He had come to a gap, by which carts and horses went down to the shore to bring away sand and seaweed. A dark object, half hidden in a cranny of the chalk, met his eye. He ran down, and as he approached the thing sprang up and started away from him. But he gave chase, came up with the flying figure as it reached the edge of the water, and caught at the black draperies as he ran.
The long black veil gave way, and remained a limp rag in his hand. But the flying figure stopped.
“Why do you come? Why can’t you leave me alone?” she asked fiercely.
And as she turned upon him, he saw in her large, blue eyes, which looked dark and unnaturally bright in the dusk, something of the passionate temper which she had learned by sad experience to control.
Rudolph hesitated. There was a doubt in his mind which made him choose his words.
“He wants to see you, he says he must see you,” he said at last, in a low voice. “He told Lady Mallyan so. You cannot, you will not refuse to come.”
But a sudden change to terror came over her beautiful face. To Rudolph’s great perplexity and distress, she burst into a violent fit of crying.
“I can’t go, I can’t see him. After what she said! I can’t. I would rather die!” Rudolph did not know what to say. His vague and awkward attempts to comfort her were quite without effect, and at last he contented himself by waiting in impatient silence, for the arrival of Mabin. As he expected, the young girl found them out quickly, guided by the piteous sobs of Mrs. Dale.
“Don’t cry so, dear, don’t cry. The old woman will never dare to worry you again,” were the words which Mabin whispered into the ears of the weeping woman, as she threw her arms round her, and at once began to try to drag her up the slope toward home. “She’s ashamed of herself already. And you will not have to meet her alone. Remember that.”
Under the influence of her gentle words, and still more persuasive caresses, Mrs. Dale speedily became calmer. And although she at first resisted all her friend’s efforts to lead her back toward the house she had left, she presently listened to and began to answer Mabin’s words.