eyes turned yearningly back over the sea, oppressed by her loneliness and
the home-sickness that had not left her since the shores of England faded
from her sight.

Jim felt a stir of something like resentment at his heart. He found in
the girl's words a reflection of the beliefs of his native village, and
perhaps justification of them, and saw her for the moment as the
embodiment of the respectability, the piety, and all the narrowness of
Chisley. The thought revived his habitual reserve. He meditated an
escape, already regretting that he had permitted himself to drift into
this extraordinary position.

IV

MRs. MACDOUGAL came to Done's rescue a moment later. She sauntered
languidly up to the young couple in her character of the interesting
invalid, careful to make a charming picture in the moonlight.

'It is a delightful night, Mr. Done, is it not?' she said.

Jim admitted as much, without any display of interest, and the lady
continued:

'You know our dear girl is not strong. You must not keep her in the night
air. Why, Lucy, how foolish you are! not a single wrap, and the wind so
chilly! You'll certainly have a sickness.'

'I shall not be ill, Mrs. Macdougal,' said Lucy. 'But you are very good.'

Mrs. Macdougal's plump figure was covered with furs, and a handsome shawl