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grown so strangely loud and insistent that it was in a half…dazed fashion
she at length heard her name〃/Kathleen！/〃
〃Kathleen！〃 he whispered again； hoarsely。
She looked him full in the face； and once more their eyes met in a long；
grave gaze。
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The man's face flushed； and he half rose from his seat with an
impetuous movement； but Kathleen stopped him with a glance。
〃Will you go and fetch my work？ I left it in the tent；〃 she said；
speaking very clearly and distinctly； 〃and then will you go on reading？ I
will find the place while you are gone。〃
She took the book from his hand； and he rose and stood before her。
There was a mute appeal in his silence； and she raised her head slowly。
Her face was white to the lips； but she looked at him unflinchingly；
and without a word he turned and left her。
Mrs。 Drayton was resting in the tent on Tuesday afternoon。 With the
help of cushions and some low chairs； she had improvised a couch； on
which she lay quietly with her eyes closed。 There was a tenseness；
however； in her attitude which indicated that sleep was far from her。
Her features seemed to have sharpened during the last few days； and
there were hollows in her cheeks。 She had been very ill for a long time；
but all at once； with a sudden movement； she turned her head and buried
her face in the cushions with a groan。 Slipping from her place； she fell on
her knees beside the couch； and put both hands before her mouth to force
back the cry that she felt struggling to her lips。
For some moments the wild effort she was making for outward calm；
which even when she was alone was her first instinct； strained every nerve
and blotted out sight and hearing； and it was not till the sound was very
near that she was conscious of the ring of horse's hoofs on the plain。
She raised her head sharply； with a thrill of fear； still kneeling； and
listened。
There was no mistake。 The horseman was riding in hot haste； for the
thud of the hoofs followed one another swiftly。
As Mrs。 Drayton listened her white face grew whiter； and she began to
tremble。 Putting out shaking hands； she raised herself by the arms of the
folding…chair and stood upright。
Nearer and nearer came the thunder of the approaching sound； mingled
with startled exclamations and the noise of trampling feet from the
direction of the kitchen tent。
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Slowly； mechanically almost； she dragged herself to the entrance； and
stood clinging to the canvas there。 By the time she had reached it
Broomhurst had flung himself from the saddle； and had thrown the reins to
one of the men。
Mrs。 Drayton stared at him with wide； bright eyes as he hastened
toward her。
〃I thought youyou are not〃 she began； and then her teeth began to
chatter。 〃I am so cold！〃 she said； in a little； weak voice。
Broomhurst took her hand and led her over the threshold back into the
tent。
〃Don't be so frightened；〃 he implored； 〃I came to tell you first。 I
thought it wouldn't frighten you so much asYourDrayton isvery ill。
They are bringing him。 I〃
He paused。 She gazed at him a moment with parted lips； then she
broke into a horrible； discordant laugh； and stood clinging to the back of a
chair。
Broomhurst started back。
〃Do you understand what I mean？〃 he whispered。 〃Kathleen； for God's
sake/don't/he is /dead/。〃
He looked over his shoulder as he spoke； her shrill laughter ringing in
his ears。 The white glare and dazzle of the plain stretched before him；
framed by the entrance to the tent； far off； against the horizon； there were
moving black specks； which he knew to be the returning servants with
their still burden。
They were bringing John Drayton home。
One afternoon； some months later； Broomhurst climbed the steep lane
leading to the cliffs of a little English village by the sea。 He had already
been to the inn； and had been shown by the proprietress the house where
Mrs。 Drayton lodged。
〃The lady was out； but the gentleman would likely find her if he went
to the cliffsdown by the bay； or thereabouts；〃 her landlady explained； and；
obeying her directions； Broomhurst presently emerged from the shady
woodland path on to the hillside overhanging the sea。
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He glanced eagerly round him； and then； with a sudden quickening of
the heart； walked on over the springy heather to where she sat。 She turned
when the rustling his footsteps made through the bracken was near enough
to arrest her attention； and looked up at him as he came。 Then she rose
slowly and stood waiting for him。 He came up to her without a word； and
seized both her hands； devouring her face with his eyes。 Something he saw
there repelled him。 Slowly he let her hands fall； still looking at her silently。
〃You are not glad to see me； and I have counted the hours；〃 he said； at last；
in a dull； toneless voice。
Her lips quivered。 〃Don't be angry with meI can't help itI'm not
glad or sorry for anything now；〃 she answered； and her voice matched his
for grayness。
They sat down together on a long flat stone half embedded in a wiry
clump of whortleberries。 Behind them the lonely hillsides rose； brilliant
with yellow bracken and the purple of heather。 Before them stretched the
wide sea。 It was a soft； gray day。 Streaks of pale sunlight trembled at
moments far out on the water。 The tide was rising in the little bay above
which they sat； and Broomhurst watched the lazy foam…edged waves
slipping over the uncovered rocks toward the shore； then sliding back as
though for very weariness they despaired of reaching it。 The muffled；
pulsing sound of the sea filled the silence。 Broomhurst thought suddenly
of hot Eastern sunshine； of the whir of insect wings on the still air； and the
creaking of a wheel in the distance。 He turned and looked at his
companion。
〃I have come thousands of miles to see you；〃 he said； 〃aren't you going
to speak to me now I am here？〃
〃Why did you come？