“I can’t make up my mind what you are,” Katherine interrupted, laughing aloud. “The first night I saw you you were frightened to open your mouth, and now you’re saying all kinds of things.” “That shouldn’t be said?” “No; I like them. I daresay in ten years’ time I won’t care to be told how old I am, but at present it’s all right.” “I didn’t mean anything except that there’s a difference between us. Girls often get married at seventeen.” “I think, you know, you’re rather a dear in your own way,” she said, thoughtfully. CHAPTER XIII It was late, and the house was quiet. When I leaned out of my window I could hear the sound of the waves, but no other sound; then I opened my bedroom door softly, and crept out into the passage. From my father’s room there came a heavy, muffled snoring as I made my way downstairs. The hall-door I unfastened with the same elaborate precautions against noise, but I left it open behind me, only slipping in the door-mat to keep it from slamming. Once outside, I felt safe. The night was clear and full of moonlight, and my black shadow danced fantastically before me on the white, bare road. Not a soul was abroad, and as I walked I had a curious sense of freedom and exhilaration; old songs of romance and adventure hummed in my ears, and I wanted them to come true. Contrary to my expectation and to my desire, Katherine and Gerald were waiting for me at the lodge-gate, in the shadow of the hawthorn hedge, and Katherine held a parcel in her hand. We did not talk very much as we went quickly on, following the same road we had taken on the morning of our picnic. I kept a sharp look-out, but could see no sign of any of the other boys. Below us, on our left, the sea murmured and splashed through the warm delicious night; on the right, the Mourne Mountains rose, black against the sky. “I’m afraid we’re rather late,” I remarked after a while. Then I added, “You’ll have to take an oath of secrecy.” I had already told them all they would have to do, but I was a little nervous, for I had no idea what kind of reception they would get, and to help to tide matters over I had recommended Katherine, if she came, to bring a supply of provisions, which would always be so much in their favour. For myself I didn’t care a straw, though I knew what I was doing would make me unpopular. We had walked for about a quarter of an hour and had left the village well behind us when down towards Maggie’s Leap I saw the red glow of a bonfire. We turned to the sea, clambering over the rough ground, till presently, in a hollow, we saw them, seven or eight boys, sitting round a fire. Thirty feet below, the sea looked black and strange; and the mysterious night floated about us, a night of wonderful beauty.