ent out at a door on the platform,
followed by the rest of the Council in haste. Then the man came down
again, and motioned me to follow him. I was not prepared for what
happened. Outside in the square was a great, pale, silent crowd, in the
most obvious and dreadful excitement and consternation. We went rapidly,
in absolute stillness, through two lines of people, who watched us with
an emotion I could not quite interpret, but it was something very like
hatred.

"Follow me quickly," said my guide; "do not look round!" and, as we
went, I heard the crowd closing up in a menacing way behind us. But we
walked straight forward, neither slowly nor hurriedly but at a
deliberate pace, to the gateway which opened on the cliffs. At this
point I saw a confusion in the crowd, as though some one were being kept
back, and in the forefront of the throng, gesticulating and arguing,
was Lucius himself, with his back to us. Just as we reached the gate I
heard a cry; and from the crowd there ran Cynthia, with her hair
unbound, in terror and faintness. Our guide opened the gate, and
motioned us swiftly through, turning round to face the crowd, which now
ran in upon us. I saw him wave his arm; and then he came quickly through
the gate and closed it. He looked at us with a smile. "Don't be afraid,"
he said; "that was a dangerous business. But they cannot touch us here."
As he said the word, there burst from the gardens behind us a storm of
the most hideous and horrible cries I had ever heard, like the howling
of wild beasts. Cynthia clung to me in terror, and nearly swooned in my
arms. "Never mind," said the guide; "they are disappointed, and no
wonder. It was a near thing; but, poor creatures, they have no
initiative; their life is not a fortifying one; and besides, they will
have forgotten all about it to-morrow. Rut we had better not stop here.
There is no use in facing disagreeable things, unless one is obliged."
And he led the way down the valley.

When we had got a little farther off, our guide told us to sit down and
rest. Cynthia was still very much frightened, speechless with excitement
and agitation, and, like all impulsive people, regretting her decision.
I saw that it was useless to say anything to her at present. She sat
wearily enough, her eyes closed, and her hands clasped. Our guide looked
at me with a half-smile, and said:

"That was rather an unpleasant business! It is astonishing how excited
those placid and polite peop