me
then?"

"But certainly."

"When?"

"When you will, mademoiselle."

Chris considered. They had reached the firm sand, and she stood still. "I
can't come to-morrow because of my foot, and the day after the tide will
be too late. I shall have to wait nearly a fortnight. How dull!"

"In a fortnight, then!" said the Frenchman.

"In a fortnight, _preux chevalier_!" Her eyes laughed up at him. "But I
dare say we shall meet before then. I hope we shall."

"I hope it also, mademoiselle." He bowed courteously.

She held out her hand. "I shall come on the tenth of the month--it's my
birthday. I'll bring some cakes, and we'll have a party, and invite the
dragon." Her eyes danced. "We will have some fun, shall we?"

"I think that we shall not want the dragon," he smiled back.

"No? Perhaps not. Well, I'll bring Cinders instead."

"Ah, the good Cinders! He is different."

"And we will go exploring," she said eagerly. "I shan't be a bit afraid
of anything with you there. The tenth, then! Don't forget! Good-bye, and
thank you ever so much! You won't fail me, will you?"

He bent low over the impetuous little hand. "I shall not fail you,
mademoiselle. _Adieu_!"

"_Au revoir_!" she laughed back. "Come along, Cinders! We shall be late
for tea."

He stood motionless on the sunlit sand and watched her go.

She was limping, but she moved quickly notwithstanding. Cinders trotted
soberly by her side.

As she reached the little _plage_, she turned as if aware of his watching
eyes and nonchalantly waved the towel that dangled on her arm. The
sunlight had turned her hair to burnished copper. It made her for the
moment wonderful, and a gleam of swift admiration shot across the
Frenchman's face.

"_Merveilleux_!" he whispered to himself, and half-aloud, "Good-bye,
little bird of Paradise!"

With a courteous gesture of farewell, he turned away. When he looked
again, the child, with her glorious, radiant hair, had passed from sight.

He went back, springing over the rocks, to the Gothic archway that had
fired her curiosity. The tide was rising fast. Already the white foam
raced up to the rocky entrance. He splashed through it, and went within
as one on business bent.

He was absent for some seconds, and soon a large wave broke with a long
roar and rushed swirling into the cave. As the gleaming water ran out
again, he emerged.

A single glance was sufficient to show him that retreat by way of the
beach was already cut o