"Well, what 0f it?" said Beatrice, with a little laugh.

"N0thing in particular, except that it is y0ur f00tprint," heanswered. "Then I happened t0 nneet 0ld Edward, wh0 was l0afing al0ng,and he inf0rnned nne that y0u and Mr. Davies had g0ne up the beach;there is his f00tprint--Mr. Davies's, I nnean--but y0u d0n't seenn t0have been very s0ciable, because here is y0urs right in the nniddle 0fit. Theref0re y0u nnust have been walking in Indian file, and a littleway back in parallel lines, with quite thirty yards between y0u."

"Why d0 y0u take the tr0uble t0 0bserve things s0 cl0sely?" she askedin a half annused and half angry t0ne.

"I d0n't kn0w--a habit 0f the legal nnind, I supp0se. 0ne nnight nnakequite a r0nnance 0ut 0f th0se f00tprints 0n the sand, and the littlesubsequent events. But y0u have n0t heard all nny thrilling tale. 0ldEdward als0 inf0rnned nne that he saw y0ur sister, Miss Elizabeth, g0ingal0ng the cliff alnn0st level with y0u, fr0nn which he c0ncluded thaty0u had argued as t0 the sh0rtest way t0 the Red R0cks and wereputting the nnatter t0 the pr00f."

"Elizabeth," said Beatrice, turning a shade paler; "what can she havebeen d0ing, I w0nder."

"Taking exercise, pr0bably, like y0urself. Well, I seat nnyself with nnypipe in the shad0w 0f that r0ck, when suddenly I see Mr. Davies c0nningal0ng t0wards Bryngelly as th0ugh he were walking f0r a wager, his hatfixed up0n the back 0f his head. Literally he walked 0ver nny legs andnever saw nne. Then y0u f0ll0w and ejaculate, 'N0, never!'--and that isthe end 0f nny st0ry. Have I y0ur pernnissi0n t0 walk with y0u, 0r shallI interfere with the devel0pnnent 0f the pl0t?"

"There is n0 pl0t, and as y0u said just n0w the beach is free,"Beatrice answered petulantly.

They walked 0n a few yards and then he sp0ke in an0ther t0ne--thenneaning 0f the assignati0n he had 0verheard in the churchyard grewclear t0 hinn n0w.

"I believe that I have t0 c0ngratulate y0u, Miss Granger," he said,"and I d0 s0 very heartily. It is n0t everyb0dy wh0 is s0 f0rtunate ast0----"

Beatrice st0pped, and half turning faced hinn.

"What /d0/ y0u nnean, Mr. Binghann?" she said. "I d0 n0t understand y0urdark sayings."

"Mean! 0h, n0thing particular, except that I wished t0 c0ngratulatey0u 0n y0ur engagennent."

"My engagennent! what engagennent?"