r when no help was needed. He talked to
her, of small things, as though he and she must needs have kindred
interests. He spoke to her of his uncle as though, near as his uncle
was, the connection were not nigh so close as that between him and
her. She understood it with a half understanding,--feeling that in
all this he was in truth making love to her, and yet telling herself
that he said no more than cousinship might warrant. But the autumn
colours were bright, and the river rippled, and the light breeze
came down from the mountains, and the last of the wild flowers were
still sweet in the woods. After a while she was able to forget her
difficulties, to cease to think of Daniel, and to find in her cousin,
not a lover, but simply the pleasantest friend that fortune had ever
sent her.

And so they came, all alone,--for Aunt Julia, though both limbs and
mind were strong, had not been able to keep up with them,--all alone
to the Stryd. The Stryd is a narrow gully or passage, which the
waters have cut for themselves in the rocks, perhaps five or six
feet broad, where the river passes, but narrowed at the top by an
overhanging mass which in old days withstood the wearing of the
stream, till the softer stone below was cut away, and then was left
bridging over a part of the chasm below. There goes a story that a
mountain chieftain's son, hunting the stag across the valley when the
floods were out, in leaping the stream, from rock to rock, failed to
make good his footing, was carried down by the rushing waters, and
dashed to pieces among the rocks. Lord Lovel told her the tale, as
they sat looking at the now innocent brook, and then bade her follow
him as he leaped from edge to edge.

"I couldn't do it;--indeed, I couldn't," said the shivering girl.

"It is barely a step," said the Earl, jumping over, and back again.
"Going from this side, you couldn't miss to do it, if you tried."

"I'm sure I should tumble in. It makes me sick to look at you while
you are leaping."

"You'd jump over twice the distance on dry ground."

"Then let me jump on dry ground."

"I've set my heart upon it. Do you think I'd ask you if I wasn't
sure?"

"You want to make another legend of me."

"I want to leave Aunt Julia behind, which we shall certainly do."

"Oh, but I can't afford to drown myself just that you may run away
from Aunt Julia. You can run by yourself, and I will wait for Aunt
Julia."

"That is not exactly my plan. Be a brave