"No." She pauses a moment, and then, slowly opening her closed fingers, shows him the blue flowers lying therein.

"They are lovely," she says, in a low tone, "and I did wish for them. But never—never—do that again."

"Do what again?"

"Endanger your life for me."

"There was no danger—and you had expressed a wish for them."


CHAPTER X.

"Every one is as God made him, and oftentimes a great deal worse!"

—Miguel de Cervantes.

With a continuous sob and a roar from the distant ocean the storm beats on. All night it has hurled itself upon path and lawn with impotent fury; towards morning it still rages, and even now, when noonday is at its height, its anger is not yet expended.