He had not run far when he saw one more shadow on the hills; and it came with faltering steps, and a trembling sobbing breath, and he held up his lantern and the light fell on Thea, shivering in her wet veil. As the flame struck her eyes she sighed, "Oh, I can't see the way--I can't see!" Young Gerard hurried to her and said, "Come this way," and he took her hand; but she snatched it quickly from him. "Go, man!" she said. "Don't touch me. Go!" "Don't be frightened of me," said Young Gerard gently. Then she looked at him and whispered, "Oh--it is you--shepherd. I was trying to find you. I'm cold." Young Gerard wrapped the cloak about her, and said, "Come with me. I'll make you a fire." He took her back to the shed. But she did not go in. She crouched on the ground under the cherry-tree. Young Gerard moved about collecting brushwood. They scarcely looked at each other; but once when he passed her he said, "You're shivering." "It's because I'm so wet," said Thea. "Did you fall in the water?" She nodded. "The floods were so strong." "It's a bad night for swimming," said Young Gerard. "Yes, shepherd." She then said again, "Yes." He could tell by her voice that she was smiling faintly. He glanced at her and saw her looking at him; both smiled a little and glanced away again. He began to pile his brushwood for the fire. After a short pause she said timidly, "Are you sore, shepherd?" "No, I feel nothing," said he. "They beat you very hard." "I did not feel their blows." "How could you not feel them?" she said in a low voice. He looked at her again, and again their eyes met, and again parted quickly. "Now I'll strike a spark," said Young Gerard, "and you'll be warm soon." He kindled his fire; the branches crackled and burned, and she knelt beside the blaze and held her hands to it. "I was never here by night before," she said. "Yes, once," said Young Gerard. "You often came, didn't you, to gather flowers in the morning and to swim in the river at noon. But once before you were here in the night." "Was I?" said she. He dropped a handful of cones into her lap, throwing the last on the fire. She threw another after it, and smiled as it crackled. "I remember," she said. "Thank you, shepherd. You were always kind and found me the things I wanted, and gave me your cup to drink of. Who'll drink of it now?" "No one," he said, "ever again." He went and fetched the cup and gave it to her. "Burn that too," said Young Gerard. Thea put it into the fire and trembled. When it was burned she asked very low, "Will you be lonely?" "I'll have my sheep and my thoughts." "Yes," said Thea, "and stars when the sheep are folded. The stars are good to be with too." "Good to see and not be seen by," he said. "How do you know they don't see you?" she asked shyly.