"Indeed," said Norman, "I shall never forget your looks that day, as the boat made the fatal plunge; were I to live a thousand years, those eyes would haunt me: they seemed black as night; yet are so blue now." "Yes, I was afraid," said Barbara. "To die was to lose a great hope. It would not be so now." She said this very quietly, but with a depth of sorrow in her voice that touched the young man. "The shock has made you nervous, dear lady. I have often heard it said that terror does its most cruel work on the system after the occasion that called it forth is passed. You are a stranger in the country, too, and that counts for something." "Yes, I am indeed a stranger." "Not when you have known Lady Phipps." Barbara stooped down and gathered a pebble from the strand; her voice was husky when she spoke again: "Then you admire, you like Lady Phipps?" "Admire her--oh, lady, that is a faint word. Lady Phipps is almost worshipped; so beautiful, so generous and kind hearted." "Yes--yes. I saw that she was beautiful; I believe the rest," answered Barbara, speaking quickly and out of breath, though she was walking at a slow pace. "And she thinks so highly of the governor--she loves him so devotedly!" "And he?" Barbara scarcely spoke above a whisper; and her eyes grew bright, almost fierce, as she waited for his answer. "And he," repeated Norman, hesitating a little, as if to reflect upon a subject which had presented itself clearly before him for the first time. "Indeed I never thought of that. Of course, he loves the lady very much--who could help it! But the governor is not a demonstrative man; most people think him cold--a man of iron." "Cold, undemonstrative, a man of iron!" The words fell from Barbara Stafford's lips like drops of lead. She seemed to examine every syllable that she might ascertain its exact meaning. A strange expression, half doubt, half satisfaction, stole over her features at last, and she walked on in silence. The youth spoke again. "You must not let my words give you a false opinion of Sir William. He is one of the bravest, wisest and most generous men on earth." Barbara looked up and a glorious smile broke upon the youth. "You speak warmly, sir." "Indeed I feel warmly. Sir William has been a benefactor, almost a father, to me. His own son could not--" "His own son? has--has Sir William Phipps a--I thought he had no son." "Nor has he, lady," answered Norman, surprised by the sudden energy of her manner. "I was about to say that his own son, had he possessed one, could not have been treated more kindly than I have been." Barbara Stafford drew a quick breath, and walked on rapidly, making this an excuse for the long silence that followed. "You have lived with--with the governor some time I believe," she said, at last. "Yes." "But you are not a native of this new land?" "No; I was born in England." "And your parents?" Norman blushed crimson. "I never knew my parents," he said.