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the fish； offering it to the mother first。
'〃Come； my lamb；〃 said the old woman； and the daughter approached
the table。 But her nostrils and mouth quivered with disgust。
'The next moment she turned and hurried from the hut。
'〃She doesn't like fish；〃 said the old woman； 〃and I haven't
anything else to give her。〃
'〃She does not seem in good health；〃 he rejoined。
'The woman answered only with a sigh； and they ate their fish with
the help of a little rye…bread。 As they finished their supper； the
youth heard the sound as of the pattering of a dog's feet upon the
sand close to the door； but ere he had time to look out of the
window； the door opened and the young woman entered。 She looked
better； perhaps from having just washed her face。 She drew a stool
to the corner of the fire opposite him。 But as she sat down； to his
bewilderment； and even horror； the student spied a single drop of
blood on her white skin within her torn dress。 The woman brought
out a jar of whisky； put a rusty old kettle on the fire； and took
her place in front of it。 As soon as the water boiled； she
proceeded to make some toddy in a wooden bowl。
'Meantime the youth could not take his eyes off the young woman； so
that at length he found himself fascinated； or rather bewitched。
She kept her eyes for the most part veiled with the loveliest
eyelids fringed with darkest lashes； and he gazed entranced； for the
red glow of the little oil…lamp covered all the strangeness of her
complexion。 But as soon as he met a stolen glance out of those eyes
unveiled； his soul shuddered within him。 Lovely face and craving
eyes alternated fascination and repulsion。
'The mother placed the bowl in his hands。 He drank sparingly； and
passed it to the girl。 She lifted it to her lips； and as she
tastedonly tasted itlooked at him。 He thought the drink must
have been drugged and have affected his brain。 Her hair smoothed
itself back； and drew her forehead backwards with it； while the
lower part of her face projected towards the bowl； revealing； ere
she sipped； her dazzling teeth in strange prominence。 But the same
moment the vision vanished； she returned the vessel to her mother；
and rising； hurried out of the cottage。
'Then； the old woman pointed to a bed of heather in one corner with
a murmured apology； and the student； wearied both with the fatigues
of the day and the strangeness of the night； threw himself upon it；
wrapped in his cloak。 The moment he lay down； the storm began
afresh； and the wind blew so keenly through the crannies of the hut；
that it was only by drawing his cloak over his head that he could
protect himself from its currents。 Unable to sleep； he lay
listening to the uproar which grew in violence； till the spray was
dashing against the window。 At length the door opened； and the
young woman came in； made up the fire； drew the bench before it； and
lay down in the same strange posture； with her chin propped on her
hand and elbow； and her face turned towards the youth。 He moved a
little； she dropped her head； and lay on her face； with her arms
crossed beneath her forehead。 The mother had disappeared。
'Drowsiness crept over him。 A movement of the bench roused him； and
he fancied he saw some four…footed creature as tall as a large dog
trot quietly out of the door。 He was sure he felt a rush of cold
wind。 Gazing fixedly through the darkness； he thought he saw the
eyes of the damsel encountering his； but a glow from the falling
together of the remnants of the fire； revealed clearly enough that
the bench was vacant。 Wondering what could have made her go out in
such a storm； he fell fast asleep。
'In the middle of the night he felt a pain in his shoulder； came
broad awake； and saw the gleaming eyes and grinning teeth of some
animal close to his face。 Its claws were in his shoulder； and its
mouth was in the act of seeking his throat。 Before it had fixed its
fangs； however； he had its throat in one hand； and sought his knife
with the other。 A terrible struggle followed； but regardless of the
tearing claws； he found and opened his knife。 He had made one
futile stab； and was drawing it for a surer； when； with a spring of
the whole body； and one wildly…contorted effort； the creature
twisted its neck from his hold； and with something betwixt a scream
and a howl； darted from him。 Again he heard the door open； again
the wind blew in upon him； and it continued blowing； a sheet of
spray dashed across the floor； and over his face。 He sprung from
his couch and bounded to the door。
'It was a wild nightdark； but for the flash of whiteness from the
waves as they broke within a few yards of the cottage； the wind was
raving； and the rain pouring down the air。 A gruesome sound as of
mingled weeping and howling came from somewhere in the dark。 He
turned again into the hut and closed the door； but could find no way
of securing it。
'The lamp was nearly out； and he could not be certain whether the
form of the young woman was upon the bench or not。 Overcoming a
strong repugnance； he approached it； and put out his handsthere
was nothing there。 He sat down and waited for the daylight： he
dared not sleep any more。
'When the day dawned at length； he went out yet again； and looked
around。 The morning was dim and gusty and gray。 The wind had
fallen； but the waves were tossing wildly。 He wandered up and down
the little strand； longing for more light。
'At length he heard a movement in the cottage。 By and by the voice
of the old woman called to him from the door。
'〃You're up early； sir。 I doubt you didn't sleep well。〃
'〃Not very well；〃 he answered。 〃But where is your daughter？〃
'〃She's not awake yet；〃 said the mother。 〃I'm afraid I have but a
poor breakfast for you。 But you'll take a dram and a bit of fish。
It's all I've got。〃
'Unwilling to hurt her； though hardly in good appetite； he sat down
at the table。 While they were eating the daughter came in； but
turned her face away and went to the further end of the hut。 When
she came forward after a minute or two； the youth saw that her hair
was drenched； and her face whiter than before。 She looked ill and
faint； and when she raised her eyes； all their fierceness had
vanished； and sadness had taken its place。 Her neck was now covered
with a cotton handkerchief。 She was modestly attentive to him； and
no longer shunned his gaze。 He was gradually yielding to the
temptation of braving another night in the hut； and seeing what
would follow； when the old woman spoke。
'〃The weather will be broken all day； sir；〃 she said。 〃You had
better be going； or your friends will leave without you。〃
'Ere he could answer； he saw such a beseeching glance on the face of
the girl； that he hesitated； confused。 Glancing at the mother； he
saw the flash of wrath in her face。 She rose and approached her
daughter； with her hand lifted to strike her。 T