Cytherea's short-lived bliss was dead and gone. O, if she had known
of this sequel would she have allowed him to break down the barrier
of mere acquaintanceship--never, never!

'Will you not explain to me?' she faintly urged. Doubt--indefinite,
carking doubt had taken possession of her.

'Not now. You alarm yourself unnecessarily,' he said tenderly. 'My
only reason for keeping silence is that with my present knowledge I
may tell an untrue story. It may be that there is nothing to tell.
I am to blame for haste in alluding to any such thing. Forgive me,
sweet--forgive me.' Her heart was ready to burst, and she could not
answer him. He returned to his place and took to the oars.

They again made for the distant Esplanade, now, with its line of
houses, lying like a dark grey band against the light western sky.
The sun had set, and a star or two began to peep out. They drew
nearer their destination, Edward as he pulled tracing listlessly
with his eyes the red stripes upon her scarf, which grew to appear
as black ones in the increasing dusk of evening. She surveyed the
long line of lamps on the sea-wall of the town, now looking small
and yellow, and seeming to send long tap-roots of fire quivering
down deep into the sea. By-and-by they reached the landing-steps.
He took her hand as before, and found it as cold as the water about
them. It was not relinquished till he reached her door. His
assurance had not removed the constraint of her manner: he saw that
she blamed him mutely and with her eyes, like a captured sparrow.
Left alone, he went and seated himself in a chair on the Esplanade.

Neither could she go indoors to her solitary room, feeling as she