Then they went on in silence. Gilbert was still suffering from the treatment he had received at Bob Priday's hands, and they made slow progress.
"Just raise your head," he said, after ten minutes' tramp through the narrow track, which he lost at times through the thick tangle of heath and gorse and low-growing bracken. "Raise your head and tell me if you can see the shepherd's cottage. It is getting very dark."
Joyce did as he told her, but, after straining her eyes for a few moments, she said:
"I can't see anything, it is so dark. I don't know where we are. Oh, I don't know!"
"You are safe with me," Gilbert said; and then added, fervently: "I am not afraid for God is with us."
It was so unusual for Joyce to hear that Name spoken. She did not respond, but let her head fall upon his shoulder again.
Presently he said:
"There is a tiny light now—two lights—they must be in the shepherd's cottage. Take heart, my darling. We shall soon be home."
The word had slipped from his lips unawares.
"I am going away early to-morrow. You will not forget me?"