to be happy, or for the antiquated notions of such
an antiquated town as St. Penfer? I am only twenty-nine, and the
pleasures of life are necessities to me."

"I am only nineteen, Roland."

"But then you are a girl--that is such a different thing."

"Yes, it is a different thing," and Elizabeth laid down the piece of
linen she was stitching and looked up at the handsome fellow who was
leaning against the open window and puffing his cigar smoke out of it.
She had the English girl's adoration of the eldest son, and likewise
her natural submission to the masculine element. Besides which, she
loved Roland with all her simple faith and affection. She loved him
for his handsome self and his charming ways. She loved him because he
had been her mother's idol, and she had promised her mother never to
desert Roland. She loved him because he loved her in his own perfectly
selfish way. She was just as willing to bear his troubles, and plan
for their relief, and deny herself for his pleasure, as Roland was
willing to accept the sacrifice. Of course she was foolish, perhaps
sinfully foolish, and it is no excuse for her folly to admit that
there are thousands of women in the same transgression.

In one of his visits to St. Penfer, about two years previous to this
Easter Eve, Roland Tresham had met Denas Penelles. At that time he had
been much interested in her. The little fisher-girl with her piquant
face, her strange haunting voice, and her singular self-possession was
a charming study. He made several sketches of her, he set her wild,
sweet fisher-songs to music, he lent her books to read, he talked to
her and Elizabeth of the wonderful London life which Elizabeth could
partly remember, but which was like a fairy-tale to Denas.

Fortunately Elizabeth was jealous of her brother and jealous of her
friend, and she never gave them any opportunity for private
conversation. If Roland proposed to see Denas down the cliff-breast,
Elizabeth was always delighted to go also. If Roland asked Denas to go
into the garden to gather fruit or flowers, or into the drawing-room
to sing her songs to his accompaniments, Elizabeth was faithfully at
the side of Denas. She was actuated by a variety of motives. She
wished her brother to make a prudent marriage. There were at least
three young girls in the vicinity eligible, and Elizabeth believed
that Roland had only to woo in order to win. Any entanglement with
Denas, therefore, would be apt to delay