Secure in her isolation, she unbuttoned the neck of her gown for air, and did not put up the strand of black hair that had escaped over her shoulder.

It was very hot in the lee of the bluff, and very quiet in that still air.

So quiet that she heard two distinct reports, following each other quickly, but very faint and far.

She glanced mechanically towards the sea.

Two merchant-men in midstream were shaking out their wings for a long flight, a pilot boat and coasting schooner were rounding the point, but there was no smoke from their decks.