The Splendid Folly

at surface and her book propped up in front of her. Gradually the rhythmic rise and fall of the waves on the shore had lulled her into slumber-the plop as they

an to course through the veins again, the sharp, pricking sensation commonly known as "pins and needles" aroused her effectually, and she recollected that she had walked out to Culver Point and established herself in one of the numerous little bays that fringe

time, for the sun, which had been high in the heavens, had already dipped towards the horizon and was shedding a rosy track of light across the surface of

sea, strewn with big boulders clothed in shell and seaweed. But there were no rocks to be seen. The g

vertheless her position was decidedly unenviable. It was not yet high tide, so it would be some hours at least before she would be able to make her way home, and meanwhile the sun was sinking fast, it was growing unpleasantly cold

lcome red or brown sail broke the monotonous grey waste of water, and in hopes of warming herself a little she

rs of scarlet and gold across the sea. Far in the blue vault of the sky a single star

d, now that the mist was rising, she felt chilled to the bone, and she

ss the water came the welco

Ahoy

in it, resting on his oars, showed sharply et

with her nose towards the chore and sculling with long, rhythmic strokes that speedi

he glanced back over his shoulder to gauge his distance from the shore, she recognised with

ible she would have signalled to him to go on and leave her; the bare thought of being indebted to him-to this

the shore and beached her safely. Then he turned and strode towards Diana, his face wearing just that same concerned, half-angr

and earth are you doing he

roundly, exactly as he had done on that same former occasion. The humour of the situation suddenly caught

l," she retorted frivolously. "You se

iled

ut by yourself like this? You're not fit to be alone! As though a railway accident weren't sufficient excitement for

could I-when the sea doesn't come up within a

a spring tide?" he said drily. "In another hour or so

y so narrow a margin shook her for a moment, and she swayed a

e told you," he said hastily. "Forgive me. You're tired-and, merciful h

at and made as though

all be quite warm directly. P

of her arms, and then the other, he thrust them into the empt

," he observed coolly, as he p

red, looking at the t

at must be taken care of. What would Sign

n't forgotten?" Di

blue eyes swep

shortly, "I hav

uietly in the stern as he bent to his oars and sent t

ment now that he had spoken to her again-scolding her and enforcing her obedience to his wishes in that oddly masterful

he firm clasp of his hand on hers conveyed a curious sense of security, extending beyond just the mere safety of the moment. She had a feeli

e in abruptly

yside," he said. "I shall dr

she refused point-blank. Since he had decided that she was to travel in his car, travel in it she would, willy-nilly. But as a ma

g one of them for the coat she was wearing, spoke a few wo

ascent from the harbour to the Rectory. Possibly the chauffeur who had taken his m

now?" querie

luxuriously i

alifying as a good Samaritan par excellence, tha

dge beside him and shading his face with his hand. Beneath its shelter, the keen bl

ke again, a tinge o

e again? . . . It must have been very tiresome for you, that a

d his han

cation. "It-it was unpardonable of me . . ." His voice vibrat

" she said slowly.

s head aff

think it unforgivable. And yet-and

erally"-dimpling a little

, in a peculiar tone. "Oh, y

nobody just now, I may become a really famous per

with mirth as

at her s

piness. . . Ah, mais jamais!"

was st

ou to cut me," she sai

can end our acquaintance if you choose. And I suppose-you, will choose. It would be contrary to hum

so rapidly that she was bewildered. At one moment there would be an exquisite gentleness

punishment?" sh

sudden moveme

suppose?" he

, why were you so anxious to take it out of my hands? It

he door between us, and twice fat

n it was you-in Grelli

acknowledg

ide the small, secret sm

, after

ot want to know me?"

n heaven! Not want to!" His hand moved restlessly.

in the shadow; it creeps about our feet, following us wherever we go. And I wou

current of deep sa

ana. A sense of tragedy oppressed her. "Life is sure

rhaps-perhaps I may be allowed to stand just on the outskirts of your life-watch you pass by on your road to fame, and toss a flower at your feet when all the world and his wife are crowding to hear the new prima donna." He had dropped back into the vein of light, iro

e with the point of your little white slipper, and say to your crowd of admirers standing around you: 'That flower is the gift of a man-a rough boor of a man-who was atrociously rude to me once. I don't even value it enough to pick it up.' Whereupon

p quivered.. This man had the power of hurting her

again her voice

wer and"-steadily-"I should keep it, because it was thrown to me

by sheer force of will, a sud

your kindness under false pretences. The greatest service in my power would be for me to go awa

nable emotion stir within her that was half pain, half pleasure. Her eyelids closed, and she stretched o

al, as though the shy, virginal youth of her sensed the distan

n-call it what you will-which seems in some mysterious way to warn every woman when the great miracle of love is drawing near. It is as though Love's sh

lids, and with a swift, impetuous movement he leaned forward and caught her by the arms, pulling her tow

ia

ed, stumbling forward on to her knees. His arms closed round her, holding her as in a vice, and she lay there, helples

between his teeth; then swiftly, with a stifled exclamation he stooped hi

ut from her body-and then, just as sheer consciousness itself was wavering, he took

nting a little, her shoulder

e heard h

but presently, after what seemed an eternity, he raised her from the floor, wher

his place, he spoke

mned beyond forgi

hrob of her heart and the measured beat of the engine; the two seemed to

ame toneless voice-"am I to be forbidd

her head r

h, I don't know

tense moment was over she felt drained of all vitality. Her head drooped listlessly against the cushions of the car and dark shadows stained her chee

licitude. She looked so young as she lay there, huddled against the cushions-hardly more than a child-and h

forward. "For God's sake,

voice pierced throu

u do it?" she a

n barred out from all that makes life worth living! . . . I

ntrated bitterness,

be said in favour of the Turkish yas

till at the memory of those kisses-and he s

u!" she sa

d feeling of a few moments ago had vanished: he seemed to have relapsed into his usua

and he had suddenly cut the ground from under her feet. Her pride rose in arms. If he could so contemptuously sweep aside the memory of the last ten minutes, c

her campa

he Rectory by now?" she began

wicked mirth flash

, seemed so long?"

The man was impossible! It was also very difficult, she found

indication of it. Rubbing the wi

ng in at the Rectory gates

obbed to a standstill and the chauf

o long coming, sir," he

g turning-lost

ed into the house, he added thou

and no mistake. I wonder, now, if