ON THE DOWN Sylvia led the way to a little hollow just beneath the ridge of the downs, a sheltered spot open to the sea.

On the three other sides bushes grew about it and dry branches and leaves deeply carpeted the floor.

Here they rested and were silent.

Upon Sylvia's troubled heart there had fallen a mantle of deep peace.

The strife, the fears, the torturing questions had become dim like the small griefs of childhood.