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her answer？ It was now all that made life。
Collier and his wife had left the veranda and had crossed the
lawn towards the water's edge。 The moonlight fell full upon them
with all the splendor of the tropics； and lit the night with a
brilliant； dazzling radiance。 From where Miss Cameron sat on the
veranda in the shadow； Sir Charles could see only the white
outline of her figure and the indolent movement of her fan。
Collier had left his wife and was returning slowly towards the
step。 Sir Charles felt that if he meant to speak he must speak
now； and quickly。 He rose and placed himself beside her in the
shadow； and the girl turned her head inquiringly and looked up at
him。
But on the instant the hush of the night was broken by a
sharp challenge； and the sound of men's voices raised in anger；
there was the noise of a struggle on the gravel； and from the
corner of the house the two sentries came running； dragging
between them a slight figure that fought and wrestled to be free。
Sir Charles exclaimed with indignant impatience； and turning；
strode quickly to the head of the steps。
〃What does this mean？〃 he demanded。 〃What are you doing with
that man？ Why did you bring him here？〃
As the soldiers straightened to attention； their prisoner ceased
to struggle； and stood with his head bent on his chest。 His
sombrero was pulled down low across his forehead。
〃He was crawling through the bushes； Sir Charles；〃 the soldier
panted； 〃watching that gentleman； sir；〃he nodded over his
shoulder towards Collier。 〃I challenged； and he jumped to run；
and we collared him。 He resisted； Sir Charles。〃
The mind of the Governor was concerned with other matters than
trespassers。
〃Well； take him to the barracks； then；〃 he said。 〃Report to
me in the morning。 That will do。〃
The prisoner wheeled eagerly； without further show of resistance；
and the soldiers closed in on him on either side。 But as the
three men moved away together； their faces； which had been in
shadow； were now turned towards Mr。 Collier； who was advancing
leisurely； and with silent footsteps； across the grass。 He met
them face to face； and as he did so the prisoner sprang back and
threw out his arms in front of him； with the gesture of a man who
entreats silence。 Mr。 Collier halted as though struck to stone；
and the two men confronted each other without moving。
〃Good God！〃 Mr。 Collier whispered。
He turned stiffly and slowly； as though in a trance； and beckoned
to his wife； who had followed him。
〃Alice！〃 he called。 He stepped backwards towards her； and taking
her hand in one of his； drew her towards the prisoner。 〃Here he
is！〃 he said。
They heard her cry 〃Henry！〃 with the fierceness of a call for
help； and saw her rush forward and stumble into the arms of
the prisoner； and their two heads were bent close together。
Collier ran up the steps and explained breathlessly。
〃And now；〃 he gasped； in conclusion； 〃what's to be done？ What's
he arrested for？ Is it bailable？ What？〃
〃Good heavens！〃 exclaimed Sir Charles； miserably。 〃It is my
fault entirely。 I assure you I had no idea。 How could I？ But I
should have known； I should have guessed it。〃 He dismissed the
sentries with a gesture。 〃That will do；〃 he said。 〃Return to
your posts。〃
Mr。 Collier laughed with relief。
〃Then it is not serious？〃 he asked。
〃Hehe had no money； that was all；〃 exclaimed Sir Charles。
〃Serious？ Certainly not。 Upon my word； I'm sorry〃
The young man had released himself from his sister's embrace； and
was coming towards them； and Sir Charles； eager to redeem
himself； advanced hurriedly to greet him。 But the young man did
not see him； he was looking past him up the steps to where Miss
Cameron stood in the shadow。
Sir Charles hesitated and drew back。 The young man stopped at
the foot of the steps； and stood with his head raised； staring up
at the white figure of the girl； who came slowly forward。
It was forced upon Sir Charles that in spite of the fact that the
young man before them had but just then been rescued from arrest；
that in spite of his mean garments and ragged sandals； something
about himthe glamour that surrounds the prodigal； or possibly
the moonlightgave him an air of great dignity and distinction。
As Miss Cameron descended the stairs； Sir Charles recognized for
the first time that the young man was remarkably handsome； and he
resented it。 It hurt him； as did also the prodigal's youth and
his assured bearing。 He felt a sudden sinking fear； a weakening
of all his vital forces； and he drew in his breath slowly and
deeply。 But no one noticed him； they were looking at the tall
figure of the prodigal； standing with his hat at his hip and his
head thrown back； holding the girl with his eyes。
Collier touched Sir Charles on the arm； and nodded his head
towards the library。 〃Come；〃 he whispered； 〃let us old people
leave them together。 They've a good deal to say。〃 Sir Charles
obeyed in silence； and crossing the library to the great oak
chair； seated himself and leaned wearily on the table before him。
He picked up one of the goose quills and began separating it into
little pieces。 Mr。 Collier was pacing up and down； biting
excitedly on the end of his cigar。 〃Well； this has
certainly been a great night；〃 he said。 〃And it is all due to
you； Sir Charlesall due to you。 Yes； they have you to thank
for it。〃
〃They？ 〃 said Sir Charles。 He knew that it had to come。 He
wanted the man to strike quickly。
〃They？ YesFlorence Cameron and Henry；〃 Mr。 Collier answered。
〃Henry went away because she wouldn't marry him。 She didn't care
for him then； but afterwards she cared。 Now they're reunited；
and so they're happy； and my wife is more than happy； and I won't
have to bother any more； and it's all right； and all through
you。〃
〃I am glad；〃 said Sir Charles。 There was a long pause； which the
men； each deep in his own thoughts； did not notice。
〃You will be leaving now； I suppose？〃 Sir Charles asked。 He was
looking down； examining the broken pen in his hand。
Mr。 Collier stopped in his walk and considered。 〃Yes； I suppose
they will want to get back；〃 he said。 〃I shall be sorry myself。
And you？ What will you do？〃
Sir Charles started slightly。 He had not yet thought what he
would do。 His eyes wandered over the neglected work； which had
accumulated on the desk before him。 Only an hour before he had
thought of it as petty and little； as something unworthy of his
energy。 Since that time what change had taken place in him？
For him everything had changed； he answered； but in him there had
been no change； and if this thing which the girl had brought into
his life had meant the best in life； it must always mean that。
She had been an inspiration； she must remain his spring of
action。 Was he a slave； he asked himself； that he should rebel？
Was he a boy； that he could turn his love to aught but the
best account？ He must remember her not as the woman who had
crushed his spirit； but as she who had helped him； who had lifted
him up to something better and finer。 He would make sacrifice in
her name； it would be in her name that he would