"She trembled at the thought. ’Where is she?’ she demanded. I told her that I didn’t know. ’Not ... home?’ she asked ’Not there?...’ She stretched out a hand vaguely. ’Oh, no’ said I, relieved to be able to speak an open word ’Then it is not for her that he goes?’ she cried, pathetically relieved. ’No’ said I again. She leaned toward me, as if to make a critical examination. ’Why have you come, to change and take him from me?’ she asked bitterly. ’I came by chance, without knowing’ I answered ’It is the hand of destiny’ Throwing back her head, with a passionate gesture she flung an uplifted arm across her eyes. ’Is she so beautiful?’ she cried in a low voice, like one pleading with fate. "I heard a slight movement behind me, and whirled, to find Bert standing in the doorway. He gazed from one to the other of us in troubled silence; then crossed the porch and stood beside me at the rail. She heard his step, and turned, a superb figure, her uplifted arm still shading her eyes. "’Nichols, I’m awfully sorry...’ he began weakly. "’Ah!’ she cried, her arrow-like candour tearing the veil he would have dropped. She went to him swiftly. ’All day I have wandered in the hills’ said she ’All day I have thought of your choice. I have asked the forest, why? and the mountains, why? and the great ocean, why? I have held up my hands to the white clouds, to the sun of life and wisdom, asking why, why? Now I have come to you—and him—to ask you, why? My Love’ said she softly ’I think it is that you do not understand, and your words fall without knowledge. You are the light of life to me, and the breath of the body. I cannot live alone. You have taken my heart from my breast, and now would carry it with you to a strange land, where it would perish and die. But these are words—you cannot mean them. You will not go. See how I hold you fast!’ "He gazed at her in trepidation. ’It is decided’ said he ’When the ship returns, I am to go’ ’Then I shall follow!’ she told him. ’I shall go with you ... home’ He snatched his hands away. ’Oh, no, you can’t!’ he shouted ’It isn’t what you think’ ’Blind one’ she answered ’would I not be near you?’ He started violently; she took his lands again. ’Then stay with me, here in my land, which waits for us alone. Stay with me in these nights that never end!’ "He sighed profoundly. ’It would soon be over....’ "’When it had ended, we could die’ she whispered ’I would gladly die thus, having lived for a time. Stay with me till love grows cold!’ "He pushed her off like one dazed and distracted. For a long while he stood perfectly motionless. ’Stay!’ she whispered once more ’Be quiet—let me think’ said he. She pressed against the railing. ’Look down!’ said she ’To-night we live—but there may be no to-morrow!’ While she was speaking, clear and sharp across the water came the rattle of a falling anchor-chain.