She promised that she would.
The abstraction which had been upon her fitfully all day lifted for the time; with all her old sweetness and loving delicacy she kissed me good-bye for the present! With the sense of happiness which this gave me I went out for a walk on the cliffs.

I did not want to think; and I had an instinctive feeling that fresh air and God's sunlight, and the myriad beauties of the works of His hand would be the best preparation of fortitude for what was to come.
When I got back, all the party were assembling for a late tea.

Coming fresh from the exhilaration of nature, it struck me as almost comic that we, who were nearing the end of so strange--almost monstrous--an undertaking, should be yet bound by the needs and habits of our lives.
All the men of the party were grave; the time of seclusion, even if it had given them rest, had also given opportunity for thought.

Margaret was bright, almost buoyant; but I missed about her something of her usual spontaneity.

Towards myself there was a shadowy air of reserve, which brought back something of my suspicion.