"You know I came here to be lonely, Molly," he said. "Yes; you told me," said Molly, and he fancied that he heard her sigh. "Are you never lonely?" he asked in a kindly tone. "Often," she said. "Often." She was pouring the tea as she spoke. Her head was slightly bent. "And so you took pity on me?" said Durant. She shook her head suddenly and vigorously. "It wasn't that, sir," she said in a very low voice. "I--I wanted--someone--to speak to." "I see," said Durant gently. He added after a moment: "Do you know, I am glad I chanced to be that someone." She smiled at him over the teapot. "You weren't pleased--at first," she said. "You were angry. I heard you saying--" "What?" said Durant. He looked across at her and laughed naturally, spontaneously, for the first time. Molly had forgotten to be either embarrassed or dignified. "I don't know what it was," she said; "I only know what it sounded like." "And that made you want to speak to me?" said Durant. The brown face opposite to him looked impish. Yet it seemed to him that there was sadness in her eyes. "It didn't frighten me away," she said. "It would need to be a very timid person to be frightened at me now," said Hugh Durant quietly. She opened her eyes wide, and looked as if she were about to protest. Then, changing her mind, she remained silent. "Yes," he said. "Please say it!" She shook her head without speaking. But he persisted. Something in her silence aroused his curiosity. "Am I really formidable, Molly?" he asked. She rose to take his empty cup, and paused for a moment at his side, looking down at him. "I don't think you realise how strong you are," she said enigmatically. He laughed rather drearily. "I am gauging my weakness just at present," he said. And then, glancing up, he saw quick pain in her eyes, and abruptly turned the conversation. Later, when he took his leave, he stood on her step and looked out to the long, grey line of sea with a faint, dissatisfied frown on his face. "You're not afraid--living here?" he asked her at the last moment. "What is there to fear?" said Molly. "I have Cæsar, and there are other cottages not far away." "Yes, I know," he said. "But at night--when it's dark--" A sudden glory shone in the girl's pure eyes. "Oh, no, sir," she said. "I am not afraid." And he departed, hobbling with difficulty up the long, sandy slope. At the top he paused and looked out over the grey, unquiet sea. The dissatisfaction on his face had given place to perplexity and a faint, dawning wonder that was like the birth of Hope. * * * During the long summer days that followed, that strange friendship, begun at the moment when Hugh Durant's life had touched its lowest point of suffering and misery, ripened into a curiously close intimacy.