In the Tideway

of Eilean-a-fa-ash, which, viewed from here, seemed as if it were joined to the mainland. Beyond, the northern headland, whence Roederay Lodge sto

golden garment stretching far as the eye could reach on either hand. At their feet, a

and we can't possibly miss the returning wagonette. I'll se

ut his voice was instinct

ady Maud did not look at him either, yet t

le round those rocks, and the curren

the

esides, they should have been h

been here and put th

e who ar

the men to do with it, Maud? Don't--don't be chi

was a

lightly. "Come, it will be pleasant

boat for her, an

the glitter of the sinking sun, where they lay bathed in light, the water dripping from the lifted oars

forwards, fixing his dark eyes on her face.

shine on your hair as it used to do when you were a girl. If I had my wi

hilst she sate silent, trailing one hand in the water

elf, and once again the drip, drip, drip, of those golden tears fill

and God knows ties enough, as a rule. Grapnels for

n hurriedly. "Let us forget it for this last h

replied unsteadily;

y be no a

on moonshine; or sunshine either. He wants something real; a

little cry. "Oh, Eustace! can you not

e will be? when I know it will be torture to you? Why did you send hi

send him away,

e, and there was no need for the other. But you meant it, Maud. Ah, my darling! do

-the yacht is there. Let us go into the sunshine. Come, my darling--see how fate points the way. We are drifting, drift

his mad desire to keep her for his own? All that could be said, in all its tende

ing a little shudder, yet drawing c

rprise. Where were they? Not, as he expected, within a stone's throw of the coast, drifting surely southwards. Here was nothing save sea, and ris

between them a gathering curtain which even as he looked faded from gold to

r. I have seen them often after hot weather. But it is all right. We must be close to the yacht, for we were wel

f they had drifted past? What if they were drifting out to sea, further and further from safety? He tried to scoff at her alarm, though his own anxiety grew fast as the mist settled thicker and thicker till he could not s

nd--stay stil

es of water and a shelving bottom, the other into three. Th

let me help you out. This must be th

at grey mist curtain closing in and shutting ou

lore. Take the whistle. I won't go beyond its re

on't understand it. The sea seems to surround us except in one direction, a

bove it," suggest

rings all the drift to Grada Sands. The question, however, is what we are to do. Take to the boat

d towing resulted in nothing. By this time it was almost dark, the mist gathere

ght a fire, some one may see it. Anyhow, there are stores and a sail in the boat, so we shall manage. Cheer up, Maud; imagin

in this mischance than there would have been to others. What had she meant to do when she stepped into the boat? She could not tell; only this she knew, that fate

stick seemed to her another doubt dispelled. How they flamed and crackled and

b of rock half embedded in the sand. Still it was dry and warm, and with the boat's sail wrapped round her, and her feet towards a freshly built fire, she could lean back comfortably and defy some of the gr

t the sparkle of dewdrops on his coat, and she stretched o

er us if we sit close together. I--I must not begin by being selfish." Then her calm gave

ate roused the best part in his nature. He drew h

to sleep if you can.

r afield into the afterwards which he had claimed as his right; and more than once as she stirred in the uneasy sleep into which she had fallen, he bent over her again and kissed her. She was his; the past was at an end; scruples must come later if they came at all. He had foreseen this ending fro

fore the day sought them out even in each other's arms, and brought to both a vague, surprised consciousness of their surroundings. Where were they? What had happened? With eyes

d from the slab of rock behind her. Her pretty hair was damp

e, too, was fresh from sleep and dreams,--dreams of the hereafter. And now the

he panted, stru

ised reproach as he fell back a ste

?" Her voice rose to a shriek; she clung to him convulsively with one hand whil

art of a stone coffin whence the wind had driven the sand, leaving the contents exposed to view. Only a few bone

men would have done so much in such

must have drifted north somehow. Don't look so scared, my darli

were fastened on the fleshless hand which lay so near--oh! God

red. "Look! look--the

its legend, "Beautiful, constant, chaste." A chill came over

st have been from the beginning, I suppose. Come! let us leave t

,--and with a cry of "Rick's ring! Rick's ring

you going? For God's sake, Maud! come back.

d nothing human there save the bones of a woman who had been lov

t he saw her pausing as for breath, but his passionate entreaty for her to wait for him, his eager reminder that he was Eustace--Eustace, her lover--brought

gave way beneath him--deeper? deeper? No! that was right: firm ground o

mist into a golden haze, through which he could see that a few seaweed-hung boulders had been gathered to a heap whence sprang a cross-shaped post. It must be a ford--the sea ford to Eilean-a-fa-ash. That way then lay safety, for a few hours; but which way

where are y

s beside him, fiercely imperati

y, and faltered, "She was afraid--she ran away. I don'

fore they sought the ground. There was not much to be seen; only th

war

eaven, and Eustace Gordon was left standing alone beside the cro