"Then all that I know is that you are very fanciful and very foolish," she said, speaking lightly. "If you tell me that you wish our engagement to be at an end, I should wish it too; I should only think of your happiness--" and as she said these words, she allowed her voice to change and falter slightly, so that Anthony, smitten with fresh remorse, turned and caught her hand in his,--"but if you are only speaking from some scrupulous--crotchet, shall I call it?" she went on, looking up at him, and smiling, "and fancying that I am not content, don't make yourself miserable about what is really nonsense. Most people have little likings before they marry and settle down. Aunt Henrietta always says I am not like the foolish girls in novels. I am quite sure we shall be very happy." "If only I can make you so!" said poor Anthony, touched and overcome by the manner in which she had borne what he had to say. He forced back the sinking numbness which was creeping over his heart, and made his resolve tenderly. While those two had been standing there, the glow and ruddy lights had faded away, the grey deepened into gloom, the idlers had lounged home, a little red fire burned on board the unladen vessel, and made odd shadows, at which Sniff was barking in puzzled wrath. Anthony and Ada were standing in the darkness when he stooped slowly down and kissed her. "So you are satisfied?" she said triumphantly. "I am glad you know," he said, in a deep voice which he used when he was moved. Two or three men on board the Norwegian vessel, who were sitting in a dark group by the fire, began suddenly to sing one of their folk songs. It was a pathetic simple little air, without much variation in the refrain which came again and again. "Forloren, forloren," it repeated, as if the lover could find no other words for his sadness. Was it an answer to her question? Was it his own heart crying out in the darkness? As they went slowly away, the sound followed them, growing sweeter when the distance softened it, as distance and time soften all sadness. CHAPTER THIRTY. "Then every evil word I had spoken once, And every evil thought I had thought of old, And every evil deed I ever did. Awoke and cried, `This Quest is not for thee.' And lifting up mine eyes, I found myself Alone, and in a land of sand and thorns, And I was thirsty even unto death." _The Holy Grail_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------