"To-morrow we shall have left Prudence,—to-morrow we shall have left Prudence."
Then she suddenly stopped that iteration by telling herself that it was true that Rodney no longer cared for Prudence. Had he not shown plainly enough that he had recovered from that infatuation? Was it an infatuation? How often we like to call the love which is not offered us, or which we do not quite understand, by that term!
"And to-morrow we shall be far away. I will make him happy. Surely, surely, God will let me make him happy."
The girl turned back towards the house. And now the wind seemed trying to take her up bodily and fling her into the sea.
Leander struggled on beside her, talking, talking. She wished his tongue might be still for one moment.
At last he dropped a little behind by the path which led to the stable. He shrieked after his sister that he was going to see if his ducks had got loose.
Carolyn walked on, her body bent forward to meet the gale. Thus walking she came suddenly upon a man who was hurrying in an opposite direction.
He drew back, uttering an exclamation, and taking off his hat as he did so.
Neither could see the other at first in the darkness.
"Oh, I beg your pardon," he said. "Is it Miss Ffolliott?"