Daylight struggled feebly in there. Her answer was not direct, and it laboured. 'I have no--desire--ever to see you again.' Quick for once: 'Have you a desire never to see me again?' he said, and held his breath. He saw her step to the verge, lift her arms, and poise. She delivered an ingenious masterstroke to wound. 'Be under no such apprehension. I will convince you: for your assurance I will go first.' 'Hold back!' with a savage sob cried Christian; leapt, and dropped with straightened feet perpendicular in the gulf. With a thin sigh and a vigorous kiss two elements received his descent. Diadyomene leaned over the dark, and called 'Farewell.' The word was echoed back by him hoarsely; and again from further distance it came, ringing sound. Beneath her breath she said, 'Some day I will have grey eyes weeping before my face.' Then laughter possessed her, and away she sprang, to revel in the release of peals of wicked delight. Very cold-hearted the sea-bred are, and their malice is very keen. CHAPTER VI Lois drew forward a young creature, whose dark head did not fully uplift. 'Christian,' she said, 'this is your cousin Rhoda.' He blurted out 'Cousin!' in astonishment. Two faces stiffened; the girl's eyes declined. 'My niece,' said Lois briefly, 'and so cousin by adoption.' Giles kicked his heel, so he guarded his tongue duly. Considerate of embarrassing the girl with open observation, he took note discreetly how kin was just legible on the two faces. The eyes of both were set overdeep for womankind; they were alike in the moulding of the bones; but the face of Rhoda gave promise of a richer beauty than could ever have been the portion of Lois. For a minute it bloomed in a vivid blush, for their eyes met as she, too, by stealth was observing him for his great height and breadth and alien complexion. When afterwards his mother said, 'You know whose child she is?' he answered, 'Yes.' 'Christian, I thank God for my good man.' Her sense he could not adjust till long afterwards, when a fuller account of Rhoda's past was given to him. Now Giles told but little.