less. I am going now."

He felt her hand grasp his arm, as if with a desire that he should not
leave her. Then she rose quickly, and came with him to the window.
Raising the sash, she held it, and he looked out. There seemed to be no
one in the road, no one in the yard. So, half turning, he swung himself
down by his hands, and dropped to the ground. From the window above a
sob came to him, and Elise's face, all tears, showed for an instant in
the moonlight.

He did not seek the road directly, but, climbing a fence near by, crossed
a hay-field, going unseen, as he thought, to the village.

But a lady, walking in the road with an old gentleman, had seen and
recognised him. Her fingers clinched with anger at the sight, and her
spirit filled with disgust.

"What are you looking at?" said her companion, who was short-sighted.

"At the tricks moonlight plays. Shadows frighten me sometimes, my dear
avocat." She shuddered. "My dear madame!" he said in warm sympathy.




CHAPTER XII

The sun was going down behind the hills, like a drowsy boy to his bed,
radiant and weary from his day's sport. The villagers were up at
Dalgrothe Mountain, soldiering for Valmond. Every evening, when the