“Here I must bid you farewell,” said she, when the pathway was reached that led down to the shore, “for my home lies yonder.”
“Will you not first appoint me a trysting-place?” quoth he.
At that Carey’s heart took fright in her breast, nevertheless she made answer, as though compelled thereto; “To-morrow I go cockling down upon the sands.”
“And may I seek you there?” asked the huntsman.
“That I did not say,” said she, and she turned and ran from him down the winding path, her thoughts all in a turmoil of fear and joy and wonder. But when she reached home she found sorrow awaiting her, for her father, whom she dearly loved, had fallen grievously sick. All night she nursed him, but on the morrow her mother took her place, and bade her go cockling.
So Carey took her basket and made her way along the yellow sands, with joy and grief at war in her heart, and as she went the waves cast up a large sea-shell at her feet. Stooping she picked it up, and put it to her ear, for the sake of the music that it held. “Turn back, turn back,” murmured the voice of the sea, “have nothing to do with this stranger.”
“This is surely a message from my godfather,” said Carey to herself, and for a while she stood irresolute with the shell in her hand, but at last she threw it from her, back into the tumbling foam. “I will go to the trysting-place all the same,” said she, “for I have pledged my word.” But it was not the thought of her promise that moved her, but her fancy for the stranger, which she mistook for love. Not many minutes later she saw him coming towards her, and at first they talked together as on the previous day, but soon he began to court her with words and caresses, and besought her to follow him to his home.
“That I cannot do,” said Carey, “for my father lies dying.”
“Appoint me at least to-morrow’s trysting-place,” said he, “and then I will let you go. Know you the inland woods, and the green ride in their midst, with a fallen tree-trunk at the end of it?”
“I know it well,” replied Carey, “it is where the early primroses blow.” So saying she turned away from him, and made haste homewards.