Sedgwick looked puzzled. “Well, no. I thought not, then, or I shouldn’t have been so free and easy with her. For one thing, she was painted badly, and the perspiration, running down her forehead, had made her a sight. Yet, I don’t know: her voice was that of a cultivated person. Her manner was awkward and her dress weird for that time of day, and, for all that, she carried herself like a person accustomed to some degree of consideration. That I felt quite plainly. I felt, too, something uncanny about her. Her eyes alone would have produced that impression. They were peculiarly restless and brilliant.”
“Insane?” questioned Kent.
“Not wholly sane, certainly; but it might have been drugs. That suggested itself to me.”
“A possibility. Proceed.”
“She asked what point of the headland gave the best view. ‘Anywhere from the first rise on is good,’ I said. ‘It depends on what you wish to see.’—‘My ship coming in.’ said she.—‘It will be a far view, then,’ I told her. ‘This is a coast of guardian reefs.’—‘What difference?’ she said, and then gave me another surprise; for she quoted:
“‘And though thy soul sail leagues and leagues beyond—
Still, leagues beyond those leagues, there is more sea.’”
“That’s interesting,” remarked Kent. “Casual female wayfarers aren’t given to quoting The House of Life.”
“Nor casual ships to visiting this part of the coast. However, there was no ship. I looked for myself, when I was trying to find the woman later. What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry I interrupted.”
“She walked away from me a few paces, but turned and came back at once.