She stood gazing at him for a space in utter amazement, but gradually under his unchanging regard her look began to fail.

She turned at length with a little gasp, and sat down on the old horsehair sofa, huddling herself together as if she desired to withdraw herself from his observation.
He did not stir, and a long, long silence fell between them, broken only by the ticking of the grandfather-clock in the corner and the everlasting murmur of the sea.
The deep, warning note of the bell-buoy floated presently through the summer silence, and as if in answer to a voice Rufus moved at last and spoke.

"You'd better go, lass.

They'll be wondering about you.

But don't be afraid of me after this! I swear--before God--I'll give you no cause!" She started a little at the sound of his voice, but she made no movement to go.