The Mystery of the Sea

g and my veins tingling with delight. From that instant I did not feel quite a stranger to the giver; nor could I ever feel as quite a stranger again. Something of the same idea may have passed th

lady was not only very dear to her, but held in some sort of unusual respect as well. It was peculiar that she should in the midst of her present condition be able to give a thought to so trivial a

way shoreward. The elder lady took up most of my time. Here and there in a difficult place, for the wind by now blew so strongly that one found it hard to balance oneself as is necessary when wal

e could see; dashing over the rocks, sending up here and there white towers of spray, or rolling in on the flat shore in front of us with an ominous roar. Woe betide any one who might be isolated now on any rock beyond; he would be swept of

otel and get dried. You will get your death of cold. We must all run! Or ha

id the younger lady as we began to walk

t I groaned aloud. Not for all the world would I have had her have a hand in this; it was too sacred-too delightful-too much apart from ordinary things! Whilst I w

e tell me if you are

ed "not at all. What on

rd you

ed with bent-grass, beyond which the land slopes up directly to the higher plain. There was not room or place for any one to hide; even one lying amongst the long bents could be seen at a glance from above. Without a word I turned to the left and ran as quickly as I could across the beach and up the steep bank of the sandy plateau. With a certain degree of apprehension, and my heart beating like a trip-hammer

ly along the shore, leaving a track of wet on the half dry sand as she we

ing wrong?" she asked

girl which made me feel as if we were old friends, and I spoke to

sness of any arrière pensée, an

a!" I a

ight laugh at me; that she might think me ridiculous; that she might despise me; or even that she might think me a lunatic! Then again Gormala might come and tell things to her. There was no accounting for what the woman might do. She might come upon us at any moment; she might be here even now

ted! Why did you run away that time and search round as if some one had taken a pot-shot at you and you wanted to locate him? Why did you groan before you went, and come back humming? Who is Gormala, anyhow; a

ow tone with a note of pathos in her voice, "I beg your pardon! my unruly tongue ran away with me. I ha

ith her that I was really considering whether you would think me a fool or a lunatic if I told them to you. And you certainly would not understand why I didn't want to see her, if I

sting. O! do tell me

en the stout lady in front of us, who was now a considerable way ahead, turned round and calle

thrill of pleasure that she said "we" not "I;" it was sweet to have

all too lovely and exciting. I hadn't an idea when we went out sleepily this morning that there would b

be hungry, so we can dine early. It will be such a true pleasure to me; and I can

anxiously. Then she spoke

But we shall see!" With this I

her, Mrs. Jack sa

tenderly she began to help and comfort the old lady, and looked at me pleadingly to help her. "Why dear" she said "no wonder it is hard walking for you with your clothes so wringing wet," and she knelt down on the wet sand and began to wring them out. I looked around to see what I could do to help. Just opposite, where we were the outcrop of rock on which the Hawklaw is based sent up a jagged spur of granite through the sand, close under the bent-covered hillocks. I pointed to this and we led the old lady over to it and made her sit

, you are ver

er, it was my head, rather than my heart, which was affected; to be

ginning to mov

enough that though the elder lady had every wish to be profuse in the expression of her gratitude to me, the younger one not only remained silent but now and again restrained her companion by a warning look. Needless to say, I let things go in their own way; it was too sweet a pleasure to me to share anything in the way of a secret with my new friend, to imperil such a bliss by any breach of reticence. The ladies were taken away to bedro

the whole proceeding was unaccompanied by any danger whatever, I thought, of course, had it been later in the coming of the storm, things might have been very different. Here I shuddered as my imagination gave me an instantaneous picture of the two helpless women in the toils of the raging sea amongst those grim rocks and borne by that racing tide which had done poor Lauchlane Macleod to death. As if to emphasise my fears there now came a terrific burst of wind which seemed to sweep over the house with appalling violence. It howled and roared above us, so that ev

lf by an expression of

do hope he has not been hur

lt that my pallor must have left me and that I g

it was for us." The fulness of understanding on the part of the beautiful girl, her perfect and re

s it was turned away from me, but her approval was manifest; the answer was made gladly in the affirmative. Then I put forth a hope that they would allow me to have a carriage ready to take them home, whenever they might desire, so that they might feel at ease in remaining

evidences that one is on guard. I felt somewhat awkward, as though I had taken a lib

ut of course he heard you mention my name. It was rather hurried our mee

sent to Miss Anita, Mr.--" sh

tation was formally made. Then Miss Anita

The storm will not be quite so bad inland, and as it does not rain the cart will be all right; we have plenty of wraps. Th

as you like," and so the mann

erything. After dinner we sat round the fire, and I think for a time we were all content. To me it was so like a dream. To sit there close to the beautiful stranger, and to think of the romanti

so sweet in this organised companionship of silence that it enraptured me. I did not need Miss Anita's look of caution to remain quiet; there was something in her face, some power or quality which was as eloquent as speech. I began to think of

en tiptoed over to the sofa; taking a soft cushion she placed it under Mrs. Jack's head, which had now fa

to the beach, I want to see the waves. They must

t you must wrap up properly. It will

lothes till I get back; and you can lend me a mackie-coat if you will." I got

eld her somewhat from the violence of the storm, made a new feeling of love-I could not now disguise it from myself. Something went out from me to her; some subtle feeling which must, I suppose, have manifested itself in some way, how I know not, for I kept guard u

ncement. Herein comes, in the midst of an unnatural civilisation, the true utility of instinct. Since we have lost the need of early information of the presence of game or of predatory animals or hostile men, even our instincts adapt themselves to our surroundings. Many an act which may afterwards seem the result of long and careful premeditation is, on reflection, found to be simply the result of that form of mome

nk from me? Have

h

ent. Her equal companionship in study with boys in school and college had taught her the futility of trying to burke a question when her antagonist was masculine; and the natural pluck and dominance-the assertion of individuality which is a part of an American woman's birthright-brought up her pr

yours. It is, or

and deepened to a painful intensity. In a low voice, in the tone

said with all the earnestness I

ot a sister, I am sorry to say, but if I had, I should not mind her giving a kiss to a stranger under such circumstances. It was a sweet and womanly act and I respect-and-like you more for it. I wou

ush almost faded away, and a bright smile broke over her face. With a serious deep

low, and I thank yo

roared around us, over the sandhills towards the sea. It was with an exu