Why, the man must be a marvel.

Even our mountaineers could not match such endurance as his.

In the course of her narrative my daughter told me of how, being wearied with her long waiting in the tomb, and waking to find herself alone when the floods were out, and even the Crypt submerged, she sought safety and warmth elsewhere; and how she came to the Castle in the night, and found the strange man alone.

I said: "That was dangerous, daughter, if not wrong.

The man, brave and devoted as he is, must answer me--your father." At that she was greatly upset, and before going on with her narrative, drew me close in her arms, and whispered to me: "Be gentle to me, father, for I have had much to bear.