Some one was standing there, gazing down into the still water, with bent head and folded arms.

It was Malcolm! She would have crept away; but at the sound of her footsteps he turned round, and her retreat was cut off.

"You quite startled me, Mr.
Herrick," she said rather nervously; "I thought you never came here." It was the last thing she ought to have said, but she was confused by the sudden surprise.

A faint smile crossed Malcolm's pale face.
"You are right," he said in a curious undertone, "I have never seen it since that day, three and a half years ago.

But it has haunted me: more than once I have dreamt of it--such foolish dreams! You were Ophelia, and the water-weeds were strangling you and dragging you down, and I was trying to help you." "Well," with a forced laugh, "did you succeed in saving me ?" "I think not; I have a fancy that you told me that you preferred strangling to my help.