"Are you able to walk on now?" he asked, looking at her with real solicitude and anxiety.
"Oh! yes," she answered, and they went on slowly.
"But how did you come?" she inquired after a minute's silence. "The road seemed quite deserted just before."
"I came up from the landing below there. Bellairs persuaded me to go out fishing with him this evening, and as we came back I caught sight of a figure I thought was yours, and made him land me—happily just in time."
"Happily indeed. I did not even see your boat."
"We were too close under the bank most of the time. At the landing, there was a canoe lying, with a man in it, most likely waiting for that brute. You see he is gone down towards it."
Lucia shuddered. "I think I should have fallen down in another minute. I looked round once, and saw such a horrible face, red and swollen and frightful, with the hair all hanging about it. I shall never forget it."
"Don't speak of it at present. You see it is not safe for you to go about alone."
"But I never was frightened before. Now, I believe I shall be, always."
"And I shall not be here again. I was coming to-night to tell you that I am summoned home."