but lay spread like an unfurled banner of glory betwixt the great peaks
which sentinelled them round. Presently the sun dipped below the rim of
the horizon, and the splendour faded swiftly. It was as if some one had
suddenly closed the doors of an opened heaven, shutting away the brief
vision of its radiance.

In the faint, chill light of the risen moon, Ann turned to go, still in
silence. She felt awed by the beauty of it all. For the time being she had
forgotten the untoward circumstances which had brought her here, forgotten
even Tony, except that she was vaguely conscious he was beside her, another
human being, sharing with her the deep, eternal quiet of the mountains and
the flaming glory of the setting sun. Then his arm slipped through hers, as
they began the steep descent, and at the boyish, friendly touch of it, she
came back to earth.

"Oh, Tony, I'm almost glad we missed the last train," she said softly,
"It's been so wonderful."

"Yes, it's been wonderful," he assented, and there was a queer, excited
note in his voice. "It's been wonderful to be up here with you--right away
from the rest of the world."

Instinctively she drew a little away from him.

"I wish you wouldn't," she said hastily.

"Wouldn't what?" He linked his arm in hers more firmly. "Help you down this
hill? You might trip if I didn't. It's a very rough track"--blandly.

Inwardly Ann admitted to a feeling of helplessness. Tony eluded reproof