e swayed as though the ground had heaved beneath her, but she
would not fall. She choked back the cry that had risen in her throat. This
was the time to act, not the time to weep for him. She knelt an instant by
the woman on the ground, put her arms round her, kissed her wet cheek, and
then rose up, pale and calm and collected, saying to W. Keyse:

"Take her to the Plas. Ask for Mrs. Pugh, the housekeeper. She is to
prepare a room for you; you are to breakfast, and rest all day, and return
to London by the night mail. Good-bye! God bless you both! I was going to
him to-night at latest.... I am going to him now.... Pray that he is alive
when I reach him! But he will be. God is good!"

Her face was transfigured by the new light that shone in it. She was
strong, salient, resourceful--no longer the shy willowy girl. She was
moving from them with her long swift step, when W. Keyse recovered
himself.

"'Old 'ard! Beg pardon, ma'am! but 'ave you the spondulics?" He blushed
at her puzzled look, and amended: "'Ave you money enough upon you to pay
the railway-fare?"

She lifted a little gold-netted purse attached to her neck-chain.

"Five pounds. My maid is to follow. You know Marie? You will let her
travel with you?"

"Righto! But you'll want a wrap, coat or shawl, or somethink. Midnight
before you gits in--if you catch this next up-Express.... Watto! Give us
'old o' this 'ere, Missus! You can 'ave mine instead."

"Please, no! I need nothing ... nothing!" She stayed his savage attack on
the buttons of Mrs. Keyse's green-and-yellow ulster by holding out her
watch. "How much time have I left to catch the up-Express?"

"Eight minutes. By Cripps! you'll 'ave to run for it."

She waved her white hand, and was gone, swiftly as a bird or a deer.

"They've signalled!" W. Keyse announced after a breathless interval,
during which the slender flying figure grew smaller upon the straining
sight. It vanished, and a thin, nearing screech announced the up-Express.
His wife jumped up and clutched him.

"William! Suppose she's lost it!"

"Garn! No fear!" scoffed W. Keyse.

As he scoffed he was full of fear. They heard the clanking stoppage, the
shrill whistle of departure. They looked breathlessly towards the green
wood that fringed the cliff-base under the Castle head. The iron way ran
through the belt of trees. The Express rushed through, broke roaring upon
their unimpeded vision, devoured the gleaming line of metals that l