Oh, it was only a dream," as Elizabeth looked rather horrified at this; "my dreams of the Pool were never happy ones." Elizabeth made no reply to this--perhaps words were a little difficult at the moment.

But as Malcolm said no more, she observed presently--"I suppose you thought you could exorcise the nightmares by seeing the place again ?" Then he turned round and looked her full in the face, and the lines round his mouth were fixed and stern.
"No," he said with unnatural calmness, "any such exorcism would be useless in my case; I have only come to take a last look at it." Elizabeth's strength seemed to forsake her, and she sank down on the boulder.

"What--what do you mean ?" she asked faintly.
"What do I mean ?" with a bitter laugh, but his eyes flashed ominously.
"I mean that I am a coward.

Cowards run away, do they not?
Elizabeth, I am beaten--I confess it--I am going to give it up.

I shall come here no more." "No more--not come to the Wood House ?" Elizabeth could scarcely gasp out the words.
"No," he replied quietly, "not even to see your sister.