feeling had altered considerably in the mean time.

"Run, Wynnie, and ask Mr. Percivale, with my compliments, to come and lunch
with us," I said--more to let her see I was not displeased, however I might
have looked, than for any other reason. She went--sedately as before.

Almost as soon as she was gone, I saw that I had put her in a difficulty.
For I had discovered, very soon after coming into these parts, that her
head was no more steady than my own on high places, for she up had never
been used to such in our own level country, except, indeed, on the stair
that led down to the old quarry and the well, where, I can remember now,
she always laid her hand on the balustrade with some degree of tremor,
although she had been in the way of going up and down from childhood. But
if she could not cross that narrow and really dangerous isthmus, still less
could she call to a man she had never seen but once, across the intervening
chasm. I therefore set off after her, leaving Connie lying there in
loneliness, between the sea and the sky. But when I got to the other side
of the little tower, instead of finding her standing hesitating on the
brink of action, there she was on the rock beyond. Mr. Percivale had risen,
and was evidently giving an answer to my invitation; at least, the next
moment she turned to come back, and he followed. I stood trembling almost
to see her cross the knife-back of that ledge. If I had not been almost
fascinated, I should have turned and left them to come together, lest the
evil fancy should cross her mind that I was watching them, for it was one
thing to watch him with her drawings, and quite another to watch him with
herself. But I stood and stared as she crossed. In the middle of the path,
however--up to which point she had been walking with perfect steadiness and
composure--she lifted her eyes--by what influence I cannot tell--saw me,
looked as if she saw ghost, half lifted her arms, swayed as if she would
fall, and, indeed, was falling over the precipice when Percivale, who was