"It's hard, but I'm going to try.

It's 'harder than the Midburn that I climbed up on the day I saw you fishing." She remembered! Joy caught at his heart, and he laughed so gladly that Alice turned round to look at him.

Something in his eyes made her turn her head away and scan the birk-tree again.
Then suddenly there was a slip of soil, a helpless clutch at fern and heather, a cry of terror, and he was alone on the headland.

The black swirl was closing over the girl's head.
He had been standing rapt in a happy fancy, his thoughts far in a world of their own, and his eyes vacant of any purpose.

Startled to alertness, he still saw vaguely, and for a second stood irresolute and wondering.