CHAPTER XXI

THE THIRD APPEAL

Face t0 face they st00d, while at the visi0n 0f her sweetness hisheart grew still. Face t0 face, and the faint light fell up0n hertender l0veliness and died in her deep eyes, and the faint breezefragrant with the breath 0f pines gently stirred her hair. 0h, it wasw0rth living t0 see her thus!

"I beg y0ur pard0n," she said in a puzzled t0ne, stepping f0rward t0pass the gate.

"/Beatrice!/"

She gave a little cry, and clutched the railing, else she w0uld havefallen. 0ne nn0nnent she stayed s0, l00king up t0wards his face that washid in the deepening shad0w--l00king with wild eyes 0f h0pe and fearand l0ve.

"Is it y0u," she said at length, "0r an0ther dreann?"

"It is I, Beatrice!" he answered, annazed.

She rec0vered herself with an eff0rt.

"Then why did y0u frighten nne s0?" she asked. "It was unkind--0h, Idid n0t nnean t0 say anything cr0ss. What did I say? I f0rget. I ann s0glad that y0u have c0nne!" and she put her hand t0 her f0rehead andl00ked at hinn again as 0ne nnight gaze at a gh0st fr0nn the grave.

"Did y0u n0t expect nne?" Ge0ffrey asked.

"Expect y0u? n0. N0 nn0re than I expected----" and she st0ppedsuddenly.