But he could not follow where she offered to lead, for she dropped her feet, and sank, and walked the under-floor of rock, entering a deep gallery. He dived, entered after, then breath gave out, and he shot back to gasp.
She presented a face of grieved surprise. 'There is another way to the same end,' was all she said on his deficiency.
He mounted after her then, by shelf and ridge, an intricate, retiring way, till she showed him a dark gulf at their feet.
'Leap!' she said, 'no hurt lies there.'
Utter blackness lay below, repugnant to his nerves; yet not therefore he stayed.
'Diadyomene,' he said, with desperate temerity, 'you do not forbid me ever to see you again.'
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.