His content was so deep and full, that ordinary
speech seemed impossible; and silence, a glad necessity. The prospect of
that which the future might hold in store, made the ledge too narrow to
contain him. He sought relief in motion, and swung his long legs out into
the darkness.

It had not occurred to him to wonder at his companion's silence; the
reason for his own had been so all-sufficient.

At length he struck a match to see the time; then, turning with a smile,
held it so that its light illumined Myra.

She knelt upon the ledge, her hands pressed against the overhanging
cliff, her head turned in terror away from it. Her face was ashen in its
whiteness, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.

Jim dropped the match, with an exclamation, and groped towards her in the
darkness.

"Dear!" he cried, "Oh, my dear, what is the matter? Selfish fool, that I
am! I thought you were just resting, quiet and content."

His groping hands found and held her.

"Oh, Jim," sobbed Lady Ingleby, "I am so sorry! It is so weak and
unworthy. But I am afraid I feel faint. The whole cliff seems to rock and
move. Every moment I fear it will tip me over. And you seemed miles
away!"

"You _are_ faint," said Jim Airth; "and no wonder. There is nothing weak
or unworthy about it. You have been quite splendid. It is I who have been
a thoughtless ass. But I can't have you fainting up here. You must lie
down at once. If I sit on the edge with my back to you, can you slip
along behind me and lie at full length, leaning against the cliff?"

"No, oh no, I couldn't!" whispered Myra. "It frightens me so horribly
when you hang your legs over the edge, and I can't bear to touch the
cliff. It seems worse than the black emptiness. It rocks to and fro, and
seems to push me over. Oh, Jim! What shall I do? Help me, help me!"

"You _must_ lie down," said Jim Airth, between his teeth. "Here, wait a
minute. Move out a little way. Don't be afraid. I have hold of you. Let
me get behind you.... That's right. Now you are not touching the cliff.
Let me get my shoulders firmly into the hollow at this end, and my feet
fixed at the other. There! With my back rammed into it like this, nothing
short of an earthquake could dislodge me. Now dear--turn your back to me
and your face to the sea and let yourself go. You will not fall over. Do
not be afraid."

Very gently, but very firmly, he drew her into his arms.

Tired, frightened, faint,--Lady Ingleby was consc