She had but just tossed her Florentine slumber-robe of yellow silk upon the rocks, and thrown herself upon it, when voices reached her ear. Eavesdropping is an impossible crime on Windover Point, where the cliffs are common trysting-ground; still, Helen experienced a slight discomfort, and was about to exchange her rock for some less public position, when she caught a word which struck the blood to her heart, and back again, like a smart, stinging blow. The voices were the voices of two girls. The stronger and the bolder was speaking. “So I come to tell you. Do as you please. If _you_ don’t let on, I shall.” “Lena!” groaned the other, “are you sure? Isn’t there some mistake?” “Not a ---- chance of any,” replied Lena promptly. “Do you s’pose I’d thrust myself upon you this way, and tell for nothin’? Lord, _I_ know how decent girls feel, bein’ seen with the likes of me. That’s why I set it after dark, and never come nigh your house. Besides, _he’s_ there. I warn’t a-goin’ to make no talk, you better believe, Jane Granite. I’ve seen enough o’ that.” “Mr. Bayard says you are a--good girl, now,” faltered Jane, not knowing what to say. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want me to be ashamed to be seen with you--now. And I--I’m much obliged to you, Lena. Oh, Lena! what ever in the world are we going to do?” “Do?” said Lena sharply; “why, head ’em off; that’s all! It only needs a little horse sense, and--to care enough. I’d be drownded in the mud in the inner harbor in a land wind--I’d light a bonfire in the powder factory, and stand by it, if that would do him any good. I guess you would, too.” Jane made no answer. She felt that this was a subject which could not be touched upon with Lena. It was too dark to see how Jane looked. “Why,” said the other, “you’re shaking like a topsail in a breeze o’ wind!” “How do you mean? What is your plan? What do you mean to have me do?” asked Jane, whose wits seemed to have dissolved in terror. “Get him out of Windover,” coolly said Lena; “leastways for a spell. Mebbe it’ll blow by. There ain’t but one thing I know that’ll do it. Anyhow, there ain’t but one person.” “I can’t think what you can mean!” feebly gasped Jane. “_She_ can,” replied Lena tersely. Jane made a little inarticulate moan. Lena went on rapidly. “You go tell her. That’s what I come for. Nothin’ else--nor nobody else--can do it. That’s your part of this infernal business. Mine’s done. I’ve give you the warnin’. Now you go ahead.” “Oh, are you _sure_?” repeated Jane weakly; “isn’t it _possible_ you’ve got it wrong, somehow?”