But the smile faded; and, glancing at him, the girl was surprised to see the subtle change in his face--the white worn look, then the old listless apathy which, all at once to her, hinted of something graver than preoccupation.
"Are we near the sea?" he asked.
"Very near. Only a moment to the top of this hill. … Now look!"
There lay the sea--the same grey-blue crawling void that had ever fascinated and repelled him--always wrinkled, always in flat monotonous motion, spreading away, away to the sad world's ends.
"Full of menace--always," he said, unconscious that he had spoken aloud.
"The sea!"
He spoke without turning: "The sea is a relentless thing for a man to fight. … There are other tides more persistent than the sea, but like it--like it in its menace."
His face seemed thinner, older; she noticed his cheek bones for the first time. Then, meeting her eyes, youth returned with a laugh and a touch of colour; and, without understanding exactly how, she was aware, presently, that they had insensibly slipped back to their light badinage and gay inconsequences--back to a footing which, strangely, seemed to be already an old footing, familiar, pleasant, and natural to return to.
"Is that Shotover House?" he asked as they came to the crest of the last hillock between them and the sea.
"At last, Mr. Siward," she said mockingly; "and now your troubles are nearly ended."
"And yours, Miss Landis?"
"I don't know," she murmured to herself, thinking of the telegram with the faintest misgiving.
For she was very young, and she had not had half enough out of life as yet; and besides, her theories and preconceived plans for the safe and sound ordering of her life appeared to lack weight--nay, they were dwindling already into insignificance.
Theory had almost decided her to answer Mr. Quarrier's suggestion with a 'Yes.' However, he was coming from the Lakes in a day or two. She could decide definitely when she had discussed the matter with him.
"I wish that I owned this dog," observed Siward, as the phaeton entered the macadamised drive.
"I wish so, too," she said, "but he belongs to Mr. Quarrier."