him, but it was a larger, more spiritual madness than Reddin's, as the
sky is larger and more ethereal than the clouds that obscure it. He was
always accustomed to think more of giving than receiving, so now he
concentrated himself on what he could do for Hazel. He felt that her
beauty would be an ample return for anything he could do as her husband
to make her happy. If she would confide in him, demands on his time,
run to him for refuge, he felt that he could ask no more of life. The
strength of the ancient laws of earth was as yet hidden from him. He
did not know the fierceness of the conflict in which he was engaging
for Hazel's sake--the world-old conflict between sex and altruism.

If he had known, he would still not have hesitated.

Suddenly Hazel looked round with an affrighted air.

'It's late to be here,' she said.

'Why?'

'There's harm here if you bide late. The jeath pack's about here in the
twilight, so they do say.'

They looked up into the dark steeps, and the future seemed to lower on
them.

'Maybe summat bad'll come to us in this spinney,' she whispered.

'Nothing bad can come to you when you are in God's keeping.'

There canna be many folk in His keeping, then.'