"What is coming?" I asked. "The fate in store for her. And it's worse than death." "If you don't like her to walk out by moonlight, why not keep her in?--not that there can be any harm in it," interposed Tod. "If you don't approve of her being friendly with Hyde Stockhausen," he went on after a pause, for Ketira made no answer, "why don't you put a stop to it?" "Because she has her mother's spirit and her mother's _will_" cried Ketira. "And she likes to have her own way: and I fear, woe's me! that if I forced her to mine, things might become worse than they are even now: that she might take some fatal step." "I am going home," said Tod at this juncture, perhaps fancying the matter was getting complicated: and, of all things, he hated complications. "Good-night, old lady. We heard you were in bed with rheumatism." He set off back, up the narrow inlet. I said I'd catch him up: and stayed behind for a last word with Ketira. "What did you mean by a fatal step?" "That she might leave me and seek the protection of the Tribe. We have had words about this. Kettie says little, but I see the signs of determination in her silent face. 'I will not have you meet or speak to that man,' I said to her this morning--for she was out with him last evening also. She made me no reply: but--you see--how she has obeyed! Her heart's life has been awakened, and by _him_. There's only one object to whom she clings now in all the whole earth; and that is to him. I am nothing." "He will not bring any great harm upon her: you need not fear that of Hyde Stockhausen." "Did I say he would?" she answered fiercely, her black eyes glaring and gleaming. "But he will bring _sorrow_ on her and rend her heart-strings. A man's fancies are light as the summer wind, fickle as the ocean waves: but when a woman loves it is for life; sometimes for death." Hyde and Kettie had disappeared at the upper end of the dell, taking the way that in a minute or two would bring them out in the open fields. Ketira turned back along the narrow path, and I with her. "I knew he would bring some ill upon me, that first moment when I saw him on Worcester race-ground," resumed Ketira in a low tone of pain. "Instinct warned me that he was an enemy. And what ill can be like that of stealing my young child's heart! Once a girl's heart is taken--and taken but to be toyed with, to be flung back at will--her day-dreams in this life are over." Emerging into the open ground, the first thing we saw was the pair of lovers about to part. They were standing face to face: Hyde held both her hands while speaking his last words, and then bent suddenly down, as if to whisper them. Ketira gave a sharp cry at that, perhaps she fancied he was stealing a kiss, and lifted her right hand menacingly. The girl ran swiftly in the direction of her home--which was not far off--and Hyde strode, not much less quickly, towards his. Ketira stood as still as a stone image, watching him till he disappeared within his gate.