v

ow you," she f

atter?" asked

session of her. Yet-yet-Hyde must have seen she was alarmed. He might have reassured her. She recalled the lo

very foolish of me, of course. Very likely it was

still so shaken that she to

she assured him tremulo

; and again she yielded as a child might

ke, and she fancied his v

," he said. "I will

f in the darkness, but sh

nnie," she said. "I don't want

in with you,"

mean-I don't want you to trouble any mor

n to wonder dolefully if she had offended him. The

the club, and won't be home at present. I didn't know you were all alone, or I

n the stony road. Hope made no further protest. She had always considered Ronnie's major a rather

ne five yards w

imping. Wh

something abo

d briefly. "Rupert will carry yo

he had been a child, and stooped to arra

her shoe. "No wonder the stones seemed hard! Quite c

she answe

on, leading the

ound that surrounded the bungalow she

l here," he said, holdi

into them

he native village made her start and t

e-post and took her hand in his. The grip of

"let us go and look fo

nd that for the sake of her future self-respect she must by some means restra

nt you-please-not to come any farther. I know I have been very foolish. I am sure

," said Ma

kable decision, and t

nnecessarily alarmed. But, even so, I am coming with you to satisfy my

go, I'll come, too. But first, will you pro

at a loss to interpret. It was too dark fo

e said. "Yes;

his, she went beside him up the short drive to the bungalow. And, as she