At last they came to a place where a quick descent leads from the path down to the sea.

A little sheltered nook of sand and stones is there, all irregular and rough, like the lumps in brown sugar, and the lazy sea splashed a little against some old pebbles it had known for a long time, never having found the energy to wash them away.

The rocks above overhung the spot, so that it was entirely shielded from the path, and the rocks below spread themselves into a kind of seat.

Here they sat them down, facing the water--towards evening--not too near to each other, not too far,--Margaret on the right, Claudius on the left.
And Claudius punched the little pebbles with his stick after he had sat down, wondering how he should begin.

Indeed it did not seem easy.