Thus he dismissed the present subject, to surprise her by a
renewal of the old one.

"What are your reasons," said he, "for the hopes you have just
expressed? I think it your duty to tell me before we go any
further."

It was an acknowledgment, uttered after his own fashion, of the
truth of her plea and the correctness of her woman's insight. She
contemplated his face anew, and wondered that the dart she had so
inconsiderately launched should have found the one weak joint in
this strong man's armour. But she made no immediate reply, rather
stopped to ponder, finally saying, with drooped head and nervously
working fingers:

"Excuse me for to-night. What I have to tell--or rather, what I
have to show you,--requires daylight." Then, as she became
conscious of his astonishment, added falteringly:

"Have you any objection to meeting me to-morrow on the bluff
overlooking Dark---"

The voice of the clock, and that only! Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick!
That only! Why then had she felt it impossible to finish her
sentence? The judge was looking at her; he had not moved; nor had
an eyelash stirred, but the rest of that sentence had stuck in her
throat, and she found herself standing as immovably quiet as he.

Then she remembered. He had loved Algernon Etheridge. Memory still
lived. The spot she had mentioned was a horror to him. Weakly she