onger bare.

He took off his hat as he answered.

"Perhaps I might have been tempted to do so," he said, "if I had felt
equal to mounting the step without assistance."

"Oh!" She pulled down her sleeves hastily. "Will you let me help you?"
she suggested shyly.

Durant's eyes were slightly drawn with pain. Nevertheless they were very
friendly as he made reply.

"Do you think you can?" he said.

She took his hat from him with an anxious smile, and then the crutch
that he held towards her.

"Tell me exactly what to do!" she said in her sweet, low voice. "I am
very strong."

"If I may put my arm on your shoulder," Durant said, "I think it can be
managed. But say at once if it is too much for you!"

Her face was deeply flushed as she bent from the step to give him the
help he needed.

"Bear harder!" she said, as he leant his weight upon her. "Bear much
harder!"

There was an odd little quiver in her voice, but, slight as she was, she
supported him with sturdy strength.

The door opened straight into the tiny cottage parlour. A large wicker
chair, well cushioned, stood in readiness. As Durant lowered himself
into it, he saw that the girl's eyes were brimming with tears.

"I've hurt you!" he exclaimed.

"No, no!" she said, and turned quickly away. "You didn't bear nearly
hard enough."

He laughed a little, though his teeth were clenched.

"You're a very strong woman, Molly," he said.

"Oh, I am," she answered instantly. "Now shall you be all right while I
go to fetch tea?"

"Of course," he said. "Pray don't make a stranger of me!"

She disappeared into the room at the back of the cottage, and he was
left alone. The great dog came in with stately stride and lay down at
his feet.

Durant sat and looked about him. There was little to attract the eye in
the simple furnishing of the tiny room. There was a small bookcase in
one corner, but it was covered by a red curtain. Two old-fashioned Dutch
figures stood on the mantelpiece on each side of a cheap little clock
that seemed to tick at him almost resentfully. The walls were tinted
green and bore no pictures or decoration of any sort. There was a plain
white tablecloth on the table, and in the middle stood a handleless jug
filled with pink and white wild roses, freshly gathered. There was no
carpet. The floor was strewn with beach sand.

All these details Durant took in with keen interest. Nothing could have
exceeded the simplicity of this dwelling by th