Scott was a trifle perturbed. He glanced uneasily at Kathleen, who told him very plainly that he had contrived to make her anxious and unhappy. Then she fell back into step with Geraldine, letting Scott wander disconsolately forward: "Dear," she said, passing one arm around the younger girl, "I didn't quite dare to object too strongly. You looked so--so interested, so deliciously defiant--so like your real self----" "I feel like it to-day, Kathleen; let me turn back in my own footsteps--if I can. I've been trying so very hard to--to get back to where there was no--no terror in the world." "I know. But, darling, you won't run into any danger, will you?" "Do you call a hard-hit beast a danger? I've wounded a more terrible one than any boar that ever bristled. I'm trying to kill something more terrifying. And I shall if I live." "You poor, brave little martyr!" whispered Kathleen, her violet eyes filled with sudden tears; "don't you suppose I know what you are doing? Don't you suppose I watch and pray----" "Did _you_ know I was really trying?" asked the girl, astonished--"I mean before I told you?" "Know it! Angels above! Of course I know it. Don't you suppose I've been watching you slowly winning back to your old dear self--tired, weary-footed, desolate, almost hopeless, yet always surely finding your way back through the dreadful twilight to the dear, sweet, generous self that I know so well--the straightforward, innocent, brave little self that grew at my knee!--Geraldine--Geraldine, my own dear child!" "Hush--I did not know you knew. I am trying. Once I failed. That was not very long ago, either. Oh, Kathleen, I am trying so hard, so hard! And to-day has been a dreadful day for me. That is why I went off by myself; I paddled until I was ready to drop into the lake; and the fright that the boar gave me almost ended me; but it could not end desire!... So I took a rifle--anything to interest me--keep me on my feet and moving somewhere--doing something--anything--anything, Kathleen--until I can crush it out of me--until there's a chance that I can sleep----" "I know--I know! That is why I dared not remonstrate when I saw you drifting again toward your old affectionate relations with Scott. I'm afraid of animals--except what few Scott has persuaded me to tolerate--butterflies and frogs and things. But if anything on earth is going to interest you--take your mind off yourself--and bring you and Scott any nearer together, I shall not utter one word against it--even when it puts you in physical danger and frightens me. Do you understand?" The girl nodded, turned and kissed her. They were following a path made by game; Scott was out of sight ahead somewhere; they could hear his boots crashing through the underbrush. After a while the sound died away in the forest.