The sea-gulls have risen from the billow, and are turning and wheeling in the air. The light is catching their wings, and making them look like whitest silver. It seems as if they were at conscious play with it, trying experiments as to how they can best catch their bright playfellow, and again shake it off, and yet again recapture it. "What a monster you must think me!" breaks out the elder woman presently. Now that the impression has somehow been conveyed to her mind that her mission is likely to be completely successful, the full brutality of the method by which she has accomplished it bursts upon her mind. "How treacherous! luring you out here, under the pretence of friendliness, to say such horrible things to you!" Elizabeth's narrow hands are clasped upon her knee, and her small heart-broken, white face is looking out straight before her. "No, I do not think you a monster," she answers--"you are a kind-hearted woman! and it must have been very, very unpleasant to you. I am quite sorry"--with a sort of smile--"for you, having to do it; but you are his mother. If I had been his mother, I should have done the same; at least, I suppose so." "I am sure, if things had been different, there is no one that I should have--I do not know when I ever saw anyone whom I took such a fancy to. If it had not been for the disparity--I mean, if he had been less young and unfit to take upon himself the serious responsibilities of life----" How deplorably lame even to Mrs. Byng's ears sound her tardy efforts to place the grounds of her objection on a less cruel basis than that which she has already made so nakedly plain to be the real one! Even the sweet-mannered Elizabeth does not think it necessary to express gratitude for such insulting civilities. "I do not quite understand what you wish me to do," she says, with quiet politeness; "if you will explain to me----" "Oh, I do not want to dictate to you; please do not imagine I could think of being so impertinent; but, of course, he will be asking for you. Since he came to himself, he has not mentioned you as yet; but of course he will. I am expecting it every moment; probably he has not felt up to embarking on the subject. He will ask for you--will want to see you." "And you wish me not to see him?" Her delicate suffering mouth quivers; but she is perfectly composed. "Oh, but of course you must see him! you quite, _quite_ misunderstand me! Much chance there would be"--with a wretched stunted laugh--"of getting him away without a sight of you! How little you know him!" Elizabeth does not dispute the fact of her want of acquaintance with Byng's character, nor does she help his floundering parent by any suggestion. She merely goes on listening to her with that civil white look, while the sportive sea-mews still play at hide-and-seek with the sun-rays on the wide blue fields of heaven.