Heather and bracken were now under their feet; the wind came over from the ocean and fanned their faces. Soon they left the heather below them, and short turf with grey blocks of stone lay before them. Sidney presently spied a man's figure in front of them. He was just gaining the summit. "Who is that? Some tourist? He is not a shepherd or anyone of our parts." "What dogged shoulders! And what a pace! Come, Sid, buck up! We're awfully slack." "We aren't climbing for a wager. Let us look back. I don't know why I feel inclined to moralise to-day, but I do." "Oh, let me do it for you! I know the style. As we look back on the path of our feet, dear friend, we see here a picture of our life's journey. When we come to the top of the hill of life we shall see how small the things now look that once seemed so great—our all in all. As we—" "Be quiet, Austin. I want to enjoy the view." Sidney was gazing out towards the ocean which lay before them in the distance. The land below them, with its shining valleys and winding river, its wooded hills, and the cluster of cottages dotted here and there round a turreted church tower, or spire, presented a fair picture of English country. Austin threw himself upon the ground to rest. His eyes were fixed on Sidney's slim upright young figure. "I wonder some fellow has not stepped in and laid siege to your heart," he remarked meditatively. "I always thought that Hughes would be the lucky chap. You don't mind my mentioning it. He has got tied up now, hasn't he?" "I believe he has," Sidney answered quietly. "Now let us finish our climb." They started again, and in another ten minutes were at the top of the Beacon. There, leaning against a pile of rocks, the foundation for many a bonfire, was Randolph Neville. CHAPTER III MONICA'S REQUEST HE looked as surprised as they when they met each other. Sidney introduced Austin at once. "I came up here for a blow," said Randolph. "And perhaps to get away from people," said Sidney with quick intuition. "We had no idea we were pursuing you, though we admired the purpose and energy of your long strides." Randolph smiled. "I was pursued by visions of dinners and crowded drawing-rooms. I have come from town to escape them." "Then my mother wasn't successful in capturing you," said Austin; "she had a hard try, didn't she?" "She was very kind. I am afraid I vexed her; but I should be no addition at present to any company." Sidney looked at him with a mixture of amusement and interest. "There are very few of us who refuse Mrs. de Cressiers anything," she said. "I don't think it was very kind of you. And these are very special occasions, aren't they, Austin? It is a political opportunity." "So Mrs. de Cressiers said; but that is just one of the reasons why I fight shy of it." Sidney, who knew his history, was silent. "Shake hands!" cried Austin delightedly. "I loathe politics. My mother is too strong on them for my taste."