Just for such brief seconds of time as were necessary for perfect recognition he saw it; and then, impelled by his former purpose--no time now for a new volition--he got himself up and walked on, with his eyes in front as before.
He thought the sea-maid did not know that he had seen her, for her footsteps came on after his own.

Or, if she knew, she trusted him not to turn.

That was well; she might trust him.

Never in his life had Caius felt less temptation to do the thing that he held to be false.

He knew now, for he had seen the whole line of the beach, that there was nothing there for him to fear, nothing that could give any adequate reason to any man to compel him to walk as he now walked.