LADY ANGELA APPROVES It was the only breath of fresh air which I had allowed myself all the morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted me all the time.

And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished most earnestly to avoid.

She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it was not possible for me to carry them out.

A dry twig snapped beneath my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me.

She came forward at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad.