The Rocks of Valpré

young charge's disappearance would be to state the case with lud

state of absolute collapse. Before midnight all Valpré knew that the little English demoiselle was missing, and all Valpré scoured the shore for her i

he turn, they were out again, searching, searching for a white, drowned face and a mas

room with her head swathed in a black shawl, and called upon all th

en to assure each other uneasily that of course she would tu

the other day, he'd lay a wager! But Maxwell poured contempt upon the bare suggestion. Chris-elope with a Frenchman! He could as easily see himsel

t poor Mademoiselle, who hated men, should have hysterics. But the tale of her adventures had preceded her. All Valpré knew what had happened, and watched her with furtive curiosity. Al

iselle's feelings were so extremely sensitive upon all points moral that it was almost impossible to spend an hour i

y suppressed a chuckle. She professed penitence and even asked forgiveness for all the anxiety she had caused, but she could not see that what had happened possessed the tra

nings. They all agreed that Mademoiselle must have rats in the upper story to make such a pother over the adventure, though Maxwell, who held hims

he worse, are we, Cinders? So all's well that ends

eit of adventure for the time being. She certainly had no further urgent desire to explore caves, magic or otherwise. She was also a little tired,

dressed, eager to revel in them both. She wondered if Bertrand

ng day, and his absence did not depress her. The tide was low, and she had to wade out a considerable distance through

hat she finally returned to the shallows and began to wade bac

hered upon what she had come to regard as her own particular playground. She peered at them for some seconds from beneath her hand, for the sun was in her eyes; and suddenly a queer little thr

" she said alou

see the flash of the swords, the rapid movements of the two combatants. It impressed her like a sce

which they seemed to be fighting with some ferocity. Then, obeying an impulse of which she was scarcely aware, she moved on th

Of course, that must be it! Was it in the least likely to be anything more serious? And yet something within told

e a little further kept her dallying. She had an ardent longing to see the faces of the antagonists. Later

pped on the mackintosh, and advanced nearer still to the little grou

man, fierce, ferret-like, with glaring eyes and evil mout

ght back familiar to her, so familiar that she recognized him beyond all doubting,

he parried his enemy's attack, and the grace of the man, combined with a certain mastery that was also in a fashion familiar to her, attracted her irresistibly, held her spe

er in all things pertaining to the human race, scented combat in the air. It was enough. Cinders would permit no brawling among his

eyes involuntarily and shifted his position. The next instant he lunged frantically to recover

rs had quite reached the scene. Bertrand whirled round fiercely, sword in hand, ange

ming her, while they buzzed round the wounded man, who lay back in the arms of on

at the prostrate officer's legs; and then, for the first time in her life, an overwh

Bertie, I'm so sorry!" she excl

but thought he must be furious since he was undoubtedly frowning. If this were the case, h

riskly. "But it is a splendid morning for a swim. And

he droll one's nose, and flashed his

d. "L'affaire est

don his coat, he turned and walked away with her with his light, elastic swa

t what to say, having no faintest clue to his real attitude towards her at that mom

r smile or frown had supervened. But both were gone.

" he said. "It fr

ath. "Oh, Bertie, w

ighting,

ou might have killed

end of his small moustache. "I think no

nvective which the injured man had managed to pour

imagine-if

houlders with ext

, there would have been one ca

oinder, yet could not somehow feel that

r a moment, determined to survey the matter f

aughed. "That is quite possible. And

know I should have been heart-broken,

ally?"

to a smile. "Now do promise me that you

se you such a thing! It is not the fashio

insult y

s. And I, I struck him. Après cela-" a

d Chris. "Couldn't you have just turn

de reply. "I could

h more dignified,

ere are some insults upon which no man, Engli

was something pretty bad, then

urned, quite courteously bu

ness: "When men fight duels," she said, "it's generally o

s not politics, Ch

e paused,

was-a woman. But I say nothing more tha

Tell me at least about the woman," she urged.

r again with that expression in hi

rtie?" she

l you Yes?" h

t butterfly movement, and yet it had in it

told me about

made him wonderfully handsome. "Mignonne!" he said eagerly, and then as swif

iancée," she protested. "I can't

e was something rather mournful in his look

efore him wrapped in the mackintosh that flapped about her bare ankles, the ruddy

with the eloquent shrug that generall

ought about?" she co

ded, "you ask of me the impossibl

portance, and she had every intention of gaining her end. "It isn't fair not to tell me

t she thought for a moment that he was about to turn

be more true if I said of a child-one who has given me no more than her camaraderie, her confidence, her friendship, so innocent and so amiable; but these things are very prec

ng at him in amazement, he

at last. "You didn't-you c

e you would have thought ill of me. Now, with your permission, since t

ith the words, but she p

, Be

have asked too much already. But you do not understand. Some day I will explain all. Run home to Mademoiselle la gouvernante now, and

her almost in silence. Those words of his had set vibrating in her some chord of womanhood that none had ever touched befor