If you had only come to me sooner it would have made it easier for you.

But now there is no time." The soothing note in his voice sounded oddly strained, as though an undernote of fever throbbed below it.

"You're not going to fail me," he urged softly.

"Think how much it means to you--to me! And there is only half an hour left, dear.
Give me that half-hour to catch the magic! Then--when the tide comes up"-- his voice sank, he whispered deeply into her ear--"I will teach you the greatest magic this old world knows." She thrilled at his words, thrilled through her trembling.

She lifted her face to the moonlight.