hopes were very unreasonable. How
could I get Naomi to speak to me? At best she could only regard me as a
landless outcast, whom she had once seen pilloried in Falmouth town and
pelted by hooting boys. It is true I had told her my story in Granfer
Fraddam's Cave, and she had shown a desire to shield me from Richard
Tresidder, but she must probably have forgotten all about it. Besides,
if she had not forgotten me, she would think me either dead or far away.
The letter which I had written at Cap'n Jack's dictation would tell her
that I was in his power. During my two months' stay at Kynance Cove, I
had asked Cap'n Jack concerning Granfer Fraddam's Cave, but he always
evaded my questions, and I did not know whether she had received the
letter I had written.

At the same time my heart beat high with hope, and I was happy. For a
true love, even although difficulties beset it, is always beautiful and
joyous. As I rode along through the night, even the wild winds sang love
songs to me, while I could see the light of Naomi's eyes shining in the
darkness, revealing her face to me, pure and beautiful.

I am told that my days of romance are over, that I have reached that
stage in life when the foolishness of young lovers is impossible to me.
And yet even now I cannot see a boy and a maid together without my heart
beating faster; for there is nothing more beautiful on God's green earth
than the love of lovers, and I know that when a lad feels a girl's first
kisses on his lips, he lives in heaven, if he loves her as I loved
Naomi. There are those, even in this parish, who sneer at the bliss of
boy and girl sweethearts, but I, who remember the night when I rode from
Bumble Rock to Pennington, cannot sneer; nay, rather, the tears start to
my eyes, and I find myself fighting my battles again and dreaming of
love, even as I dreamed then.

Smiler was a better steed than I had hoped. Saddle I had none, nor
bridle, but the halter which had been placed on her head was sufficient
for me to guide her. Moreover, I had been used to horses all my life,
and felt as much at ease on a horse's back as on my feet. Thus it came
about that before midnight I had reached the parish of St. Eve, and was
making my way toward Pennington. When within sight of the house,
however, I was in a dilemma, and never until then did I realise how
difficult was the task I had set myself. The whole family was a-bed, at
least I imagined so, neither did I know the part o