a smile; she reverted hastily
beyond the blind of her floating hair.

But he could not follow where she offered to lead, for she dropped her
feet, and sank, and walked the under-floor of rock, entering a deep
gallery. He dived, entered after, then breath gave out, and he shot back
to gasp.

She presented a face of grieved surprise. 'There is another way to the
same end,' was all she said on his deficiency.

He mounted after her then, by shelf and ridge, an intricate, retiring
way, till she showed him a dark gulf at their feet.

'Leap!' she said, 'no hurt lies there.'

Utter blackness lay below, repugnant to his nerves; yet not therefore he
stayed.

'Diadyomene,' he said, with desperate temerity, 'you do not forbid me
ever to see you again.'

Daylight struggled feebly in there. Her answer was not direct, and it
laboured.

'I have no--desire--ever to see you again.'

Quick for once: 'Have you a desire never to see me again?' he said, and
held his breath.

He saw her step to the verge, lift her arms, and poise. She delivered an
ingenious masterstroke to wound.

'Be under no such apprehension. I will convince you: for your assurance I
will go first.'

'Hold back!' with a savage sob cried Christian; leapt, and dropped with
straightened feet perpendicular in the gulf.

With a thin sigh and a vigorous kiss two elements received his descent.
Diadyomene leaned over the dark, and called 'Farewell.' The word was
echoed back by him hoarsely; and again from further distance it came,
ringing sound.

Beneath her breath she said, 'Some day I will have grey eyes weeping
before my face.' Then laughter possessed her, and away she sprang, to
revel in the release of peals of wicked delight.

Very cold-hearted the sea-bred are, and their malice is very keen.

CHAPTER VI

Lois drew forward a young creature, whose dark head did not fully uplift.

'Christian,' she said, 'this is your cousin Rhoda.'

He blurted out 'Cousin!' in astonishment. Two faces stiffened; the girl's
eyes declined.

'My niece,' said Lois briefly, 'and so cousin by adoption.'

Giles kicked his heel, so he guarded his tongue duly.

Considerate of embarrassing the girl with open observation, he took note
discreetly how kin was just legible on the two faces. The eyes of both
were set overdeep for womankind; they were alike in the moulding of the
bones; but the face of Rhoda gave promise of a richer beauty than could
ever have been the port