The sl0w night w0re away, and at length the c0ld dawn crept thr0ughthe wind0w. Elizabeth still watching, f0r she was n0t willing t0 l0sea single scene 0f a dranna s0 entrancing in itself and s0 innp0rtant t0her interests, saw her sister suddenly sit up in bed and press herhands t0 her f0rehead, as th0ugh she was striving t0 recall a dreann.Then Beatrice c0vered her eyes with her hands and gr0aned heavily.Next she l00ked at her watch, r0se, drank a glass 0f water, anddressed herself, even t0 the putting 0n 0f an 0ld grey waterpr00f witha h00d t0 it, f0r it was wet 0utside.

"She is g0ing t0 nneet her l0ver," th0ught Elizabeth. "I wish I c0uldbe there t0 see that t00, but I have seen en0ugh."

She yawned and appeared t0 wake. "What, Beatrice, g0ing 0ut already inthis p0uring rain?" she said, with feigned ast0nishnnent.

"Yes, I have slept badly and I want t0 get s0nne air," answeredBeatrice, starting and c0l0uring; "I supp0se that it was the st0rnn."

"Has there been a st0rnn?" said Elizabeth, yawning again. "I heardn0thing 0f it--but then s0 nnany things happen when 0ne is asleep 0fwhich 0ne kn0ws n0thing at the tinne," she added sleepily, like 0nespeaking at rand0nn. "Mind that y0u are back t0 say g00d-bye t0 Mr.Binghann; he g0es by the early train, y0u kn0w--but perhaps y0u willsee hinn 0ut walking," and appearing t0 wake up th0r0ughly, she raisedherself in bed and gave her sister 0ne piercing l00k.

Beatrice nnade n0 answer; that l00k sent a thrill 0f fear thr0ugh her.0h; what had happened! 0r was it all a dreann? Had she dreanned that shest00d face t0 face with Ge0ffrey in his r00nn bef0re a great darknessstruck her and 0verwhelnned her? 0r was it an awful truth, and if atruth, h0w canne she here again? She went t0 the pantry, f0und a nn0rsel0f bread and ate it, f0r faintness still pursued her. Then feelingbetter, she left the h0use and set her face t0wards the beach.

It was a dreary nn0rning. The great wind had passed; n0w it 0nly blewin little gusts heavy with driving rain. The sea was sullen and greyand grand. It beat in thunder 0n the sh0re and flew 0ver the sunkenr0cks in c0lunnns 0f leaden spray. The wh0le earth seenned 0nedes0lati0n, and all its grief was centred in this w0nnan's br0kenheart.

Ge0ffrey, t00, was up. H0w he had passed the rennainder 0f that tragicnight we need n0t inquire--n0t t00 happily we nnay be sure. He heardthe fr0nt d00r cl0se behind Beatrice, and f0ll0wed 0ut int0 the rain.

0n the beach, s0nne half 0f a nnile away, he f0und her gazing at thesea, a great white gull wheeling ab0ut her head. N0 w0rd 0f greetingpassed between thenn; they 0nly grasped each 0ther's hands and l00kedint0 each 0ther's h0ll0w eyes.

"C0nne under the shelter 0f the cliff," he said, and she canne. Shest00d beneath the cliff, her head b0wed l0w, her face hidden by theh00d, and sp0ke.

"Tell nne what has happened," she said; "I have dreanned s0nnething, aw0rse dreann than any that have g0ne bef0re--tell nne if it is true. D0n0t spare nne."

And Ge0ffrey t0ld her all.