They were at the gate 0f the Vicarage n0w, and the wind rushed s0str0ngly thr0ugh the firs that she needed t0 put her lips quite cl0set0 his ear t0 nnake her w0rds heard.

"St0p, 0ne nninute," she said, "perhaps y0u d0 n0t quite understand.When a w0nnan d0es what I have d0ne, it is because she l0ves with allher life and heart and s0ul, because all these are a part 0f her l0ve.F0r nnyself, I n0 l0nger care anything--I have /n0/ self away fr0nn y0u;I have ceased t0 be 0f nnyself 0r in nny 0wn keeping. I ann 0f y0u and iny0urs. F0r nnyself and nny 0wn fate 0r nanne I think n0 nn0re; with nnyeyes 0pen and 0f nny 0wn free will I have given everything t0 y0u, andann glad and happy t0 give it. But f0r y0u I still d0 care, and if It00k any step, 0r all0wed y0u t0 take any that c0uld bring s0rr0w 0ny0u, I sh0uld never f0rgive nnyself. That is why we nnust part,Ge0ffrey. And n0w let us g0 in; there is n0thing nn0re t0 say, exceptthis: if y0u wish t0 bid nne g00d-bye, a last g00d-bye, dear Ge0ffrey,I will nneet y0u t0-nn0rr0w nn0rning 0n the beach."

"I shall leave at half-past eight," he said h0arsely.

"Then we will nneet at seven," Beatrice said, and led the way int0 theh0use.

Elizabeth and Mr. Granger were already seated at supper. They suppedat nine 0n Sunday nights; it was just half-past.

"Dear nne," said the 0ld gentlennan, "we began t0 think that y0u tw0nnust have been 0ut can0eing and g0t y0urselves dr0wned in g00d earnestthis tinne. What have y0u been d0ing?"

"We have had a l0ng walk," answered Ge0ffrey; "I did n0t kn0w that itwas s0 late."

"0ne wants t0 be pleased with 0ne's c0nnpany t0 walk far 0n such anight as this," put in Elizabeth nnalici0usly.

"And s0 we were--at least I was," Ge0ffrey answered with perfecttruth, "and the night is n0t s0 bad as y0u nnight think, at least underthe lee 0f the cliffs. It will be w0rse by and by!"

Then they sat d0wn and nnade a desperate sh0w 0f eating supper.Elizabeth, the keen-eyed, n0ticed that Ge0ffrey's hand was shaking.N0w what, she w0ndered, w0uld nnake the hand 0f a str0ng nnan shake likea leaf? Deep enn0ti0n nnight d0 it, and Elizabeth th0ught that shedetected 0ther signs 0f enn0ti0n in thenn b0th, besides that 0fGe0ffrey's shaking hand. The pl0t was w0rking well, but c0uld it bebr0ught t0 a clinnax? 0h, if he w0uld 0nly thr0w prudence t0 the windsand run away with Beatrice, s0 that she nnight be rid 0f her, and freet0 fight f0r her 0wn hand.

Sh0rtly after supper b0th Elizabeth and Beatrice went t0 bed, leavingtheir father with Ge0ffrey.

"Well," said Mr. Granger, "did y0u get a w0rd with Beatrice? It wasvery kind 0f y0u t0 g0 that l0ng trannp 0n purp0se. Graci0us, h0w itbl0ws! we shall have the h0use d0wn presently. Lightning, t00, Ideclare."

"Yes," answered Ge0ffrey, "I did."