"It was naught!" exclaimed Julian. "A passing fancy. Come--I know not whether he be alive or dead. Some say one thing and some another, but this I do know, that if he be alive, the world will be too narrow for you and me together in it, and if he be dead--it is indifferent to both whether we live, for to you and me alike is Anthony the sun that rules us, in whose light we have our joy. Come! Let us have another hitch, as the wrestlers say, and see which gives the other the turn." Urith, in her half-dreamy condition, in rising to her feet, had taken hold of the end of Julian's staff, and now stood looking down the abyss to the tossing, thundering water, still holding the end. "Urith!" called Julian, imperiously and impatiently, "dost hear what I say? Let us have one more, and a final hitch. Thou holding the staff at one end, I at the other. See, we stand equal, on the same shelf, and each with a heel at the edge of the rock. One step back, and thou or I must go over and be broken on the stones, far below. Dost mark me?" "I hear what you say," answered Urith. "I will thrust, and do thou! and see which can drive the other to death. In faith! we have thrust and girded at each other long, and driven each other to desperation. Now let us finish the weary game with a final turn[6] and a fair back."[6] Urith remained, holding the end of the staff, looking at Julian steadily, without passion. Her face was pale; the wild hair was tossing about it. "Art ready!" called Julian. "When I say three, then the thrust begins, and one or other of us is driven out of one world into the other." Urith let fall the end of the staff; "I have no more quarrel with you," she said, "Anthony is dead. I killed him." Julian stamped angrily. "This is the second time thou hast refused my challenge; though thou didst refuse my glove, thou didst take it up. So now thou refusest, yet may be will still play. As thou wilt: at thine own time--but one or other." She pointed down the chasm with her staff, and turned away. FOOTNOTE: [6] Terms in wrestling. A "turn" is a fall; a "fair back" is one where the three points are touched--head, shoulders, and back. CHAPTER LII. THE SAW-PIT. At Hall, that same morning had broken on Squire Cleverdon in his office or sitting-room--it might bear either name--leaning back in his leather armchair, with his hands clasped on his breast, his face an ashen grey, and his hair several degrees whiter than on the preceding day. When the maid came in at an early hour to clean and tidy the apartment, she started, and uttered a cry of alarm, when she saw the old man in his seat. She thought he was dead. But at her appearance he stood up, and with tottering steps left the room and went upstairs. He had not been to bed all night. Breakfast was made ready, and he was called; but he did not come.